Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

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.

Print
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

 

The Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipes for Families

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Dinner doesn’t get more kid friendly than a tater tot casserole. My kids are guaranteed to gobble up anything with the words “tater tot” in it. These casseroles also happen to be super easy to make so it’s a win-win for everyone!collage of dinners. Text reads "The Best of the Best Tater Tot Casseroles"Some tater tot casseroles can even be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot and many of them can be made ahead as a freezer meal. So not only are they kid-approved, they are mom-approved too!

The Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipes

Tater Tot Casserole with Beef and Veggies

This dish is loaded with everything you need for a full meal. It's a freezer to crock pot meal that will soon become a family favourite.

Tater Tot Pizza Casserole Freezer Meal

Combine tater tots and pizza flavours and what do you get? A guarantee your kids will ask for seconds!

Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Chicken Casserole

This cheesy chicken tater tot casserole for the slow cooker is an all in one meal perfect for busy weeknights. It can also be made ahead as a freezer meal.

Photo Credit: www.mybakingaddiction.com

Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole 

You can double or triple this cheeseburger tater tot casserole recipe to feed a crowd or if you just have a large family to feed like we do!

Photo Credit: www.thechaosandtheclutter.com

Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Sausage

This was our family's first tater tot casserole recipe that was inspired by the famous Duggar family recipe. We made a few tweaks to it and the kids still think of it as their ultimate comfort food.

Photo Credit: www.chewoutloud.com

Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Bake

An irresistible breakfast or breakfast-for-dinner layered dish.

Photo Credit: premeditatedleftovers.com

Jalapeno Popper Casserole Recipe

Oh my! We have long loved this flavourful recipe. It's all the goodness of jalapeño poppers in a family meal.

Photo Credit: centslessdeals.com

Cowboy Casserole Recipe

Cowboy Casserole is a hearty one dish meal that is very versatile. It can be adapted for breakfast or for supper and can have a variety of toppings.

Photo Credit: spicysouthernkitchen.com

Cheesy Hot Dog Tater Tot Casserole

Hot dogs and tater tots in one recipe?! I can hear the kids running in to eat now!

Photo Credit: togetherasfamily.com

Chicken Pot Pie Tater Tot Casserole

It's such a brilliant idea to combine two comfort foods like chicken pot pie and tater tots and create one family meal!

Photo Credit: www.spendwithpennies.com

Taco Tater Tot Casserole

This layered taco bake is as delicious as it looks. It's a dish you'll want to eat again and again.

Photo Credit: www.thediaryofarealhousewife.com

Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

If you like things with a bit of kick, you're going to love this twist on the classic tater tot casserole!

Photo Credit: www.nelliebellie.com

Minnesota Tater Tot HotDish Recipe

This super easy recipe can be frozen ahead and then baked.

Photo Credit: thecookingjar.com

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Sloppy Joes meet tater tots in this family friendly weeknight dinner recipe.

Photo Credit: thesaltymarshmallow.com

Tater Tot Chili Dog Casserole

This recipe reminds me of baseball season or tailgate parties but can be enjoyed around the kitchen table.

Photo Credit: www.gonnawantseconds.com

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

This recipe comes with directions for how to freeze, making it an excellent make ahead brunch suggestion. It would also make a great holiday morning dish.

Photo Credit: www.thecountrycook.net

EASY TATER TOT ENCHILADA BAKE

Using simple ingredients, create a meal that the whole family will love. It's almost like a taco dish, but not too spicy.

Photo Credit: www.kitschencat.com

Pressure Cooker Tator Tot Breakfast Casserole

If you were looking for a way to make these recipes even faster to make, you can always try making an Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole.

Photo Credit: cookswellwithothers.com

Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole

Kids can help make this simple yet tasty recipe.

Photo Credit: www.rabbitandwolves.com

Vegan Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

If you're looking for a meatless version of this classic, this is a great choice because it's still an all-in-one meal full of taste. You won't miss the meat!

Which recipes are you going to try first? I’d love to hear which is your favourite.

What’s a good side dish for tater tot casserole?

Depending on which recipe you choose, there may not be a need for a side dish as some of them contain meat, vegetables, and cheese. But for those that are less hearty, you may want to serve a salad with your meal or a plate of simple raw vegetables. 

Can you freeze tater tot casserole after you bake it?

Not only can you freeze most tater tot casseroles after baking them, many of them can be assembled and frozen before baking as well. They can then be thawed and cooked in the Crock Pot or oven. Being able to make these ahead means that you’ll always have a family friendly meal ready to pull out  for those busy weeknights. 

You may also be interested in these make ahead easy dinners:

Beef Hash

Beef and Bean Burritos

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole

Homemade Freezer Granola

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Making homemade granola is easier and more economical than you may think. This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the freezer to cook up fresh when needed. It is crisp and oh so delicious!

blue bowl with granola topped with white yogurt and sliced red strawberries. Text reads "Homemade Freezer Granola"Being the mom of a large family, the more that can be made ahead, the better. Breakfast is such a mad rush, so I love having smoothie packs, pancake mini muffins, and scrambled egg bites ready for busy mornings.

