10 Freezer Meals

Not sure you can call this "nesting," but whatever the case, I've been busy in the kitchen, prepping for Baby M.

After speaking with several new parents it became blazingly clear Scott and I won't want to spend much time in the kitchen after Baby arrives.

It took some time searching, but I found 10 meals that I thought would suit us, got them written down (and modified to meet our tastes), as well as the grocery list planned out.

The meals:

Taco Soup

Lasagna

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Tater Tot Casserole

Upside Down Fettuccini Bake

Chicken Enchiladas

Slow Cooker Herbed Turkey and Wild Rice Casserole

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff Pot Pie

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner

My grocery list included EVERY item needed for all the meals. Luckily, some of those items are staples in my pantry, so on my grocery printout I highlighted what I already had on hand.
A trip to Sam's, as well as the grocery store had me all stocked up.

The real work was chopping the fresh veggies, measuring everything out, cooking what needed to be cooked, and getting everything labled and in the the appropriate storage containers.

My initial thought was to try and get all these meals prepped in one day. But, considering how preggers I am, it didn't take long to realize this was a two-day project for me.

The crock pot meals required less prep work, so I put those together first. Between the four meals it took me about 2.5 hours to assemble everything. Not too bad.

Four crock pot meals, ready to go!

As for the oven-ready freezer meals, I knew those were going to take a little more time. I cleared my oh-so busy schedule to allow an entire day to cooking and prepping the meals. I wasn't too far off on the time needed. From start to finish, with clean up, I was in the kitchen for almost exactly six hours.

The story of my stove all morning and afternoon.

Eight hours of work will (hopefully) save us the first few days after we bring Baby M home!

Six freezer meals (non-crock pot) ready to go!!

A few recipes require minimal work prior to serving. To ensure I have all those needed items I labeled them so I wouldn't use them prior to making the frozen meal.

Should you decide to take on the freezer meal challenge keep in mind it is a bit time consuming, but could/should will be worth it in the end.

I tried EVERYTHING I could to make my lists link up to the web, but to no avail. *SIGH* If you have any suggestions on how I can do that, rather than the LOOOONG lists I have below, PLEASE let me know! But, for now this will have to suffice:

