Favorite Freezable Meals

dabittymama

New member
Ok Ladies, hit me with your favorite freezable meals :thumbup:. I don't know if I am going through an early nesting phase or what, but I'd like to get a start on freezing some meals over the next 2 weeks before this little man comes. I think I need some varity of my usual freeable meals, pot pie, mac-n-cheese, and stuffed shells.

What are some of your favs?
 
Lasagna- the no boil recipe!

1 box lasagna noodles
2 jars of spaghetti sauce
16 oz ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 cups mozerella
1 cup parmesan cheese

Mix ricotta cheese, eggs, 1 cup mozerella, an 3/4 cup parmesan in large bowl.

In 9x13 pan, pour a cup (or so) of spaghetti sauce. Lay down one layer of lasagna noodles. Pour another cup or so of sauce ont he noodles. Layer half of the cheese mixture on top of that. Then, top with another layer of sauce... noodles... the rest of the cheese mixture... sauce. Cover w/foil and bake at 375 for an hour. Remove foil. Top with remaining cheeses and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

I usually bake it and then freeze it, but you can do it either way.
 
I make spaghetti casserole using spaghetti sauce, ground Italian sausage and pasta. Mix it together and freeze it FLAT in gallon sized Ziploc freezer bags. After it freezes, I break it up, so that it 'pours'. This way my DH and I can just put it in a bowl and microwave whatever we need. This works well when our schedules are off kilter and sometimes you end up only needing to feed one person. Nice with a salad.
 
HEre are some I made and froze for mt last baby (just like in Jan of 2008 :D) and I plan of oing them again for this coming baby!!!

Beef Enchiladas
INGREDIENTS


* 2-1/2 pounds ground beef
* 2/3 cup chopped onion
* 2 cans (15 ounces each) enchilada sauce
* 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soupimage, undiluted
* 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
* 20 flour tortillas (8 inches), room temperature
* 2-1/2 cups (10 ounces) shredded cheddar cheeseimage
* Additional shredded cheddar cheese
*

DIRECTIONS



In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Combine enchilada sauce and soups; pour about 1 cup each into two ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dishes. Stir 1-1/2 cups of sauce into beef mixture; set remaining sauce aside.
Spoon 1/4 cup beef mixture down the center of each tortilla; top with 2 tablespoons cheese. Roll up tightly; place 10 enchiladas seam side down in each prepared dish. Top with remaining sauce. Cover and freeze one pan for up to 3 months.
Cover and bake the remaining pan at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with additional cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
To use frozen enchiladas: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bake as directed. Yield: 2 pans (10 enchiladas each).

Chicken and Bows
INGREDIENTS
1 package (16 ounces) bow tie pasta
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup butter, cubed
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 cups frozen peas
1-1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook chicken and red pepper in butter over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Stir in the soup, peas, milk, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Drain pasta; add to chicken mixture and toss to coat. Serve half of the mixture immediately. Cool remaining mixture; transfer to a freezer container. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer to an ungreased shallow 3-qt. microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes or until heated through, stirring once. Yield: 2 casseroles (6 servings each).

Colorful Chicken Casserole
INGREDIENTS
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped green pepper
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 package (7 ounces) ready-cut spaghetti or elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, saute celery, green pepper and onion in butter until tender. Add broth, corn, peas and salt if desired and pepper; heat through. Stir in chicken and spaghetti. Divide between two 8-in. square baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Top with mushrooms and cheese. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the second casserole at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes longer or until heated through. To use frozen casserole: Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 2 casseroles (4 servings each).

Pizza Pasta Dinner
INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups uncooked spiral pasta

* 1/2 pound ground beef

* 1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage

* 1 small green pepper, chopped

* 1 small onion, chopped

* 1 cup sliced pepperoni

* 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

* 1 jar (14 ounces) spaghetti sauce

* 1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms

* 1 can (4-1/4 ounces) chopped ripe olives, drained

* 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese



DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef, sausage, green pepper and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the pepperoni, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, mushrooms and olives; cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Drain pasta; stir into meat mixture. Heat through. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand until cheese is melted. Yield: 6 servings.
 
Chicken Taco Quiche
INGREDIENTS

* 2 unbaked pastry shells (9 inches)

* 2 cups cubed cooked chicken

* 2 envelopes taco seasoning, divided

* 2/3 cup salsa

* 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

* 8 eggs

* 2 cups half-and-half cream

* 2 tablespoons butter, melted

* 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies

* 1/2 cup sliced ripe olives



DIRECTIONS

Line unpricked pastry shells with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 400° for 4 minutes. Remove foil; bake 4 minutes longer.

In a small bowl, combine chicken and one envelope taco seasoning; spoon into pastry shells. Top with salsa and cheese. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, butter and remaining taco seasoning. Stir in chilies and olives. Pour over cheese.

Cover and freeze one quiche for up to 3 months. Cover edges of remaining quiche loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 33-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

To use frozen quiche: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Cover edges of crust loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 70-75 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 2 quiches (6 servings each).

Ground Beef Spiral Bake
INGREDIENTS

* 1 package (16 ounces) spiral pasta

* 2 pounds ground beef

* 2/3 cup chopped onion

* 1 teaspoon minced garlic

* 2 jars (28 ounces each) spaghetti sauce

* 2 tablespoons tomato paste

* 1 teaspoon dried basil

* 1 teaspoon dried oregano

* 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese



DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes.

Stir pasta into meat mixture. Transfer to two greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dishes. Sprinkle each with 2 cups cheese. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Bake the second casserole, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 2 casseroles (8-10 servings each).
 
Throw in a couple nights of spagheti, take out and left overs and I had a month worth of meals for my family of six!!!

Good luck!!!!
 
Oh, and enchiladas freeze well. PM me if you want an enchilada casserole recipe.

Also, baked chicken pieces. I will bake a lot-like all thighs or drumsticks(my family likes the dark meat) and I freeze the leftovers. They are very versatile. You can have them reheated with potatoes or rice. Or, you can microwave them with a jar of spaghetti sauce on top and serve with a bed of spinach and pasta. Easy-peasy.

To bake chicken,
-Heat oven to 375F
-Rinse pieces of chicken(with skins) and pat dry.
-Lightly spray a large casserole dish(like 9x13 or larger is better) with Pam
-Prepare about a cup of flour in a flat dish. Add salt and pepper. Maybe some garlic salt if you like that.
-Dip the chicken in the flour mixture to lightly coat
-Place skin side down in the casserole dish.(It is better if they are not touching, but just don't crowd them)
-Bake for about 35-40 minutes and watch for browning. -When the skins look brown and the chicken looks almost cooked, turn them and allow to cook for about 10-15 more minutes. It all should be golden brown and the skins should be crispy(you can easily remove the skins at this time, if you don't like chicken skin).

I keep a bunch of these in the freezer all the time. You can have them with pretty much any sauce that you like, or just heated up with veggies and pasta//rice.
 
My rule of thumb is that if it's a meal your family loves, it's freezable. I freeze just about anything we eat. I make double/triple portions and freeze the extra meals to be able to pull out other nights!
 
I freeze a lot too..pastas work great. I marinate and freeze meats too so all DH had to do was pop them in the oven or defrost and throw on the grill....
 
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