If you’re struggling to provide your family with meals that are both budget-friendly and nutritious as well as getting dinner to the table without a lot of fuss then you might take a closer look at freezer cooking. Also called once a month or once a week cooking,when it comes to freezer cooking, it is easy to prepare frugal meals.
Items That Freeze Well
• Chicken: Especially good if you find a good sale, you can buy a large amount of chicken, divide it into freezer bags with the marinade of your choice, and freeze. The chicken will marinate as it thaws and you will have a tasty dish ready. Just add a side salad and some rice and you have a quick & healthy meal.
• Beans and Rice: Served together, rice & beans create a complete protein making this meal healthy and filling, not to mention full of fiber. It’s truly a tasty, frugal meal. No need to make any other side dishes because beans and rice is truly a meal in itself.
• Chili: Prepare a simple chili with cans of beans, onions, garlic, tomato paste and chili seasoning. You can add meat if you like but when it is made right, chili with no meat is very good. You can also add fresh tomatoes and other vegetables like bell peppers. Cook the chili, let it cool, and then just freeze. Out of the freezer and into the oven~ voi la’, dinner is done.
• Casseroles: Some casseroles can be very cost effective to make and freeze with ease. A good example might be tuna or broccoli and cheese casserole. Try this: when you’re making a casserole double the recipe and freeze one for later.
• Meatballs: A favorite at our house they are another item is not expensive to make, can be doubled and frozen. You can find ground beef on sale often and can buy it in bulk in wholesale stores. With meatballs you can make different types to freeze like simple ones for spaghetti, honey barbecued, or teriyaki.
• Taco or sloppy joe meat: Who doesn’t love tacos or sloppy joes? Again you can get hamburger meat in bulk then, just brown the meat and freeze. Dinner is ready when you are! It really makes creating fun, great, quick meals simple and very feasible.
• Soups: Chicken noodle or split pea soups can be frozen successfully but you’ll want to be careful when freezing soups with potatoes or cream in them. These types of soups do not always freeze well and will make for an unappetizing meal.
Freezer cooking can save you both time and money- two things a mom doesn’t always have enough of.
Freezer Recipes
Here are some recipes to get you started!
Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake
What You Need:
1 lb ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 (4 oz) can mushrooms, drained
1 (26 oz) jar pasta sauce
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 t Italian seasoning
1 lb spaghetti, broken into small pieces
3/4 C milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (5 oz) pkg sliced pepperoni
1 1/2 C shredded Cheddar cheese
2 C shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Freezer Wrap
How to Make It:
Place a large pot of water over high heat.
Bring to a rapid boil.
Boil spaghetti as directed on the package.
Drain and rinse.
Place ground chuck in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the onion, green pepper and mushrooms.
Cook until meat is browned being sure to crumble the meat.
Drain.
Add the pasta sauce, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.
Stir until well combined.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Place the eggs and milk in a large bowl and blend.
Place the spaghetti in the egg mixture and toss to cover.
Lightly spray a large baking dish with a non stick cooking spray.
Place half of the spaghetti mixture into the bottom of the pan.
Place half of the meat sauce over the top of the spaghetti.
Repeat for another layer.
Put the casserole in the refrigerator to cool.
Once cooled, wrap with the freezer wrap.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.
Bake 45 minutes.
Uncover and top the casserole with the pepperoni and 2 cheeses.
Continue to bake another 15 minutes or until cheese has completely melted
My Mini Meat Muffins
What You Need:
1 egg
1/2 C milk
3/4 C white bread crumbs, soft
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 lb ground chuck
Aluminum foil
How to Make It:
Beat egg slightly in a large mixing bowl.
Carefully stir in the milk.
Add the breadcrumbs and mix.
Sprinkle in the salt and pepper.
Add the ground chuck and mix well with hands to completely combine.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray each cup of a muffin tin with a non stick cooking spray.
Fill each cup with the meat mixture.
Bake 30 minutes.
Remove pan from the oven and allow to cool 10 minutes.