10 Meal Freezer Plan
FOR ALL MEALS I PLACED BAKING INSTRUCTIONS IN A ZIP LOCK, AND
TAPED ZIP LOCK TO CONTAINER.
DISH	Ingredient		Quantity
Taco Soup
	Ground Turkey		1 lb
	Black Beans		1 can
	Kidney Beans		1 can
	Corn		1 can
	Taco seasoning		1 packet
	Dry Ranch Dressing		1 packet
	Onion, chopped		1 small
	Crushed tomatoes		1 28 oz can
	Gallon freezer bag		1
Prep: Brown ground turkey; add all ingredients. Simmer 1-2 hours. Freeze.
Meal prep: Thaw, place in pot, bring to boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips
DISH
Lasagna
	Lasagna noodles		1 10oz package
	Ground turkey		1 pound
	Italian turkey sausage		1 pound
	Garlic, minced		2 cloves
	Tomato paste		1 16 oz can
	Diced tomatoes		2 14.5 oz cans
	Parsley		3 Tbsp
	Basil		1 tsp
	Salt		1 tsp
	Cottage cheese		24 oz
	Eggs		2
	Parmesan cheese		1 cup + 1/4 cup
	Mozzarella cheese		1 lb
	9x13 foil pan		1
Prep: Cook lasana noodles according to package directions. Drain and lay noodles on
aluminum foil. In large skillet combine ground turkey, turkey sausage, and garlic;
brown. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 Tbsp parsley, basil, and 1/2 tsp salt. Simmer for
45 minutes. In a medium mixing bowl combine cottage cheese, eggs, 1 cup parmesan
cheese, 1 Tbsp parsley, and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir well.
To assemble: arrange noodle, cottage cheese, mozzarella, meat mixture. Repeat,
ending with meat. Sprinkle top with extra mozzarella and parmesan. Freeze.
Meal prep: To make, bake at 350 until bubbly (approximately 30-45 minutes).
DISH
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
	Cooked, shredded chicken		2 cups
	Butter		4 Tbsp
	Onion, chopped		1 cup
	Long grain and wild rice		1 box
	Carrots, chopped		1 cup
	Celery, chopped		1 cup
	Flour		1/4 cup
	Half and half		1 pint
	1 gallon freezer bag		1
Prep: Cook rice according to package directions. Melt butter in a large pot, add onions
and saute. Add all other ingredients to pot, except flour and half and half. Simmer for
20 minutes. Cool and freeze.
Meal prep: To serve, thaw and add to large sauce pan. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 30
minutes. Just before serving, whisk together flour and half and half. Add to soup and
heat through until thickened.
** Be sure to set aside and label flour and half and half for this meal!
DISH
Tater Tot Casserole
	Ground turkey		1 lb
	Onion, chopped		1 small
	Cream of Chicken soup		1 14.5 oz can
	Milk		1/4 cup
	Sour cream		8 oz
	Frozen mixed veggies		1 16 oz package
	Shredded cheddar cheese		3 cups
	Tater Tots		1 medium package
	9x13 foil pan		1
Prep: Brown turkey and onion. In a bowl mix soup, milk and sour cream. In 9x13 pan
layer ingredients evenly as follows: turkey/onions, frozen veggies (break up clumps),
soup mixture, cheddar cheese, tater tots. Freeze.
Mea prepl: To serve, bake uncovered at 350 for 35-45 minutes, or until tater tots are brown
and casserole is bubbly.
DISH
Upside Down Fettuccini Bake
	Italian turkey sausage		1 lb
	Onion, chopped		1/4 cup
	Fettuccini		1 8 oz package
	Diced tomatoes		1 14.5 oz can
	Oregano		1 tsp
	Shredded mozzarella cheese		1/2 cup
	Parmesan cheese		1/2 cup
	Eggs		3
	Butter, melted		2 Tbsp
	Parsley		2 Tbsp
	Garlic, minced		1 clove
	Aluminum foil pie plate		1
Prep: Brown turkey sausage, add onion. Meanwhile, cook fettuccini according to
package directions. Add tomatoes and their liquid to sausage/onion mix. Add oregano
and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Stir in
mozzarella. Sprinkle 1/4 cup parmeasan pver tomato mixture. Mix eggs, 1/4 cup
parmesan cheese, butter, parsley, and garlic in a medium mixing bowl. Toss noddles
with egg mixture. Spread noddle mixture in bottom of pie plate. Pour turkey sausage
mixture on top of noodle mixture. Freeze.
Meal prep: Thaw and bake, uncovered, at 350 for 25 minutes, or until bubbly.
DISH
Chicken Enchiladas
	Cooked, shredded chicken		1.5 cups
	Butter		2 Tbsp
	Onion, chopped		1/2 cup
	Garlic, minced		1 clove
	Cream of Chicken soup		1 10.5 oz can
	Sour cream		1 cup
	Green chilies		1 4.5 oz can
	Shredded Mexican cheese		1.5 cups
	Milk		1/4 cup
	Tortillas		10
	9x13 foil pan		1
Prep: In medium sauce pan, saute onion, garlic, and butter. Add soup 1/2 cup sour
cream, and green chilies. Mix well. Reserver 3/4 cup sauce and set aside. To
remaining sauce add chicken and 1/2 cup cheese. In small bowl, combine, reserved
sauce with reamining sour cream and milk. Mix well. Spread 1/2 cup sauce over
bottom of foil pan. Place 1/4 cup chicken mixture to in each tortilla and roll. Place seam
side down in foil pan. Spoon remaining sauce over filled tortillas, covering completely.
Freeze.
Meal prep: Thaw, bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with with cup of cheese. Return
to oven until cheese melts.
** Be sure to set aside and label one cup of cheese for this dish!
DISH
Slow Cooker Herbed Turkey and Wild Rice Caserole
	Turkey breast tenderloin		sliced approximately 1" thick
	celery, chopped		1 cup
	carrots, chopped		2/3 cup
	onion, chopped		1 cup
	chicken broth		28 oz
	Majoram		1/4 tsp
	pepper		1/4 tsp
	wild rice		1 cup, uncooked
	sour cream		1 cup
	gallon freezer bag		2
	sandiwch zip lock bag		2
	crock pot liner		1
Prep: In gallon zip lock bag place turkey breast, celery, carrots, and onion.
In a separate zip lock bag place chicken broth, majoram, salt and pepper.
In sandwich size zip lock place wild rice.
Place broth and wild rice baggies within the turkey/veggie baggie, seal and freeze.
Meal prep: To thaw broth mix place under warm running water.
Place broth and turkey in crock pot, on low for 8 hours, or until rice becomes tender
and liquid is absorbed. Stir in sour cream.
** Be sure to set aside and label sour cream for this meal!
DISH
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
	chicken breast, thawed		3
	onion, chopped		1 large
	garlic clove, chopped		2
	chicken broth		1 3/4 cups
	ground cumin		1 tsp
	oregano		1 tsp
	salt		1/2 tsp
	northern beans		2 16oz cans, drained and rinsed
	white corn		1 can, drained
	lime juice		3 Tbsp
	gallon freezer bag		1
	sandwich zip lock bag		2
	crock pot liner		1
Prep: Trim fat off chicken.  In large mixing bowl, combine onion, garlic, broth, cumin,
oregano and salt. Place chicken in one freezer bag, place broth/veggies/spices in
a separate freezer bag.
Place lime juice in sandwich zip lock; place juice bag within chicken, seal and freeze.
Meal prep: To thaw broth, place under warm running water.
Place broth mix and chicken in crock pot. Cook on low for 7 hours. Remove chicken fro
crock pot, shred chicken; return chicken to crock pot. Stir in beans, corn, lime juice.
Cover; cook on low 15-20 minutes, or until beans and corn are hot.
** In your pantry, be sure to set aside and label the beans and corn for this
meal!
DISH
Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff Pot Pie
	chicken gravy mix		1 envelope (.87-1.2 oz)
	condensed chicken broth		1 10.5 oz can
	chicken breast, thawed		3
	frozen stew veggies, thawed, drained			1 pound
	frozen peas, thawed, drained		1 cup
	sour cream		1/2 cup
	flour		1 Tbsp
	Bisquick		1 1/2 cups
	green onions, chopped		4
	milk		1/2 cup
	gallon freezer bag		1
	sandwich zip lock		2
	crock pot liner		1
	toothpick		1
Prep: In large mixing bowl; mix gravy mix and broth until smooth. Stir in chicken, stew
veggies. Place in freezer bag. Chop up green onions, place in sandwich zip lock, and
seal within gallon freezer bag; freeze.
Meal prep: To thaw broth mix place under warm running water.
Place gravy mix in crock pot, on low, for 6 hours. Stir in peas. Mix sour cream
and flour; stir into chicken mixture. Cover and cook on high setting, 20 minutes.
Stir Bisquick and g.onions in small bowl; stir in milk, just until moistened. Drop dough
by rounded tablespoon full onto hot chicken mixture. Cover and cook on high for 45-50
minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of topping comes out clean.
** Be sure to set aside and lable Bisquick, flour, and sour cream for this meal!
DISH
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner
	small, red potatoes		8, cut into 1" cubes
	baby carrots		2 cups
	frozen small, whole onions		1 cup,
	chicken breast, thawed		3
	salt		1/2 tsp
	pepper		1/8 tsp
	chicken gravy		1 jar
	frozen sweet peas		1 1/2 cups
	gallon freezer bag		1
	sandwhich zip lock		2
	crock pot liner		1
Prep: Remove fat from thawed chicken. In one freezer bag add potatoes, carrots,
onions, chicken, and salt in pepper (have salt and pepper in smaller baggie).
Meal prep: Place veggies, chicken, salt and pepper into crock pot. Pour gravy over top.
Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in thawed sweat peas. Place crock pot on high and cook
for additional 15 minutes, or until peas are tender.
** Be sure to set aside and lable peas for this meal!

