Freezer Meals 101

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African Thai Stew Freezer Meal

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I know this recipe sounds strange. The name alone is unusual. When I first discovered this combination of flavors in a Sandi Richard cookbook, I was skeptical too. But the tastes meld together into this beautiful autumn dish that soon won our whole family over. I’ve adapted the African Thai Stew recipe into a freezer meal that is just as flavourful.

freezer bag with many colours of cubed and chopped food on top, stew in blue bowl on bottom with text that reads "African Thai Stew freezer meal"This hearty stew has the most gorgeous fall colors. It is vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free, making it a versatile meal for many types of diets.

Although this is a plant-based meal, you won’t miss the meat. It has glorious blends of interesting flavors. Yes, I just called food “glorious”! Once you taste it, you’ll understand why I’m raving.

And being able to make this as a freezer meal and then cook it in the Crock-Pot® or on the stovetop enables you to easily make a healthy meal even when you’re in a rush.

African Thai Stew Recipe:

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 large sweet potato, cubed
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1/2 green pepper, diced
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 19 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 19 oz. can chickpeas
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. curry powder
  • 2 tsp. fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. lime juice

For cooking day: 

  • 3 Tbsp. peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • optional: cilantro

Assembly instructions:

  1. Put all ingredients in a large resealable bag and squish them together.
  2. Seal. Remove excess air. Lay flat and freeze.

Stovetop Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Heat on the stovetop in a large pot for 25 minutes.
  3. Stir in 3 Tbsp. peanut butter and if desired, 1⁄4 cup dried cranberries and cook for another few minutes.
  4. Top with cilantro if desired.

Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook in the Crock-Pot on low for 3-4 hours.
  3. Stir in the peanut butter and if you want, the dried cranberries, stir and cook for another 10 minutes.
  4. Top with cilantro if desired.

This recipe is included in our Vegetarian Freezer Meal Plan. The menu plans include tried and true recipes, prep lists, shopping lists, and printable labels.

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African Thai Stew
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: African, Thai
Keyword: stew, vegetarian
Servings: 6
Calories: 384 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 large sweet potato cubed
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 1/2 green pepper diced
  • 2 tsp garlic minced
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 19 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 19 oz. can chickpeas
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. curry powder
  • 2 tsp. fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. lime juice
For cooking day:
  • 3 Tbsp. peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • optional: cilantro
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. Put all ingredients in a large resealable bag and squish them together.

  2. Seal. Remove excess air. Lay flat and freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Heat on the stovetop in a large pot for 25 minutes or in the Crock-Pot on low for 4-5 hours.

  3. Stir in 3 Tbsp. peanut butter and if desired, 1⁄4 cup dried cranberries and cook for another few minutes.

  4. Top with cilantro if desired.

Check out these other plant-based freezer meals:

Vegetarian Taco Soup

close up of vegetarian taco soup with cheese on top and chips on the side

Black Bean and Corn Enchiladascollage of black bean and corn enchiladas in a bowl, wrapped with sauce and in a baking tray

Chickpea and Vegetable Curryclose up of chickpea and vegetable curry with cauliflower and carrots

Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash Stew

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Introducing Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash Stew. If you haven’t tried Paprikash chicken stew before, you’re about to meet your new favorite comfort food!
Paprikash Chicken Stew in the Instant Pot #instantpotmeals #instantpotrecipes #freezermeals101 #paprikash #chickenstew #chickenrecipes The flavors in this are warm and homey. This feels like the kind of dish that your aunt or grandma would have made for you when you were growing up. It’s the kind of meal you want to sit down with on a cold winter day.

And it takes almost no time at all for this to cook because it’s an Instant Pot recipe. While Instant Pot doesn’t truly mean “instant” (I know. I was disappointed too!), it’s pretty darn close! You can have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.

Trying new recipes is always a gamble, but I think that if you like chicken stew and you like the taste of paprika, you’re going to love this Paprikash chicken stew!

What is chicken paprikash?