Homemade Freezer Granola Recipe:

  • 6 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup almonds, slivered
  • 1 cup sesame seeds, untoasted
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds, raw hulled
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup of dried cranberries or other dried fruit of your choice
  • 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Assembly instructions:

  1. Mix the oats, almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, cranberries, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
  2. In a pot over medium heat, stir the oil, honey, water, vanilla, and salt until the sauce starts to boil.
  3. Pour the sauce over the mixture of oats and mix well.
  4. Put the granola into freezer bags, remove the air, seal, and freeze.*

*I like to use medium sized freezer bags instead of large ones because it allows me to cook it in smaller batches.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Take granola out of freezer.
  2. Lay the granola out on a cookie sheet. Bake at 275° for 45 minutes to an hour depending on how crunchy you like it. I like mine super crunchy.
  3. Store any leftover granola in an airtight container or bag.

Granola topping suggestions:

  • yogurt
  • strawberries
  • blueberries
  • tangerines
  • ice cream
  • raspberries
  • raisins
  • cherries
  • banana slices
  • blackberries
  • dried apricots
  • chocolate chips
  • mango slices
  • dried or fresh pineapple

Print
Homemade Freezer Granola
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
 
Course: Breakfast
Keyword: granola
Ingredients
  • 6 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup almonds slivered
  • 1 cup sesame seeds untoasted
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds raw hulled
  • 1 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup of dried cranberries or other dried fruit
  • 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Mix the oats, almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, cranberries, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
  2. In a pot over medium heat, stir the oil, honey, water, vanilla, and salt until the sauce starts to boil.
  3. Pour the sauce over the mixture of oats and mix well.

  4. Put the granola into freezer bags, remove the air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Take granola out of freezer.
  2. Lay the granola out on a cookie sheet. Bake at 275° for 45 minutes to an hour depending on how crunchy you like it. I like mine super crunchy.
  3. Store any leftover granola in an airtight container or bag.
Recipe Notes

Granola topping suggestions:
yogurt
strawberries
blueberries
tangerines
ice cream
raspberries
raisins
cherries
banana slices
blackberries
dried apricots
chocolate chips
mango slices
pineapple, fresh or dried

You might be interested in these make ahead breakfast recipes:

Amazing Egg Bites

Breakfast Sausage Hand Pies

Everything Bagels Breakfast Muffins

BBQ Salmon (freezer meal)

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This BBQ Salmon recipe is great for summer. It’s the lightness of a salmon meal but has a rich, bold sauce. It’s so fast to make that it’s sure to become one of your new go-to recipes.bag with marinated salmon fillets sits in a skillet. Text reads "BBQ Salmon freezer meal"When people think of freezer meals, they usually imagine casseroles, soups, and stews, but they can be so much more than that. Salmon is one of our favourites. When we do our freezer meal marathons, we usually choose two salmon recipes such as this one and our Ginger Soy Salmon, Maple Dijon Salmon, or Dill Salmon.

BBQ Salmon Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. boneless salmon fillets
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (your favourite kind)
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 green onion, sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Assembly instructions:

  1. Place the salmon fillets in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Add the other ingredients and squish gently to combine.
  3. Remove the excess air, seal, and freeze.

Barbecue cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw. The sauce marinates the salmon as it thaws.
  2. Heat barbecue to medium heat.
  3. Grill fish 6 minutes on each side on greased barbecue rack or on cedar plant on grill. Turn the fish occasionally. The salmon should flake easily when done.

Oven cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw and the salmon will marinate in the sauce as it thaws.
  2. Place salmon on a foil lined baking sheet lined. Bake at 400° for about 20 minutes. Exact cooking time will vary depending on the salmon thickness. It will flake easily when done.

What to serve with the salmon:

These side dishes pair really nicely with this salmon or you can serve with your favourite sides.

Print
BBQ Salmon
Course: Main Course
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. boneless salmon fillets
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce your favourite
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 green onion sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Place the salmon fillets in a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Add the other ingredients and squish gently to combine.
  3. Remove the excess air, seal, and freeze.
Barbecue cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw. The sauce marinates the salmon as it thaws.
  2. Heat barbecue to medium heat.
  3. Grill fish 6 minutes on each side on greased barbecue rack or on cedar plant on grill. Turn the fish occasionally. The salmon should flake easily when done.
Oven cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw and the salmon will marinate in the sauce as it thaws.
  2. Place salmon on a foil lined baking sheet lined. Bake at 400° for about 20 minutes. Exact cooking time will vary depending on the salmon thickness. It will flake easily when done.

Check out some of our other seafood freezer meals:

Chili Lime Tilapia

Ginger Soy Salmon

Make Ahead Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa