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Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

Freezer to Crock Pot

Freezer to Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

By Sharla

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.clear bag with raw meat and sauce and a white dish with noodles topped with beef stroganoffWould 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.

clear bag with raw beef strips and sauce in it

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.

collage of photos of beef strips in freezer bag, then slow cooker, then in dish on pasta

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.

noodles with beef strips and sauce on top

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.white casserole dish filled with noodles topped with beef stroganoff

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.
white casserole dish filled with noodles topped with beef stroganoff
Print
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.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer to Crock Pot

Pizza Soup Recipe

By Sharla

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.clear bag with red liquid inside on top and a crock pot with red soup topped with shredded cheese on bottomKid 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.

clear bag with red sauce in it and another bag with shredded white cheese in it

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.

process of soup from freezer bag to crock pot to bowl

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.

red soup in black slow cooker topped with shredded mozzarella cheese

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

white bowl with red soup in it

white bowl with red soup in it
Print
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.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer to Crock Pot

Make Ahead Ginger Beef

By Sharla

There’s nothing better than coming home to a cooked dinner after a busy day. That’s why slow cooker recipes are perfect for meal prepping! And with the help of this freezer friendly ginger beef recipe, you can prepare a flavorful dinner for your family with just a few minutes of work in the kitchen. On top of being quick and easy to prepare, this simple make ahead recipe is packed with flavor thanks to the delicious combination of fresh ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. clear bag with raw beef strips and sauce above and a white square bowl with cooked beef strips on rice below

Freezer meals made with beef strips are so fast to put together. We were able to get a two for one sale on them and made 10 beef strip freezer meals in less than 30 minutes. Watch us put those together in the video below. 

Ginger Beef Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds beef stir fry strips
  • ½ cup onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ginger, minced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • ¼ cup soy sauce

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Combine the beef strips, onion, garlic, ginger, beef broth, and soy sauce 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.

clear bag with raw beef strips, onions, and sauce

Cooking instructions:

  1. Transfer the ginger beef ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
  2. Pour the ingredients into your slow cooker and set the crockpot to cook on low for three to four hours.

collage of photos of ginger beef from freezer to slow cooker to plate on rice

Ginger Beef Recipe Ideas

With the help of your slow cooker, you can whip up this quick and easy beef dinner with just a few minutes of prep work. While your beef is cooking in the crockpot, use these recipe ideas to create a delicious dinner for your family tonight.

  • Serve over rice. Round out your meal with the help of some rice. Prepare a batch of white or brown rice to serve alongside your slow cooked beef.
  • Add some veggies. Another simple way to create a full meal for dinner using this ginger beef recipe is to mix in some vegetables. With the help of veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snow peas, bell pepper, or green onion adds some healthy flavors to your dinner.
  • Try different cuts of beef. Using stir fry strips for your ginger beef recipe is a great way to speed up the prep work of your dinner. That’s because this handy cut of meat comes pre-cut. But if you have a few extra minutes to prep your ingredients before you freeze your meal, you can use a variety of different cuts of beef in this recipe, including sirloin, chuck roast, stew meat, flank steak, or even ground beef.

Can Slow Cooker Ginger Beef Be Made on the Stovetop?

Using your crockpot to cook your beef is a great way to prepare tender and juicy meat. But if you don’t have a slow cooker handy, you can also prepare this dish on the stovetop. Simply add the ingredients to a large skillet or Dutch oven and cook covered over medium low heat for around one hour, until the meat is tender. Make sure to stir the ingredients occasionally to keep the sauce from sticking to the pan.beef strips on rice in a white square bowl

How Do You Mince Ginger?

Using fresh ginger is a great way to add a ton of flavor to your meal. But if you’ve never prepared fresh ginger root before, you may be wondering how to mince it to add it to your sauce. Just follow these two simple steps to prep your fresh ginger.

  • Peel the ginger root. Use the side of a spoon to peel the outer layer off the root before you start chopping and mincing.
  • Grate the ginger. The easiest way to mince ginger is to use a grater or microplane. Simply rub the ginger over the grater to finely chop the root. If you don’t have a grater, you can also use a sharp knife to cut the ginger into tiny pieces.

