Six Healthy Crockpot Freezer Meals For Easy Dinners

Want to save time with your weeknight dinners? Try these crockpot freezer meals! These six healthy crockpot freezer meals are quick and fast, and perfect for family dinners.

Crockpot freezer meals are great because they can be batch prepped in advance and then stored in the freezer. Plus each one is full of healthy ingredients, instead of store-bought sauces which usually contain too much sugar and preservatives we don't need.

As a busy mom, I’m always looking for new ways to make my home cooking fast and easy. That's why I love freezer meals so much! I also love these recipes because they're all prepared in the slow cooker (or crockpot). Nothing feels better than being able to quickly dump all the ingredients into the crockpot in the morning and have it ready by dinnertime!

With a little bit of planning, you can make a week’s worth of meals easily and toss them in the freezer. Does it get any better!?

HOW TO MAKE YOUR CROCKPOT FREEZER MEALS

TIPS AND TRICKS:

• Prepping the freezer bags:  One of the most important steps is to write on your freezer bag the name of the recipe, date to use by, and cooking instructions before you add any of your ingredients. You don't want to skip this step because it's easy to forget what something might be, or how long it's been in the freezer.
• Adding Ingredients:  I like to make my freezer meals right after I come home from the grocery store. But I have also saved this process to the day after a grocery shop if I'm short on time. When you make a bunch of freezer meals at once you're saving huge amounts of time. When adding ingredients to your freezer bags, I like to use these handy clips that will help your bag stand up and avoid spilling. First I start with my vegetables and beans. Then I add all the spices and sauces in the middle. This is important because it prevents them from getting stuck to the sides of the bag when cooking. I usually add the meat in last to the freezer bag, so that it dumps in first to the slow cooker.
• Freezing tips: You can use Ziploc freezer bags to freeze your meals. Lay each one flat while they are freezing. This will help to save space in your freezer. It's also important to write the "use-by" date on the freezer bag so that you don't end up with a freezer burnt meal that you have to throw away.
• Defrosting tips: I always take out my freezer meals the night before I’m ready to cook them and place them in a clear acrylic container with a bit of shallow water in the fridge. This will help to speed up the defrosting process.
• Cooking tips: I like to dump my freezer meals into the crockpot in the morning, that way they'll be ready by dinner time. Always make sure to read the cooking instructions you wrote on the side of the bag to see if there's anything you need to add. For example, broth or water - these are usually just added in the morning instead of being added to the freezer bag.

That’s it! When you know these simple tips and tricks, you can easily make your crockpot freezer meals. To get you started, below are six delicious crockpot freezer meal recipes to try at home.

1. Barbecue Glazed Meatballs Crockpot Freezer Meal

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

MEATBALLS:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup panko crumbs
• 2 tablespoon yellow onion, chopped small
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

SAUCE:

• 2.5 cups barbecue sauce
• 2 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

FREEZER MEAL PREP:

1. Label a freezer bag with recipe name, instructions, and the use-by date.
2. In a large bowl, combine meatball ingredients - lean ground beef, panko crumbs, diced onion, garlic powder, chili powder. Mix everything together. Shape into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Freeze on baking sheet for 2-3 hours, then place in a freezer bag.
3. In a bowl, mix together sauce ingredients - barbecue sauce, maple syrup, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Pour into a separate freezer bag. Seal bag and remove as much air as possible. Lay flat while freezing for easier storage.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Thaw freezer bags in the fridge overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked. 
3. Pour the sauce mixture into a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to thicken slightly. Stir the meatballs into the sauce. 
4. Serve meatballs with rice.

2. Easy Beans and Ham Crockpot Freezer Meal

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups cooked ham, cubed
• 1 can navy beans, drained and rinsed
• ½ yellow onion, chopped
• 1.5 cups pureed tomatoes
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper

FREEZER MEAL PREP:

1. Label a freezer bag with recipe name, instructions and the use-by date.
2. Add white beans, chopped onion, pureed tomatoes, maple syrup, dried mustard, salt and pepper to a large freezer bag. Add in cubed ham. Seal and remove as much air as possible. Lay flat while freezing for easier storage.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Pour ingredients into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
3. Serve with rice or pasta (optional).

3. Potato and Sausage Soup Crockpot Freezer Meal

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 carton broth (about 5 cups)
• 2-3 cups water
• 1 (6 oz) small can tomato paste
• 2 lbs sausage, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 medium potatoes, diced
• 2 cups chopped cabbage
• ½ onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• Sea salt and pepper

FREEZER MEAL PREP:

1. Label a freezer bag with recipe name, instructions and the use-by date.
2. Add ingredients to the freezer bag, except for water and broth. Start with potatoes, cabbage, onion, carrots, celery ribs and peas. Add in Tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Add the sausage pieces. Remove as much air as possible, and seal tightly. Lay flat while freezing for easier storage.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Add all ingredients to the crockpot, along with broth and water. Cook on low for 8-9 hours, or high for 4-5 hours.

4. Crockpot Maple Baked Beans Freezer Meal

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoon mustard
• 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans
• 1 (15 oz) can navy beans
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• 6 slices of bacon
• Salt and pepper

FREEZER MEAL PREP:

1. Label a freezer bag with recipe name, instructions and the use-by date.
2. Add all ingredients to the freezer bag. Start with beans and onion. Add in tomato sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup (or honey), garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add the strips of bacon on top. Remove as much air as possible, and seal tightly. Lay flat while freezing for easier storage.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In the crockpot, add garlic, onion, barbecue sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, pinto beans, and maple syrup. Mix everything together.
2. Lay the strips of bacon on top of everything. Cook on high for 4 hours. Remove bacon and cut into pieces, stir back into beans. 

5. Chicken Noodle Soup Crockpot Freezer Meal

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped small
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• 6 oz egg noodles

FREEZER MEAL PREP:

1. Label a freezer bag with recipe name, instructions and the use-by date.
2. Add all ingredients except for egg noodles to the freezer bag. Start with frozen peas and carrots. Add in spices, then chicken breasts. Remove as much air as possible, and seal tightly. Lay flat while freezing for easier storage.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add all ingredients except noodles to the crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours. 
2. In the last hour, add the egg noodles.
3. Before serving, remove chicken and shred with a fork. Stir back into the soup.

6. Chicken and Potato Soup Crockpot Freezer Meal

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 carton chicken broth (about 5 cups)
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ red onion, chopped
• 2 celery rib, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• ½ tablespoon onion powder 
• Salt and pepper

FREEZER MEAL PREP:

1. Label a freezer bag with recipe name, instructions and the use-by date.
2. Add all ingredients to the freezer bag except for chicken broth. Start with vegetables, then add spices, then add chicken. Remove as much air as possible. Lay flat while freezing for easier storage.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Thaw freezer bag in the fridge overnight.
2. Add all ingredients to the crockpot, including chicken broth, and cook on low for 8-9 hours. 
3. Before serving, remove chicken and shred with a fork. Stir back into the soup.