Freezer to Crock Pot

With its creamy sauce and tender meat, stroganoff is a classic comfort food that’s always a hit with the family. And with the help of this make ahead slow cooker beef stroganoff recipe, you can take your dinner from the freezer to the crockpot without missing a beat! That means this quick and easy recipe is perfect for any occasion – from a hearty Sunday supper to a quick weeknight dinner.Would you believe that the most popular recipe on this site is our Ground Beef Stroganoff?! It’s actually one of our all time favourite meals so it doesn’t surprise me too much.

Our love for it has made us branch out and try to find other stroganoff recipes we love as well such as our Ground Chicken Stroganoff and now this slow cooker stroganoff using beef strips.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef stir fry strips
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• ½ cup beef broth
• ½ cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon parsley

Assembly Instructions:

1. Combine the beef strips, onion, sliced mushrooms, beef broth, cream cheese, basil, and parsley in a large freezer bag. Squish the ingredients together to combine the beef with the sauce.
2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to cook.

Cooking instructions:

1. Transfer the beef stroganoff ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. Transfer the ingredients to the bowl of your slow cooker and set to cook on low for three to five hours, until the beef is cooked through.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe Ideas

You’re going to love how quick and easy this dinner recipe comes together in your crockpot. And since this recipe is so easy to make, it can easily be customized, too! Try these recipe adjustments and ideas to create a delicious and hearty meal that your family will love.

• Serve over pasta. The traditional way to serve your beef stroganoff is over a bed of pasta. Try serving your beef over cooked egg noodles or fettuccini to round out the meal.
• Make some mashed potatoes. Go a different route when serving your beef stroganoff and serve it with mashed potatoes in place of pasta. The beef and sauce tastes great when combined with creamy mashed potatoes.
• Serve over rice. Another great option for serving your beef stroganoff is over rice. Prepare a batch of white or brown rice to serve alongside your slow cooked beef.
• Try different cuts of beef. Using stir fry strips for your beef stroganoff is a great way to speed up the prep work of your dinner since the meat comes pre-cut. But if you have a few extra minutes to prepare your ingredients, you can use a variety of different cuts of beef in your stroganoff, including sirloin, chuck roast, stew meat, or even ground beef.

Can Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Be Made on the Stove?

This dump and go recipe is perfect for the crockpot. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use your stove to heat up your dinner! If you plan on preparing your stroganoff on the stovetop, simply transfer the ingredients to a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Cook the meat and sauce over medium low heat until the meat is cooked through.

Should I Brown Beef Before Cooking in the Slow Cooker?

Browning your beef pieces is a great way to add a crispy exterior to each piece of meat. But since this freezer meal allows you to transfer your beef stroganoff ingredients from your freezer to your slow cooker, there’s no need to brown the meat before adding it to the pot.

If you prefer to have the crispy edges on your beef, the meat can be browed before freezing. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and cook the beef pieces until they just start to brown. Then, transfer the meat to a paper towel lined plate to cool. When the meat is completely cool, you can transfer it to the freezer bag with the rest of the stroganoff ingredients.

How Do You Thicken Beef Stroganoff?

After giving your stroganoff plenty of time to cook in your crockpot, you should have a deliciously thick sauce coating your meat. But if your stroganoff isn’t as thick as you like it, there are a couple of things you can do to help make your stroganoff a little creamier.

• Add some sour cream. The traditional method for thickening stroganoff is to add sour cream to the sauce before serving. Do not add sour cream to the sauce before freezing because it may curdle in the freezer. Instead, wait until the stroganoff is almost finished cooking in the slow cooker. Stir the sour cream into the sauce and replace the lid. Continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes to help warm up the sauce.
• Make a cornstarch slurry. Another simple way to thicken your stroganoff is to add some cornstarch. Start by combining two tablespoons cornstarch with two tablespoons cold water. When all the cornstarch has dissolved, stir the mixture into your sauce. Replace the lid and turn the slow cooker up to high. Continue cooking the stroganoff until the sauce begins to simmer, around 30 minutes. Before serving, stir the ingredients to mix and thicken the sauce.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

3 hrs

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: stroganoff

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb. beef stir fry strips
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• ½ cup beef broth
• ½ cup cream cheese softened
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1 tsp. parsley

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Combine the beef strips, onion, sliced mushrooms, beef broth, cream cheese, basil, and parsley in a large freezer bag. Squish the ingredients together to combine the beef with the sauce.
2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to cook.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Cook in slow cooker on low for three to five hours, until the beef is cooked through.

