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Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

Freezer Meals 101

By Sharla

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Freezer meals have saved my sanity. That may sound like an extreme statement to make about dinner, but truly, they have. As a busy mom of 7, supper used to cause me so much stress. It wasn’t that I didn’t like cooking. It was that I had a hard time deciding what to make every day. Four o’clock would roll around and I would have that moment of not knowing what to make for dinner. Since discovering freezer cooking, I never have that problem anymore.

Now, each morning, I go to my freezer and open the door where I am greeted with ready-to-cook meals. I pull one out to thaw and don’t have to think about what I’m going to serve for dinner that night. I also don’t have to run to the store to pick up an ingredient I’ve forgotten. It’s saved me so much time and saved our family a lot of money too.Freezer Meals 101 - your complete guide to batch freezer cooking #freezermeals101 #easyfamilymeals #freezercooking #freezermeals

For those of you who are new to freezer cooking, I wanted to put together a Freezer Meals 101 guide to help you get started. Here you will find answers to all your freezer meal questions.

Freezer Meals 101:

What are freezer meals? Freezer meals are just what they sound like. They are meals made ahead and frozen for later use. This can look as simple as doubling a recipe that you’re making anyway and freezing the extra. Most often though, the term “freezer cooking” is used to describe batch cooking. Batch cooking is when you set aside time to make many meals at once. They are then frozen. You can then take out one meal a day for cooking for dinner. Breakfasts and lunches can also be made ahead in this way.

How to know what freezes and what doesn’t:

One of the important elements of freezer cooking is knowing what freezes and what doesn’t. You can read a full list here of what foods freeze well and which don’t as well on tips to freeze them.

I’ve also created a cheatsheet for you to print out as an easy reference to remember what freezes well.


Freezer burn is the enemy when it comes to creating delicious freezer meals. To prevent freezer burn, remove all the excess air from the freezer bags before freezing. Labelling your meals with the date made also helps prevent freezer burn as you can move the older meals to the front of the freezer.

Supplies needed for freezer cooking:

  • Good quality freezer bags. It’s important to use good quality freezer bags so that they don’t leak or break. I use both the large size for the main meal and the medium size for additions such as grated cheese or dry pasta and then attach them together using a stapler.
  • Stapler. For meals that require more than one bag, use a stapler to attach the freezer bags together.
  • Labels. We use Avery’s 5163 label template for our labels.
  • Permanent marker. Having a permanent marker on hand comes in handy for adding extra instructions to labels or for adding the date to the labels.
  • Electric can opener. Using an electric can opener has saved our wrists, thumbs and so much time.
  • Meal plans. Our meal plans include the recipes, prep lists, shopping lists and printable labels which make things so much easier.
  • Freezer. An upright freezer works best and the investment will pay for itself for all the money you will save in groceries.

Freezer Meal PlansFreezer Meal PlansZiploc Freezer BagsZiploc Freezer BagsSharpie Permanent MarkersSharpie Permanent MarkersStaplerStaplerAvery Labels for Laser PrintersAvery Labels for Laser PrintersElectric Can OpenerElectric Can Opener

What to include on the label:

  • name of meal
  • detailed cooking instructions
  • date
  • optional: serving suggestions

Step by step guide to freezer cooking:

  1. Choose the recipes. I always do a combination of tried and true family favourites along with a few new recipes. This allows me to find some new meals to add into our regular rotation. You can find freezer meal recipes here or you can purchase one of our freezer meal plans so that you can skip over the next few steps. 
  2. Make a shopping list. Be sure to remember to add the freezer bags to your list. I make three lists, one for a bulk store where I purchase things such as spices, one for a warehouse store where some bulk items can be purchased at a discount, and one for the regular grocery store. If you are planning a huge freezer meal assembly marathon, call your local store with a meat order. This will ensure they have enough when you arrive and can also sometimes get you an additional discount.
  3. Print labels and recipes. I use Avery’s 5163 labels. See the instructions above for what information to include on the labels.
  4. Purchase the groceries and supplies.
  5. Prep your ingredients. Chop and/or finely mince the onions. Fry up any ground beef, turkey or sausage. For recipes that call for cooked chicken, put the chicken on baking sheets and cook it in the oven before cubing or shredding or whatever the recipe calls for. Chop, slice or cube vegetables. Fry bacon. Grate cheese.
  6. Set up stations in your kitchen or a larger community kitchen. At each station, place the photocopied recipe, non-perishable ingredients that you will need, spices called for, the freezer bags, labels, and any equipment you will need such as mixing bowls, can openers, measuring cups and spoons, and mixing spoons.
  7. Assemble the meals. If you are assembling freezer meals in a group, assign one person to each station and get to work. Making multiples of the same meal is hardly any extra work and at the end of the day, all of you will have many delicious and healthy meals to take home to your families. If you are making the meals on your own, start at one station and work your way around.
  8. Clean as you go. Do the dishes as you work so that things don’t pile up. It’s also important to wash the surfaces you are working on to keep things sanitary.
  9. Freeze the meals. For all meals that are put in a bag, let out all excess air and lay the bag flat. This will optimize your freezer space. If you are doing this in a group, have everyone bring a cooler or a laundry basket to transport their meals in. Keeping the meals cold can be tricky the day of the assembly, but if you live in a place where the winters are cold, schedule your cook days for cold days and store the assembled meals in the boxes outside until people are ready to go home.
  10. Open the freezer at the end of the day and admire the meals that will make things so much easier for weeks to come!

