I’m so excited to share 5 of the best freezer meals with no pre cooking required, just prep and freeze! These freezer meals are super easy to prepare and so tasty!
When I thought of freezer meals or freezer cooking in the past, I’m not going to lie, I would get super overwhelmed. It seemed people were doing things like ‘prep 500 meals in an hour and gooooo’ (<-I’m exaggerating, I think, maybe someone has done this? lol) and I’d get super discouraged. I’d end up not liking a few of the recipes and would give up before I even started. Then I made one or two meals ahead (like my freezer meal chicken enchilada casserole or make ahead quiche) and LOVED the convenience.
There are many different types of freezer meals: the freezer meals where you cook all the components, make a meal, and then freeze it and then reheat it (like this chicken broccoli alfredo freezer meal). Or the type where you prep partially freeze and then cook later (like these freezer chocolate chip cookies), OR, like I’m sharing in this post, the best freezer meals where no pre cooking is required!
These 5 freezer meals I’m sharing are all prep and put in gallon freezer bag, freeze, then cook later! They’re all super tasty.
Tips for freezer meals
- Label bag before adding ingredients.
- When making a freezer meal, combine all ingredients in a gallon size freezer bag (these double zip ones are my fave)
- Massage ingredients around so they’re all combined.
- Remove as much air as possible (helps avoid freezer burn)
- Lay flat when freezing (I like to put the bags in an aluminum pan)
- Use pre-chopped veggies to save time
General guidelines for cooking from the freezer
- Every slow cooker/crock pot is a little different. Generally, it’s 3-5 hrs on HIGH or 6-8 hrs on LOW. I prefer low and slow so I tend to prefer cooking on LOW.
- THIS is my favorite crockpot (I own 4 crock pots, this 6 qt one is my favorite and works the most consistently.)
- Cooking times also vary based on your thawing times/etc. Check on the low end of the range and go from there.
- Freezer meals tend to keep for 2-3 months in the freezer. HERE is the FDA chart for safe food storage (it’s super neat and worth checking out.) In my personal experience (I’ve forgotten things for months and months and it’s been fine, but safety first!)
- If you have an Instant Pot, you can cook meals directly from frozen (vs. thawing overnight, as is recommended with slow cooker meals). I recommend trying to freeze your meals in a circular shape if you’re planning to cook them in an Instant Pot. Generally from frozen to Instant Pot my meals take 20-40 minutes at HIGH pressure. Check at 20 minutes, you may need to break up and cook a little longer. (Easy chili con carne is a great freezer to Instant Pot recipe).
- I’ve included instructions for cooking now, freezing instructions, and cooking from frozen as well as some serving suggestions.
- I like to add a fresh garnish (like cilantro or parley) as a topping.
- When freezing, don’t be shy with seasonings, they are a little milder in a freezer meal vs. cooking right away.
Smoked Sausage Bean and Vegetable Soup
- This smoked sausage bean and vegetable soup is hearty and delicious and perfect for those days you’re craving a soup, it is filling and makes nice big batch.
- Serve with a nice crusty slice of bread
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli
- This freezer meal is one that gets cooked in a frying pan.
- Sesame chicken stir fry with broccoli goes perfectly over rice (or cauliflower rice) for a delicious dinner.
Spicy Chickpea Sweet Potato and Rice Curry
- Spicy chickpea, sweet potato and rice curry is a vegetarian freezer meal that is a stew-like dish with bold flavors.
- Serve with some pita bread and fresh cilantro
Shortcut White Chicken Chili
- This shortcut white chicken chili uses a jar of salsa verde to really amp up the flavor, without having to make a salsa tomatillo salsa from scratch.
- Serve this white chili with sour cream on top and with some tortilla chips and/or fresh avocado and cilantro on top
Lemon Garlic Mediterranean Pork
- I love the bold lemon garlic Mediterranean flavors in this freezer to slow cooker pork recipe. It’s like a version of pork souvlaki and is a great weeknight meal.
- This pork is great on pitas. Serve with pita, lettuce, tzatziki, tomatoes and olives.
- Or serve this lemon garlic Mediterranean pork with roasted potatoes.
5 Freezer Meals - no pre-cooking required, just prep and freeze!
These are 5 of the best freezer meals with no pre cooking required, just prep and freeze! These freezer meals are super easy to prepare and so tasty!
