|

3 Fantastic Freezer Meals for Families

When you shop through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This educational content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice.

September 16, 2013

September is notoriously a busy month with back-to-school activities and impending holiday season. Make meal preparation a little easier by incorporating ready-made freezer meals into your routine. Freezer meals are perfect for busy families because they kill two birds with one stone. Prep a bulk meal one time and freeze the portion you will not be eating at that particular meal. The frozen meal can then be heated and enjoyed later in the week.

Here are a few simple and delicious freezer meals the whole family will enjoy.

Breakfast Bake Casserole

Sometimes you just feel like sitting down to a nice warm breakfast to get your day started off right. However, preparing a hot meal in the morning can be daunting. You may opt for quick snacks or on-the-go meals instead. With this simple breakfast bake, you can prepare this hearty breakfast earlier in the week and simply place it in the oven in morning when you are ready to enjoy. Put it in the oven and continue getting ready for the day. Though it is a breakfast bake, it is also great for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 8 eggs
  • 4 cups of milk
  • 8-10 bacon strips cooked and crumbled
  • Medium yellow onion chopped
  • Green bell pepper chopped (approximately 1/4th cup)
  • 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 cups of croutons (Italian seasoned)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Split all items into half. This recipe will make two casseroles.
  2. Place peppers, onions and cheese in the bottom of each oiled or greased casserole dish. An 8-inch square dish works best.
  3. Set aside bacon and whisk remaining ingredients together and pour over the vegetables in the dish.
  4. Sprinkle bacon crumbles on top.
  5. Cover and place in freezer
  6. When you are ready to cook the casserole, remove from freezer and cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
  7. The casserole will stay good in the freezer for approximately 3 months.

Vegan Chickpea Burgers

Whether you are vegan or not, these burgers make a perfect freezer companion. You can freeze them individual and enjoy them whenever you like.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups cooked and drained chickpeas
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • Small yellow onion – diced
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (if you are not vegan you can use 2 eggs)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Pulse chickpeas and rice in a food processor until combined.
  2. Mix in all the remaining ingredients and form the mixture into patties.
  3. Freeze the patties until ready to serve.
  4. Once ready to serve, heat olive oil on a skillet and fry until golden brown. Will take approximately three minutes per side on a hot skillet.

Fall Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Butternut Squash Stew

Nothing screams fall like sweet potatoes, squash and stew. Therefore, this recipe is a real winner to bring in the new weather and season. This recipe is simple because you can prepare the meals in the freezer and they will stay good for up to three months. The day you would like to prepare the meal you can just dump the contents of the bags into the slow cooker and it will be ready to enjoy that evening.

Ingredients:

  • 4-5 chicken breasts
  • 2 sweet potatoes peeled and diced
  • 2 butternut squash peeled and diced
  • Cup of chicken broth
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Any other seasonings you desire such as parsley or basil

Directions:

  1. Place all the ingredients in a large freezer bag.
  2. Store for up to three months.
  3. The night before you would like to prepare the meal remove the freezer bag and de-thaw.
  4. Morning of the meal, place the contents of the bag into a slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low.

Freezer meals are an easy way to enjoy a hearty meal without sacrificing precious time during the day. Plan an evening of freezer meal prep and knock them all out. Store them in the freezer and the rest of your week will be a breeze.

What is your favorite freezer meal?

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *