Busy Mom’s Cooking Hacks: 5 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals
I seriously thought I was the laziest cook alive, but my Internet #bestie and loyal Mommyish reader Valerie turned me on to something even easier. BOOM: Freezer meals. This falls into the “why didn’t I think of that?” category, which is all fine and good because other experienced crock pot masters have gone before me to do all the hard work. You won’t hear me complaining.
Cooking in a crock pot is really easy. Preparing a freezer meal for a crock pot is even easier because you take care of the prep work in advance. Picture this: Your kids are screaming and fighting over the iPad on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Your glass of Chardonnay has grown hot to leave an unpleasant, room temperature taste in your mouth. Your mousy mom hair is plastered to your forehead as you furiously chop veggies, meat, and spices to store and label in freezer bags for your weekly meals.
Maybe this scene doesn’t sound familiar to you, but it is my #momlife in the truest essence of the word. Freezer meals are awesome because you can slap them together over the weekend, and you don’t have to worry about preparing food for the crock pot while dashing out the door on Monday morning. Dump the freezer bag in the slow cooker and hit the road.
If you’re new to the world of freezer-meal-crock-pot-cookery, I’m here for you. Start with these five freezer recipes and take your slow cooker for a spin:
1. Crock Pot Chicken Curry: This recipe uses minimal ingredients per my lazy cooking style, and it is incredibly easy to prep and store in freezer bags.
2. Teriyaki Chicken: Why, oh why, is this chicken so easy? Slap chicken, teriyaki sauce, and a few other ingredients into freezer bags, and your hard work is done.
3. Chicken Tortilla Soup: This soup is a sure hit in the South. I still can’t get over the fact that you throw all the ingredients into a Ziploc to cook later.
4. Ginger Cranberry Pork Roast: Would you believe that this simple recipe falls under the category of #cleaneating? Get prepping so you can feel virtuous about your health.
5. Lemon Chicken: This last pick is my top choice since I’ve put my toddler on a gluten-free, dairy-free diet for his eczema. Throw chicken breasts, lemon pepper, dairy-free butter, lemon, and parsley into a gallon freezer bag, and your healthy family meal awaits.
(Image: AlenD/shutterstock)