How to make 8 Freezer Meals in 2 Hours is simple and you will have 8 dinner recipes that will be ready to throw in your crockpot. It took me only 2 hours from starting the process to cleaning up my whole kitchen. I love to make freezer meals to help save me time in prepping and preparing dinners for my family.
My three boys are constantly on the go with school and after school activities. My oldest son has now started weight lifting and conditioning after school three days a week for football. I have to pick him up at the local high school at 5pm and that is when I am usually getting started in the kitchen to make dinner. I decided to to some research and find freezer meals that sounded good for my family.
8 Freezer Meals in 2 Hours:
Crockpot Chicken Fajitas (I made 2 of these)
Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Crockpot Honey Rosemary Chicken
Crockpot Pear, Apple and Pork Dinner
Crockpot Cranberry Orange Chicken
Crockpot Bean Stew – Vegetarian
First of all invest in a good quality slow cooker. Our favorite is this programmable cook and carry 6qt oval slow cooker. By choosing these meals I did not have to pre-cook any of the meat or poultry in these freezer meal recipes. That is a huge time saver when prepping freezer meals! I started off my making a list of what I needed for each recipe.
Next I went to my kitchen and pulled out what I already had for each recipe. Then I made a shopping list of what I needed to get at the store. I had most of the spices and meat in my kitchen. So when I went to the store I mostly had to buy fruit, vegetables and freezer ziploc bags.
When I got home I arranged on the ingredients on my table. Got out my cutting boards and knifes. Put my apron on and started with labeling the ziploc bags first. I had each recipe pulled up on laptop and would write the instructions on the bag along with the date.
Next I started with a recipe and followed step by step the directions from the recipe and filled the bag. I would then move on to the next one. I just followed each recipe and then I laid the crockpot freezer meals flat in the freezer with the exception of the Crockpot Pear, Apple and Pork Dinner I stood the bag up.
That day when I wanted to cook them I would pull them out the night before and let thaw in the fridge overnight except for the Easy Crockpot Meatloaf. I put it in the slow cooker still frozen and cooked it, but you can do it either way.
By preparing these 8 Freezer Meals saved me so much time for the week and we had wonderful family dinner meals every night. No fuss in trying to get homework done and dinner on the table. This is perfect for expecting mothers or if you are preparing for surgery.
It really helps busy working Moms stay ahead of the game by prepping in advance and using your slow cooker you menu planning woes are over! Another great plan is this 20 Freezer Meals in 4 Hours Plan (with printable shopping list).
Check out this slow cooker conversion chart as it helps to figure out if you are adjusting the time.
Print the Grocery List for this freezer meal plan HERE!
We have a 20 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals in 4 Hours Plan too!
We have a 20 Healthy Freezer Meals For Your Slow Cooker in 3 Hours Plan too!
We have a 10 Crockpot Freezer Meals in 2 Hours Plan too!
We have our original 20 Freezer Meals in 4 Hours Plan (not all slow cooker meals).
New to Freezer Cooking? We have a Freezer Cooking 101 Series that you may enjoy!
Shelley is a boy mom, marine wife, and is blessed with an amazing family. She loves sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.
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Kathy H.
February 20, 2014 at 10:23 pmLove this and hope to be able to try it soon. Looks like some yummy recipes and would come in handy on those nights I don’t know what to have or a busy day and supper ready.
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
February 20, 2014 at 11:42 pmYou will love it Kathy!
Stephanie
February 21, 2014 at 5:44 amI absolutely love freezer meals! These recipes look so easy to prepare with no hassle!
Nikki
August 4, 2014 at 11:31 pmDo you have a shopping list made for these meals? I have always wanted to try to prepare freezer meals but was always intimidated. I think I can do this.
Barbara
January 8, 2015 at 8:12 pmBy any chance do you have a combined shopping this for this as you do for the 20 meals? I found that article first, but taking your suggestion, would like to give a first try with this ‘smaller’ set of meals…
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
January 8, 2015 at 10:46 pmAsk and you shall receive 🙂
https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/8-Freezer-Meals-In-2-Hours.pdf
Shannon
September 11, 2016 at 1:47 amThe shopping list says 1 whole chicken but not a single recipe calls for a whole chicken. Guess I’ll have to fund another recipe for the chicken I bought. Lol
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
September 12, 2016 at 2:12 pmHere you go – https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2013/10/slow-cooker-whole-chicken/
It can be used in this one – https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2014/01/crockpot-cranberry-orange-chicken/
Theresa
July 4, 2017 at 1:48 pmDoes that mean that we don’t need the whole chicken at all? Or that we’re supposed to use the meat from the whole chicken in addition to the 10 chicken breasts?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
July 5, 2017 at 6:08 pmIt is either or.
