Lately life seems to be getting busier and busier, and although I love to cook I find myself needing quick meals all the time. Sometimes for lunch, sometimes for dinner, and even sometimes for breakfast. And though sometimes I do reach for a quick packaged solution, I would much rather reach for something I made myself and isn’t full of processed foods. That’s where the freezer comes in – perfect for storing quick and healthy meals without all the added calories and fat. Here are some of my favorites and also a give-away for Glad Freezerware at the bottom, which were features in Friday’s post on Chorizo Stuffed Poblano Peppers, which I ate this morning right out of the freezer.
1. Burgers: Whenever I make burgers I always make double or triple the batch so that I can freeze them for later use. They make a great, quick lunch or dinner and couldn’t be more satisfying. My favorite burgers for freezing right now are Salmon Dill Burgers(4 points plus) and Cowboy Turkey Burgers(6 points plus) I also highly recommend these Spicy Black Bean burgers for a vegetarian option.
2. Smoothie Packets: If you use Pinterest you know both how addicting it can be. Hours can be lost on that site without even realizing it. However you will walk out with tons of new ideas. One of my favorite is making smoothie packets in ziploc bags. You just load up a bunch of ziploc bags with enough fruits and veggies for one smoothie and store in the freezer. When you are ready for one, pop the fruit and veggies into the blender, add your liquid and any supplements, and it’s ready. No cutting, peeling, or portioning needed. Lately I have been drinking this Kale, Spinach, and Apple smoothie. (3 points plus)
3. Meatballs: Meatballs are a no brainer for me in terms of frozen meals. I always make a double or triple batch when I make meatballs and like to store some of them as individual servings and some as a meal. Then you just pop them out and reheat them with a little sauce and they make a perfect, quick meal. My favorites are Chipotle meatballs(6 points plus) for tacos and these yummy Asian meatballs. (5 points plus)
4. Beef Stew: There are few soups other than beef stew and chili that I truly can at as an entire meal. Don’t get me wrong – I love having soup as a main dish but almost always need some other stuff on the side as well. However not with this delicious beef stew recipe. (5 points plus) It is hearty, delicious, and packed with hearty ingredients to keep you full all day. Just make up a big batch when you cook it and freeze in individual portions.
5. Oatmeal: Many people don’t think about freezing oatmeal but it can be a great way to have a quick hearty breakfast on hand and get the benefits of real oats. I usually cook my oatmeal and then either freeze it in small, individual freezer safe containers or in a silicone muffin tin. When I use the silicone muffin tin once the oatmeal is frozen, I pop them out and into a large container or bag. When you are ready to eat, just pop it in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stir, and microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Add in a splash or milk or yogurt. I especially like this Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. (6 points plus)
Win Your Own Glad Freezerware
Enter to win your own Glad Freezerware to use at home. The winner will receive one case of large Glad Freezerware and one case of small Glad Freezerware for a total of six containers!
Entry: Leave a comment below letting me know what your favorite freezer meal is, with points if you know them.
Bonus Entry: Subscribe to receive Slender Kitchen recipes in your inbox or blog reader and never miss a recipe. If you are already a subscriber, just let me know in a comment. The subscribe button is located on the right.
Bonus Entry: Become a fan of The Slender Kitchen on Facebook and leave a second comment below (here, not on Facebook) letting me know you did. If you are already a fan, you can say that instead!
Extra Bonus Entry: Follow @slenderkitchen on Twitter and leave a third comment below letting me know you did.
Double Extra Bonus Entry: Follow slenderkitchen on Pinterest to have access to my top picks of the web and leave a post below letting me know you did.
Standard Promotion Rules Apply: http://www.clorox.com/legal/promotions
You May Also Enjoy:
Never Miss a Recipe
Add a Comment...
74 Response to Great Freezer Meals and Glad Give Away
Leave a Reply
-
Recent PostsPopular PostsComments-
Honey Roasted Carrots with Balsamic
May 22, 2013
1 comment
-
Honey Chiptole Grilled Chicken
May 21, 2013
5 comments
-
Moo Shu Beef Stirfry
May 20, 2013
0 comments
-
Slow Cooker Sunday: Chicken Barbacoa
May 18, 2013
0 comments
-
Great Freezer Meals and Glad Give Away
June 11, 2012
74 comments
-
Quiche Cupcakes
January 17, 2011
38 comments
-
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
March 14, 2012
26 comments
-
Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken
March 1, 2011
26 comments
-
This looks so great! I am sure I would set off...
March 1, 2011
by Crystal Q.
-
I'm dying to find rainbow carrots. They look s...
March 1, 2011
by Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)
-
I use a grill pan indoors without problems. I ...
March 1, 2011
by David
-
You might not be using enough. Also, make sure...
March 1, 2011
by Rumi143
My fave freezer meal is Turkey Bean Veggie Chili!!!!
