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Freezer Meals 101

Less time cooking, more time living

sausage

Slow Cooker Ragu with Beef and Sausage

By Sharla

This Ragu with beef and sausage can be made ahead and frozen. It’s full of powerful flavors. This is a hearty meal that includes both meat and vegetables. white Crock Pot with chunky sauce and a ladle lifting some up with text that reads "Slow Cooker Ragu with sausage and beef" #freezermeals101 #ragusausagebeef #makeahead #slowcookerThis Ragu recipe makes a large amount. If you are cooking for 2 or for a small family, I would suggest splitting it into 2 freezer bags.

What is the difference between Ragu and a Bolognese sauce?

Ragu has more meat in it than Bolognese does and usually includes pork as well as beef. It also usually includes red wine and beef broth and sometimes has a small amount of heavy cream or milk in it as well.

Essentially, Ragu is more of a meat sauce with tomatoes while Bolognese is more of a tomato sauce with meat.

Ragu with Beef and Sausage Recipe:

  • 1 lb. ground beef, browned
  • 450 g ground Italian sausage, browned*
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 a zucchini, chopped
  • red pepper, diced
  • 2x 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper

optional:

  • basil and shredded Parmesan cheese for serving

*If you like things with a kick, you can use spicy Italian sausage.

Ragu with tomatoes, beef and sausage served on pasta with cheese and parsley on topAssembly instructions:

  1. Brown the ground beef and the sausage.
  2. Allow them to cool. Add them into a large resealable freezer bag.
  3. Chop the onion, zucchini, and red pepper. Mince the garlic.
  4. Add the chopped vegetables and all other ingredients to the bag. Squish to combine.
  5. Remove the extra air from the bag and seal before freezing.

collage of ragu with tomatoes, beef and sausage in the slow cooker, in a bowl and being lifted on a fork from a dish with pastaSlow Cooker Cooking Instructions:

  • Take the bag out of the freezer to thaw.
  • Dump the bag contents into the crockpot.
  • Cook on high for 2-4 hours.
  • Serve over noodles or rice.
  • If you want, you can sprinkle fresh basil and shredded Parmesan cheese on the plates before serving.serving spoon lifting ragu beef and sausage out of a slow cooker

This recipe is gluten-free and keto-friendly. Of course, you’ll need to serve it over a pasta alternative such as spiralized vegetables for it to be fully gluten-free and keto!

Print
Ragu with Beef and Sausage Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: beef, Ragu, sausage
Servings: 6
Calories: 332 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. ground beef browned
  • 450 g ground Italian sausage browned*
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 zucchini chopped
  • red pepper diced
  • 2 28 oz. cans diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown the ground beef and the sausage.
  2. Let them cool. Add them into a large resealable freezer bag.
  3. Chop the onion, zucchini, and red pepper. Mince the garlic.
  4. Add the chopped vegetables and all other ingredients to the bag. Squish to combine.
  5. Remove the extra air from the bag and seal before freezing.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Take the bag out of the freezer to thaw.
  2. Dump the bag contents into the crockpot.

  3. Cook on high for 2-4 hours.
  4. Serve over noodles or rice.
Recipe Notes

*If you like things with a kick, you can use spicy Italian sausage.

Some of our other recipes you may enjoy:

Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce close up of Italian sausage pasta sauce served on spaghetti

Irresistible Chicken Pasta Bake close up of irresistible chicken pasta bake with lots of noodles and herb garnish

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer to Crock Pot Tagged With: beef, gluten free, keto, ragu, sausage

Saucy Sausage Pasta (Freezer Meal)

By Sharla

When I first tried this recipe, I knew I had to find a way to create a make-ahead version of it. I worked on a few variations to come up with the best one and here it is. This saucy sausage pasta sauce has such fresh flavors. a black bowl is overflowing with noodles covered in a chunky red sauce with chunks of white cheese and herbs on top. The text reads "Saucy Sausage Pasta Sauce freezer meal" #freezermeals101 #pastasauce #makeaheadHaving this in my freezer makes it so easy to get supper on the table. I can just cook up whatever pasta I happen to have, heat up the sauce, and dinner is ready to go.