Maralea
January 9, 2015 at 5:43 pmThank you for the great recipes and the tips for freezer meals! This will make my life so much easier 🙂
Jen
January 10, 2015 at 3:47 pmWhat size ziplock freezer bags do you use?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
January 10, 2015 at 9:57 pmGallon.
Jennifer
January 11, 2015 at 1:01 pmHi, I just found your site and I love all the recipe’s. I just have a question, these are just prepping right? I don’t cook these meals yet until the day of? Is there any foods I can cook and freeze for later? I am a single full time working and full time going to school mom and i could use a little extra help with this process. Thank you “)
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
January 11, 2015 at 2:35 pmRight you are going to Prep and Freeze. Then you are going to pull out and thaw and cook. Enjoy!
Jennifer
January 11, 2015 at 4:38 pmThank you very much, I just went grocery shopping and I am starting everything. You are a time saver! Thank you!
Bern
January 12, 2015 at 6:00 pmSilly silly question coming up. I don’t own a crockpot *gasp*, because I absolutely love my pressure cooker. Do you have any idea if these would work great with pressure cookers? I feel like they would, but don’t know if you’ve done it. The recipes look deelish, and my family would LOVE this.
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
January 12, 2015 at 10:01 pmI am gasping 🙂 I actually have a pressure cooker that I don’t use (gasp) and that is a goal for me for 2015! I would suggest this site to adapt the recipes though. I have heard that 8 hours on low in a slow cooker takes 1 hour in a pressure cooker (for meat) but this site is a useful. http://www.hippressurecooking.com/pressure-cooking-times/
Patricialynn
February 22, 2015 at 5:44 amLove all of these recipes!
TischaG
April 25, 2015 at 3:14 pmThese recipes look yummy and I can’t wait to try all of them. Can you please tell me how many servings I can get out of each dish? Thanks
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
April 26, 2015 at 11:04 am4-5 servings each recipe.
Kelly
October 22, 2015 at 7:38 amThis might be a REALLY stupid question but I am new to this freezer meal/crockpot thing so please bear with me… 🙂 I made the chicken fajitas already and they were really good! But I had just bought the chicken at the grocery store so it was NOT frozen when I put everything into the freezer bag. I am going to make a few more of the chicken freezer meals soon but now all of my chicken is already frozen. I am thinking it is not a good idea to thaw the chicken and then refreeze, correct? So then should I just put the frozen chicken right in to the freezer bag with the other fresh ingredients? Or should I keep the chicken frozen separately in a different bag/etc until I am ready to put into the crockpot to cook? Sorry again if that is a really dumb question. 🙁 Thanks for any help you can give!!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
October 22, 2015 at 5:31 pmNot dumb at all! Yes, do not thaw and refreeze. You can either put in frozen with the other items or keep it separate. Either way will work for you! Good luck!
Kelly
October 23, 2015 at 8:16 amThanks so much!!!! 🙂
Deb
December 27, 2015 at 12:21 pmI am a HUGE fan! I have been freezer cooking for several years. I think I got stuck in a stale rotation and needed some ideas. Last year, I looked for a crockpot breakfast recipe and found your great Christmas morning dish. I have made it/shared the recipe and taken it to 3 brunch potlucks. it is ALWAYS… a hit. I have substituted tater tots for the hash browns. I love how fast it goes together and when i put the lid on the CP…. i FEEL like a magician. 🙂
2 weeks ago…. I Googled “CP Meatloaf”…. and found your recipe. It came out so perfectly! Later I realized that 2 of my favorite (most shared) recipes came from the same source.
This morning I spent 10 low-effort minutes making 11 lbs of meatloaf… while my husband made delicious breakfast burritos out of the leftovers from Christmas morning breakfast casserole.
Thank you for creating a single place to find answers to what most families see as mundane/drudgery. Thank you for helping me make it painless AND delicious. 🙂
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
January 2, 2016 at 10:20 pmThank you so much! We are so glad you like the recipes!
Annet
February 15, 2016 at 12:25 amHi!
Great recipes thank you!
I bought all the ingredients on the list yesterday and started prepping today!
I bought 4 green bell peppers, but can only find one recipe where you use 2? Am I missing something? 🙂
Thank you!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
February 15, 2016 at 10:50 amYay! We doubled the Chicken Fajita Meal (that is a family favorite so we always make (2) when we do this plan).