Since pizza is always a hit with the family, you can’t go wrong by adding a few pizza flavored dinners to your weekly meal rotation. And with this pizza soup recipe, you can enjoy all the flavors of your family’s favorite pepperoni dinner in a warm and hearty bowl of soup. Made with pepperoni, bacon, green onion, and plenty of cheese, this flavorful make ahead meal is sure to be a hit with everyone at the dinner table.Kid friendly meals are one of those illusive dragons every parent chases. I’ve found that anything with the word “pizza” in it has a decent chance of being a win. For that reason, I made Pizza Casserole, Pizza Buns, Tater Tot Pizza Casserole, Pizza Stuffed Chicken, and now, this Pizza Soup.

Pizza Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces sliced pepperoni, quartered
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 24 ounces pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• optional: croutons for day of serving

Assembly Instructions:

1. Place the pepperoni, bacon, garlic, pizza sauce, onion, green pepper, oregano, pepper, and beef broth in a large resealable bag. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal.
2. Place the mozzarella cheese in a medium sized resealable freezer bag and seal. Staple the bags together above the seal.
3. Place the soup ingredients in the freezer until you’re ready to start cooking.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions:

1. Transfer the soup ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. Pour the ingredients into a large stockpot and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
3. After the soup starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Garnish with the cheese and if desired, the croutons.

Crock Pot Cooking Instructions:

1. Transfer the soup ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. Pour the contents of the large bag into the bowl of your slow cooker. Cook on high for three hours.
3. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the soup, then put the lid back on for 15 minutes to give time for the cheese to melt.

Can You Freeze Soup?

This quick and easy soup recipe is perfect for meal prepping because it’s so easy to freeze! And the best part about preparing soup for freezer cooking is that there’s no cooking involved. All you have to do is freeze the ingredients and heat them up when you’re ready to enjoy a bowl of homemade soup.

As you’re getting your soup ingredients ready for freezing, use these tips to help you get started:

• Freeze the soup in bags. To ensure your soup ingredients don’t take up a ton of space in your freezer, freezing the soup in bags is your best option. To help make it easier to add the ingredients to the bag, use a freezer bag stand to hold the bag open while you add the ingredients.
• Remove as much air as possible. To reduce the chances of freezer burn, try to remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing it.
• Store the bag flat. Keep the space needed for your soup to a minimum by placing the bag flat in the freezer. After it’s frozen, you can stack the flat bags on top of each other to make storage even easier.
• Label your bags. Don’t forget to write the name of the recipe, the date of freezing and the expected expiration date on the container. When stored properly, your soup will stay good for up to three months in the freezer.

Pizza Soup Recipe Variation Ideas

This pizza flavored soup is so simple to make, which means it’s perfect for customizing! Use some of these recipe ideas to create an amazing meal that your family will love.

• Use marinara sauce. Pizza sauce gives this soup a classic pizza flavor. But if you don’t have any pizza sauce on hand, you can also use your favorite marinara or red sauce in this recipe.
• Add more meat or vegetables. If your family orders a supreme pizza on pizza night, you can always add more toppings to your soup! Ground Italian sausage, sliced mushrooms, diced ham, sliced Canadian bacon, sliced olives, or ground beef all make great additions to this easy soup recipe.
• Make it creamy. This tomato based soup is delicious as-is, but if you prefer your soups to have a creamier base, there are a couple of different ingredients you can mix in. A splash of heavy cream will add a thickness and richness to the base. Or add a small amount of cream cheese to give the broth a creamy and cheesy texture.

What to Serve with Pizza Soup?

I can guarantee your family will love the combination of flavors in this easy soup recipe! And since it’s packed with classic pizza flavor, it’s a filling dinner all on its own. But if you’re searching for side dish ideas to serve with your soup, try one of these easy recipes.

• Croutons
• Crackers
• Garlic bread
• Side salads
• Breadsticks
• Roasted vegetables
• Dinner rolls

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Pizza Soup

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 oz sliced pepperoni quartered
• 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 24 oz pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup onion chopped
• 1/2 cup green pepper chopped
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• croutons for day of serving optional

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Place the pepperoni, bacon, garlic, pizza sauce, onion, green pepper, oregano, pepper, and beef broth in a large resealable bag. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal.

2. Place the mozzarella cheese in a medium sized resealable freezer bag and seal. Staple the bags together above the seal.

3. Freeze.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Pour the ingredients into a large stockpot and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
3. After the soup starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Garnish with the cheese and if desired, the croutons.

