Easy Cheap Make Ahead Freezer Crockpot Meals

Today we're sharing 6 Crockpot Freezer Meals complete with a shopping list and everything you need to know about prepping and cooking these healthy freezer meals.

All 6 of these crockpot freezer meals are perfect for the expecting mom, a sick friend/family member, or for an easy meal prep dinner throughout the week.

Hello, we're so glad you are here! In this post, we're going to teach you how to prep, freeze and cook 6 different crockpot freezer meals that are all HEALTHY and super simple to make.

If you'd like to skip the prepping and freezing part and get cooking immediately with one of these amazing crockpot chicken recipes, here are all 6 original recipes:

• 6 Crockpot Chicken Recipes
• Why Make These Crockpot Freezer Meals?
• How to Make Crockpot Freezer Meals
• Crockpot Freeze Meals FAQ
• Printable Grocery Lists
• Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Recipe
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
• Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
• Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup
• Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Crockpot Chicken Freezer Meal (+6 Crockpot Freezer Meals)

6 Crockpot Chicken Recipes

1. Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
2. Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
3. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
4. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
5. Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
6. Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

I thought I would give you some background on why we decided to post 6 slow cooker chicken recipes and then teach you how to turn them all into freezer meals.

There's this little thing called life that sometimes gets a little overwhelming at times. Maybe you're in college, or pregnant, or sick, etc. OR just don't have a ton of time to make sure you have a healthy meal for you and your family.

Well, that's where these crockpot freezer meals come into play.

• Each recipe serves between 6-8 people.
• They can be prepped ahead of time.
• There is little to no effort needed after thawing.
• They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Few ingredients are needed for cooking in addition to the freezer meal itself.

There are four parts to each of these crockpot freezer meals: 1. prep 2. freeze 3. thaw and 4. cook. The goal in prepping these meals ahead of time is to make dinner as easy as possible when you're ready to cook.

So, that means getting as many of the ingredients as possible that each recipe calls for into the freezer bag so that you don't have to add very many (if any) ingredients to the crockpot once it's time to cook!

I like to start off by writing the name and date of the recipe onto the freezer-safe Ziploc bag with a sharpie. This will prevent you from forgetting what's inside and when it was made!

The great thing about all of these recipes is that the ingredients that go into the bags are all raw, making it super simple to prepare.

Once you've got all of the ingredients into the freezer bag, it's time to remove as much air out of the bag as possible.

This part is key because if any air gets trapped in the bag, you risk freezer burn. So, just carefully push out as much air as you can before sealing tightly.

Because you are planning to use your slow cooker to cook these crockpot chicken meals, you'll want to thaw what's in the bag completely. This will avoid any kind of food-borne bacteria from the poultry. Thawing options include:

• Thawing in the fridge overnight.
• Thawing on the countertop for a few hours.
• Thawing in the microwave on the defrost setting.

Once thawed, you can pour the contents of the bag into your slow cooker and add any remaining ingredients. In each recipe we give two different cooking options:

1. Cook on low for 6-8 hours
2. Cook on high for 3-4 hours.

When cooking chicken in the slow cooker, we always suggest cooking slower and lower to get a more tender chicken!

Can I cook these meals in the crockpot from their frozen state?

We recommend fully thawing your freezer meal before cooking in the crockpot. You want to make sure you avoid any kind of food-borne illness, and if you stick the frozen meal into the crockpot you risk that!

Can I make these meals in the Instant Pot?

We knew you were going to ask this! We're confident you can cook most of these in the Instant Pot, however, we haven't tested this method. If you try it, tell us what you did in the comments!

What is best for crockpot recipes, cooking on low or high?

For chicken slow cooker recipes, we always suggest using the low function on your crockpot. The longer and slower it cooks, the more tender your chicken will be!

How long will these freezer meals last in the freezer?

If frozen properly, these meals will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. We suggest writing the name of the recipe and the date on your freezer-safe plastic bag so that you remember when it was made.

Can I freeze the cooked recipe?

While we haven't tested that, we're confident that you can freeze both soups and the enchilada casserole. Make sure that you let them cool completely before freezing.

How long after the meal is thawed do I have to cook it?

We recommend cooking the thawed meal within 24-48 hours! Once it has been thawed, do not re-freeze.

Like we mentioned above, these 6 recipes are such a fantastic gift for new moms or sick loved ones OR to just have on hand at all times.

We created a printable grocery list and directions of each recipe as well as a master grocery list in case you want to make all 6 at the same time, which we highly recommend doing.