Print RateEquipment
Ingredients
Smoked Sausage and Vegetable Soup
- 1 pound smoked sausage cut into small pieces (I like chicken andouille sausage)
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans/chickpeas rinsed and drained
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes undrained
- 2 medium zucchini cut into chunks
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 3 cups beef broth for cooking
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into pieces-about 3 small chicken breasts
- 1 bag (12 oz) frozen stir fry vegetables or fresh mix (broccoli, sugar snap peas, peppers, onions, carrots)
- 1 cup frozen broccoli or fresh
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic pressed
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbs vegetable oil for cooking
Spicy Chickpea Sweet Potato and Rice Curry
- 1 can (13.6 oz) coconut milk
- 2 tbs red curry paste
- 1 tbs turmeric
- 2 cloves garlic pressed
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper more if you like it really spicy
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 large sweet potato about 2 cups, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup long grain brown rice dry and uncooked
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups vegetable broth for day of cooking
Shortcut White Chicken Chili
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into large chunks (about 3 chicken breasts)
- 1 small yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 cans (15oz each) cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- 1 16 oz jar salsa verde
- 1 1/2 tbs cumin
- 1 bunch cilantro chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups chicken broth for cooking
Lemon Garlic Mediterranean Pork
- 2 pounds pork tenderloin trimmed and cut into large chunks
- 2 lemons 1 juiced, 1 zested and juiced
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic pressed
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Smoked sausage and vegetable soup
- Make Now: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-5 hours.
- Freezing Instructions: Label gallon size freezer bag with title and include “for cooking add 3 cups beef broth or water”. Combine all ingredients except beef broth into a gallon size freezer bag. Squeeze out any excess air.
- Cooking From Frozen Instructions: Remove gallon bag from freezer. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator on a plate or in an empty baking dish. Put contents of the bag in a slow cooker along with 3 cups of beef broth and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-5 hours. This soup can also be stovetop by cooking contents of the bag and 3 cups liquid for 45 minutes on medium-high, simmering and stirring occasionally.
- Serve With Suggestion: crusty bread or crackers
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli
- Make Now: Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Cook chicken until slightly golden brown (5 minutes), then add veggies and other ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally until chicken is cooked through and veggies are hot and cooked through (10-15 minutes).
- Freezing Instructions: Label gallon size freezer bag with title and include “cook in 2 tbs vegetable oil”. Combine all ingredients except 2 tbs vegetable oil in gallon size freezer bag. Squeeze out any excess air.
- Cooking From Frozen Instructions: Remove gallon bag from freezer. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator on a plate or in an empty baking dish. Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Pour contents of bag into frying pan and cook, stirring occasionally until chicken is cooked through and veggies are hot (15-25 minutes).
- Serve With Suggestion: serve over rice or cauliflower rice
Spicy Chickpea Sweet Potato and Rice Curry
- Make Now: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-5 hours.
- Freezing Instructions: Label gallon size freezer bag with title and include “for cooking add 2 cups vegetable broth or water.” Combine all ingredients except vegetable broth into a gallon size freezer bag. Squeeze out any excess air. Massage ingredient around so they're all combined. Lay flat and put in the freezer.
- Cooking From Frozen Instructions: Remove gallon bag from freezer. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator on a plate or in an empty baking dish. Put contents of the bag in a slow cooker along with 2 cups of vegetable broth and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-5 hours. This soup can also be stovetop by cooking contents of the bag and 2 cups liquid for 45 minutes on medium-high, simmering and stirring occasionally.
- Serve With Suggestion: serve with fresh cilantro on top and with some pita bread or naan on the side.
Shortcut White Chicken Chili
- Make Now: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-5 hours.
- Freezing Instructions: Label gallon freezer bag with title and include “for cooking add 2 cups chicken broth or water”. Combine all ingredients except chicken broth into a gallon size freezer bag. Squeeze out any excess air.
- Cooking From Frozen Instructions: Remove gallon bag from freezer. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator on a plate or in an empty baking dish. Put contents of the bag in a slow cooker along with 2 cups of chicken broth and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-5 hours. This soup can also be stovetop by cooking contents of the bag and 2 cups liquid for 45 minutes on medium-high, simmering and stirring occasionally.
- Serve With Suggestion: serve with sour cream, crushed tortilla chips and avocado and cilantro
Lemon Garlic Mediterranean Pork
- Make Now: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, until pork is tender and can be shredded with a fork
- Freezing Instructions: Label gallon freezer bag. Combine all ingredients into freezer bag and squeeze out any excess air. Massage ingredients around so they're all combined. Lay flat and put in the freezer.
- Cooking From Frozen Instructions: Remove gallon bag from freezer. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator on a plate or in an empty baking dish. Put contents of the bag in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until pork is easily shredded. OR this pork could be baked at 350 for 45 minutes or until pork is cooked through for a non-shredded option.
- Serve With Suggestion: serve on pita with lettuce, tzatziki, tomato and olives
Notes
Each recipe serves 4-6
Ryan C. says
The tip about labeling the bag before adding ingredients is one I learned the hard way after ending up with three mystery bags of brownish liquid in my freezer. I also appreciate the reminder to go heavy on seasonings since freezer meals do taste milder later, and that Instant Pot note about freezing things in a circular shape is genuinely clever.
