Crockpot freezer meals have become my go-to for busy weeknights. They’re as simple as 1-2-3. Prepare. Freeze. Dump.
These crockpot recipes can be made ahead of time and frozen in a freezer bag. The meals are ready to go when you need them. Simply thaw the freezer meal in the refrigerator overnight and dump into the crock pot.
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As a busy mom, my crockpot is one of my most used kitchen appliances. I love the idea of having dinner slow cooking while I’m working or going between after school activities. I also use it often in the summer months as it doesn’t heat up the house like the oven does.
I can often toss fresh ingredients into the crockpot in the morning, but having a few of these crockpot freezer meals already prepared is even better. I don’t have to worry about what I am cooking last minute or have to run to the grocery store to grab last minute ingredients.
We’re also eating out far less as I already have the make ahead freezer meals for the crockpot prepared in plastic bags. I choose a slow cooker freezer meal from the freezer, thaw it in the fridge overnight and dump the ingredients into the crock pot in the morning. When we come home after a busy day, I know dinner has been slow cooking all day and is ready.
Stay on Budget With Crockpot Freezer meals.
Print recipes, make a grocery list and shop the sales. Chicken breast, chicken thighs, pork chops and ground beef go on sale a lot, you can freeze them in individual portions or 1lb servings. I use the fold top sandwich bags to portion out the meat, and then put them in a larger Ziploc bag to freeze in bulk. Print a calendar or make a list to help meal plan and keep track of what crockpot freezer meals you make.
Tips for Making Easy Crockpot Freezer Meals:
We recently used up all of freezer crockpot meals so I decided to compile a new list to try. I tried to use ingredients that we already had in the pantry or fridge/freezer, and made a grocery shopping list of ingredients that I needed to pick up.
First, I separate all of the ingredients on the counter. Then, I get the meat ready – trim the fat off the chicken and cook the meat if needed. I then chop up all of the vegetables and open up the cans.
I write the directions and cook time with a permanent marker on the freezer bag. If you don’t have a second set of hands to help stuff the bags, these baggy clips are great and help to keep the plastic bag open. I prepare all of the crock pot freezer meals at one time and it takes between one and three hours depending on how many make ahead meals I’m preparing.
You can always add in extra ingredients/change the recipe for these crock pot freezer meals to your family’s liking. These are meals and ingredients that our family enjoys. Between my husband and I’s work schedule, the 4-6 hour slow cooker meals work best for us which is what most of these crock pot recipes are, I have also always have never placed the ingredients in frozen – always thawed, so I’m not sure the cooking time if frozen.
These crockpot meals are cooked for 2 adults and 2 young children (ages 3 & 5), and there is always leftovers for lunch the next day. Cooking times may vary depending on your type and size of slow cooker.
Family Favorite Crock Pot Freezer Meals:
Crockpot Pepper Steak
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs round steak cut into 1/2 in strips
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 small onion diced
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 16 oz can Italian style tomatoes
- 1 tbsp beef bouillon
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp steak seasoning
- 1 tbsp steak sauce
Instructions
- Toss steak in salt, pepper, & flour and add to gallon-sized freezer bag. In a med bowl mix together the rest of the ingredients, add to bag. Zip close and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 8 hours.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs are an easy game day appetizer. Serve on top of brown or white rice for dinner the kids will love.
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 med onion chopped
- 1 16-18oz bottle sweet & sour sauce, or homemade
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits drained
- 1 16oz pkg frozen fully cooked meatballs
Instructions
- Place the frozen meatballs, peppers, onions & sweet and sour sauce into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Zip close & place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 4 hours, during the last hour add in the pineapple.
- Serve over rice.
Teriyaki Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops about 1 in thick
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sprinkle salt & pepper on pork chops if desired, place in a gallon-sized freezer bag. In a small bowl mix garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, and chicken broth together, add to bag. Place flat in freezer, when ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on high 4-5 hours or low 6-7 hours.
BBQ Cranberry Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup dried minced onion
- 1 16 oz can whole cranberry sauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce I use Sweet Baby Rays
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Zip close and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on high 3-4 hours or low 6-7 hours.
Honey Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- salt & pepper
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1-2 tbsp cornstarch
- sesame seeds optional
- 1/4 cup Bourbon optional - I usually make it without
Instructions
- Salt & pepper chicken and place in gallon-sized freezer bag.
- In a medium bowl, mix together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, onion, (bourbon, if using) and add to bag. Zip close and freeze.
- When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 3-4 hours, remove chick then slice into strips
- Combine 1 Tbsp cornstarch with 1 Tbsp water. Pour into crock pot & mix, If sauce doesn't thicken, add one more Tbsp of cornstarch and water
- Place chicken back in crock pot and stir around to coat
- Serve over rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- 2 lb pork tenderloin roast
- 1 med onion diced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 16 oz jar salsa
- 1 10 oz can Ro-Tel
- Tortillas
- Toppings - cheese salsa, sour cream, lettuce, avocado ect
Instructions
- Place the roast and onion in gallon-sized freezer bag. Sprinkle in cumin, then add salsa & Ro-Tel. Zip close & place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 8-10 hours.
- Once cooked, remove roast from crock pot and shred
- Drain juice out of crock pot, reserving some in a small bowl. Leave onions & tomatoes in crock pot.
- Add meat back in the crock pot & stir
- Add some of the reserved juice back
- Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.
Not familiar with Ro-Tel? It is diced tomatoes mixed with green chilies & spices. You can see what it looks like here.
Sausage and Peppers
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 12 oz pkg sausage cut into 1/4 in piece
- Sausage)
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 can Italian diced tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag, zip close & place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 6-8 hours.
Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1-2 lb pork tenderloin
- 1 cup chunky applesauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tbsp minced dried onion
Instructions
- Place pork tenderloin in a gallon-sized freezer bag, in a medium bowl mix together applesauce, BBQ sauce and onion, add to bag. Zip close and freeze. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 6-8 hours, or high 3-4 hours. Serve over rice or pasta.
Pineapple Chicken Burritos
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1/2 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cups medium salsa
- 5-6 burrito sized flour tortillas
- 1 10 oz cans green enchilada sauce
- 1 cups shredded cheddar/monterey jack blend
- 1 cup cooked rice
Instructions
- Place the chicken, pineapple, beans, and salsa in a gallon size plastic freezer bag. Zip close and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Remove the chicken and shred. Mix the chicken back into the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients.
- Mix in the cooked rice.
- Fill 5-6 of the burrito tortillas. Place in in a 9×13 pan. Pour 1 can of the green enchilada sauce over the burritos.
- Top with 1 cup of the shredded cheese and place under the broiler on the middle rack until the cheese is nice and melted. About 5 minutes.
Southwestern Chicken Chili
Looking for an easy crockpot family dinner or a chili recipe for game day? Wow your guests with this Chicken Chili.
Southwest Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs boneless chicken breast
- 3 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cups medium salsa
- 1 14.5 oz can corn, undrained
- 2 14.5 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- Toppings - cheese, sour cream, tortilla strips ect
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Zip close and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 4-5 hours.
- Remove chicken from crock pot and shred. Place chicken back in crock pot and stir.
- Serve with desired toppings.
More Crock Pot Dinner Ideas That You Will Love:
