Before we talk about freezer to slow cooker meals, let’s dream a little…
Imagine that moment. You know the moment. It’s that dreadful gray space of time after school but before dinner and you can just feel the storm coming. Might even be able to see it coming. Maybe in the form of a four year old flailing on the kitchen floor, or a sulky teen rummaging through the pantry acting as if you’ve never fed them before in their entire life.
Wouldn’t it be awesome, if in that moment you could just say, “Dinner is ready! Grab a plate sweet cherubs!”
Of course it would! And of course it’s possible for this to be a real life experience for you. May I go so far as to say this could be a regular, every day reality in your home?!
Let’s talk about slow cooking and freezer meals and how when they come together it’s a match made in heaven.
Why Slow Cooking is Fantastic
A slow cooker is a must-have appliance for any kitchen, in my opinion. If you don’t have one because you think you don’t have the space for it, I’m going to take a risk here and say that you are wrong. Wrong because it’s so worth it to make the space for one.
Slow cookers don’t really look all that impressive because they typically only have a few settings or buttons. Don’t let that fool you.
Slow cookers do the work for you. Recipes for the slow cooker typically are dump-and-go style, requiring the smallest amount of prep work possible. This allows the opportunity for home chefs with very little experience to wow their families with little to no effort. (Hello, simple and delicious!)
Most slow cooker recipes have the very simple direction of “set on low for eight hours.” You don’t even have to stand there and watch it. That’s eight hours of work, or laundry, or napping, or Netflix!
Slow cookers help with the ambiance too. Hot summer days are a brutal time to have the oven on for an hour as it acts as a heater for the busiest living areas of your home. Slow cooking allows you to have a home cooked meal without heating up the house. On a cold winter evening, not many things are better than walking into your home and being greeted with the smell of warm chili bubbling to perfection.
Why Freezer Meals are Fantastic
It’s more than just a freezer meal. It’s flexibility. It’s confidence. It’s savings.
You’ll love the freedom and flexibility of freezer meals. There is something magical that happens in your mind when you know you have “back-up dinner” in the freezer. When your schedule changes or life throws you a curve ball that day, freezer meals provide flexibility and an easy option for dinner. (They are also great for days when you just don’t feel like cooking!)
Save Time
Spend a few hours shopping and assembling your meals, then spend more time doing the things you love. Enjoy the company of your family instead of standing in the kitchen for hours every night cooking dinner. Have a little extra energy and patience for those last minute projects because dinner is already done.
Save Money
Freezer to slow cooker meals will keep your tummies happy and your pocketbook full. They open up the ability to shop the sales and stock up, knowing you are getting the ingredients into meals and into the freezer. You can utilize bulk pricing with the confidence of not wasting any of it. Plus, freezer meals help you skip the large bill of the drive-thru or takeout because you already have a meal prepared.
Say Goodbye to Dinnertime Stress
Freezer meals are a lifesaver and godsend on busy weeknights, or on days that just don’t go as planned. (Which might be every day!?) Not having to think about or worry about ‘what’s for dinner?’ is such a relief. Just pull from the freezer, thaw and cook. Dinner will take care of itself.
Freezer Meal + Slow Cooker = Perfection
Freezer to Slow Cooker Meals are the BEST MINDLESS way to do dinner. Drop them frozen into the slow cooker in the morning and you’ve got dinner waiting at the end of the day. They are the perfect solution for getting a delicious and healthy meal on the table on busy weeknights.
With freezer to slow cooker recipes, dinner is even more hands-off and hassle-free.
The practicality and simplicity of make ahead freezer meals is undeniable. They are cheaper than fast food, faster than sitting in the drive thru, and the health and nutrition of these meals surpasses the other fast-food options out there.
These recipes are the secret to the fastest possible meal at home by combining the convenience of freezer meals with the practicality of quickly pulling together simple, delicious ingredients that freeze well and cook well, so you end up with an amazing dinner waiting for you when you get home – it’s a magical methodology that will change the way you operate in the kitchen.
Freezer to slow cooker meals will help you spend less time in the kitchen, and more time doing what you love. They will help you eat healthier and save money on groceries too.
Step by Step Instructions
- Pull meal from freezer and thaw in warm bowl of water for five minutes. You want to get it thawed enough to separate the ingredients from the bag.
- Pour the contents of the bag into the slow cooker insert.
