Top 10 Freezer Dump Meals
Add to the long list of reasons to love slow cooking: easy family meal planning. Even as lives get busier and households have less time to prepare home-cooked meals, the desire to share thoughts of the day over a home-cooked dinner is growing. What is a time-conscious family to do? Look no further than a freezer bag and your slow cooker for the answer.
Known as “freezer dump meals,” these recipes require minimal prep and can be prepared up to three months in advance. Simply pull together all the ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag, label the bag with the meal and cooking instructions, then freeze it. On the night before you plan to cook, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw, and in the morning, dump the ingredients into the slow cooker for an effortless dinner.
We’ve handpicked the following 10 recipes for their rich flavors. Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your own tastes.
1. Ginger-Peach Chicken
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts | 2 lb |
| Frozen peach slices | 12-ounce bag |
| Red onion, sliced | 1 |
| Brown sugar | 2 tablespoons |
| Soy sauce | 2 tablespoons |
| Freshly grated ginger | 1 tablespoon |
| Ground coriander | 2 teaspoons |
Instructions:
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours.
- Serve with rice.
2. Beef Fajitas
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Boneless beef chuck shoulder roast | 2 lb |
| Bell peppers, sliced | 2 |
| Small onion, sliced | 1 |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Honey | 1 tablespoon |
| Lime juice | Juice from 1 lime |
| Chili powder | 1 tablespoon |
| Cumin | 2 teaspoons |
| Paprika | 1 teaspoon |
| Crushed red pepper flakes | 1/4 teaspoon |
Instructions:
- Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred beef with two forks.
- Serve with warm tortillas, fresh sour cream, and guacamole.
3. Potato and Corn Chowder
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Red potato, diced | 24 ounces |
| Frozen corn | 16-ounce package |
| All-purpose flour | 3 tablespoons |
| Dried thyme | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried oregano | 1 teaspoon |
| Garlic powder | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Onion powder | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Salt and pepper | To taste |
| Chicken stock | 6 cups |
| Unsalted butter | 2 tablespoons |
| Heavy cream | 1/4 cup |
Instructions:
- Pour in chicken stock and mix. Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in butter and heavy cream.
- Serve with warm bread.
4. Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Stew meat | 1 lb |
| Sliced baby bella mushrooms | 1 lb |
| Onion, diced | 1 |
| Apple juice | 1/2 cup |
| Beef stock base | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | 2 teaspoons |
| Black pepper | 1 teaspoon |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Water | 1 cup |
| Sour cream | 1 cup |
Instructions:
- Add 1 cup of water to ingredients and cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in 1 cup of sour cream.
- Serve with egg noodles or rice.
5. Chicken with Apple and Sweet Potato
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Boneless chicken, cubed | 1 lb |
| Sweet potatoes, peeled and diced | 2 |
| Unsweetened apple sauce | 1 cup |
| Onion, chopped | 1/2 cup |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Apple cider vinegar | 2 teaspoons |
| Curry powder | 1 tablespoon |
| Ground ginger | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Salt and pepper | To taste |
Instructions:
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Serve with rice.
6. Chicken Alfredo
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Chicken Breasts | 3 lb |
| Cream of Chicken Soup | 2 cans |
| Italian Dressing Mix | 1 |
| Cream Cheese | 8 oz |
| Water | 2 cups |
| Fettuccine noodles | For serving |
Instructions:
- Add 2 cups water to the ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with fettuccine noodles.
7. Split Pea Soup
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Dry split peas | 1 lb |
| Diced bacon | 2 cups |
| Yellow onion, diced | 1 large |
| Celery, chopped | 1 cup |
| Carrots, chopped | 2 cups |
| Garlic, minced | 3 cloves |
| Thyme | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Bay leaves | 2 |
| Chicken broth | 32 oz |
| Water | 2 cups |
Instructions:
- Add 2 cups water and chicken broth to the ingredients and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
8. Meatballs and Tomato Sauce
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Frozen or homemade meatballs | 1 bag |
| Crushed tomatoes | 28-ounce can |
| Dried Italian seasoning | 2 teaspoons |
Instructions:
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Serve with spaghetti noodles.
9. Shredded Beef Tacos
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Chuck roast | 2 1.5-lb |
| Chicken bouillon | 2 teaspoons |
| Chili Powder | 1.5 tablespoons |
| Cumin | 1/2 tablespoon |
| Garlic Powder | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Salt and pepper | To taste |
| Water | 2 cups |
| Taco shells, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese | For serving |
Instructions:
- Add 2 cups of water to the ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred beef with two forks.
- Serve with taco shells, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese.
10. Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
Freeze in a bag:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed | 1 lb |
| Carrots, peeled and diced | 1/2 lb |
| Celery, diced | 1 cup |
| Yellow onion, diced | 1 small |
| Garlic powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried basil | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried oregano | 1 teaspoon |
| Bay leaf | 1 |
| Pepper | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Wide egg noodles | 8 oz |
| Chicken broth | 8 cups |
Instructions:
- Add 8 cups of chicken broth to the ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add 8 oz of wide egg noodles and cook for an additional 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Happy freezing!
Preparing delicious and wholesome meals for your family has never been easier. With these 10 freezer dump meal recipes, you can enjoy the convenience of slow cooking without sacrificing flavor. Whether you’re a busy parent or just looking for ways to simplify mealtime, these recipes offer a solution that is both practical and delicious. So, stock up on ingredients, fill those freezer bags, and get ready to enjoy effortless and satisfying dinners with your slow cooker. Happy cooking!