Sweetphi says
So glad you found this post useful, thanks for taking the time to comment!
Tamara Rivers says
I don’t think I’ve ever made a comment on any recipe post, but I had to with this one:
I found these 5 freezer meal recipes back in early 2021, just before I had my first child. I was very sick with pregnancy nausea and couldn’t handle a lot of prep work, but wanted to make some freezer meals, and these were the 5 I choose. They were amazing to have in those early weeks after my daughter was born.
So when I was about to have my second child a couple of years later, I made these same 5 freezer meals. Again, they were fantastic, and I appreciated them.
A couple of years later, my sister was getting ready to have her first child, so my Mom and I put together these same 5 freezer meals to take to her. She just sent me a message that they are so appreciated.
Many of these recipes have actually made it into our regular meal-planning, when we need easy slow cooker or even stovetop recipes with little to no prep. I cannot thank you enough for putting this list together, it has been amazing. And I imagine I will continue to use these recipes for my family, and for others.
Thank you!
Sweetphi says
This has to be the nicest comment I’ve ever received, wow, THANK YOU for taking the time to leave this feedback, it is so appreciated!
Susan L Craig says
Wow! This is going to be super helpful as I am heded into my busy season at work.
Sweetphi says
I think you’ll love these recipes, they’re truly delicious and so easy for those busy days!
Franny says
These looks delicious! Sorry if you already said this in your post somewhere, but is a slow cooker/Instapot absolutely necessary? I don’t want to invest in one right now. Can I just use a pot on the stovetop?
Franny says
Please ignore my idiotic comment. Someone cannot read, apparently! Thank you!! 🙂
Sweetphi says
No worries, I always appreciate comments, please ask away! And yes, all of the recipes have stovetop instructions 😉 Please let me know any time you have a question, happy to convert my recipes for you!
Amy says
Hi. I’m going to put these together this weekend. I am also in Weight Watchers and the oil in the park recipe is A LOT of points. It sounds so good, though, and I definitely want to try it. Do you think the recipe would work if I used broth instead, or even reduced the amount of oil?
Sweetphi says
What a great question! Yes, you could definitely decrease the amount of oil and use some broth instead! Let me know how it turns out for you!
Ann Marie says
I’ll be back to make them all for my household soon, but I wanted to tell you I made 3 of these to take to my Mom as she gets ready for her next chemo treatment (did halve the spices/flavorings for her). it took me about 30-40 minutes, and I know it’s saved her so much time and trouble. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Sweetphi says
Your comment made my day, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to come back and leave this amazing feedback!! I myself just remade these for the freezer – especially the chicken chili!
Karen says
Thank you for this post! For the Sesame Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli — do you freeze raw chicken breast or cooked chicken breast? Thanks!
Sweetphi says
Great question – raw chicken, it cooks in the slow cooker 🙂 Hope you enjoy this delicious recipe
Kara Jensen says
What are the number of servings for these recipes? And serving size?
Sweetphi says
Great question! Generally, all these recipes serve 4-6. It just depends on how much the people you’re serving eat. For example there’s usually a pound of meat and veggies/etc, and that serves 4. Hope that helps.
Jackie Mayse says
I just had a baby and a friend gave me the sesame chicken and lemon pork meals as freezer meals. They were both great and now I’m on here to get the recipes for the other meals in this post. I love the idea of making freezer meals that require no advance cooking and can be served quickly for dinner. Thanks again!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH for that amazing feedback! I truly appreciate it!! These recipes are so great when you’re looking for recipes that don’t require a million hrs of prepping ahead, right? Thanks again, hope you love these!!
Jessica says
Just made all five of these for my mom today. She lives alone and doesn’t really have the motivation to cook for herself anymore. It took me 1.5 hrs to prep and package everything. I split each recipe up into three quart-sized freezer bags, so she’s got three nights’ worth of each of the meals, for a total of 15 meals in her freezer. I’m so happy to have been able to do this for her, and having all these recipes in one spot definitely helped me to crank them out!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH for this incredible comment and feedback, I especially appreciate you sharing the time it took you to prep and package everything. That’s so smart of you to split it all up like that. Thanks again!!
Molly says
OMG I so needed this post!!! Lots of people I know with babies on the way and I plan on making all and cranking out multiple batches to send their way! Freezer meals with no precooking are the best!!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for this awesome comment!!! Having been on the receiving end of your amazing generosity with freezer meals, I can honestly tell you it is THE BEST gift to receive as a new mom. I’m not even kidding Molly, one of the things I think back on and remember whenever I think of the twins’ birth is the amazing freezer meals I came home to (so again, thank you!!). Hope you love making these, they’re truly delish!