Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

Tater Tot Sloppy Joes Casserole

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It may not be Instagram-pretty, but this is a meal your kids will be asking for again and again. This tater tot sloppy joes casserole is about as easy a recipe as they come. With just four ingredients, you’ve got a fully kid-approved dinner. white casserole dish with tater tots on top, plate and fork nearby. Text reads "Tatertot Sloppy Joes Casserole"

I make this as a freezer meal, but if you prefer, you can bake it and eat it right after you assemble it. 

In my house, if it has tater tots, the kids will eat it. Whether it’s our Cheesy Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, our Pizza Tater Tot Casserole, Beef and Veggie Tater Tot dish, or this one, it’s a hit. 

Tater Tot Sloppy Joes Casserole Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 32 oz. bag tater tots
  • 2 lbs. ground beef, browned
  • 15 oz. can Sloppy Joes sauce
  • 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

Assembly instructions:

  1. Brown the ground beef.
  2. Place the browned ground beef at the bottom of a casserole dish or aluminum tray. (If I’m freezing it, I use an aluminum tray. If I’m baking it to serve right then, I use a casserole dish.)
  3. Pour the sloppy joe sauce on top of the beef and mix well.
  4. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of the ground beef mixture.
  5. Take the tater tots and lay them in a single layer on top of the cheese.
  6. Cover tightly with two layers of aluminum foil. 
  7. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Bake for 25 minutes at 400°.
Print
Tater Tot Sloppy Joes Casserole
Course: Main Course
Keyword: tater tot casserole
Servings: 5 people
Ingredients
  • 32 oz. bag tater tots
  • 2 lbs. ground beef browned
  • 15 oz. can Sloppy Joes sauce
  • 8 oz. cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown the ground beef.
  2. Place browned ground beef at the bottom of a casserole dish or aluminum tray.
  3. Pour the sloppy joe sauce on top of the beef and mix well.
  4. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of the ground beef mixture.
  5. Take the tater tots and lay them in a single layer on top of the cheese.
  6. Cover tightly with two layers of aluminum foil.
  7. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Bake for 25 minutes at 400°.

You might also want to check out these other freezer meal tater tot casseroles:

Easy Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole with Beef and Veggies

Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup (freezer meal)

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If there were an award given for “hits the spot comfort food”, this chunky cream of chicken soup would win it! It’s got all the requirements. Hearty, good on a cold day, reminiscent of childhood. blue bowl with cubed chicken, carrots, onions, celery. Text reads "chunky cream of chicken soup"This hearty soup is great for cold or dreary days. It’s got enough sustenance to make this a full meal, but you can serve it with crusty bread and a side salad if you wish.

Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3-4 leaves of sage, chopped
  • 1 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 2 ¾ cups cooked chicken, cubed
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.
  2. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots.
  3. Cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft.
  4. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly for an additional 2 minutes.
  5. Slowly pour in the broth.
  6. Bring the soup to a low boil while stirring constantly.
  7. Add the sage, thyme, and poultry seasoning.
  8. Turn the heat to low and add the cream.
  9. Stir in the chicken and simmer for 25-35 minutes.
  10. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  11. Ladle into soup bowls.
  12. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve.

Instructions to make this as a freezer meal:

You can make this soup as a freezer meal in two ways. The first is to put all of the ingredients into a large resealable bag, seal and freeze and then on the day you want to serve it, take it out of the freezer to thaw and simmer on the stovetop in a large pot for about an hour.

OR you can cook the soup using the full stovetop instructions and then put in a freezer safe container to reheat when needed. If you use this method, you can freeze it in smaller containers and only take out as much as you need for a lunch or dinner. Ways to adapt this recipe:

To make this soup gluten free, substitute cornstarch or gluten free flour for the flour.

If you want a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth and use white navy beans in place of the chicken. 

Print
Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup
Course: Soup
Keyword: cream of chicken soup, soup
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 4 medium carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3-4 leaves sage chopped
  • 1 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 2 ¾ cups chicken cooked and cubed
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
  1. Instructions:
  2. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.
  3. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots.
  4. Cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft.
  5. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly for an additional 2 minutes.
  6. Slowly pour in the broth.
  7. Bring the soup to a low boil while stirring constantly.
  8. Add the sage, thyme, and poultry seasoning.
  9. Turn the heat to low and add the cream.
  10. Stir in the chicken and simmer for 25-35 minutes.
  11. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  12. Ladle into soup bowls.
  13. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve.
Recipe Notes

Instructions to make this as a freezer meal:

You can make this soup as a freezer meal in two ways. The first is to put all of the ingredients into a large resealable bag, seal and freeze and then on the day you want to serve it, take it out of the freezer to thaw and simmer on the stovetop in a large pot for about an hour. OR you can cook the soup using the full stovetop instructions and then put in a freezer safe container to reheat when needed. If you use this method, you can freeze it in smaller containers and only take out as much as you need for a lunch or dinner. 

