“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8

Easy Freezer Meals Month

Freezer meals. Too much work? Time consuming? Exhausting?

I hear you. I tried Once a Month cooking…once. That was one long day on my feet! Many years ago I purchased a book on the topic and gave it a try. To my dismay, not only was I utterly exhausted, but I discovered that we didn’t enjoy many of the book’s recipes. So, I’ve been experimenting with ways to make the entire process simpler.

Please join me for Easy Freezer Meals Month.

My system is to plan meals that double or triple easily, and stock the freezer over a month’s time (or two! Or on a continual rotation!!).

I’m in need of a huge freezer meal stock-up. Let me give you a hint as to why…

We’re expecting a new granddaughter in November!!!

Yes! I’ll be flying out to hang out with big brother, help with the household, and meet our new granddaughter! My husband will come out at a later time, so I’m doing some easy freezer meals to have on hand for my husband and son at home.

Easy Freezer Meals | The Benefits

Freezer meals can save so much time, effort, and money. I like to have them on hand for when life gets busy, or I’m not feeling well. For the person who suffers from chronic illness, it’s especially nice to know you can turn to your freezer for help when you wake up to a bad health day. When I’m unwell, I’m tempted to eat unhealthy food, and that’s when I most need nutrition! It gives me peace of mind to know I have meals available. Sometimes a friend has an unexpected need for a meal. Freezer cooking means you’re prepared to share at a moment’s notice.

Of course, in addition to being unhealthy, fast food can also become costly. Freezer cooking is an expense up front that saves money in the long run.

Easy Freezer Meals | My Method

My method is extremely simple. When you’re preparing a meal your family enjoys, consider its suitability for freezing. If it’s a good candidate, double or triple your recipe and freeze the extra. Easy peasy, all done!

Honestly, this creates very little extra work. Yes, you’ll spend a few extra minutes chopping. You already have your ingredients and utensils out, so that’s no extra work. The mixing bowl and pans are already going to need to be washed, so no extra work there. It’s surprising how quickly you can fill your freezer with almost no extra work.

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Supplies Needed for Easy Freezer Meals

Freezer. I do own a separate large freezer. However, you will be surprised at how many meals you can fit in a regular kitchen refrigerator freezer. I made meals for our son and family when our last grandson was born, and we fit a lot in their freezer. A LOT. If I hadn’t been so distracted by the adorable baby, there would be a photo to share.

Gallon and quart size freezer bags. For small freezer space, freezer bags work best. I use the ones that zip completely shut, and I have had better success with name brand bags than bargain brand. You fill your bag, zip it, then lay it flat on a covered cookie sheet or other flat surface. Place in freezer till it freezes, then you can stack bags full of food on top of one another, or stand upright and “file”.

Freezer bag holders. I’ve always wanted a set of these freezer bag holder clips, which would make it much easier to fill bags with hot foods.

Freezer containers with lids. If you have room in the freezer, I like freezer containers with lids for saucy things such as soup and spaghetti sauce. I have some that are round and some square ones.

These are really the only supplies needed! I simply ladle the food into the bags. Voila! Keep scrolling for my menu plans for the next four weeks, and exactly what I plan to put in freezer.

Easy Freezer Meals Week One

Sunday–hamburgers, salad

Monday–beef stew. (Double and freeze half).

Tuesday–Breakfast for dinner: grits, fried eggs, spinach, toast

Wednesday–Blackened tilapia tacos

Thursday–Slow Cooker Green Salsa chicken (Triple recipe: one batch will go directly into crockpot, others into freezer bags)

Friday–Prudent Homemakers Taco Soup (double recipe, freeze leftovers)

Saturday–chicken fajitas (Triple recipe; place remainders in freezer bags. Make chicken fajita kits by placing separate baggies of shredded cheese, tortillas, and cooked filling into large freezer bag)

Easy Freezer Meals Week 2

Sunday–Spaghetti sauce (make enough for three meals)

Monday–Hearty Minestrone Soup (double and freeze leftovers)

Tuesday–Breakfast Burritos (make extras to wrap individually in plastic wrap, then place into large freezer bag)

Wednesday–Salmon, roasted vegetables, green salad

Thursday–Crockpot Beef Barley Soup (Triple: one portion of ingredients directly into crockpot, two remaining portions into freezer bags for later crockpot cooking.)

Friday–Taco kits (Cook ground beef for tacos x3. In individual baggies, place cooked meat portion, shredded cheese, tortillas. Place taco kit into large freezer bag.)

Saturday–Grill entire large bag chicken breasts. Eat some with roasted veggies for dinner. Individually wrap each leftover grilled chicken breast in plastic wrap, then place in large freezer bag.

Easy Freezer Meals Week 3

Sunday–Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggies. Make huge batch meatloaf and cook in cupcake pans. Wrap each individual meatloaf in plastic wrap, then place all in large freezer bag.

Monday–Chili. Make double batch; freeze leftovers.

Tuesday–Grits, eggs, spinach, toast.

Wednesday–Grilled tilapia, veggies.

Thursday–Skinnytaste Minestrone Soup. Double batch; freeze leftovers.

Friday–Pioneer Woman Spicy Pulled Pork.

Saturday–Pulled Pork Fajitas. Using leftover pulled pork from Friday, make “burritos” with pulled pork and cheese. Wrap individually with plastic wrap, then place in large freezer bag.