As I am not Hungarian, I wondered the same thing myself when I first heard the term! The dish originates in Hungary. Its name (Paprikás Csirke) literally translates into Paprika Chicken. The color of the dish comes from the main spice which is paprika, so the name is perfectly logical once you understand the translation.close up of chicken paprikash

Chicken Paprikash Stew Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
  • 3 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
  • 2 red or orange peppers, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups water or chicken stock
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp. sour cream*
  • optional: parsley for garnish
  • optional: extra sour cream for serving

collage of paprikash chicken stew with instant potAssembly instructions:

  1. Place the oil in the Instant Pot and select the Sauté setting.
  2. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute more.
  3. Turn off the sauté setting and add the thighs, peppers, and seasonings. (here’s where that all-important paprika comes in!)
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, stir the tomato paste and sour cream into the broth or water before adding them all to the Instant Pot.
  5. Secure the lid and select the “Soup/Stew” setting for 10 minutes.
  6. Natural release.
  7. Shred the chicken with two forks.

steps to make paprikash chicken stew in the instant potServe the chicken paprikash stew in bowls with a dollop of sour cream or alongside some mashed potatoes.

*You can substitute greek yogurt for the sour cream if you prefer.

Make-Ahead Instructions:

This meal is freezer-friendly. Transfer the cooked chicken paprikash into a freezer-safe container or large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal before freezing. On cooking day, thaw and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

While this dish is freezer friendly, you can find the actual freezer to Instant Pot recipes along with shopping lists and printable labels in our Instant Pot Freezer Meal Plan. 

Print
Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash Stew
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Hungarian
Keyword: chicken, paprikash, stew
Servings: 4
Calories: 173 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced or chopped
  • 3 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 2 red or orange peppers chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups water or chicken stock
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp. sour cream*
  • optional: parsley for garnish
  • optional: extra sour cream for serving
Instructions

  1. Place the oil in the Instant Pot and select the Sauté setting.

  2. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute more.

  3. Turn off the sauté setting and add the thighs, peppers, and seasonings. (here's where that all-important paprika comes in!)

  4. In a medium mixing bowl, stir the tomato paste and sour cream into the broth or water before adding them all to the Instant Pot.

  5. Secure the lid and select the "Soup/Stew" setting for 10 minutes.

  6. Natural release.
  7. Shred the chicken with two forks.

  8. Serve the chicken paprikash stew in bowls with a dollop of sour cream or alongside some mashed potatoes.

Recipe Notes

*You can substitute greek yogurt for the sour cream if you prefer.

Make-Ahead Instructions: This meal is freezer-friendly. Transfer the cooked chicken paprikash into a freezer-safe container or large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal before freezing. On cooking day, thaw and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Our other Instant Pot meals may interest you as well:

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole close up of instant pot pizza casserole topped with cheese Instant Pot Pork or Chicken Shawarma collage of Instant Pot pork or chicken shawarma Butter Chicken in the Instant Pot Make-ahead Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Rustic Beef Stew Recipe for the Slow Cooker

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This rustic beef stew recipe is simple and hearty. Having it made ahead in the freezer and ready to go in the crockpot® is the way to go! Rustic Beef Stew for the Slow Cooker #crockpotcooking #crockpotrecipes #freezermeals101 #freezercooking #freezertocrockpot #slowcookerrecipes #beefrecipesOnce this homemade beef stew has spent the day in the crockpot, it is fall-apart-tender.

This all-in-one meal takes the guesswork out of everything. It is easy, easy to put together and there’s no way to mess this recipe up. That is very good news for beginner cooks or those who haven’t had the best of luck in the kitchen. close up of rustic beef slow cooker stew in a bowlWith beef stew, you can do so many variations and put your own spin on it, but sometimes, it’s nice to go back to a simple classic beef stew recipe like this. This is just good old-fashioned comfort food.

