Looking to fill your freezer this month? Here are 5 easy freezer meal dinners that you can double to eat the same night, too!
Welcome to Week 3 of my 4 Weeks to Fill Your Freezer series! If you’re new, make sure to check out the other posts in this series:
Each week I made 5 different recipes to put in my freezer, to show you how easy it can be to make freezer meals. Even if it’s just a little at a time.
By the end of this week, you’ll have 5 delicious dinners ready to go. Just think: fewer nights of scrambling at 5:00 PM, and more time actually enjoying dinner with your family!
Keep scrolling to the bottom of the post to get straight to the recipes. Or keep reading if you want some extra tips!
Why Make Freezer Meals for Dinner?
Dinner seems to be the hardest meal for people. Long days at work, sports practices… it feels impossible to find the time to cook.
But when you spend a little time prepping, here’s what happens:
- You’ll save money by avoiding the drive thru.
- You’ll save stress during that dinner rush.
- You’ll always have something homemade on hand.
- You’ll save time so you can spend that precious time with your family.
How to Stretch Meat Further and Save Money
When I looked at the recipes I wanted to use, I cringed at the amount of ground turkey I’d have to buy. 6 pounds. That’s a lot of money.
So I decided to experiment to see how I could get the same amount of volume without spending an extra six dollars on meat. And the solution is- add vegetables!
I only bought 3 pounds of meat instead of 6. And then I shredded about a pound each of carrots and zucchini. On Sunday afternoon, I cooked all the meat in a huge pot with the veggies, along with a chopped onion.
Three large containers full of a meat and veggie mixture. It seems to be about the same amount of volume as double the meat, so I think it was a success!
As for the taste, I think it’s fine. I mean, you can tell there are veggies in it when you look at it and can feel them when you chew, but I don’t think it alters the taste at all.
If you don’t like those vegetables, swap them out for other things! You could try adding cooked rice or beans instead; those are both cheap and filling too. Or, just buy the extra meat. Customize it to your family’s needs!
Tips for Prepping These Freezer Dinners
- Label first: Write the recipe name, the date, and any cooking instructions on the freezer bags or foil.
- Cool before freezing: Hot food, in the freezer, create condensation. And that causes freezer burn.
- Work in stages: If you’re making multiple meals at once, chop all the vegetables. Then cook all the meats. Then assemble the meals. This saves you time!
How to Store The Meals
Each recipe gives you instructions on whether to use freezer bags or aluminum pans.
They’ll all stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months! They’re still safe to eat, but the longer they stay in the greater chance they have of getting freezer burn.
Customizing These Meals for Your Family
One of the best things about these is how flexible they can be!
- Swap the meats: Ground turkey, ground beef, ground chicken, etc.
- Use your favorite cheeses.
- Add extra veggies (Spinach, bell peppers, etc.)
- Adjust spice levels as needed.
FAQs
Can I cook these before freezing?
Yes! You can fully make them, cool, and then freeze in individual portions.
How do I prevent freezer burn?
Remove as much air from the bags as possible. For casseroles, this might mean double wrapping to keep air from getting in.
Can I make just 1-2 of these at a time?
Most definitely! It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Even having one extra meal in your freezer helps tremendously.
4 Weeks to Fill Your Freezer Challenge Week 3- FREEZER MEAL DINNERS
4 Weeks to Fill Your Freezer: Dinners
Looking for a large, easy freezer meal? These Red Chicken Enchiladas are a delicious Mexican dinner and can easily be doubled!
Looking for an easy weeknight dinner? These Freezer Sloppy Joes are a fast, freezer-friendly sandwich option for busy nights!
These Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas are an easy Mexican dinner you can dump straight into your slow cooker! They're freezer friendly, too!
This Freezer Friendly Baked Penne is an easy family meal that makes a double batch! Eat one for dinner and put the other in the freezer for later!
A perfect dinner for a cold night, this healthy Turkey Chili is made in the slow cooker and is freezer friendly! Eat half now and freeze the rest!
Freezer Meal Grocery List
- 3-6 pounds ground beef/turkey
- 4 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 pound carrots* (Omit if using 6 pounds of beef)
- 2 zucchini* (Omit if using 6 pounds of beef)
- 6 onions
- 1 green bell pepper
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 yellow bell peppers
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 orange bell peppers
- 1 can pinto beans
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can kidney beans
- 2 cans tomato paste
- 1 can green chiles
- 4 cans red enchilada sauce
- 46-ounce can tomato juice
- 4 cups shredded cheddar
- 1-pound box ziti
- 2 26-ounce jars spaghetti sauce
- 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 16 tortillas
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon white sugar
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
- ½ tablespoon chili powder + 2 teaspoons
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 packets taco seasoning
Freezer Items
- 1-2 8×8 foil pans for Baked Penne (Buy 2 if freezing both)
- 1-2 9×13 foil pans for Enchiladas (Buy 2 if freezing both)
- Aluminum foil
- 2-4 gallon-sized freezer bags
- 1-2 quart-sized freezer bags
- Permanent marker for writing
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE GROCERY LIST
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.