Our Ginger Hack for Freezer Meals:

Our hack for saving time but still getting that fresh ginger taste is to use the squeezy tube ginger. You can usually find it in the produce section at your local grocery store. It’s already minced so it saves that step but tastes fresher in my opinion than ground ginger.

Can I Use Ground Ginger in Ginger Beef?

Fresh ginger is the best way to add flavor to your sauce, but taking the time to prepare fresh ginger isn’t easy if you’re in a hurry. If you don’t have any fresh ginger on hand, ground ginger can be used to prepare the sauce for your beef. But since ground ginger has a much stronger flavor than fresh, you won’t need as much. Use around ½ teaspoon ground ginger in place of fresh ginger in this recipe.beef strips simmer in sauce in a slow cooker with the lid partially off

How Do I Thicken Ginger Beef Sauce?

Since you’ll be preparing this ginger beef recipe in your slow cooker, the sauce added to your beef should thicken as the meat cooks. But if you feel like the sauce is too runny after the beef has finished cooking, you can easily thicken it with a little bit of cornstarch.

Start by combining two tablespoons of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir the two ingredients together until the cornstarch dissolves and add the mixture to your slow cooker. Turn the heat up to high and place the lid back on the crockpot. Allow it to simmer for around 30 minutes, until the sauce thickens.

To speed up the cook time of your sauce, you can also transfer the liquid from the crockpot to a saucepan and add the cornstarch mixture. Simmer the sauce until it thickens, around 10 minutes.

Other freezer meals with beef strips:

  • Beef Stir Fry 
  • Beef Curry
  • Mongolian Beef
  • Beef Fajitas
  • Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli Meal
beef strips on rice in a white square bowl
Print
Ginger Beef
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
 
Course: Main Course
Keyword: ginger beef
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. beef stir fry strips
  • ½ cup onion thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp. ginger minced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Combine the beef strips, onion, garlic, ginger, beef broth, and soy sauce in a large freezer bag. Squish to combine.

  2. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Pour the ingredients into your slow cooker and cook on low for three to four hours.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Dump Recipes, Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer to Crock Pot

Freezer Friendly Moroccan Chickpea Stew

By Sharla

Serving meatless meals is a great way to save money while meal prepping. And when it comes to vegetarian recipes, you can’t go wrong with soup! This flavorful Moroccan chickpea stew is a delicious vegan dinner idea that’s sure to be a hit with your family. And since it’s made with chickpeas and tons of veggies, it’s also a hearty dinner you can prepare a head of time and freeze until you’re ready to start cooking.clear bag with stew in it and the stew cooking in crock potWe were visiting our son and his fiancé in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada when we first heard of Moroccan Chickpea Stew. On a hotel restaurant menu, there were the usual egg dishes and pancakes and such, but we spotted something that seemed out of place, a vegetarian stew. The waitress assured us it was the best choice so my husband and I both ordered it, him with poached eggs on top and me without.

The waitress was absolutely right. It was flavorful and unique. The dish came with crusty bread on the side for dipping in the remaining sauce and we ate every last bite!

I was determined to develop my own version of the recipe so that we could add it into our freezer meal rotation and this is the resulting recipe. 

Moroccan Chickpea Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-2 sweet potatoes, cubed into 1 inch cubes
  • 19 ounces chickpeas, drained
  • 28 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 12 black Kalamata olives
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Combine the onion, garlic, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, olives, vegetable broth, brown sugar, cumin, curry powder, paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a large freezer bag. Squeeze the ingredients together to mix.
  2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close the bag. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to prepare the stew.

bright coloured stew in a clear bag

Cooking instructions:

  1. Transfer the soup ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
  2. Pour the contents of the bag into a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the onions are tender, between two to four hours.
  3. To cook the ingredients in the slow cooker, transfer everything to the bowl of the crockpot. Set to cook on high for four hours.

process of cooking chickpea stew in slow cooker and serving in a blue bowl

How Do You Store Moroccan Chickpea Stew?