- Put the lid on.
- Set slow cooker on low for at least 8 hours.
- Viola! Dinner is served.
The Best Slow Cooker
I love this slow cooker – I’ve had it for years and years and it (still) cooks beautifully!
If you’ve got a slow cooker that “runs hot,” or just isn’t cooking right for you, I HIGHLY suggest switching to this one!
I get emails every week asking about the best slow cooker and why slow cooker food is nasty and why the meat is dry. The problem is your slow cooker. So….
I highly recommend that a slow cooker have the following features:
- Programmable to the half hour
- Well-tempted with a leveled “warm setting”
- Auto-switch to warm setting after cooking cycle is complete
- Crock-Pot brand (because I’ve tried others and they just don’t cook evenly or the same – at least at my house!)
The one I recommend is programmable to the half hour, cooks very well and has a well temped and leveled “warm setting” too.
Also, I wanted to add – you will see MANY, MANY great options and deals for slow cookers and non-Crockpot brand slow cookers. The price might be great, but my guess is the quality and way that it cooks your food will be “off.” I do not at all recommend getting any slow cooker with a “dial switch” – where you turn the dial. It just won’t cook right.
Spending a little more on a quality slow cooker that cooks well but won’t ruin your dinner is the wiser purchase!
The Best Freezer to Slow Cooker Recipes
All of these flavors are so comforting, and it's even better that they all cook together in the slow cooker! It’s amazing how just a few ingredients can be so delicious. Seriously. These are seriously good, and the whole family will love them! This chicken is also delightful on salad greens too 🙂Best Slow Cooker Recipes - Chicken
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken & Cornbread
Slow Cooker Rosemary Artichoke Chicken
Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos
A comforting family favorite, easily made in the slow cooker! Loving this stew, packed with veggies and flavor! My kids love taco soup and I love how easy it is to make. All I have to do is add all the ingredients, except for the toppings and sour cream, to the slow cooker before I leave for the day. Then I come home to a delicious dinner. Just swirl in the sour cream just before serving and add the garnishes on top! Enjoy!Best Slow Cooker Recipes - Beef
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Slow Cooker Simple Baby Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Creamy Taco Soup
This is such a flavorful dinner! Not only is it flavorful, it’s so simple to prepare. I love how easy this recipe is to toss together! Simple ingredients, complex flavor! Anything wrapped in bacon is sure to be good, right? The creamy ranch dressing sauce that these pork chops cook in is outstanding. You could make these with just 4 ingredients (not including the sides or garnish), or if you’re not into processed foods you can easily make these from scratch. A simple and flavorful shredded pork recipe, that is multi-purpose! Try it in a taco or on a sandwich.Best Slow Cooker Recipes - Pork
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin
Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Nachos
Best Slow Cooker Recipes - Vegetarian
Slow Cooker Curried Chickpeas & Vegetables
This right there y’all…is what you call a delicious, hearty, filling vegetarian dish that even meat lovers will love!
Slow Cooker Spanish Rice
Spanish rice has never been easier with this slow cooker version! Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup
The veggies, tomato sauce, and basil come together so nicely in this soup as cooks! Enjoy the smells!
Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli Soup
Pasta E Fagioli. Or “Pasta and Beans” in Italiano. This is a delicious and simple twist on the classic Italian soup.
Slow Cooker Indian Butternut Squash and Lentils
Unique and delicious flavors in this easy slow cooker dish!
The Best Freezer to Slow Cooker Cookbook
Okay, I might be biased here. But here’s what you need to know.
The recipes included in this cookbook will help you spend less time in the kitchen, and more time doing what you love. They will help you eat healthier and save money on groceries too.
Make-Ahead Freezer Meals for the Slow Cooker includes:
- 65 healthy, stress-free recipes made with wholesome ingredients that cook well in the slow cooker
- 2 weeks worth of “Freezer to Slow Cooker Meals” cooking plans
- Recipes, shopping lists and freezer meal prep instructions
- Budget-friendly ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and fridge
Load up your freezer with the simplest and easiest meals, including recipes like: Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken, Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef, Slow Cooker Creamy Taco Soup, Slow Cooker Ginger Peach Pork Chops, Slow Cooker Lemon & Dill Salmon, and so many more “freezer to slow cooker” weeknight meals.
Tap below to grab your cookbook and other freezer to slow cooker resources!
