If you’ve ever come across Shareably or read my articles, you’ve probably realized that I love slow cookers. They making the cooking process incredibly easy and simple, leaving me time to do other things.
Known as “Freezer Dump Meals,” these meals require minimal prep while packing maximum value. All you need to do is make the freezer bag and keep them in the freezer until you’re ready to eat it. Simply thaw it overnight, dump then in the slowcooker in the morning, and come back to a hearty meal waiting for dinner. Here are 10 of the best:
Beef Fajitas
Freeze in a bag:
- 2-lb boneless beef chuck shoulder roast
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred beef with two forks. Serve with warm tortillas, fresh sour cream and guacamole.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Freeze in a bag:
- 1-lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1/2 lb carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
You’ll also need:
- 8 oz wide egg noodles
- 8 cups chicken broth
Add 8 cups of chicken broth to ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add 8 oz of wide egg noodles and cook for additional 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Chicken Alfredo
Freeze in a bag:
- 3-lb Chicken Breasts
- 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 Italian Dressing Mix
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
Add 2 cups water to the ingredients and cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve with fettuccine noodles.
Split Pea Soup
Freeze in a bag:
- 1 lb dry split peas
- 2 cups of diced bacon
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 2 cups carrots, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 2 bay leaves
You’ll also need:
- 32-oz of chicken broth
Add 2 cups water and chicken broth to ingredients and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
Meatballs and Tomato Sauce
Freeze in a bag:
- One bag frozen or homemade meatballs
- 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
Cook on high 3-4 hours. Serve with spaghetti noodles.
Shredded Beef Tacos
Freeze in a bag:
- 2 1.5-lb chuck roast
- 2 tsp chicken bullion
You’ll also need:
- 1.5 tbsp Chili Powder
- ½ tbsp Cumin
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Add 2 cups of water to ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred beef with two forks. Serve with taco shells, sour cream, salsa, guacamole and shredded cheese.
Sloppy Joe’s
Freeze in a bag:
- One pound ground meat (pork, turkey, chicken, or beef)
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced green bell pepper
- 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- one Sloppy Joes seasoning mix packet
Cook 3-4 hours on high and serve with buns and fries!
Sausage Lentil Soup
Freeze in a bag:
- 12 to 14 ounces sliced kielbasa sausage
- 2 cups brown lentils
- 2 carrots (diced)
- 1 celery rib (diced)
- 1 diced onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 15-ounce can diced tomatoes,
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Add 2 quarts of water or stock to the slow cooker before cooking. Pour content into slow cooker and cook time for 4-5 hours on high. Serve with fresh bread and rice.
Beef Stroganoff
Freeze in a bag:
- 1-lb stew meat
- 1-lb sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 1 onion, diced
- ½ cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon beef stock base
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Add 1 cup of water to ingredients, and cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in 1 cup of sour cream. Serve with egg noodles or rice.
Cranberry Pork Roast
Freeze in a bag:
- 2.5 pound bone-in pork shoulder (sometimes labeled as a “Boston butt” or “pork butt”)
- 15oz can whole berry cranberry sauce (or half of this homemade cranberry sauce recipe)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup dried minced onion
Dump ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until pork shreds easily with a fork. Remove bones and shred meat before serving.
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