Freezer Meal 101 Tips:

Wear comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet for a long time. You can also invest in a memory foam kitchen mat to make things more comfortable. I have one by the sink.

Never freeze in glass containers. As contents expand while they are freezing, the glass can break.

Freezer meals keep for 3-6 months if properly stored. They need to be kept in a freezer at 0° Fahrenheit or below.

These Freezer Meal Hacks will make things go more smoothly. 10 Clever Freezer Meal Hacks that will save you time and moneyIf you’re looking to learn more about batch cooking, check out our Freezer Meal Tips section where you can reference all kinds of resources and information to help you.

How does freezer cooking save money?

Using this method of cooking has cut our food bill in half! I am able to buy things in bulk, take advantage of caselot sales, get additional discounts by calling in meat orders, and most importantly, nothing goes to waste. Gone are the days of buying groceries only to have them go rotten in the freezer.

I am able to use everything I buy. I also no longer have to run to the store for forgotten items and make impulse purchases. And of course, the most obvious reason for how freezer cooking saves money is that you no longer need to do take-out or pizza delivery.

Note that some items are not less expensive when purchased in bulk, so compare prices to be sure you are getting the best deals. I also sometimes plan our freezer meal menus around advertised sales which saves even more money, particularly if it’s a sale on meat.

Freezer Meal Recipes:


3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Ribs

African Thai Stew Freezer Meal

Apple Maple Chicken Dump Recipe

Asian Rice Bowl Freezer Meal
pot holding red sauce and chunks of chicken and vegetables
Baked Italian Chicken (Freezer Meal)
tortellini in a white sauce in a square bowl and oval dish
Baked Tortellini Alfredo (Freezer Meal)

BBQ Beans Instant Pot (Freezer Friendly)

BBQ Pulled Pork Freezer Meal

BBQ Salmon (freezer meal)

Beef and Bacon Goulash (Freezer Meal)

Beef and Bean Burritos (freezer meal)

Beef Curry Freezer Meal

Make Ahead Beef Fajitas Freezer Meal

Beefy Rice Slow Cooker Casserole
close up of noodles topped with red sauce and Parmesan cheese
Best Ever Freezer Meal Spaghetti Sauce

Black Bean and Corn Enchiladas (freezer meal)

Blue Cheese Hamburgers

Buffalo Ranch Cauliflower and Broccoli Freezer Side Dish

Buffalo Ribs in the Instant Pot (freezer meal)
Butternut Squash Side Dish
Butternut Squash Freezer Meal Side Dish

Cabbage Roll Casserole Freezer Meal

Cherry Muffins with Crunchy Topping

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bake

Chicken and Vegetable Casserole with Crispy Onion Topping

Chicken Asparagus Bake Freezer Meal

Chicken Cacciatore Freezer Meal

Freezer to Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Recipe

Chicken Fried Rice Freezer Meal

Chicken in Mango Cream Sauce Over Pasta

Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash Stew

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

Chickpea and Vegetable Curry

Chickpea Butternut Squash Fajitas

Chili Glazed Chicken Dump Recipe

Chili Hash Brown Casserole Freezer Meal

Chili Lime Tilapia (Freezer Meal)

Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup (freezer meal)

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans

Corn Dog Mini Muffins for School Lunches (freezer friendly)

Country Style Instant Pot Ribs

Creamy Tomato Beef Skillet Meal

Delicious Enchilada Soup (freezer meal)

Dill Salmon Freezer Meal

Double Caramel Stuffed White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dr. Pepper Baked Beans (Freezer Meal)

Droolworthy BBQ Shredded Chicken Freezer Meal with Garlic Mayo

Easy Asian Meatballs Freezer Meal
blue bowl heaped with vegetables like carrots, cabbage, tomatoes
Easy Cabbage Soup (freezer meal)

Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Chicken Casserole

Easy Chicken Marsala

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore {freezer meal}

Easy Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Easy Salsa Fish Tacos

Easy Tuna Casserole Freezer Meal

Make Ahead English Muffin Pizzas

Family Friendly Beef Hash (freezer meal)

Freezer Chicken Pot Pie Filling

Freezer Corn Chowder with Bacon

Freezer Friendly Instant Pot Borscht Recipe

Freezer Garlic Bread Recipe

Freezer to Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe

French Toast Casserole – Make Ahead Freezer Breakfast

Garlic Butter Shrimp Freezer Meal

Ginger Soy Salmon (freezer meal)