You'll only need about $100 worth of groceries for 6 meals and each meal serves 6-8 people. Guys, that's like $2.77/serving right here! Crazy, I know!

So? Download all 6 recipes and the master grocery list all in one or scroll down to download each individual recipe and directions. If you are gifting these freezer meals, you can easily print out the cooking directions and attach them to the freezer bag.

• 6 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals – recipes, directions, and master grocery list for all 6 recipes.
• 6 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals Master Grocery List

Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Recipe

Start your week off right and meal prep this Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Recipe! It has all of the traditional and savory flavors of Chicken Cacciatore, but it's ready in no time with very few steps!

It's the perfect freezer slow cooker recipe to make during any time of year. Eat it alone or over your favorite pasta.

Freezer Bag Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1 large red pepper, sliced
• 1 large green pepper, sliced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1/2 large yellow onion, sliced
• 1 3.8-oz. can sliced black olives, drained
• 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• salt, to taste

Directions

1. Create sauce by mixing together tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning and salt.
2. Then, place chopped peppers, minced garlic, chopped onion, olives, and whole chicken breasts into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag.
3. Pour sauce on top and then remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
4. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 6 sprigs fresh rosemary
• Optional: 8 oz. of your favorite pasta

Directions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag in slow cooker and mix.
3. Then, create a fresh herb bundle by tying 6 sprigs of rosemary and 6 sprigs of thyme together with bakers twine. Set on top of other ingredients in slow cooker. Option to skip this step and add 1 more tablespoon of Italian seasoning.
4. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
5. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove and shred. Then, add chicken back in and mix.
6. Serve over your favorite pasta or eat as is. Top with a little balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese.

Want to cook this recipe immediately instead of turning it into a freezer meal? Check out the original Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Recipe.

Click HERE to download a printable grocery list and freezer bag instruction card.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

This Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is savory, hearty and made completely in the slow cooker. Prep a batch and you'll have dinner in no time, or meal prep and freeze for the perfect freezer meal at a later date.

Freezer Bag Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
• 2 large red potatoes, chopped into 1-inch chunks
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 15-oz. can full-fat coconut milk
• 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. First, blanch the potatoes. Prepare an ice bath by placing ice in a large bowl and covering the ice in water.
2. Next, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and let them boil for 2-3 minutes.
3. Strain the potatoes and pour them immediately into the ice path to stop the cooking process. Let the potatoes sit in the ice bath for 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain the potatoes from ice bath, dry them off with a dish towel.
5. Next, create the sauce by mixing together coconut milk, tomato sauce, and all spices.
6. Then, place potatoes, onion, and full chicken breasts into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag and pour sauce on top.
7. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
8. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Directions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag in slow cooker and stir.
3. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
4. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove and chunk. Then, add chicken back in and mix.
5. Serve over rice or quinoa.

Want to cook this recipe immediately instead of turning it into a freezer meal? Check out the original Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala recipe.

Click HERE to download a printable grocery list and freezer bag instruction card.

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole will change your life! Throw everything in your slow cooker and in only 2 hours dinner is served. Not only is this recipe delicious the day you make it, but it can be frozen for later! Follow the steps below in how to prep, freeze, and then cook this delicious Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole!

Freezer Bag Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 15-oz. can pinto beans, strained and rinsed
• 2 cups minute brown rice
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 1 large yellow pepper, chopped
• 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 3 cups enchilada sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon Frank's hot sauce (or apple cider vinegar)
• salt, to taste

Directions

1. Place all ingredients for the Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag and mix.
2. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
3. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag in slow cooker and add 1 cup of water. Stir.
3. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
4. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove and chunk. Then, add chicken back in and mix.
5. Serve with Greek yogurt, avocado, cheese, or any topping of your choice!

Want to cook this recipe immediately instead of turning it into a freezer meal? Check out the original Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipe.

Click HERE to download a printable grocery list and freezer bag instruction card.

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Need a hot soup that warms the soul and is the perfect remedy when under the weather? Make our Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup.

Made with carrots, celery, onion, chicken breast, and wholesome spices, this chicken noodle soup crock pot recipe is perfect for any palate. It also doubles as a healthy freezer meal that only takes 20 minutes to prep and freeze for later!