You might also be interested in these tasty freezer soup recipes:

Hamburger Soup

Spicy White Bean and Chicken Soup

Crock Pot Enchilada Soup

Easy Salsa Fish Tacos

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Fish tacos don’t have to be complicated. This is the easiest recipe you’ll find. You don’t need to be an experienced cook to make these salsa fish tacos at home. If you want, you can even make the fish ahead as a freezer meal. Then you can just cook it when needed and add your toppings. It doesn’t get any easier than that!bag on top with fish and sauce. Three tacos on bottom topped with sour cream. Text reads: Easy Salsa Fish Tacos freezer mealIn our house, it doesn’t have to be a Tuesday for us to eat tacos. We are big fans. If it’s got “taco” in the name, we’re in! Whether it’s Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos, Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa, or even Taco Sloppy Joes, the kids flock to the kitchen at the mention of the name.  

Easy Salsa Fish Tacos Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 tilapia or cod fillets
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 1/4 cup salsa (your favourite kind)
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced

For serving:

  • hard taco shells or flour or corn tortillas
  • taco toppings (see suggestions below)

Assembly instructions: 

  1. Place the fish filets in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the salsa, crushed pineapple, minced garlic, and seasonings.
  3. Pour sauce over the fish.
  4. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw. Bake in a 350° oven for 10-12 minutes.
  2. Serve in tacos with other toppings.

If you don’t like pineapple, skip it. This recipe is very forgiving.

Fish taco topping suggestions:

  • cabbage or coleslaw
  • diced tomatoes
  • sliced green onions or minced purple onions
  • mango salsa (one of my favourite fish taco toppings)
  • more of the salsa you used in the recipe
  • pico de gallo
  • jalapeños or serrano peppers, finely diced
  • cilantro
  • lettuce
  • avocados or guacamole
  • Cotija cheese
  • black beans
  • corn
  • hot sauce
  • chipotle mayo
  • fresh lime wedges

Print
Easy Salsa Fish Tacos
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
11 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fish tacos, tacos
Ingredients
  • 3-4 tilapia or cod fillets
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 1/4 cup salsa
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
  • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
For serving:
  • hard taco shells or flour or corn tortillas
  • taco toppings see suggestions below
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Place the fish filets in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the salsa, crushed pineapple, minced garlic, and seasonings.
  3. Pour sauce over the fish.
  4. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.
Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.

  2. Bake on a cookie sheet in a 350° oven for 10-12 minutes.

  3. Serve in tacos with other toppings.
Recipe Notes

Fish taco topping suggestions:
cabbage or coleslaw
diced tomatoes
sliced green onions or minced purple onions
mango salsa (one of my favourite fish taco toppings)
more of the salsa you used in the recipe
pico de gallo
jalapeños or serrano peppers, finely diced
cilantro
lettuce
avocados or guacamole
Cotija cheese
black beans
corn
hot sauce
chipotle mayo
fresh lime wedges

If you’re a fan of Mexican flavours, you might also like these freezer meal recipes:

Beef and Bean Burritos

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans

Make Ahead Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Chicken Asparagus Bake Freezer Meal

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Get dinner on the table quickly with this super easy Chicken Asparagus Bake. This freezer meal is ready to eat in just 20 minutes. Everything in this freezer meal casserole is already cooked so when you make it for dinner, all you need to do is heat it up. 

large white spoon lifting food out of a round casserole dish. Text reads "Chicken Asparagus Bake easy freezer meal"Chicken and asparagus go so nicely together. The flavours work well. And as a mom, it feels like a win when my kids eat asparagus. Or really any green vegetable. 

Chicken Asparagus Bake Recipe:

  • 2 1/2 cups rice, cooked
  • 1 cup chicken, cooked and diced
  • 1 cup asparagus, chopped, fresh or frozen
  • 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup*
  • 1/2 can cream of chicken soup*
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • salt and pepper
  • optional: 2 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled

Assembly instructions:

  1. Cook the rice according to package directions.
  2. Cook and cube the chicken. Stir them along with the other ingredients together in a large bowl.
  3. Put it into a large resealable bag and seal. Lay flat and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes.

