4 Easy Freezer Meal Prep Ideas For Quick & Simple Dinners
When it gets busy during back-to-school time, I just want something simple and quick for dinner. I am doing easy freezer meal prep so I can throw items in the crockpot, the Instant Pot, or the oven.
So, come fill your freezer with me with these four freezer-friendly recipes: enchilada soup, white chicken chili, grape jelly meatballs, and meatloaf. I'll be making two portions of each, so in total, all of this will make 8 meals.
Ingredients
I spent about $66 at Walmart for these items (groceries bought in September 2022). I made two of each of these four meals for eight meals total. I also use freezer bags for my meal prep freezer containers so I can be sure there’s no freezer burn.
Here’s what I bought:
- 2.25-pound package of ground beef
- 48-ounce bag of frozen meatballs
- 4.5-pound package of boneless chicken breasts
- freezer bags (to eliminate freezer burn)
- 2 frozen bags of onions
- 2 jars salsa
- 2 jars of chili sauce
- 4 cans of cannellini beans
- 2 cans of black beans
- 2 cans of pinto beans
- 2 cans enchilada sauce,
- 2 Jars of grape jelly,
- 2 cans of diced tomatoes
- 2 cans of green chilies
- 1 jar minced garlic
- Eggs
Enchilada soup
Ingredients for one bag:
- 1 large chicken breast
- 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- I can corn
- ½ onion
- 1 can of green chiles
- 14 oz red enchilada sauce
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- Garlic and cumin to taste
1. Prep bags
I’m writing the name of the meal and cooking instructions for this enchilada soup.
To cook from frozen, add 1 cup of water and cook in Instant Pot for 30 mins or crockpot 6-8 hours on low.
2. Fill bags with chicken
I’m opening my bags, two at once, and putting in my chicken and all the other ingredients to make the meal. I put one chicken breast in each bag.
3. Add garlic
Add a scoop of minced garlic into each bag.
4. Add beans
Add a can of drained and rinsed black beans into each bag.
5. Add corn
Add a can of undrained corn to each bag.
6. Add tomatoes
Add one can of petite diced tomatoes to each bag.
7. Add chilis
Add one can of green chilis to each bag.
8. Add sauce
Add in one can of enchilada sauce (I’m using medium).
9. Add cumin
Add a few shakes of cumin or one taco seasoning packet.
10. Add onion
Add half a bag of frozen onions to each bag.
11. Seal the bags
Make sure you get all the air out of the bags before you close them up. Shake the bag, lay it down flat, and that’s how it will go into the freezer. All I have to do is open a bag, put it in the Instant Pot, add a cup of water, and let it cook for 30 minutes.
White chicken chili
Ingredients for one bag:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can of pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1 onion
- 16 oz salsa verde
- Garlic, cumin, and cayenne to taste
1. Prep bags
I wrote on the bags that I need 4 cups of water when I cook each bag.
To cook, add 4 cups of water and cook in the Instant Pot for 30 mins or crockpot 6-8 hrs on low.
3. Add chicken
Put two chicken breasts into each bag. That finishes off the package of chicken.
4. Add onions and garlic
Put half a bag of frozen onions in each bag. Add a heaping spoonful of minced garlic to each bag.
5. Add pinto beans
Add a drained and rinsed can of pinto beans to each bag.
6. Add cannellini beans
Add two cans of drained and rinsed cannellini beans to each bag.
7. Add salsa
Add one jar of salsa verde into each bag.
8. Season
Season with cumin and a bit of cayenne pepper. I’m not measuring, just add to your liking.
Grape jelly and chili sauce meatballs
These are delicious, the recipe only takes three ingredients, and they’re a big hit.
Ingredients for one bag:
- 24 oz meatballs
- 1 jar of grape jelly
- 1 bottle chili sauce (option: Heinz Chili Sauce)
1. Prep bags
We can have them on hand as appetizers or as a full meal with mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice. Cook on low for 4-5 hours in a crock pot.
2. Add meatballs
Split the big bag of meatballs between the two bags.
3. Add sauce
Add one whole jar of chili sauce to each bag.
4. Add jelly
Add one whole jar of grape jelly to each bag. This sauce is delicious. I filled six bags in about 30 minutes.
Meatloaf
Ingredients:
- 1 package of ground beef
- Onions chopped
- 2 eggs
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Salt and pepper
- Dry ingredients
1. Make the meatloaf mix
Put the entire package of ground beef into a bowl and break it up.
2. Add onions
I had fresh onion left over that I wanted to use up so I put it in the bowl.
3. Add eggs
Add two eggs into the bowl. (By the way, the half-dozen eggs were part of the $66 haul.)
4. Season
Add in stone-ground mustard, ketchup, salt, and pepper–as much as you want. It gives it a bit of a tang.
5. Dry ingredients
Some people like crackers or Saltines as the dry ingredient in their meatloaf. I’m using oatmeal today. Add just a handful or so.
6. Work the meatloaf
Use your hands to mix the meatloaf. Don’t overwork the meat or it will get tough. Just work it so it’s sticking together and not too wet.
7. Put in pans
I made one regular-size meatloaf and two mini meatloaves.
8. Cover
Cover the pans with tin foil and put them in bags.
Easy freezer meal prep
I hope you’re inspired to try these freezer meal prep recipes. Let me know in the comments below if you tried them and what you thought! Leave me your freezer prep meal ideas in the comments, too!
Comments
Join the conversation
How long to cook meatloaf?
These sound easy and delicious! You said you made 8 meals. How many servings does each meal make? Trying to figure the cost per portion :)