29 Crockpot freezer meals make for the most effortless weeknight dinners...just dump them into the slow cooker and set the timer! These ideas will help you stock up your freezer with tacos, soups, chili, fajitas, curry, and more!
Once you've learned the basics of how to meal prep and read up on our budget-friendly meal prep tricks - you're likely feeling inspired to stock your freezer with some easy crockpot freezer meals!
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These life-saving crockpot freezer meals are only of my all-time favorite ways to meal prep! Not only are these meals perfect for busy weeknight dinners, but they are also ideal for expecting parents looking to stock the freezer for those early newborn days.
Reasons You'll Love These Recipes
- they are so easy to prepare - just wash, chop, and freeze for later!
- you can quickly prep a large freezer stash of healthy and delicious meals
- you'll save so much time and $$ with these simple, budget friendly meals
What is a Crockpot Freezer Meal?
Crockpot freezer meals are one of our favorite meal prep options - because they are so easy! Simply combine the ingredients in a freezer bag or container, freeze, and thaw when you're ready to cook. The ease of dumping your prepped ingredients into the slow cooker, pushing the button, and walking away, is just so amazing! No chopping or no cooking; just dump, press the button, and you're on your way to dinner!
How to prepare crockpot freezer meals - chop, measure, and portion out all ingredients. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and cook as directed in the recipe.
Cooking Tip - Meals containing meat must be thawed before cooking. Vegetarian or vegan meals may be cooked from frozen.
Quick tips for easy freezer meals
- for max efficiency - pick recipes that have no pre-cooking, use pre-chopped veggies (frozen is great), get an assembly line going
- for best taste - eat within 3 months
- for organization - always label your containers, group similar meals in same location (ie: chicken marinades on one shelf, freezer crockpot on another, etc), upright freezers are 1000x more easy to organize than chest freezers, take stock of your freezer regularly and eat those meals
- Batch prep - prep meals with similar or overlapping ingredients, so you can chop/trim/measure your ingredients all at once.
- Double or triple up on the recipes for maximum output for your efforts...they are good for up to 3 months in the freezer!
- Soups & stews - you can leave out stock/water/coconut milk until cook day, to prevent over-filling the bags.
- Efficiency - Use these handy baggy holders to hold your bags open, and I recommend a good quality gallon freezer bag to reduce risk of leakage during the freeze/thaw process.
- Freshness - Potatoes may brown during the freeze/thaw process. If this bothers you, consider adding them on cook day.
- For Mother Earth - avoid plastic waste by using large meal prep containers, or reusable silicone bags (the ½ gallon silicone bags are a good size for freezer crockpot meals and the sandwich size silicone bags or stasher bags are great for chicken marinades)
FAQ
Can I cook these meals from frozen?
Vegetarian meals *should* be fine to cook from frozen, but anything with meat must be thawed before cooking. This is because slow cooker brands cannot guarantee that the internal temperature of the meat will get hot enough to kill off harmful bacteria. Translation- you could be putting your family at risk for food poisoning.
How long are these good for in the freezer?
I have a general 3 month rule for the freezer as I feel this keeps the food tasting better, and helps prevent things from getting lost in the freezer. However they would technically be safe indefinitely (they just might not taste as good when stored for longer).
Can I cook these in an Instant Pot?
Maybe? The only thing to worry about is whether you have enough thin liquid to create pressure in an Instant Pot. Check the directions on each recipe to see if there are Instant Pot directions.
Pulled Chicken and Pork
Crock Pot Pulled Pork
This crock pot pulled pork is made with pork shoulder simmered in clean ingredients (no sodas or pre-packaged ingredients). Makes a great freezer crock pot recipe!
Check out this recipe
Crockpot BBQ Chicken (Juicy + Tender!)
Fall apart tender, juicy and so flavorful, this crockpot BBQ chicken is perfect served on sandwiches, in wraps, or even on pizza. Just 5 simple ingredients required!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Maple Pulled Pork
Slow cooker maple pulled pork has deliciously subtle maple flavors, a touch of spice from chili powder, and tangy apple cider vinegar. With only 6 ingredients, you can get it on to cook in 10 minutes or less. I'm sharing three recipes that you can use your pork in, making this perfect for meal prep!
Check out this recipe
Tacos + Fajitas
Cilantro Lime Chicken Crockpot Tacos
Cilantro lime chicken tacos are full of simple, bright flavors: cilantro, lime juice, garlic and a touch of honey! No sauteeing required (just 15 min prep!), and easy to meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
Hands off, yet filled with big Tex-Mex flavors, these crockpot chicken fajitas are a crowd-pleasing dinner. Made with a flavorful homemade fajita seasoning, fire roasted tomatoes, bell peppers and red onion.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Salsa Chicken (4 ingredients!)
Fall apart tender and perfectly seasoned, crockpot salsa chicken is a 4 ingredient recipe that is perfect for busy nights! Use it up in tacos, burrito bowls, or enjoy as is.
Check out this recipe
Soup
Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Stew
With roasted red peppers, smoked paprika and a pinch of saffron, this slow cooker Spanish chicken stew is a cozy yet exotic! Works great for a weeknight dinner, or for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This Thai Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a twist on a classic comfort recipe. Tropical, yet cozy, it's made with butternut squash, Thai red curry paste, and coconut milk!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Lemon Sesame Chicken Noodle Soup
This slow cooker lemon sesame chicken noodle soup can be assembled ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to cook it up! Perfect for cold and flu season: healthy, comforting and delicious.