Annet
February 15, 2016 at 8:17 pmah great!!! Thank you
Rebekah
May 25, 2016 at 9:43 amHello!
I love your freezer meals! They have made things so much easier. I have a question though: what if I forget to thaw the night before? Do i just adjust cooking time and increase it? I tend to forget to thaw the night before too much and need to set a reminder on my phone!
Thanks!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
May 25, 2016 at 12:05 pmDon’t worry – I have often forgotten that too 🙂 You can run under hot water and then proceed without concern.
Rebekah
May 25, 2016 at 1:04 pmThanks so much!!
Keka
July 27, 2016 at 6:47 pmThis sounds pretty wonderful. Can’t wait to try it!
Jennifer
August 6, 2016 at 4:01 pmWhat are the meal portions?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
August 7, 2016 at 1:29 pmThese meals feed a family of 4/5 with no leftovers. Thanks!
Christopher
September 4, 2016 at 12:50 pmI can’t wait to try this out. I am starting with the 8 meal plan and if it works out will try the bigger plans. My wife and I have been talking about this type of meal prep for a long time and I just spent the morning downloading and organizing all of the recipes and shopping lists. I usually cook but this will make the week much easier and i wont need to fire up the grill every night.
Tracy
September 5, 2016 at 12:51 pmThank you for the recipes! I’m trying out the 8 meals this week. I have one question, though. It’s just my son and I,so I was thinking about cutting the meals in half (then I’d have 16 meals!). Would the cooking times change? Thanks, again!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
September 6, 2016 at 10:15 amNo, they wouldn’t but use a smaller size crockpot. 🙂 I would suggest a 2.5 or 4 qt if you 1/2.
Chelsey
September 6, 2016 at 1:48 pmFor the orange cranberry chicken, the recipe says “one pound of chicken or one whole chicken” but the grocery list just says one whole chicken… so I bought a 7 pound chicken. Is there anyway to still make this recipe work?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
September 6, 2016 at 7:28 pmThis would be a great recipe to use for the whole chicken – https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2015/12/crockpot-2-ingredient-whole-chicken-recipe/ or https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2013/10/slow-cooker-whole-chicken/ – We love both!
You can also use the Whole Chicken. Normally a whole chicken will render you 2 lbs cooked chicken off the bones so you can use this recipe with the whole chicken.
Maryann D.
October 28, 2016 at 3:09 pmI Pinned https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6966574404142156/
Crockpot Cranberry Orange Chicken
Sandy
November 2, 2016 at 3:25 pmcan I pick and choose my own 10 meals and get a shopping list? i live with a picky eater
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
November 2, 2016 at 3:27 pmNot unless you make the shopping list 🙂
Nicole
November 18, 2016 at 8:08 pmI’m cooking for just two people, could I split each recipe into two separate bags? Or would it be best to just eat the leftovers later that week?
Thanks!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
November 18, 2016 at 8:09 pmYou can split them up just be sure to cook in a smaller slow cooker. We use a 6 qt so I would use a 4 qt. Enjoy!
Mary Fuemmeler
November 20, 2016 at 4:14 pmI made all of these 8 freezer meals for a family member after her first child was born. Since they are only a family of 3, we split all the meals in 2 bags. Do you recommend the same amount of cooking time or should they shorten it since there are smaller portions.
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
November 20, 2016 at 4:33 pmI would suggest you use a smaller crockpot at the same time. A 4 qt or smaller.
Tina
January 8, 2017 at 1:09 pmAbout how much did you spin $$$$$ on all of this?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
January 8, 2017 at 2:54 pm$125
Kristen
July 17, 2017 at 8:10 pmHow long do the meals keep in the freezer for?
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
July 18, 2017 at 4:33 pm2-3 months
Layne
November 13, 2017 at 12:48 amThanks for posting this! One thing to add – on your grocery list for all of these recipes, you didn’t include “orange juice” anywhere on it for the orange cranberry chicken. Thankfully I have some at home but everyone might not!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
November 13, 2017 at 4:39 pmThanks for letting us know!
Nicole
July 25, 2018 at 1:48 pmHi there – hopefully you will see this – but what do we need the whole chicken for? every recipe I looked at, it calls just for chicken breasts? Thanks so much for all of these by the way, I am a mom of twin 10 year old boys and expecting on September 5th with a girl, so these freezer ready meals will def keep me somewhat sane! 🙂
Lynn
October 10, 2018 at 12:11 pmWhat size freezer ziplocks do you use? I’m assuming they’re gallons but I can’t quite tell from the photos. Thanks!
Melissa@StockpilingMoms
October 11, 2018 at 4:16 pmGallon 🙂