Gingery Salsa Chicken (freezer meal)

Good Old Fashioned Southern Cornbread Recipe

Grilled Flank Steak (Make Ahead)

Ground Beef Stroganoff Freezer Meal

Ham and Cream Cheese Roll Ups (make ahead lunch)

Ham and Potato Casserole (freezer meal)

Hawaiian Chicken in the Instant Pot

Hearty Hamburger Soup (freezer meal)

Hearty Sausage and Zucchini Soup

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (freezer meal)

Homemade Freezer Granola

Homemade Granola Bars (freezer friendly)

Honey Maple Glazed Carrots Freezer Meal Side Dish

Honey Sesame Chicken Dump Meal

Instant Pot Asian Beef Noodle Soup
keto bone broth made in the Instant Pot in a bowl
Instant Pot Bone Broth That’s Keto Friendly

Instant Pot Breaded Red Curry Shrimp Freezer Meal
Make-ahead Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Instant Pot Butter Chicken Freezer Meal

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Freezer Meal

Instant Pot Italian Chicken and Veggies

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole

Instant Pot Pork or Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Instant Pot Shrimp Boil (Freezer Meal)

Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos

Instant Pot Tomato Soup (freezer directions included)
Turkey Sloppy Joes with sides
Instant Pot Turkey Sloppy Joes

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

Irresistible Chicken Pasta Bake

Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Crock Pot Jambalaya Soup (freezer meal)

Keto KFC Style Chicken

Lemon Garlic Chicken Dump Recipe

Lemon Mustard Chicken Dump Recipe

Lemon Pesto Chicken Freezer Meal

Mahjong Chicken Dump Recipe

Make-Ahead Apple Pork Chops

Make Ahead Beef Dip Recipe

Make Ahead Chicken and Spinach Penne Alfredo

Make Ahead Cinnamon Freezer French Toast
white bowl with red cranberry sauce, cranberries sprinkled nearby
Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

Make Ahead Everything Bagels Breakfast Muffins

Make Ahead Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Make Ahead Freezer Smoothie Bags

Make Ahead Hot Roast Beef or Ham Sandwiches

Make Ahead Mac and Cheese

Make Ahead Mexican Manicotti Bake

The Best Make Ahead Pancake Mini Muffins

Make Ahead Rice Pilaf Recipe

Make Ahead Breakfast Sausage Hand Pies

Maple Dijon Salmon

Marry Me, Chicken {freezer meal}

Mexican Cornbread Muffins

Moist Meatloaf Muffins (freezer meal)
white bowl with rice, beef strips, green onions, and chopsticks
Mongolian Beef Skillet Freezer Meal

Moo Shu Beef Lettuce Wraps (freezer to Instant Pot)

No Bake Cranberry Pistachio Energy Balls

One Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pastitcio Baked Pasta Recipe

Pesto Chicken and Vegetables Freezer Meal Recipe

Philly Chicken Sandwiches (Freezer Meal)

Pizza Buns (a kid friendly freezer meal)

Pizza Casserole Crock Pot Freezer Meal

Pizza Stuffed Chicken

Pork Chops Topped with Spiced Pears
a breaded chicken tender being dipped into a bowl of Ranch dressing
Ranch Chicken Tenders (Make Ahead Freezer Meal)
Reggae Gumbo Freezer Meal #freezermeals101 #freezercooking #makeaheadmeals #gumbo
Reggae Gumbo Freezer Meal

Rustic Beef Stew Recipe for the Slow Cooker

Salsa Chicken Freezer Meal

Saucy Sausage Pasta (Freezer Meal)

Sausage and Peppers Freezer Meal

Scrambled Egg Bites (freezer breakfast idea)

Seafood Curry Pasta Freezer Meal

Shrimp Stir Fry Pack for the Freezer

Simple Marinated Pork Chops

Simplest Butter Chicken {freezer meal}

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken on Buns

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Beef Taco Soup

Slow Cooker Ragu with Beef and Sausage

Southern Style Ground Beef Casserole (freezer meal)

Spanish Rice Casserole (freezer meal)

Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken Poblano

Spicy White Bean and Chicken Soup

Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup

Stuffed Pepper Casserole (Freezer Meal)

Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe Make Ahead Meal

Taco Breakfast Cups You Can Make Ahead

Taco Chili Freezer Meal

Taco Sloppy Joes (freezer meal)

Tater Tot Casserole with Beef and Veggies

Tater Tot Pizza Casserole Freezer Meal

Tater Tot Sloppy Joes Casserole

Tequila Lime Shrimp Freezer Meal

Tex Mex Pasta Bake Freezer Meal

The Best Freezer Chili

Thick and Chunky Hearty Chili
sliced turkey meatloaf topped with sliced green onions on a white plate
Turkey Meatloaf (freezer meal)

Unstuffed Pepper Skillet Meal
bowl of bean based chili topped with sliced green jalapenos
Vegan Chili (Freezer Meal)

Vegetarian Taco Soup

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