*Since this recipe calls for 1/2 cans of soup, it’s smarter to double it (or quadruple it) so that you can use the full cans plus have more meals in your freezer.

I know that I’ve marked the bacon as optional, but trust me, you should include it. Everything is better with bacon, right?!

We used to make this without the bacon, but had the idea one day to add some cooked bacon to it. As you can imagine, after trying it with bacon, we have never gone back to the old recipe. It not only gives it better flavour, it gives it a nice texture crunch as well.

This easy recipe is included in our Dinner in 20 Freezer Meal Plan along with other recipes, prep lists, shopping lists, and printable labels.

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Chicken Asparagus Bake
Cook Time
20 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Keyword: casserole, chicken
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups rice cooked
  • 1 cup chicken cooked and diced
  • 1 cup asparagus chopped, fresh or frozen
  • 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup* (5 oz.)
  • 1/2 can cream of chicken soup* (5 oz.)
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • salt and pepper
  • optional: 2 slices of cooked bacon crumbled
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Cook the rice according to package directions.
  2. Cook and cube the chicken. Mix them along with the other ingredients together in a large bowl.
  3. Put it into a large resealable bag and seal. Lay flat and freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes.
Recipe Notes

*As this recipe calls for 1/2 cans of soup, it's smarter to double it (or quadruple it) so that you can use the full cans plus have additional meals in your freezer.

You may also want to try these freezer meal casseroles:

Southern Style Ground Beef Casserole

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Chicken and Vegetable Casserole with Crispy Onion Topping

Pizza Casserole Crock Pot Freezer Meal

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If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal that kids will actually eat, this is it. Pizza casserole can be made ahead and then cooked in the slow cooker that day. red sauce and pasta being scooped out of slow cooker. Text reads "Pizza Casserole freezer to slow cooker"Crockpot pizza casserole is an extremely family friendly freezer meal. It has the flavours of pizza in a pasta dish. So if your family likes pizza and likes pasta, it’s guaranteed they will be fans of this dish. 

I find that with my kids, pretty much anything with “pizza” in the name or that has those flavours is sure to be a hit. That’s why our regular recipes include things like Tater Tot Pizza Casserole, Pizza Stuffed Chicken, Instant Pot Pizza Casserole, and of course this Crockpot Pizza Casserole.

Pizza Casserole Recipe:

  • 2 cups ham, cubed
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup mozza cheese, shredded 
  • 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 28 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups small pasta

Assembly instructions:

  1. Cube ham, shred cheese, and chop vegetables.
  2. Place the pasta in a medium sized resealable bag and seal.
  3. Put ham and cheeses into a large resealable freezer bag.
  4. Mix together the other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the ham and cheeses.
  5. Seal the bag and staple the pasta bag to it above the seal.
  6. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.
  3. Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package direction.
  4. Drain pasta and stir into the casserole before serving. 

Pizza casserole variations:

You can add a can of sliced mushrooms if you like mushrooms.

If your family isn’t a fan of ham, you can substitute sliced pizza pepperoni for the cubed ham. 

Try this recipe using different shapes of pasta. We often use small shells, but sometimes serve it with rotini, penne, or macaroni noodles.

What to serve with pizza casserole:

  • tossed green salad and breadsticks or garlic bread
  • raw vegetables

This recipe as well as others are featured in our Kid Friendly Freezer Meal Plan which also includes shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels. These plans make getting dinner on the table so easy.

Print
Pizza Casserole
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Instant Pot Pizza Casserole, pasta
Ingredients
  • 2 cups ham cubed
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup green pepper chopped
  • 28 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups small pasta
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Cube ham, grate cheeses, chop vegetables.

  2. Put the pasta in a medium sized resealable bag.
  3. Put ham and cheeses into a large resealable freezer bag.
  4. Mix together the other ingredients and pour over the ham and cheeses.
  5. Seal the bag and staple the pasta bag to it.
  6. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Put the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.
  3. Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package direction.
  4. Drain pasta and stir into the casserole before serving.

Check out these other kid friendly freezer meals:

Tater Tot Crockpot Casserole with Beef and Veggies

Taco Sloppy JoesMini Meatloaves