Bonus: How to Add Side Dish Ingredients to Your Slow Cooker Meal
Making some meat or chicken with a sauce in the slow cooker can make for a wonderful meal. But cooking the rice or pasta “on the side” is not always necessary. With many recipes, you can add the rice or pasta right in and let it cook during the last bit of cooking.
However, adding rice or pasta in at the beginning with the meat means you are going to have a mushy mess at the end! Use my best slow cooker tips for when to add rice and pasta to keep that from happening to you…
When Do I Add the Rice to Slow Cooker So It Doesn’t Turn Out Mushy?!
Add the rice to the slow cooker that is cooking on high, when there is 2 hours left in the cooking time. If your slow cooker is set on low, add when there is 2 hours 45 minutes left in the cooking time.
Soup & Stew
If you are cooking a soup or stew and you wish to add rice to make it a one dish soup or stew and not have to dirty another saucepan or rice cooker, then add it when there is 2 hours left in the cooking time. Add hot water or broth if necessary. (See note in next tip about liquid amounts.)
Casseroles
If you are making a chicken and rice casserole like dish in the slow cooker, you can add the rice when there is 2 hours left in the cooking time. You will have to look at the amount of liquid that is in the slow cooker when you add the rice. If it looks dry, then you’ll want to add some hot water when you add the rice. Rice works on a 2 to 1 ratio in the slow cooker, 2 cups water to 1 cup rice, just as it does when cooking on the stove top or baking. So if there is about 2 cups of liquid already in the slow cooker, then just add the rice. If there only seems to be 1 cup, then add in an additional cup of hot water or broth.
This will help keep the rice nice and firm, and perfect for when you are ready to eat. It will not sit in the liquids all day and won’t have time to get mushy!
Slow Cooker = Rice Cooker
Also, You can use your slow cooker as a rice cooker. Simply spray the sides and bottom with a non-stick cooking spray. Add the amount of water plus rice that you’d like to cook using the 2 to 1 ratio (explained above). If you are using brown rice, add an additional 1/2 cup, or use a 2 1/2 cup water to 1 cup rice ratio. If you wish to season the rice, do so now. Set the slow cooker on high and cook for 2 hours. Fluff lightly before serving.
Now, for the pasta…
Making some meat or chicken with a sauce in the slow cooker can make for a wonderful meal. But cooking the rice or pasta “on the side” is not always necessary. With many recipes, you can add the rice or pasta right in and let it cook during the last bit of cooking.
Pasta can quickly turn into a mushy mess in the slow cooker. And by quickly, I mean really quickly.
To keep the pasta from getting soggy, add the shells plus 1 cup of hot water (or maybe more, depending on how much liquid is already in the slow cooker) when there is 30 minutes left in the cooking cycle.
If you are using quick-cook pasta that takes just 7 minutes to boil, then I would add it in 18 to 20 minutes left in the cooking cycle. If you are using a heartier, whole grain pasta, than plan to add that 35 to 40 minutes before the cooking cycle is complete.
Also, I recommend transferring the contents of the slow cooker to a large bowl or serving dish, to prevent the pasta from overcooking while the slow cooker sits on the warm setting.
Everyone Loves Freezer to Slow Cooker Meals
You’ve heard all my reasons, here are a few reasons from our Facebook community:
- “The convenience of having dinner ready to go”
- “Having one think checked off the list after a long day of work!”
- “Knowing dinner is done! Saves stress in my mental/brain space.”
- “Having dinner planned before I wake up.”
- “They are no brainers and require nothing more than me remembering to start them. Also if I can’t be there to start or serve dinner it is ready for my family.”
If you are interested in getting TEN freezer to slow cooker recipes into your freezer in an hour, MyFreezEasy can help you make that happen!
You choose the recipes your family likes, then MyFreezEasy pulls them together and gives you a customized meal plan with:
- complete recipes plus doubled version to freeze so you can easily prepare and cook your meals
- shopping lists so you can get in and out of the store
- streamlined assembly instructions so you can spend as little time as possible on the freezer meal prep
- downloadable labels with directions for cooking so you know what to do when its time to cook/reheat the meal!
You can create your customized meal plan from your computer, or even from your phone while you are at the grocery store!
Click here for more information about becoming a MyFreezEasy member!
And happy Freezer Cooking!!
xo
Erin
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