Remove muffins from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Wrap each muffin tightly in aluminum foil.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat, remove muffins from freezer.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Place wrapped muffins on a cookie sheet.
Bake 30 minutes.
Unwrap and bake another 5 minutes.
Meatball Mayhem
What You Need:
1/2 lb ground chuck
1/2 lb ground pork
1 1/2 C shredded Swiss cheese, divided
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 small onion, chopped
1 t celery salt
1/4 t nutmeg
1/4 t allspice
3 C cooked rice, divided
1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 C milk
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
Aluminum foil
Freezer wrap
How to Make It:
Place the ground chuck and ground pork into a large mixing bowl.
Add the egg, onion, celery salt, nutmeg and allspice.
Sprinkle in 1/2 C of the Swiss cheese and 1 C of the cooked rice.
Mix together well with your hands.
Form into meatballs.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the meatballs in a large baking dish.
Bake 25 minutes or until browned.
Place meatballs in the refrigerator for fast cooling.
In a large mixing bowl combine the remaining Swiss cheese, the soup and milk.
Add the garlic, Parmesan cheese and the remaining cooked rice.
Mix all together well.
Line a baking dish with aluminum foil.
Pour the Swiss cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Place the cooled meatballs into the mixture.
Cover with freezer wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat place casserole in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake 45 minutes or until hot.
Manicotti My Way
What You Need:
Manicotti pasta shells
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves – minced
1/4 C olive oil
3 C cooked ham, chopped
1 C grated Parmesan cheese, divided
6 T butter
6 T all purpose flour
3 C milk
2 C shredded Swiss cheese
Freezer wrap
How to Make It:
Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the onion and garlic.
Cook until tender about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat.
Add the ham and allow to cool for about 15 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 C of the Parmesan cheese.
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box.
Drain and allow to cool.
Place the butter in a large saucepan over medium high heat.
Cook until butter becomes foamy looking.
Carefully stir in the flour.
Cook 3 minutes until it begins to bubble.
Be sure to stir continuously so the flour doesn’t burn.
Carefully pour in the milk.
Stir continuously until the sauce begins to thicken.
Stir in the Swiss cheese until smooth.
Place 1/4 of the cheese sauce into the ham mixture and stir.
Fill each shell with the ham mixture.
Place enough cheese sauce to cover the bottom of a large glass baking dish.
Place the shells in the cheese sauce.
Pour the rest of the cheese sauce over the top of the pasta shells.
Place in the refrigerator to cool.
Once cool wrap with the freezer wrap and freeze for up to 2 months.
When ready to cook thaw the dish overnight in the refrigerator.
Uncover and cover with the 1/2 grated Parmesan cheese.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake casserole for 1 hour or until heated completely through.
In a Snap Meat Loaf
What You Need:
2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C white bread crumbs, soft
3 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 lb ground chuck
Aluminum foil
How to Make It:
Beat eggs and milk together in a large mixing bowl.
Add the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper and blend together well.
Sprinkle in the salt and pepper.
Place the ground chuck in with the milk mixture and mix well.
Use your hands to mix making sure all the ingredients are combined.
Place a piece of aluminum foil in a 9X9 inch pan.
Be sure the aluminum foil comes about 6 inches over the edges of the pan.
Form meat mixture into the pan.
Pull the aluminum foil over the top and seal well.
Remove from pan and freeze for up to 2 months.
To heat preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spray a 9X9 inch baking pan slightly with a non stick cooking spray.
Unwrap the meatloaf and place in the pan.
Bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until set.
If you are not sure whether or not a meal freezes well, as mentioned earlier, there are many ways to find out if they do. Freezer cooking can not only be frugal but time saving, convenient, and really easy to do.
There are many freezer cooking recipes books, and sites you can visit to find out which frugal meals you can freeze ahead.
If you liked these ideas, you’ll love Freezer Cooking Made Simple from The Hillbilly Housewife. It’s chock full of information and ideas that will have your family singing your praises while you turn No Time into No-time.
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