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10 Family Favorite Crockpot Freezer Meals

ByKmac

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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Easy Crockpot Freezer Meals:

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.

how to prep easy crockpot freezer meals

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.

 

freezer to slow cooker

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

CrockPot Pepper Steak

  • 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
  1. 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

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.

  • 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
  1. 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.
  2. Serve over rice.

Teriyaki Pork Chops

Crock Pot Teriyaki Pork Chops

  • 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
  1. 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

Crock Pot BBQ Cranberry Chicken

  • 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)
  1. 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

Honey Bourbon Crock Pot Chicken

  • 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)
  1. Salt & pepper chicken and place in gallon-sized freezer bag.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Place chicken back in crock pot and stir around to coat
  6. Serve over rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Pork Carnitas

Crock Pot Pork Carnitas

  • 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)
  1. 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.
  2. Once cooked, remove roast from crock pot and shred
  3. Drain juice out of crock pot, reserving some in a small bowl. Leave onions & tomatoes in crock pot.

  4. Add meat back in the crock pot & stir

  5. Add some of the reserved juice back
  6. 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

Make sausage and peppers in the slow cooker. An easy game day recipe, or potluck.

  • 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
  1. 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

Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin

  • 1-2 lb pork tenderloin
  • 1 cup chunky applesauce
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp minced dried onion
  1. 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

Crockpot Pineapple Salsa Chicken Burritos

  • 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
  1. Place the chicken, pineapple, beans, and salsa in a gallon size ziplog 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.
  2. Remove the chicken and shred. Mix the chicken back into the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients.
  3. Mix in the cooked rice.
  4. 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.
  5. 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

Looking for an easy family dinner or a chili recipe for game day? Wow your guests with this Chicken Chili.

  • 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
  1. 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.
  2. Remove chicken from crock pot and shred. Place chicken back in crock pot and stir.
  3. Serve with desired toppings.

 

10 crockpot recipes

More Crock Pot Dinner Ideas That You Will Love:

easy crockpot recipes slow cooker chicken tuscan garlic chicken
 

 

These crockpot recipes were originally found at – adapted from Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin, Pineapple Chicken Burritos, Southwestern Chicken Chili, Pork Carnitas, Honey Bourbon Chicken, Sausage & Peppers, Savory Pepper Steak, Sweet & Sour Meatballs.

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370 Comments

  1. Hi Stephanie, I’m not sure how it got deleted but it should be added back now. Enjoy!

  2. I have put frozen meals directly into my crockpot with no problems – except the once when the temperature difference caused the crock to crack.

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