Freezer meals don’t have to be boring, uncreative stews and simple chicken soups. They can be incredibly tasty, exciting, elegant, healthy dinners that are as impressive thawed as when they first came out of the pan!
Here are 10 of my favorite freezer meals and sides to impress your whole family and make enough to last you months!
During the Covid-19 quarantine, I’ve been taking social distancing VERY seriously. I live in Brooklyn which has been a very hard-hit part of the country. I’ve been trying to limit any time outside, and make as few trips to the grocery store as possible, so I decided to make enough freezer meals to last me through May.
Even with my tiny freezer, I did it! In fact, I won’t have to go shopping for a month and a half with the amount of food I’ve made and frozen! I don’t usually like to use plastic bags for freezing food (I prefer to use glass), but I made an exception for this situation so I could really stack everything more efficiently.
Here are the the recipes I made for myself and a bunch more. They’ll all stay frozen perfectly for months!
1. Curry Butternut Squash with Turkey, Spinach and Hominy
I doubled the recipe and made 12 servings of this tasty turkey stew. If you’ve never used hominy in your cooking before, you’ll love it! It’s a plump, chewy kernel of white corn that’s been dried and soaked in a mineral lime bath.
It has a mild flavor and is traditionally used in Mexican cooking, but I thought it would add the perfect texture to this Indian-spiced meal! Get the recipe for Curry Butternut Squash with Turkey, Spinach and Hominy!
2. Homemade French Onion Soup
Here’s a REAL easy one, especially if you’ve already made your own beef broth. All you need are some nice, big red onions, butter and a lovely bottle of port wine or sherry… and some gruyere of course. Get the recipe for Homemade French Onion Soup!
3. Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon
I doubled the beef in this recipe to make 2 extra servings. I also made a whole bunch of mashed potatoes and froze them too to serve along with it. Just because you’re in lock down doesn’t mean you can’t eat like a queen. Get the recipe for Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon!
4. Delicious Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken
This recipe is one of the easiest I know how to make, and feeds at least 6 happy cowboys! I added an extra chicken breast to stretch it to 8 servings and had almost all of the ingredients already in my kitchen! Get the recipe for Delicious Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken!
5. Simple Crockpot Bone Broth
This immune system-boosting broth is delicious on it own, sipped in a cup or a perfect base for soups and stews. This recipe makes a LOT, so you’ll have plenty to freeze, thaw, sip and add to your other recipes. Get the recipe for Simple Crockpot Bone Broth!
6. Sautéed Swiss Chard with Caramelized Shallots
I’ve made and frozen this recipe and it has been perfect to add to risotto, or serve on the side of other meals. I simply thaw it, then sauté for 5-7 minutes in a pan to bring it right back to life! Get the recipe for Sautéed Swiss Chard with Caramelized Shallots!
7. Easy Shepherd’s Pie with Red Wine
If you’ve got a nice, big freezer, make and freeze this entire shepherd’s pie. It’s truly one of the coziest recipes you’ll ever make, and is just as incredible thawed as fresh out of the oven.
Just make sure to thaw it at room temperature for an hour before reheating it at 375 F. for 15-20 minutes. Get the recipe for Easy Shepherd’s Pie with Red Wine!
8. French Green Beans with Shallots and Sesame Ginger Sauce
Make these tasty beans and caramelized shallots and simply freeze the sauce separately into ice trays or make it just before serving. The beans and shallots will thaw perfectly, but you’ll want to undercook them just a bit so they’re perfect when re-heated.
Cook the shallots exactly as the recipe states, but sauté the beans in a pan for 5-7 minutes, then freeze. When you want to reheat, simply thaw and sauté them again for 4-6 minutes and serve. Get the recipe for French Green Beans with Shallots and Sesame Ginger Sauce!
9. Creamy Curry Cauliflower Soup
I made a nice big batch of this to get me through the month. I even picked up a nice baguette and froze that too so I’ll have lots of fresh, crunchy homemade croutons to serve on the side. Get the recipe for Creamy Curry Cauliflower Soup!
10. The Very Best Swedish Meatballs
Ahh, Swedish meatballs! The highlight of every IKEA trip! Tender, creamy, deliciously spiced and so heartwarming!
Served over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes, this recipe is “elegant comfort food” and dare I say, tops IKEA’s recipe any day. And contrary to what you may think, they actually do freeze and thaw nicely.
I hope you enjoy all of these recipes! Stay safe and well everyone!
And for more inspiration, follow me on INSTAGRAM @shekeepsalovelyhome, on PINTEREST and FACEBOOK! And if you ever make any of my tasty drinks or treats, take a picture and tag me. I want to see!
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