Saucy Sausage Pasta Sauce Recipe:

  • 500 g ground Italian or Chorizo sausage, browned
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 an onion, chopped
  • 56 g sun-dried tomatoes
  • 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp. parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste

For serving:

  • 500 g linguine, penne, or other pasta
  • 200 g bocconcini cheese
  • fresh basil
  • optional: red pepper flakes

Assembly instructions:

  1. Brown the sausage. If it is in the casing, uncase it first.
  2. Place the browned sausage, minced garlic, chopped onion, sun-dried tomatoes, can of diced tomatoes, and seasonings in a large resealable freezer bag.
  3. Remove the excess air and seal. Freeze.collage of saucy sausage pasta sauce on penne and spaghetti

Cooking instructions:

  1. Remove the bag from the freezer to thaw.
  2. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under hot water.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the sauce over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
  4. Serve the sauce on top of the pasta. Top with fresh bocconcini cheese, torn into bite-sized pieces, and fresh basil. I like to sprinkle mine with red pepper flakes as well.

Check out some of our other make-ahead pasta sauces:

Chicken in a Mango Cream Sauceclose up of chicken with mango cream cause in a bowl over spaghetti

The Best Freezer Spaghetti Sauceclose up of best ever freezer meal spaghetti sauce on pasta

Spicy Italian Sausage Sauceclose up of spicy Italian sausage sauce on spaghetti

Print
Saucy Sausage Pasta Sauce
Course: Main Course
Keyword: freezer meal, pasta, sausage
Servings: 4
Calories: 456 kcal
Ingredients
  • 500 g ground Italian or Chorizo sausage browned
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 an onion chopped
  • 56 g sun-dried tomatoes
  • 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp. parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste
For serving:
  • 500 g linguine penne, or other pasta
  • 200 g bocconcini cheese
  • fresh basil
  • optional: red pepper flakes
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown the sausage. If it is in the casing, uncase it first.
  2. Place the browned sausage, minced garlic, chopped onion, sun-dried tomatoes, can of diced tomatoes, and seasonings in a large resealable freezer bag.

  3. Remove the excess air and seal. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Remove the bag from the freezer to thaw.
  2. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under hot water.

  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the sauce over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

  4. Serve the sauce on top of the pasta. Top with fresh bocconcini cheese, torn into bite-sized pieces, and fresh basil. I like to sprinkle mine with red pepper flakes as well.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes Tagged With: pasta, sauce, sausage

Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup

By Sharla

I love soups. I know that not everyone does, but they are like comfort food for me. This spinach and sausage white bean soup is a nice cold-weather meal. Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup Freezer Meal #freezermeals101 #freezersoup #souprecipesOf course having soups made ahead and in the freezer means that this can be an “any weather” soup. I don’t put the spinach in until the day of cooking because I find it has the wrong texture if it is frozen with the rest of the ingredients first.

Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup:

  • 14 oz. smoked sausage
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ½ medium onion, diced
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 19 oz. can cannellini beans, undrained
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. thyme

For the day of cooking:

  • 2 cups rotini pasta
  • 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped

In a skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Chop the smoked sausage into ½-1 inch thick slices. Cook the sausage over medium heat, 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are cooked through and beginning to crisp on all sides.

When they have cooled slightly, place the cooked sausage pieces in a large resealable freezer bag. Add chopped onions and minced garlic. Pour in vegetable broth, and add cannellini beans and their liquid. Add in the seasonings. Remove excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

On the day you want to eat this, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Place the bag contents in a large pot. Bring it to a boil on the stovetop.

Add in pasta. Boil for another 5-7 minutes, until pasta is al dente. Add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Serve hot.

If you want, you can sprinkle with some shredded Parmesan cheese and a bit of freshly ground pepper.