Freezer Bag Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 4 medium carrots, finely diced (1.5 cups)
• 4 large celery stalks, finely diced (1 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (2 heaping tablespoons)
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place chopped carrots, celery, garlic, onion, and chicken breast into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag. Sprinkle on Italian seasoning and salt and make sure all ingredients are covered.
2. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
3. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 6 sprigs of thyme
• 6 sprigs of rosemary
• 1 tablespoon Frank's hot sauce (or white vinegar)
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups egg noodles

Directions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag in slow cooker and stir. Then, pour in chicken broth and Frank's hot sauce and mix.
3. Create an herb bundle by tying together fresh rosemary and thyme with baker's twine. Place on top of soup in slow cooker.
4. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
5. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove from slow cooker and dice. Then, place back in to the slow cooker.
6. Add 3 cups of egg noodles to slow cooker and stir. Cover and let cook for an additional 10 minutes or until noodles are fully cooked.

Want to cook this recipe immediately instead of turning it into a freezer meal? Check out the original Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.

Click HERE to download a printable grocery list and freezer bag instruction card.

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup that packs all the creaminess you love from a traditional chicken pot pie without all those fillers.

This chicken pot pie soup recipe is packed with veggies and made creamy with a homemade healthy roux. We'll teach you how to prep, freeze, and make this soup with just a few ingredients.

Freezer Bag Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 20 oz. frozen vegetable mix
• 1/2 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 large russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. First, blanch the potatoes. Prepare an ice bath by placing ice in a large bowl and covering the ice in water.
2. Next, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and let them boil for 2-3 minutes.
3. Strain the potatoes and pour them immediately into the ice path to stop the cooking process. Let the potatoes sit in the ice bath for 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain the potatoes from ice bath, dry them off with a dish towel.

1. Add chicken breast, frozen vegetables, onion, and potato into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag.
2. Then sprinkle on spices and make sure chicken and vegetables are fully coated.
3. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
4. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag in slow cooker and add 8 cups of chicken broth.
3. Cover and let cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
4. With one hour remaining in your cook time, start making your roux.
5. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium/high heat.
6. Lower heat to medium heat and add flour to butter. Whisk until mixture turns into a crumbly consistency. Remove from heat.
7. Add butter/flour mixture to the slow cooker and whisk soup until butter and flour mixture dissolves.
8. Place cover on slow cooker, turn to high if it's not already on high, and let cook for an additional 1 hour to allow broth to thicken.
9. Once chicken is fully cooked, remove and dice into small chunks. Add back into slow cooker and stir.
10. Finally, add heavy cream to soup, mix, and serve!

Want to cook this recipe immediately instead of turning it into a freezer meal? Check out the original Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup recipe.

Click HERE to download a printable grocery list and freezer bag instruction card.

Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Our Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is perfect for any weeknight meal, is kid-friendly, and made with only 5 ingredients! So? Make your grocery list, head to the store, and cook up this amazing slow cooker honey garlic chicken. PS: it doubles as a delicious freezer chicken meal that you can make any time of year!

Freezer Bag Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soy sauce (or tamari)
• 2 teaspoons red chili garlic sauce

Directions

1. Create honey garlic sauce by mixing together minced garlic, honey, soy sauce and red chili garlic sauce until the honey has dissolved.
2. Then, place chicken breast into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag and pour sauce on top.
3. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
4. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Ingredients & Directions

Ingredients

• 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)

Directions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag into slow cooker and mix.
3. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
4. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove and shred.
5. Then, add in 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch into the sauce in the slow cooker and whisk.
6. Add chicken back in and stir. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes to thicken.
7. Serve with your favorite grain and steamed vegetables.

Want to cook this recipe immediately instead of turning it into a freezer meal? Check out the original Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe.

Click HERE to download a printable grocery list and freezer bag instruction card.

• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup of your favorite sauce or marinade (Italian dressing, hoisin sauce, BBQ Sauce, etc.)

Freezing Instructions

1. Place chicken breast into a freezer safe gallon-sized bag and pour sauce on top.
2. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal tightly.
3. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Once thawed, place contents of the bag into slow cooker and mix.
3. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
4. Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove and shred.

• Nutrition is for our Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken.

Serving Size: 1/6 Calories: 214 Sugar: 23 Fat: 3 Carbohydrates: 26 Fiber: 0 Protein: 25

Category: Dinner Method: Slow Cooker Cuisine: American

Keywords: crockpot freezer meals

smithweld1970.blogspot.com

Source: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/6-crockpot-freezer-meals/

Share this post