I don't know about you but there are many school nights where I am busy and get home late or don't make it home for dinner at all. There's also nights where I simply just don't feel like spending a long time making dinner! If this is you, then I have a great solution for you! FREEZER MEALS. Taking some time to prep freezer meals in advance will save you lots of stress and time in the future when you don't have the time.
I started my contract days this week and next week is our first day of school (crazy!) so this earlier this week I cranked out a bunch of freezer meals to use the next few months. I personally love to make freezer meals that can be thrown into the instant pot to slow cook all day or thrown in and pressure cooked and ready in a short amount of time. I also like freezer meals where all you have to do is throw them in the oven. This means I can have dinner ready even on nights where I get home later or my husband can easily make one if I'm not home to make dinner.
There are LOTS of good freezer meal recipes out there but I thought I would share the freezer meal recipes that I chose to make this time around. Freezer meals typically are good for up to 90 days, but using them before 60 days will probably ensure the best quality.
Before you start I HIGHLY recommend getting these bag holders from Amazon (aff link). They make it so much easier to prep freezer meals! If you're going to make freezer meals that will go in the oven I recommend putting the meals in a foil tin (aff link).
INSTANT POT HAWAIIAN MEATBALLS - This recipe is a favorite and it's a bonus that it can be made into a freezer meal so easily! Place meatballs, pineapple, red bell pepper, brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce into a gallon freezer bag. Put it in the freezer and when you want to use it, thaw it for 12-24 hours and then dump it into your Instant Pot. Pressure cook for 7 minutes and serve over rice!
INSTANT POT ROOTBEER PULLED PORK SANDWICHES - This recipe is seriously the easiest! In the freezer bag you only need TWO ingredients! Root beer and a pork roast! Place both in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. When you're ready to use it, thaw it for 12-24 hours (take it out of the fridge the day before) and then dump it in your instant pot to pressure cook for an hour OR you can slow cook it for 6-8 hours. Add BBQ sauce and serve on rolls!
SLOW COOKER CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN - I do love slow cooker recipes because I can easily start them before I go to school in the morning and then I come home to dinner made! It's amazing. There's no prep cooking ahead of time with this one-- you can simply put chicken or frozen chicken into the freezer bag. Along with the chicken you add beans, tomatoes, corn, salsa, cilantro, onion, jalapeno, cumin, chili powder and garlic and then put it in the freezer. Dump it all in a slow cooker for 7-8 hours and dinner is served!
TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA - This is the kind of freezer meal where you basically prep the meal as if you were going to eat it that night but instead of baking it right then you cover it and freeze it! Then when you're ready to use it you can pull it out of the freezer and throw it in the oven to bake. It does require a little more prep before freezing but it's also a great one to simply double on a night that you're making it and then freeze the second one. You'll cook the pasta and chicken, make the sauce, and then put it all in a foil tin. Then freeze it!
SCRAMBLED EGG BREAKFAST MUFFINS - This isn't really one meal but it makes a great grab and go breakfast on busy mornings where you're running late! You could make 12 or double it to have 24! You could also make these each week. They're easy and yummy! I suggest wrapping them in plastic wrap individually to freeze.
I hope that these are helpful! I will share when I make more again. I know that this really helps me to have a smoother school year!
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