Your family is going to love this flavorful soup, which means it’s perfect for leftovers. If you have soup leftover after dinner, it should be stored in the refrigerator. Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to five days.

To reheat your stew, place it in the microwave or heat the leftovers on the stovetop until they’re warmed through.blue bowl with chickpeas and cubed sweet potatoes on rice

Can I Freeze Cooked Stew?

Freezing the ingredients for your stew is a great way to speed up the prep work of your dinner. But if you want to make cooking even easier, you can also cook the stew before you freeze it.

Follow the instructions for cooking the stew on the stovetop or in the slow cooker. After the soup is cooked, remove the pan from the heat source and allow the stew to cool completely.

Once the ingredients are fully cooled, you can transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag for storage.

When you’re ready to eat your frozen soup, make sure to thaw it safely in the refrigerator. After that, you can warm it up in the microwave for around two minutes. Or transfer the soup ingredients to a pan on the stovetop. Cook over medium low heat until the ingredients are warmed through.chickpea stew with cubes of sweet potatoes and black olives visible in slow cooker

How Long is Frozen Stew Good For?

This chick pea stew is perfect for meal prepping because all the ingredients are freezer friendly. When your stew ingredients are stored properly, they’ll stay good for up to six months when frozen. Make sure to store the ingredients in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Before sealing the bag, make sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.

Before you place the Moroccan stew ingredients in the freezer, don’t forget to write the name of the recipe, the date of freezing and the expected expiration date on the bag. That way, you’ll be sure to make your stew before it goes bad.

Can I Make Moroccan Stew with Dried Chickpeas?

Using canned chickpeas is a great way to speed up the prep work of your dinner. That’s because all you have to do is drain and rinse the canned beans before you combine them with the rest of your soup ingredients.

But if you don’t have any canned chickpeas or prefer to make your own from scratch, you can also use dried chickpeas to make your stew. Start by cooking the chickpeas according to the instructions on the package.

Once the chickpeas are cooked, make sure to allow them to cool completely. After that, you can combine the cooked beans with the rest of the stew ingredients before freezing them for later use.chunky stew with sweet potatoes, black olives, and chickpeas on rice in a bowl

What to Serve with Moroccan Chickpea Stew?

Since this delicious stew is made with a variety of veggies, it’s already packed with flavor. That means it can be difficult to know what to serve with your soup when dinner time rolls around. Try these side dish and topping ideas to create a full meal for your family’s dinner.

  • Rice
  • Quinoa
  • Lentils
  • Thick bread or Naan
  • Poached eggs
  • Yogurt or sour cream

Some of our other vegetarian freezer meals:

  • African Thai Stew
  • Chana Masala
  • Asian Rice Bowl
  • Chickpea and Vegetable Curry
  • Black Bean and Corn Enchiladas
blue bowl with chickpeas and cubed sweet potatoes on rice
Print
Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
 
Course: Main Course
Keyword: vegetarian
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1-2 sweet potatoes cubed into 1 inch cubes
  • 19 oz chickpeas drained
  • 28 oz diced tomatoes
  • 12 black Kalamata olives
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. cumin
  • 2 tsp. curry powder
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:
  1. Combine the onion, garlic, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, olives, vegetable broth, brown sugar, cumin, curry powder, paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a large freezer bag. Squish to combine.

  2. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Pour the contents of the bag into a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the onions are tender, between two and four hours.

Slow Cooker Instructions:
  1. Thaw. Cook on high for four hours.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer to Crock Pot Tagged With: vegetarian

Make Ahead Cowboy Baked Beans

By Sharla

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!clear bag with beans mixture in it and then beans on a white plate next to cornbread

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.

clear bag with a beans mixture in sauce in it

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.

collage of photos of baked beans from freezer bag to pot to plate

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.large pot very full of baked beans

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

plate with large serving of beans next to two pieces of cornbread

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.

plate with large serving of beans next to two pieces of cornbread
Print
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.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer to Crock Pot

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