I have now subscribed to your recipes!!
Fan on Facebook:)
and follow you on Pinterest
My husband works out of town all week, and we are on Weight Watchers. Ouch, we were afraid this was going to be a challenge. Instead I cook during the week while he is gone and freeze, freeze, freeze. I make enchildas, quesadilla casserole, broccoli mac & cheese, and lots of other main dishes. Also freeze special WW desserts so he isn’t feeling deprived. I freeze everything in single serving packages, this way each serving is already measured or weighed properly. Haha, hoping I am doing such a good job, by the end of the summer, I have earned a new freezer.
Hi christi
Some of your freezer meaLS SOUND GREAT CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR BEST RECIPES FOR THE FREEZER. IM TRYING DESPERATELY TO LOOSE AND I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE MIGHT ALSO WORK WELL FOR ME
THANKS WENDY
Spicy black bean burgers are my fav freezer meal – 4pts. I already subscribe to your email, follow you on facebook and just added you to twitter
My favorite freezer recipe is BROTH! Sounds silly, I know, but I make my own vegetable broth. This way, I can control the amount of salt (none if I choose!), seasonings, etc. Also, I can make it for basically NO cost because it’s the parts that I would normally throw out.
Here is my recipe and instructions:
1. Start a 1 gallon size ziploc type baggy in your freezer. Mark it well, so that your family doesn’t attempt to use it for something that is NOT broth.
2. Throw in the (washed!) skins and end pieces of your vegetables from everyday cooking. You know, the parts that you normally throw away? Yep, those.
3. Also add any vegetables you find in your fridge that aren’t *bad* (mushrooms starting to dry too much, bell peppers getting too dried/wrinkly, for example) but aren’t ones you necessarily want to feed to your family so you would normally throw them out.
4. When you have 2 one gallon freezer bags full and frozen, you have enough to make veggie broth.
5. Fill a pot (yes, you can do this in your slow cooker instead), with about 25 cups of water and add your frozen vegetables and bring both to a boil.
6. Turn down your heat to a simmer.
7. Simmer for approximately 2 hours.
8. Turn it off and let it sit for another 2 hours, or unil cool enough to suit you. (Yes, you are basically infusing your water!)
9. Strain, pour into containers, freezer bags, etc.
Special Notes:
~ I have often heard that if you will add 2-4 TBSPs of vinegar to a batch of broth that it will help keep it from spoiling. I have made it both with and without. I can’t tell you if it helps, because we tend to go through A LOT of broth at our house, so none ever spoils.
~ I use my pasta pot with the insert. This way I can immediately strain out the larger pieces of cooked vegetable and begin measuring and pouring into containers immediately.
~ Freeze and store in containers that are the approximate amounts (or some derivative there of) that you use most often. It just works easier that way for you in the long run. I tend to use either 2 cups, 3 cups or 4 cups at a time, so all of mine get frozen into 2 and 3 cup size containers.
~ What vegetables can you use? Pretty much any and all. My broth the last time I made it time had: all colors of bell peppers, red and yellow onions, green onions and leeks, mushrooms, zucchini skins, spinach and kale stems, parsley, cauliflower pieces, broccoli pieces and basil. I seasoned it with lemon pepper seasoning, turmeric, paprika, rosemary, garlic and a bit of salt (although not much!)
Enjoy!
Janece Suarez
Though I make tasty chicken and beef stock, my veggie stock is lacking. Thank you for all the veggie broth advice–love the straining and freezing tips. How’d ya’ll know I’ve been looking for freezer friendly WW recipes?
Great comments, great site!
I thought I was subscribed to get your recipes, etc already, but it accepted it when I tried just now, SO either I am subscribed twice, I am subscribed through two different accounts or I am just senile and never subscribed when I thought I did in the past! lol! All better.
Janece Suarez
I have been a fan on Facebook for awhile! That’s where I saw the posting about this blog entry.
Janece Suarez
I also follow you on Twitter! (entry #4, correct?) I am @gourmetmama on Twitter.
Janece Suarez
And finally, I even signed up for Pinterest JUST to follow you there! Feeling special? lol!
Thank you for the freezer food information. I had never thought to freeze oatmeal before!! Now I must try that.
Janece Suarez
I follow on pinterest!
i subscibe to your emails!
i love making soups (usually in the crockpot) and then freezing what i left. WW baked potato is one of my favorites! it’s always nice to have soup on hand!
you are “liked” on facebook!
I follow on FB and Pinterest – my fav freezer meal is currently Veggie Lasagne
Baked brocolli mac & cheese! I actually just subscribed last night to receive your emails
. Thanks!!
Never froze anything but I will start now! Thanks for the info.
already a subscriber. Freeze just about anything, including Angel food cupcakes 2 points each. Makes a nice treat on the weekend with berries and a little cool whip
My favorite thing for the freezer is Italian beef. My recipe makes a huge batch, so I always freeze at least half. It has about 300 calories per serving.