 

Check out some of our other favorite make-ahead soups:

Italian Wedding Soup close up of Italian wedding soup with sausage

Hearty Sausage and Zucchini Soup close up of hearty sausage and zucchini soup

Print
Spinach and Sausage White Bean Soup
Course: Soup
Keyword: spinach and sausage white bean soup
Servings: 6
Calories: 357 kcal
Ingredients
  • 14 oz. smoked sausage
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ medium onion diced
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 19 oz. can cannellini beans undrained
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp thyme
For cooking day:
  • 2 cups rotini pasta
  • 2 cups spinach roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. In a skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Chop the smoked sausage into ½-1 inch thick slices. Cook the sausage over medium heat, 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are cooked through and beginning to crisp on all sides.

  2. When they have cooled slightly, place the cooked sausage pieces in a large resealable freezer bag.

  3. Add chopped onions and minced garlic. Pour in vegetable broth, and add cannellini beans and their liquid. Add in the seasonings. Remove excess air from the bag, seal and freeze.

  4. On the day you want to eat this, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Place the bag contents in a large pot. Bring it to a boil on the stovetop.

  5. Add in pasta. Boil for another 5-7 minutes, until pasta is al dente. Add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

If you want, you can sprinkle with some shredded Parmesan cheese and a bit of freshly ground pepper.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes Tagged With: bean, sausage, soup, spinach

Make Ahead Breakfast Sausage Hand Pies

By Sharla

These simple breakfast hand pies can be made ahead and reheated one at a time for busy mornings. You can make several sheets at once (double or triple the recipe) to ensure you have many on hand. 

Make Ahead Breakfast Sausage Hand Pies #quickbreakfastideas #breakfast #freezermeals101In my house, I currently have 5 teenagers (yes, 5!). That’s a whole lot of big appetites. I can’t believe how much teen boys (and girls for that matter) eat. It seems like they are hungry all day long.

Having food in the freezer in individual portions so that they can pull out one at a time and warm them up themselves is so helpful. It really cuts back on the “mom, I’m hungry” calls!

These are great for mornings, but they also make good after school or before bed snacks for hungry teens.

Sausage Breakfast Hand Pies:

  • 2 packages of refrigerator crescent rolls
  • 1 lb. of ground breakfast sausage
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • optional: sliced green onion for garnish

Brown the ground sausage in a 12-inch skillet. Drain the sausage meat and add it to a large mixing bowl.

Add the softened cream cheese and mix thoroughly.

Place one of the refrigerator crescent rolls on a large non-stick baking sheet and spread to cover the baking sheet.

Put the meat and cheese mixture on top of the crescent roll and spread ¼ an inch to the edge.

Set the other crescent roll on top of the meat and cheese mixture and seal up the ends.

Using a knife, cut slits in the top to allow it to vent.
 Place in the oven and cook at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Once it is done baking, allow 3-5 mins to cool before cutting.

Wrap each hand pie in plastic wrap and place in a large resealable bag. Seal and freeze.

Take out the hand pies (individually or all at once) and reheat either in the microwave or in the oven. Some people like to dip them in ketchup or hot sauce. Feel free to experiment to find how you like them best.

Check out these other make-ahead breakfast recipes:

Mini Pancake Muffins 

Cinnamon Freezer French Toast 

Print
Sausage Breakfast Hand Pies
Servings: 8
Calories: 440 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 packages of refrigerator crescent rolls
  • 1 lb. ground breakfast sausage
  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground sausage in a 12 inch skillet.
  2. Drain the sausage meat and add to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the softened cream cheese and mix thoroughly.
  4. Place one of the refrigerator crescent rolls on a large non-stick baking sheet and spread to cover the baking sheet.
  5. Put the meat and cheese mixture on top of the crescent roll and spread ¼ an inch to the edge.

  6. Place the other crescent roll on top of meat and cheese mixture and seal up the ends.
  7. Using a knife, cut slits in the top to allow it to vent.
  8. Place in the oven and cook at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
  9. Once it is done baking, allow 3-5 mins to cool before cutting.
  10. Wrap each hand pie in plastic wrap and place in a large resealable bag. Seal and freeze.
  11. Take out the hand pies (individually or all at once) and reheat either in the microwave or in the oven.