Crock Pot Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Cook on high for three hours.

3. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the soup, then put the lid back on for 15 minutes to give time for the cheese to melt.

Whether you’re looking for a flavorful main course for dinner or a hearty side dish for your next backyard barbeque, you’ll love this quick and easy make ahead recipe! This freezer friendly cowboy baked beans recipe is made with ground beef and bacon, making it perfect for any occasion. And since you can prepare all the ingredients ahead of time, it’s a great option for meal planning, too!

This past year, these became my go-to for bringing to potlucks. It’s easy because all I need to do is take the bag out of the freezer and heat in the slow cooker. And they are so popular because, well… bacon!

Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef, browned
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 56 ounce can baked beans
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Assembly Instructions:

1. Combine the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic, onion powder, bacon, brown sugar, baked beans, BBQ sauce, and Dijon mustard in a large freezer bag. Squeeze the ingredients together to combine the ground beef and beans with the sauce.
2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to prepare the baked beans.

Cooking instructions:

1. Transfer the baked beans ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. To prepare in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Transfer the ingredients to a baking dish and bake for one hour.
3. To make in the crockpot, pour the ingredients from the freezer bag into your slow cooker and set the crockpot to cook on high for two to four hours and low for three to five hours.

How Do You Store Cowboy Baked Beans?

This flavorful recipe makes a big batch of baked beans, which means you may have some leftovers when the party is over. Simply transfer your beans to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They’ll stay good for up to four days when refrigerated.

You can reheat your beans in the microwave or cook them in a sauce pan over medium heat until warmed through.

How Long are Frozen Baked Beans Good For?

Combining the ingredients for your baked beans in a freezer friendly container is a great way to prep this side dish ahead of time. After adding all the ingredients to a freezer bag, make sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Then, write the name of the recipe, date of freezing, and expected expiration date on the front of the bag. The beans will stay good for up to six months when stored properly.

What to Serve with Cowboy Baked Beans

Since this delicious recipe is packed with meat and beans, it makes a great main course. Or serve it as a side dish along with your favorite BBQ meats. Whether you’re serving your cowboy baked beans for dinner or at a party, it will taste amazing along with these other dishes:

• Cornbread
• Coleslaw
• Southern Potato Salad
• Grilled corn
• Spicy Caesar Chicken Pasta Salad
• Hot dogs
• Hamburgers or cheeseburgers
• BBQ chicken sandwiches
• Grilled meat, like ribs, chicken, or pork chops

Recipe Variations and Ideas

This baked beans recipe really is the best. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved upon! Try these variation and substitution ideas to make your cowboy baked beans even better.

• Adjust the sweetness. If you prefer your baked beans to be on the sweeter side, simply increase the amount of brown sugar in the sauce. Or if you want your beans to be less sweet, try reducing or leaving out the brown sugar all together.
• Try different bean varieties. You can easily change up the flavor of your baked beans by using different types of beans in your recipe. While baked beans are typically made with navy beans, you can mix in a variety of different types of beans in this recipe. Mixing in some kidney, black, pinto, or cannellini beans will add different textures and flavors to your baked beans recipe.
• Use different meats. Ground beef and bacon are great options for meal prepping because they’re quick and easy to prepare. But if you want to change up the recipe to include different flavors, you can substitute other meats in place of the beef or bacon. Try mixing in some pulled pork, ground or shredded chicken, ground turkey, or stew meat.

Can Baked Beans Be Frozen?

Freezing the ingredients for your cowboy beans is a great way to speed up the prep work of your dinner. But you can also freeze the cooked beans to enjoy later! After preparing your baked beans, allow them to cool completely. After that, you can transfer the cooked beans to a freezer bag or storage container and place them in the freezer for long term storage. The beans will stay good for up to six months.

When you’re ready to reheat your beans, transfer the frozen side dish to the refrigerator to thaw. Then reheat the beans in the microwave or on the stovetop.

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Cowboy Baked Beans

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: baked beans, beans

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef browned
• 1 cup onion diced
• 1 green bell pepper diced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 56 oz. baked beans
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Combine the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic, onion powder, bacon, brown sugar, baked beans, BBQ sauce, and Dijon mustard in a large freezer bag. Squeeze the ingredients together to combine.

2. Remove excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Preheat the oven to 350°. Transfer the ingredients to a baking dish and bake for one hour.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Pour the ingredients from the freezer bag into your slow cooker and cook on high for two to four hours and low for three to five hours.