I already subscribe to your emails and love them!
One of my favorite freezer meals is Pizza! I make 4 pizza doughs and store each separately in freezer bags. I also store many of our favorite toppings in separate freezer bags.
I subscribe to your emails!
Subscibing to your emails already.
Turkey Chili! About 4 points +. I subscribe to your website.
My fave freezer meal is your Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes. at 2 points each. They freeze and reheat really well!
I’m already a subscriber to your website.
I already follow you on Facebook!
I now follow you on Pinterest!
I like doing all kinds of Mini meals for lunches. Since I am the only one home. It could be just the leftovers from dinner the nite before.
I am subscribe to your newsletter and I am going to facebook now.
Pininterst is new to me But I will go and look for you
thank you
I love freezing all kinds of burgers – buffalo turkey burgers, swordfish burgers and chickpea/black bean burgers for a quick vegetarian meal! I LOVE the idea of freezing oatmeal and the smoothie packets are an AWESOME idea!! I can never have enough tupperware!
Subscribed to your blog!
I always freeze slow cooked shredded pork and chicken taco meat. We use them for yummy street tacos or throw them on a corn tortilla with scrambled eggs and salsa for a quick breakfast.
I subscribe to your emails
I already subscribe. My favorite meals are meatballs like you said- flashfreeze first, then pack in bags to get out just the right amount I need (or my son does this when he gets hungry after school-LOL). I also do spinach balls and crabmeat balls- great around the holidays! Thanks for the great ideas!
My son is a boy scout and they love to make “omlets in a bag”. When they go on a campout, they take eggs and place them and whatever else they want in their “omlet” and put in a bag, shake, and place in a pot of boiling water for about 3 minutes- presto a 1 pot meal. And no cleanup (I think that’s what they really like about it).
My favorite freezer meal is chili.
I subscribe to get your recipes.
My latest favorite meal to freeze is Jennifer Hudson’s Veggie Lasagna…yum!
.
5 points.
I need to see how well spaghetti squash freezes. I made a delicious 1 point meal with that
My favorite meal to freeze is a turkey bean chili and it is 7p+ per serving…yum!
I am a big fan of your recipes. I follow you on Face Book and I get your delicious recipes email them to me daily.
favorite freezer meal: oatmeal!
liked on Facebook
already email subscriber
now following on Pintrest!
fan on facebook!!!
following on Pinterest!!!
subscribed to your feed on my homepage at Yahoo!!!!!!
now following on Twitter!
One of our favorite freezer “meals” isthe ham/cheese/egg breakfast burritos I make for my husband to take to work with him for breakfast. they are also a tasty snack!
I just subscribed via reader. My husband wants to start the WW program , so your blog looks perfect for us! Thanks!
I already follow you on FB, I heard about you from a friend of mine.
I follow you on Twitter!
I love this turkey chili with white beans from epicurious
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Turkey-Chili-with-White-Beans-3090
it’s soooo good!
I follow your rss feed
And I follow your pinterest!
My favorite freezer meal is Gumbo With Italian sausage.
Hi Kristen! I love your website, and have subsribed, liked and am floowing on FB & Twitter! My fave freezer meal is Skinny Chicken Enchiladas – 4 Points Plus per enchilada…..I make a batch, freeze them in pairs, and serve them up with a nice salad & veggies on the side! Makes a great, quick summertime dinner!
I love a good lasagna!
And I follow you via Google RSS.
My favorite freezer meal is my mother’s lasagna recipe. I always make a double or triple batch to freeze. It’s also a great freezer meal to share with friends who are sick, maternity leave, etc!
I’ve become a fan on Facebook
My favorite freezer meal is homemade pizza kits. I make whole wheat dough, crockpot marinara, and portion out some shredded mozzarella and then freeze in separate bags. We eat this usually once a week. Sorry, don’t have points.
I follow on Facebook.
I love freezer lasagna. It is such a pain to make so it i just smart to make extra. I believe the points are 8 per serving.
I am a FB friend.
I subscribe in a RSS ([email protected])
I follow you on Pinterest.
(dollwood Farms)
Not a meal but a condiment. I make huge amounts of a colombian salsa like dish every september and freeze enough for winter. It is just sliced tomatoes, scallions and red onions. Saute and cook on low for 20 minutes. I add a huge amount of adobo bitter orange seasoning (goya) and some stevia. I freeze in gallon bags. 0 points! It is awesome cold with chips or warm on eggs, pasta, veggies. Bitter orange sounds gross but it is. Not bitter at all.
My fave frozen meal is smoothie mix blueberries grapes banana yum love it
Spicy black bean burgers!! 4 pts
I like you on facebook!
I follow you on pintrest!