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Breakfast Recipes, Freezer Meal Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, meat pie, sausage, snack

Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce

By Sharla

In the mood for hearty, rich, comfort food? This Italian sausage pasta sauce fits the bill. It has a delicious blend of flavors and you can easily adjust the spice level according to your tastes.Make Ahead Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce #freezermeals101 #freezercooking #pastarecipes #easyrecipes This recipe is one that we invented after I accidentally miscalculated the amount of sausage for a freezer meal session. I bought double what I should have, so I had to come up with recipes to use the extra meat.

One of the recipes I came up with was a simple Sausage and Peppers Skillet Freezer Meal. Another was an Italian Wedding Soup. I still had sausage left after making a few bags of those, so I came up with this sauce.

It was so good that it has gone into our regular freezer meal rotation. The second time we made it, we experimented with throwing some capers into the sauce. Amazing! I only thought of it because we had extra capers leftover from another freezer meal we had made, but it was the perfect addition.

Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce Recipe:

  • 1 lb. Italian sausage made into meatballs and cooked*
  • 3 cups salsa
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/4 cup diced green pepper
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1-2 Tbsp. capers, drained

Depending on your family’s preference, you can use mild or spicy sausage. We prefer the spicy variety! You can also adjust the spice level of this recipe by using mild, medium, or spicy salsa.

If you’re unsure about the capers, you can try making it without them and adding them to individual plates for those who like them. I was a bit nervous about how they would go over the first time I added them, but my family loved them. They give just the right amount of tang and saltiness to bring this sauce to the next level.

To put this meal together, put the cooked sausage meatballs (see instructions below) and all the other ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag. Remove all the excess air you can and seal the bag before freezing.

On the day of cooking, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw and heat in a large skillet until heated through. Serve over your favorite type of pasta.

I also like to sprinkle with Parmesan or Asiago cheese and red pepper flakes. A simple salad and some garlic bread would round out this meal nicely.

 

Print
Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce Recipe:
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pasta sauce, sausage
Servings: 6
Calories: 322 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Italian sausage made into meatballs and cooked
  • 3 cups salsa
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/4 cup diced green pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1-2 Tbsp capers drained
Instructions
Cooking the sausage:
  1. Remove the sausage meat from the casing and cut into 1/2″ slices or squeeze out sausage meatballs and flatten them a bit with your fingers. The squeezing method is messier, but it is easier to remove the casing that way and I find it faster.

  2. Place the sausage meatballs on a cookie sheet. Bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides. You may want to flip them once during baking. Blot the cooked sausage meatballs on a paper towel to remove some of the grease. Allow them to cool a bit before placing them in the freezer bags.

Freezer bag assembly:
  1. put the cooked sausage meatballs and all the other ingredients in a large resealable freezer bag.

  2. Remove all the excess air you can and seal the bag before freezing.

Cooking instructions:
  1. On the day of cooking, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. 

  2. Heat in a large skillet until heated through. 

  3. Serve over your favorite type of pasta.

  4. Sprinkle with Parmesan or Asiago cheese and red pepper flakes.

How do I make and cook the sausage meatballs?

*Remove the sausage meat from the casing and cut into 1/2″ slices or squeeze out sausage meatballs and flatten them a bit with your fingers. The squeezing method is messier, but it is easier to remove the casing that way and I find it faster.

Place the sausage meatballs on a cookie sheet. Bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides. You may want to flip them once during baking. Blot the cooked sausage meatballs on a paper towel to remove some of the grease. Allow it to cool a bit before placing them in the freezer bags.

You may also like these great freezer cooking recipes:

Freezer Spaghetti Sauce

sliced French bread, bowl of grated white cheese, plate of spaghetti, and board with chopped herbs 

Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff

close up of beef stroganoff with noodles 

Filed Under: Freezer Meal Recipes, Freezer Skillet Meals Tagged With: Italian, sauce, sausage

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