Freezer Cooking & Easy Casseroles

I have only been a mom of 2 for 6 weeks … and a traditional mom of 2 for 1 week since the baby was discharged home, and I have already found that meal time can be very difficult.  Yes – it would be easy to grab fast food, or anything frozen from the grocery store, but we don’t really enjoy eating that way. What I have learned already is that some days, all I want to do is be in the kitchen to have some time to myself, and make us a delicious meals… While other days, I don’t have the energy to brush my hair, let alone cook a big meal.  This is the reason I stocked us up on some freezer meals … for the days that I don’t even brush my hair.  At least I know we will still be eating well!  This does take some time to do, but if you set aside a couple hours in ONE day to do it, it will save a ton of time on all the other days you don’t feel like doing it.

Here are the meals I made for the freezer:

Ham and Cheese Omelet Muffins

Chicken Fajita Crockpot Packs x 2

Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas x 10

Turkey Chili x 3

Garlic Turkey Burgers

Pulled Pork x 3

I also made 3 casseroles to be able to quickly grab and eat throughout the week.  Now I will say – I am not much of a huge casserole person, but each of these were really good.  I assume these casseroles could be prepared in advance and frozen (in an aluminum casserole pan), and then baked when ready to cook, just add extra cooking time.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (half for the week, other half frozen in individual portions)

Bubble Up Pizza Casserole

Cheesy Cajun Beef and Potato Casserole

(Not Pictured: Cheesy Cajun Beef and Potato Casserole - See Below)

Here is the grocery list: (if you haven’t seen my weekly meals before, you will see a lot of the meals have similar ingredients, which keeps grocery costs down and meal prep easy).

Onions
Bell peppers x 6
Mushrooms
Broccoli

Chicken (10 large breast)
Ground turkey (4 lb)
Ground beef (1lb)
Italian sausage
Pepperoni
Ham steak x 2
Pork roast (very large or a couple sm/med)

Cream chicken soup x 2
Sauce
Black olives
Taco seasoning x 2

Cajun Seasoning
Kidney beans x2
Dijon mustard
Green chiles 2 cans (I bought tomato / green chile combo)

Stuffing Mix

BBQ Sauce

Flour

Oil (olive or canola)

Shredded hash browns
Butter
Milk
Pepper jack block
Cheddar shredded
Swiss
Shredded mozz
Sour cream
Eggs

Biscuit dough (refrigerated canned)

Frozen spinach

Flour tortillas

Here is how each of them were done:

Omelet muffins - beat 12 eggs, season to taste (I use salt and garlic powder), pour in greased muffin tin, fill with toppings (I used ham and cheddar). Bake 350 for 20 minutes.  I freeze these and when ready to cook, microwave them for 1-2 minutes.

Chicken Fajitas - label freezer storage bag, write directions "defrost, cook in crockpot low 4 hours". Fill each bag with 2 chicken breasts, 1 chopped green pepper, 1/2 chopped onion, 1 pack taco seasoning, 1/2 cup chicken broth.  Allow bag to defrost in the refrigerator, cook according to directions.  Once cooked, shred or cut chicken into strips, serve in tortillas (or on salad / rice etc).

Chicken and spinach enchiladas- cook 2 chicken breasts in boiling water, shred and season to taste (salt and garlic powder). Add in 1 package frozen spinach, drained. Add in 1/2 can cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles drained, 1 cup shredded cheddar and mix. Place into tortillas and roll. Roll each individually in foil, place in freezer bag and freeze.  To prepare, place in greased casserole dish (as many as you want) with prepared enchilada sauce, top with cheese, bake 375 for 40 minutes.  I made 2 of these for lunch the other day and they were delicious! 

Chili - 3 lb ground turkey, browned, drain fat. Season with ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt. Add in 2 diced bell pepper, 1 onion diced, 1 can diced tomato with green chiles, 1.5 cups tomato sauce, 2 cans drained kidney beans. Add in beef broth until chili is the consistency you like. Place in freezer bags. To cook, just thaw and reheat.

Chicken cordon Bleu casserole - Cubed and sauté 3 chicken breast, seasoned w salt and garlic powder. In a bowl combine cooked chicken, cubed ham, and 1 head broccoli florets. Mix with 1 can cream of chicken soup and 3 tbsp Dijon mustard. Place in greased casserole dish, topped with 8 slices Swiss cheese, top with prepared stuffing (I just used stovetop), bake at 350 for 20 minutes!

Garlic turkey burgers- just 1 lb ground turkey, salt and lots of garlic powder formed in patties and frozen to easily cook when wanted.

Pulled pork - I used one gigantic 6 lb pork loin in crock pot on low 7 hours until easily shreds. Shred in a bowl and season with salt and garlic powder. Add in whatever sauces you want and freeze in bags. I used Campbell's slow cooker sauces for the Hawaiian pork and apple bourbon pork, and for classic bbq I added sweet baby rays. 

(used the Hawaiian Pork to make tacos with sweet onion salsa, pineapple and spicy mayo!)

Bubble Up Pizza casserole - http://www.emilybites.com/.../07/bubble-pizza-casserole.html followed this recipe - just added green peppers.

Cheesy Cajun Beef and Potato Casserole - http://www.emilybites.com/2015/02/cheesy-cajun-beef-potato-bake.html – followed this recipe.  Honestly, this may have been my favorite meal of all of these!

As always, if you have any questions, just let me know! I will edit this post with pictures of the food once I make them.  For example, I plan to make Hawaiian Pulled Pork Tacos when I am ready to use the Hawaiian Pulled Pork ... When that happens, Ill add a picture !