Recipes for Freezer Cooking

Spaghetti

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pepper, chopped
1 jar spaghetti sauce
8 oz pasta

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Cook ground beef, onion, and pepper in a little olive oil until brown.
Heat sauce (add seasonings) and add beef mixture to sauce.
Add sauce to pasta.
(Freeze here if desired - after it cools - in ziploc bags or containers).
(To serve after frozen, thaw and reheat).

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb ground beef or turkey
2 egg whites
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup water
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp parsley
2 tsp basil
1 tsp black pepper
3 cups pasta sauce
12 oz pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven broiler.
Combine turkey/beef, egg whites, breadcrumbs, water, onion, garlic, parsley, basil, & pepper.
Mix thoroughly and shape into meatballs.
Arrange meatballs on a baking sheet and place under broiler for 10-12 minutes turning occasionally until browned on all sides.
On a large saucepan, combine pasta sauce and cooked meatballs.
Simmer over low until warmed thoroughly, about 20 minutes.
While pasta sauce is simmering, cooking pasta.
Serve sauce and meatballs over pasta.
(Freeze here - after cools - if desired - in ziploc bags or containers).
(You could freeze the meatballs and sauce and cook pasta fresh the day you want it).
(To serve after frozen, thaw and reheat).

Baked Ziti

Ingredients
8 oz pasta
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pepper, chopped
1 bag mozzarella cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if cooking today - omit if freezing).
Spray pan with cooking spray.
Cook and drain pasta.
Cook beef, onion, and pepper in a little olive oil until brown.
Mix pasta, beef, and pasta sauce and put in pan.
(Freeze here if desired - after it cools).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, cover with cheese, and bake at 350 for 30 minutes).

Meatloaf

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 package onion soup mix
1 egg
1 /2 onion
1/2 pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup breadcrumbs or rolled oats (I prefer rolled oats)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if cooking today - omit if freezing).
Mix all ingredients and put in loaf pan.
(Freeze here if desired - I mash into loaf shape in a freezer bag to save space).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, and bake at 350 for 1 hour or until done throughout).

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 onion, chopped
8 oz tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1 tsp chili powder
Dash hot pepper sauce (I omit this)
4-6 buns

Directions
In a large pan, combine ground beef/turkey, black pepper, and onion.
Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.
Combine tomato sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, chili powder, and hot sauce.
Stir into meat.
Simmer for 10 mnutes until mixture thickens.
(Freeze here if desired - after it cools - in ziploc bags or containers).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, reheat, and serve on buns).

Salisbury Steak

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1/2 pkg stuffing mix
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 egg whites
1/4 cup water
Beef gravy (I like the thick kind)

Directions
Mix meat, stuffing mix, onion, and water until well blended.
Shape into 4-6 patties.
(Freeze here if desired).
Cook patties in olive oil until cooked throughout flipping once.
Cover with gravy and serve.
I love this with mashed potatoes but it would also be good served over rice.

Garlic Potatoes Beef Bake

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey or beef
1 can Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic soup
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 bag (16 oz) frozen veggies
3 cups cooked mashed potatoes

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (if cooking today - omit if freezing).
Cook meat.
Combine meat, 1/2 soup, veggies, and Worcestershire sauce.
Put into baking dish.
Mix 1/2 soup and potatoes.
Pour over meat mixture.
(Freeze here if desired after it cools).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees).

Stufffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients
12 large bell peppers
3 lb ground beef or turkey
3 onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp paprika
3 cups cooked rice
48 oz tomato sauce

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut off tops of peppers and remove seeds.
Cook beef/turkey, onions, and garlic.
Mix beef mixture, rice, spices, and tomato sauce.
Stuff mixture into peppers.
Place in roasting pan.
Bake covered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Cool.
Wrap individually in foil and freeze in a freezer bag.
(To serve, unwrap peppers, place in roasting pan, pour tomato sauce over peppers, and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees).

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients
1 cup cooked chicken (2/3 pound of chicken)
1 bag (16 oz) frozen veggies
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup milk
1 cup Bisquick mix
1 egg

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (if cooking today - omit if freezing).
Mix chicken, veggies, soup, and milk.
Add to baking dish.
Mix Bisquick, milk, and egg.
Pour over chicken mix.
(Freeze here if desired).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, and bake 30 minutes).
(You can also freeze the casserole without the topping and do that after it thaws).

Chicken Stuffing Pie

Ingredients
1 box stuffing mix
1 lb chicken, diced
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup boiling water
1 cup uncooked rice

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if baking today - if freezing omit).
Boil the chicken.
Wash and drain rice and line the pan.
Mix soup and water and stir into rice.
Lay chicken on top and season.
(Freeze if desired - after it cools).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, top with stuffing mix, and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees).

Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients
1 lb chicken, cut into tenders
3 egg whites, beaten
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
3 Tbsp parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
8 oz pasta
1 jar pasta sauce
1 bag mozzarella cheese (if desired)

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (if cooking today - omit if freezing).
Beat egg whites with a fork in a bowl.
Mix breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning in a shallow dish.
Dip chicken in egg whites and then in breadcrumb mixture.
Bake 12 minutes on one side, flip, and bake 12 minutes on the other side.
(You can also cook in olive oil in a pan instead of baking - I prefer that method).
Cook pasta while chicken cooks.
Put pasta in dish, put chicken on top, and cover with pasta sauce.
(Freeze here if desired).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, top with cheese if desired, and bake until cheese melts).

Maple Glazed Chicken

Ingredients
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb chicken, cut into tenders
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

Directions
Preheat oven to 500 degrees (if cooking today - omit if freezing).
Combine dry ingredients and rub on chicken.
(Freeze here if desired).
Combine maple syrup, butter, and Dijon mustard in saucepan and cook until it melts (freeze in a small container and put with chicken if desired).
(To serve, thaw if frozen, and bake in upper 3rd of oven for 15 minutes, heat glaze again, brush glaze on chicken, bake 5 more minutes, brush glaze on chicken, and bake 5 more minutes).

Chicken Breast with Honey-Balsamic Glaze

Ingredients
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb chicken breasts, cut into tenders
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp honey

Directions
Combine dry ingredients and rub on chicken.
(Freeze here if desired).
Mix vinegar and honey and put in small container with chicken.
(To serve, thaw chicken and sauce, saute chicken until done, add sauce, and simmer 1 minute stirring constantly).

Italian Balsamic Chicken

Ingredients
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 lb chicken, cut into tenders

Directions
Combine everything in large ziploc bag.
(Freeze here if desired).
(To serve, thaw and cook until done).

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
8oz baby carrots, chopped
Pepper
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 lb chicken, diced
1/2 lb egg noodles
Parsley and dill

Directions
Saute onions about 4 minutes.
Add carrots, pepper, chicken broth, and water and bring to a boil over high heat.
Add chicken and bring to a boil.
Add noodles and simmer until tender (about 8 minutes).
Reduce heat to low.
Stir in parsley and dill.
(Freeze here if desired - cool first).

Chicken Noodle Dumpling Delight

Ingredients
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup carrots, sliced
3/4 cup onions, chopped
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper
Parsley and thyme
1 lb chicken, diced
5 oz egg noodles

Directions
Put soup, carrots, onions, water, salt, pepper, parsley, thyme, and chicken in pot on high.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and cover.
Cook 10-20 minutes until chicken is done (stirring a lot).
Cook pasta while chicken mixture is cooking.
Mix pasta and chicken mixture.
(Freeze here if desired - cool first).
(To serve, thaw and heat).

Chicken Peppers Pasta

Ingredients
2 cups uncooked pasta
1 lb chicken, diced
1 green pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
1 onion, chopped
2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp parmesan cheese

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Cook chicken in olive oil in pan for 2 minutes.
Add peppers and onions and cook for 7 minutes or until chicken is done and veggies are crisp tender.
Drain pasta and add to chicken-veggie mixture.
Add spaghetti sauce and cook 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, cover, remove from heat, and let cheese melt for 2 minutes.
Top with parmesan cheese.
(Freeze here if desired - cool first).
(To serve, thaw and heat).

Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients
2 lb chicken, diced
1 green pepper, cut into thin strips
1 yellow pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
1 onion, chopped

Directions
Cook chicken in olive oil in pan until almost done.
Add veggies, cover, and simmer until veggies are done.
(Freeze here if desired - cool first).
(To serve, thaw and reheat. Serve in wraps with cheese and salsa).

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients
2 lb boneless pork loin
2 onions, chopped
3/4 cup soda
3/4 cup BBQ sauce

Directions
Combine all ingredients in crockpot.
Cook on high 5-6 hours until meat is very tender.
Drain and shred.
(Freeze if desired - cool first).
(To serve, thaw, heat, and serve on buns).

Honey Baked Pork Chops

Ingredients
2 lb pork chops
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp soy sauce

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if eating today - omit if freezing).
Mix honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce in blender.
Pour over pork chops.
(Freeze here if desired).
(To serve, thaw and bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees).

Sweet and Sour Pork

Ingredients
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 egg, beaten
2 lb pork chops, cut into 1-in chunks
1 onion, cut into 1-in chunks
1 pepper, cut into 1-in chunks
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup water

Directions
Cut pork chops, onion, and pepper into 1-in chunks.
Mince garlic.
Combine 1/4 cup cornstarch and vinegar.
Stir in water, sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and cayenne pepper.
In a small bowl, beat egg.
On a plate, put the rest of the cornstarch.
Dip pork in egg and cornstarch.
Saute pork.
Remove from pan.
Add onion, pepper, garlic, and 2 Tbsp water.
Saute for 1 minute.
Add sweet and sour sauce.
Cook until sauce boils and thickens.
Remove from heat.
(Freeze here if desired - cool first).
(To serve, thaw and heat).