Freezer Meal - Grocery List
FOOD		AMOUNT
Meat
Ground turkey		3 pounds
Italian turkey sausage		2 pounds
Chicken breast		14
Turkey tenerloin		12 oz
Fresh Veggies
Onions		6
Garlic cloves		6
Baby carrots		1 large bag
Red potatoes		1 bag
Celery		1 stalk
Green onions		1 bunch
Frozen Veggies
Mixed veggies		16 oz bag
Stew veggies		1 bag (1 lb)
Sweet peas		1 bag
Peas		1 bag
small whole onion		1 bag
Tater tots		1 med bag
Dairy
Cottage cheese		24 oz
Mozzarella cheese		2 bags
Shredded cheddar		3 cups
Sour cream		28 oz
Milk		1 gallon
Mexican cheese		1 bag
Half and half		1 pint
Butter		1 container
Soup
Cream of chicken		1 14.5oz
		1 10.5 oz
Condensed chicken broth		1 10.5 oz
Chicken broth		42 oz
Canned Veggies
Black beans		1 can
Kidney beans		1 can
Corn		1 can
Crushed tomatoes		1 28 oz
Diced tomatoes		3 - 14.5 oz
Tomato paste		16 oz
Northern beans		2 - 16 oz
White corn		1 can
Noodles/Rice
Lasagna		1 10oz pkg
Wild rice		2 boxes
Parmeasan		1 container
Fettuccini		1 10 oz pkg
Mexican
Green chilies		1 4 oz can
Tortiallas		10 medium
Packet Seasonings
Taco seasoning		1 packet
Dry Ranch		1 packet
Chicken gravy		1 packet
Baking/Spices
Parsley		5 Tbsp
Basil		1 tsp
Salt		2 tsp
Flour		1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp
Oregano		2 tsp
Majoram		1/4 tsp
Pepper		1 tsp
Ground cumin		1 tsp
Lime juice		3 Tbsp
Bisquick		1 1/2 cups
Eggs
Eggs		5
Gravy
Chicken gravy		1 jar
Storage
Gallon freezer bags		1 box
9x13 pans		3
Aluminum foil pie plate		1
Crock pot liner		2 boxes
Zip lock sandwich bags		1 box

Source for: Taco Soup, Lasagna, Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Tater Tot Casserole, Upside Down Fettuccini Bake, Chicken Enchilada - Dreaming of Poultry
Source for: Slow Cooker Herbed Turkey and Wild Rice Casserole, Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff Pot Pie, Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner - Betty Crocker