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7 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals | How To Meal Prep

How to make slow cooker freezer meals that are easy and delicious and make meal prep a breeze!  Get tips for how to meal prep with slow cookers and 7 delicious slow cooker freezer meal recipes to get you started.

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals | How to make slow cooker freezer meals that are easy and delicious and make meal prep a breeze! | A Sweet Pea Chef

Freezer meals and me are big buds.  Like BFFs, really.

For the longest time, I never really froze any of my meals ahead of time, preferring to just make it when I needed it.

Then life got crazy and I somehow wound up with 4 little humans to take care of and a business to run.

Enter the slow cooker freezer meal.

Freezer meals are a super great way to meal prep, since they’re ready for you to basically grab and dump into a slow cooker, cover, and then walk away.  When it’s time to enjoy your food, you have essentially a freshly cooked meal that you’d never know was frozen solid just a few hours before.  Genius!

Line of seven slow cooker freezer meals packed into 1 gallon size ziploc freezer nags, ready to freeze. Tips For How To Make Slow Cooker Freezer Meals

While the basic concept of a slow cooker freezer meal is prep and freeze, there are some helpful tips for how to make slow cooker freezer packs so you get the tastiest meal possible.  Here are my tips:

  • To pack your freezer meals, only add the ingredients that require long amounts of cooking, like dried beans, vegetables, and portions.  Leave the softer foods, like cooked beans, mushrooms, pasta, and zucchini for adding when you’re almost ready to eat.

  • For freezer meals, I use a 1 gallon freezer ziplock bag which will hold the entire portion, but you can use any freezer-safe container.

  • If you have the time, you can add more flavor to the meat by browning it ahead of time, but it’s not necessary.

  • Make sure to label the freezer bag so you know exactly what meal you’ve prepared and I like to add the amount of time needed to cook, too.

  • You can use either fresh or frozen produce and vegetables to make your freezer meals.

  • You can either add the freezer pack directly to the slow cooker when frozen or thaw in the fridge the night before.  

  • Freezer meals last in the freezer for up to 3 months.

  • For these slow cooker meals, you can just take the contents of the packs and add them into a slow cooker.  Turn the heat to low, and set your timer.

  • If you’re concerned about freezing raw meat with produce, don’t worry – it will all get cooked to a safe temperature in the slow cooker.

  • Look for a large crock pot to make sure your entire frozen meal will fit into the bowl.

Take just a little prep time now for 7 different easy, healthy meals later.  Freezer meals are cooking for the first time in the slow cooker so they don’t taste like leftovers at all.  Trust me, you’re gonna love this!

Inside view of a freezer that shows the slow cooker freezer meals that are being frozen for later.

Why You Should Freeze Meals

“Failing to plan is planning to fail” is the basic tenant behind meal prep.  To be successful and make your life a whole heck of a lot easier, it is helpful to take the time you do have and be effective with it.  When it comes to meal planning, that means it’s great to spend some time ahead of time so you have food later.

Ever gone to the fridge, seen nothing interesting to eat, and then ordered pizza or ate something unhealthy?  Me, too.  BUT I find that, if I have a plan and I have food ready to go so not much work has to be done, then I am way more successful at eating healthy and staying on track with my goals.  Freezer meals make it extremely easy to just grab from the freezer and go.

How To Reheat Slow Cooker Freezer Meals

There are two main ways for how to reheat slow cooker freezer meals: frozen and thawed.  Personally, I find it easiest to remove from the freezer and then place directly into the slow cooker. However, you could also allow the freezer meal to thaw in the fridge the night before you cook it.

If you choose to plop the freezer meal into the crock pot when still frozen, you will need to account for that with a little additional cook time.  As a general rule, add 1 1/2 hours to the cook time if the freezer pack is frozen.

Inside view of a slow cooker with a freezer meal inside to show how to cook a slow cooker freezer meal in a crock pot.

7 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals

Below, I’ve shared 7 delicious, easy, and simple slow cooker freezer meal recipes to make your evenings less stressful.  These recipes are dependable, family-approved, hard to mess-up, and come out delicious every time. Taking just minutes ahead of time to meal prep these freezer meals will save you tons of time and stress in the future.  When you come home from work and are hungry, these recipes will be reliable, yummy, and on the table in no time.

1. Slow Cooker Minestrone – This easy slow cooker minestrone is vegetarian and packed full of vegetables.

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Minestrone Slow cooker freezer meal for minestrone in a 1 gallon freezer bag.

3 from 3 votes
Slow Cooker Minestrone Freezer Meal
Slow Cooker Minestrone Freezer Meal
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 5 mins
 

This easy slow cooker minestrone freezer meal is vegetarian and packed full of protein and fiber.

Categories: Crock Pot, Slow Cooker, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian, Weeknight Dinner
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 6
Calories: 234 kcal
Author: Lacey Baier
Ingredients
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 1/3 lb green beans, cut into thirds
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 28 oz diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup whole wheat or quinoa noodles, uncooked (optional)
  • 1 med. zucchini, sliced (optional)
  • 1 15-oz can kidney beans, drained
  • 1 15-oz can cannelloni beans, drained
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients except for noodles, zucchini, and beans to a slow cooker and cover.

  2. Set slow cooker to Low or 4-6 hours, or until all the vegetables are cooked and tender.

  3. When the minestrone is about 20 minutes away from being ready to eat, you can add in the cooked kidney beans and cannelloni beans, sliced zucchini, plus any un-cooked pasta you’d like to add.

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Minestrone Freezer Meal
Amount Per Serving (2 cups)
Calories 234 Calories from Fat 14
% Daily Value*
Fat 1.5g2%
Saturated Fat 0.3g2%
Sodium 367.9mg15%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 12.1g48%
Sugar 7.6g8%
Protein 12.3g25%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

2. Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken – This easy Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken is quick to prep, better than takeout, and way healthier for you, too!  Perfect for easy weeknight dinner and kid approved!  [GET THE RECIPE.]

