Even with the pandemic going on, it seems as though life never slows down. Especially for people with kids, there’s always some scrambling to get dinner on the table. Of course, parents want to make food that’s not only delicious but also healthy. The ultimate solution — meals you can make, freeze, and then pop into the crockpot.
As a bonus, you can make any one of these meals for roughly $10 each. And they’ll easily feed between four and six people. But you can always double or triple the ingredients for more meals or to feed a larger family.
Hawaiian Meatballs
Cooking instructions: Instapot – 7 seven minutes / slow cooker – 3 to 4 hours (Low)
- 32-ounces frozen meatballs
- 2 cups chopped red peppers
- 20-ounce can pineapple chunks (include the juice)
- 1-cup packed brown sugar
- 2/3-cup white distilled vinegar
- 2-tablespoons soy sauce
Chicken Tacos
Cooking instructions: Instapot – 25 minutes / slow cooker – 6 to 8 hours (low)
- 1-pound frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16-ounce jar salsa
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1/2-cup water (for the Instapot cooking method only)
BBQ Country-Style Ribs
Cooking instructions: Instapot – 10 minutes / slow cooker 3 to 5 hours (low)
- 1-pound country-style boneless pork ribs
- 1 chopped white onion
- 1 bottle barbecue sauce
- 1/2-cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke
Philly Cheese Steak Filling (for sandwiches)
Cooking instructions: Instapot – 8 minutes / slow cooker 3 to 4 hours (low)
- 1/2-pound frozen fajita meat
- 1 chopped white onion
- 1 green sliced bell pepper
- 1 packet dry zesty Italian dressing
- 1-cup beef broth
Pork Chili Verde
Cooking instructions: Instapot – 60 to 90 minutes / slow cooker 6 to 10 hours (low)
- 1-pound pork roast
- 2 tomatillos (cut into small wedges)
- 1 chopped white onion
- 1 chopped green pepper
- 1 jar green salsa
- 1 small can, chopped green chilis
- 15-ounce can, diced tomatoes
- 1-teaspoon cumin
Wintertime Soup
Using this freezer to slow cooker method of fixing meals, you can make all kinds of yummy soups. One example is a Mexican style soup made with your choice of beef, chicken, or turkey. With green chilis, black beans, corn, onion, tomatoes, and a variety of spices, it’s perfect for supper on a cold night.
Don’t forget the stew
Who doesn’t love a delicious hearty stew? Using the same freezing method, you can store cubed meat, onion, red potatoes, carrots, peas, and a host of other ingredients until ready to cook. Especially when made in a slow cooker, the flavors merge perfectly. This is ideal for a large family or a gathering of friends.
Additional recipes
Cilantro Lime Chicken, Swedish Meatballs, and Honey Sesame Chicken are additional recipes worth making. Both kids and adults love them. Of course, you can find many more online. The possibilities are endless.
Ready to freeze
For every recipe, place, the ingredients in a one-gallon heavy-duty zippered plastic freezer bag. Write the name of the recipe, the date made, and the cooking time/temperature with a magic marker. These meals typically last in the freezer for three months.
Helpful tips
With the ingredients sealed in the bag, remove the air. Then, turn the bag to mix everything before placing it in the freezer. Also, always use the juice from canned goods unless otherwise specified. If needed, you can season the recipes with salt and pepper while cooking.
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