Rustic Beef Stew Recipe:

  • 2 lb. beef stew meat
  • 3 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 stalks of celery, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 Tbsp. seasoning salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper

For the day of cooking:

  • 4 potatoes, cubed* (peeled or not peeled, depending on your preference)

Assembly instructions:

  1. Dump all the ingredients (except the potatoes) into a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Remove the excess air.
  3. Seal and freeze.

collage of rustic beef slow cooker stew in bowlsSlow Cooker Cooking Instructions:

  1. Take the bag of stew out of the freezer to thaw.
  2. Place the bag contents into the slow cooker along with the cubed potatoes.
  3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  4. Serve immediately with bread or buns.

A note about the potatoes: *I find that the consistency of potatoes changes when they are frozen, so I prefer to add them on the day of cooking. For best results, I suggest you do the same.

This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and also suitable for a Paleo diet.

Find more freezer to crockpot recipes along with shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels in our Slow Cooker Freezer Meal Plans. 

Check out some of our other hearty make-ahead recipes for the slow cooker:

Beefy Rice Slow Cooker Casserole close up of beefy rice slow cooker casseroleChicken Cacciatoreclose up of chicken cacciatore on pastaBeef Curry Freezer Meal close up of beef curry in a bowl

Print
Rustic Beef Stew Recipe
Course: Soup
Keyword: beef, stew
Servings: 6
Calories: 374 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lb. beef stew meat
  • 3 carrots peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 stalks of celery diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 Tbsp. seasoning salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
For the day of cooking:
  • 4 potatoes cubed (peeled or not peeled, depending on your preference)
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Dump all the ingredients (except the potatoes) into a large resealable freezer bag.
  2. Remove the excess air.
  3. Seal and freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Take the bag of stew out of the freezer to thaw.
  2. Place the bag contents into the slow cooker along with the cubed potatoes.
  3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Recipe Notes

Serve immediately with bread or buns.

Freezer to Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe

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Some meals just have that home-cooked, hearty comfort food feel to them. This freezer to crock pot beef stew recipe is one of those meals. It’s an easy weeknight family meal.This hearty beef stew recipe can go from the freezer to the crock pot. #freezermeals101 #recipes #freezercooking #easyfamilymeals

This beef stew is a great one-dish meal full of chunky vegetables. It is especially nice to have on a cold winter’s night. There is just something about a soup or stew that brings that warm comfortable feeling.

Freezer to Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe:

  • 2 lbs. stew meat, cubed
  • 1 cup onions, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce*
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • dash salt

*Be sure to use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce if you are wanting to make this stew gluten-free.

Before putting together this freezer meal, chop the onions, peel and dice the carrots, peel and cube the sweet potato, and dice the celery so that everything is ready to toss into the bag. I like to make the veggies in bigger chunks than what I would do for a soup, but this is a preference thing. Feel free to cut them in the size that works best for you. 

To assemble this crockpot beef stew recipe, dump the beef stew meat into a large resealable bag and then add the other ingredients. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

On the day of cooking, take the meal out of the freezer to thaw. Cook in the slow cooker for 5-7 hours on low. 

You can serve this slow cooker beef stew with buns or on its own.

This crockpot beef stew recipe is one of the recipes included in our popular Beef Dump Recipes book. 

Print
Crockpot Beef Stew
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, crockpot, stew
Servings: 4
Calories: 481 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs stew meat cubed
  • 1 cup onions chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 cups sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 cup celery diced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 dash salt
Instructions

  1. Chop the onions, peel and dice the carrots, peel and cube the sweet potato, and dice the celery so that everything is ready to toss into the bag.

  2. Dump the beef stew meat into a large resealable bag before adding the other ingredients. Remove the excess air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

Meal Preparation:

  1. On the day of cooking, take the meal out of the freezer to thaw.

  2. Cook in the slow cooker for 5-7 hours on low. 

  3. You can serve this slow cooker beef stew with buns or on its own.

You may also like these freezer meal recipes:

BBQ Shredded Chicken in the Crock Pot

Tex Mex Pasta Bake Freezer Meal