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken Ziploc bag filled with cashew chicken to make slow cooker cashew chicken freezer meal.

3. Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup –This delicious and healthy slow cooker split pea soup requires just 5 minutes of prep time and contains 21 grams of fiber and 28 grams of protein in just one bowl! [GET THE RECIPE.]

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Ziploc bag filled with contents for split pea soup freezer meal, ready to be frozen.

4. Slow Cooker Meatloaf with Green Beans and Potatoes – Meatloaf has never been easier.  This slow cooker meatloaf is easy to prep and tastes great with the side of potatoes and green beans.

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Meatloaf Ziploc bag filled with meatloaf, green beans, and potatoes, ready to be frozen and then added to a crock pot for a slow cooker freezer meal.

3 from 3 votes
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 10 mins
 
Meatloaf has never been easier. This slow cooker meatloaf is easy to prep and tastes great with the side of potatoes and green beans.
Categories: Clean Eating. Gluten-Free, Crock Pot, Slow Cooker, Weeknight Dinner
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 6
Calories: 544 kcal
Author: Lacey Baier
Ingredients
For The Slow Cooker Meatloaf:
  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2/3 cup almond meal
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried sage
For the Ketchup Sauce:
  • 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 6-oz. can tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dried mustard
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
For the Potatoes:
  • 1 1/2 lbs. baby potatoes
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
For the Green Beans:
  • 1 lb. green beans
Instructions
  1. Combine together all the ingredients for the meatloaf in a large mixing bowl.  Then, form into a block. 

  2. Place this block into the 1 gallon freezer safe plastic bag.

  3. Next, toss the potatoes with olive oil, sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper and place them next to the meatloaf block, followed by fresh green beans.
  4. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, then place in the freezer.

  5. When the meatloaf is fully cooked, you can combine the ingredients for the ketchup sauce and then top the sauce evenly over the top before serving.

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Amount Per Serving (1 plate)
Calories 544 Calories from Fat 191
% Daily Value*
Fat 21.2g33%
Saturated Fat 5.8g29%
Cholesterol 127mg42%
Sodium 599mg25%
Carbohydrates 50.1g17%
Fiber 8.4g34%
Sugar 11.2g12%
Protein 33.3g67%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

5. Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup – Yes, you can make chicken tortilla soup in a crock pot!  Yes, you can make slow cooker chicken tortilla soup healthy!  Yes, it’s amazingly easy, delicious AND it freezes well, too! [GET THE RECIPE.]

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup Slow cooker freezer meal in a ziploc bag containing all the ingredients for a slow cooker chicken tortilla soup.

6. Slow Cooker Cauliflower Chicken Curry – How to make slow cooker chicken cauliflower curry that is easy, healthy, and delicious!  Perfect for a weeknight dinner and freezes well, too!  This is a paleo, gluten-free, and clean eating recipe. [GET THE RECIPE.]

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Chicken Cauliflower Curry Ziploc bag filled with uncooked ingredients for slow cooker chicken cauliflower curry.

7. Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan – Quite possibly the easiest chicken parmesan ever.  This slow cooker chicken parmesan has so much flavor.

Slow Cooker Freezer Meals - Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Large ziploc bag filled with contents for slow cooker chicken parmesan that will be frozen and then cooked in a crock pot.

3 from 3 votes
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 5 mins
 

Quite possibly the easiest slow cooker chicken parmesan ever. This slow cooker chicken parmesan has so much flavor.

Categories: Clean Eating. Gluten-Free, Crock Pot, Easy Weeknight Dinner, Slow Cooker
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 4
Calories: 386 kcal
Author: Lacey Baier
Ingredients
  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 8 0z. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 2 tbsp. parmesan, grated
Instructions
  1. Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise.

  2. Place the chicken, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, sea salt, pepper, basil, and oregano into a 1 gallon freezer bag and then press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, then place in the freezer.

  3. Cook on high in the slow cooker, frozen, for 4-5 hours, or until chicken is cooked through.

  4. When the chicken is cooked through, top it with a few slices of fresh mozzarella and grated parmesan and serve over some spiralized zucchini noodles for a healthy satisfying meal.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Amount Per Serving (0.5 chicken breast)
Calories 386 Calories from Fat 197
% Daily Value*
Fat 21.9g34%
Saturated Fat 10.4g52%
Cholesterol 99.1mg33%
Sodium 882.2mg37%
Carbohydrates 17.3g6%
Fiber 4.2g17%
Sugar 7.3g8%
Protein 33.5g67%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

7 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals | How to Meal Prep

 

Line of slow cooker freezer meals filled in large ziploc bags, including slow cooker chicken parmesan, chicken cauliflower curry, split pea soup, meatloaf, chicken tortilla soup, and cashew chicken.

 This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

Lacey Baier

Hey there! I’m Lacey Baier and I’d like to welcome you! I’m a healthy lifestyle influencer and the creator of this clean-eating blog and YouTube channel, as well as cleanish, my clean-eating supplement brand. My recipes have been published on Food Network, Good Morning America, FoxNews, Tastemade, Fitness Magazine, and much more. I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and four kiddos. Let’s get started!

3 thoughts on “7 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals | How To Meal Prep

  1. Can you put dried beans in freezer bags instead of canned beans so they will cook for dame length of time and other ingredients and save money?

  2. For the slow cooker meatloaf–do you add everything in the bag to the slow cooker at the same time?

  3. 3 stars
    We tried the meatloaf recipe and it didnt work us. Meat was still undercooked after 6 1/2 hours. We finished in the oven.

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