Freezer Crock Pot Meals?

[redwagon]

Hey guys and gals! In about six weeks I'll be popping out a set of twins and want to prepare a bunch of pre-chopped/portioned meals to freeze beforehand. This way I can just a baggie into the crockpot, add the liquid, and let it go. So if you have any good ones, please do share!! Thanks!

[saveinla]

I think sam814 does something like this. She uses a website that gives you menu ideas and shopping lists. If you PM her, she may be able to help.

[redwagon]

Thanks! I wouldn't cook it beforehand, just chop up the meat, veggies, etc and freeze them so it's all prepped for when I want to do the cooking. The pepper steak looks good. And I'll check with sam.

[Apple]

Sorry I don't have a specific recipe, but I'll dig this weekend. I think you could do almost anything, but if it has potatoes I wouldn't freeze them, those don't always turn out well.

How do you feel about casseroles you can freeze then bake later? (You could use the really cheap tins, or freeze them in your dish, pop them out once frozen and wrap them up--when you're ready to cook them you could just unwrap them and put them back in the dish. That would add a lot of options--stuffed pasta shells, enchiladas, etc).

[kittensaver]

Oct 3, 2012 11:53:46 GMT -5 Apple said:

Sorry I don't have a specific recipe, but I'll dig this weekend. I think you could do almost anything, but if it has potatoes I wouldn't freeze them, those don't always turn out well.

How do you feel about casseroles you can freeze then bake later? (You could use the really cheap tins, or freeze them in your dish, pop them out once frozen and wrap them up--when you're ready to cook them you could just unwrap them and put them back in the dish. That would add a lot of options--stuffed pasta shells, enchiladas, etc).

This is what I do, and after a few weeks you get into a rhythm and it becomes easy. Whenever you make something (chili, casseroles, lasagna, enchiladas, pot roast, burgundy beef, chicken pot pies, etc etc etc) make a double batch and freeze the second batch or casserole. A few weeks from now, pull it out the night before you want to serve it and let it sit in the frig 24 hours until you pop it in the oven. Even if you forget to pull it out, its frozen state will only add another 20 or 25 minutes to the oven time (just enough time to pop a bottle of wine, or let the kids make vege dippers with ranch dressing :-))