Check out this recipe
Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
Tuscan slow cooker chicken stew is healthy, hearty, and so easy to prepare in the crockpot! Rosemary, fennel seeds and balsamic vinegar give this stew a ton of flavor.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe
Crockpot taco soup recipe is a hearty but healthy soup loaded with your favorite taco ingredients and flavors! No sauteeing and crockpot ready in 15 min.
Check out this recipe
Chili
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Crockpot white chicken chili is creamy, rich, hearty and full of flavor but lightened up a touch! With chicken, white beans, corn and green chiles, this recipe does not require sauteeing, and works great for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Roasted Red Pepper Chili
Hearty and flavorful, this slow cooker roasted red pepper chili has ground beef, roasted roasted red peppers, smoked paprika, and a splash of balsamic vinegar. A delicious alternative to classic chili!
Check out this recipe
Vegtarian + Vegan
Slow Cooker Chickpea Tortilla Soup (Freezer to Crock Pot)
Slow cooker chickpea tortilla soup which can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer! A great way to stay out of the kitchen this summer.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Quinoa Stew
Hearty, healthy, and filled with delicious southwestern flavor, this slow cooker black bean, quinoa and sweet potato stew is so easy to prep! Works great as a weeknight dinner, and can be meal prepped in multiple ways.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Lentil Curry
This slow cooker butternut squash lentil curry is creamy and flavored with warm spices, butternut squash, coconut milk and lime juice! Works great as a comforting vegan dinner, or for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Slow Cooker Peanut Stew (Maafe-Inspired)
Slow cooker peanut stew is vegan comfort food at it's finest! With chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and peanut butter, it's inspired by the West African peanut stew, maafe. You can assemble this ahead and freeze as a crockpot freezer meal.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Crockpot Chili
This vegan crockpot chili can be assembled ahead and frozen for an easy slow cooker freezer meal! Made with sweet potatoes, corn, black beans, and spices; it's vegan, gluten-free, and seriously tasty!
Check out this recipe
Vegan Slow Cooker Tikka Masala
This vegan slow cooker tikka masala is PERFECT for meal prep! It makes an easy freezer crockpot meal, and leftovers keep (and can be frozen) for healthy plant-based lunches.
Check out this recipe
Miscellaneous
7 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
SEVEN simple slow cooker chicken recipes that have a lot of flavor for very little effort! Easy to prepare and made with wholesome ingredients, these crockpot chicken recipes are meal prep friendly and can be frozen as crockpot freezer meals!
Check out this recipe
The Best Dang Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken
This crock pot teriyaki chicken recipe is seriously the BEST! With juicy chicken breasts simmered in a sticky sauce that is better than your favorite take out. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Check out this recipe
Freezer Asian Peanut Chicken
This easy recipe can be cooked on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot! No pre-cooking means you just need to toss everything in a heavy duty freezer bag.
Check out this recipe
Sticky Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Sticky slow cooker honey garlic chicken thighs are simple to throw together and have a deliciously sticky sweet and savory sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables. Great as a weeknight dinner or meal prep recipe.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs
Slow cooker lemon garlic chicken thighs are simmered in a buttery sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables. Low carb and gluten-free. Assemble ahead and freeze as a freezer crockpot meal!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chicken Curry (Freezer to Crock Pot)
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chicken Curry can be assembled ahead and stashed in the freezer for an easy, flavor-packed dinner. When you're ready to serve, thaw and dump in the slow cooker and you're ready to go!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Ethiopian Chicken & Lentil Stew
A hearty and flavorful slow cooker Ethiopian chicken stew made with Ethiopian spices, lentils and sweet potatoes. Bring some exotic flavors to your dinner table!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
EASY slow cooker butter chicken is made with healthy ingredients, and can be assembled and frozen for meal prep! Made with tender chicken thighs, and a creamy coconut tomato curry sauce, it's dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb, and delicious!
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Chicken Wings with Maple Ginger Glaze
Crockpot chicken wings with a sticky maple ginger glaze make the slow cooker do all the hard work. With a delicious, finger-licking maple ginger glaze!
Check out this recipe
Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers Recipe
These crock pot stuffed peppers are made with 5 simple ingredients and filled with delicious taco flavors. Easy to prep ahead (you can even freeze them), and cook in the slow cooker for a convenient and hands off dinner.
Check out this recipe
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Nora says
Is there a master list on here that shows what I would need to buy if I was going to prep all of these at once and freeze?
Denise Bustard says
Hi Nora, no unfortunately I don't have a shopping list for this post, but you can check out all my meal prep plans here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/7-meal-prep-plans-with-shopping-lists/
Kristina says
Can you cook this slow cook-recipe in a instant cook (pressure)? The same mix and faster?
Denise says
Hi Kristina! Which recipe are you referring to?
Rachel says
Can you cook these in the slow cooker and then save them in freezer bags and just reheat them?
Michelle L Twitchell says
This is perfect I cant use my stove as I tend to leave it on chemo has muddled my brain cells. I have looking for healthy meals to use in my crockpot. Next weekend will be preparing and freezing.
Denise says
Hi Michelle! Sending you lots of love as you go through chemo. I hope these recipes make your life a little easier <3
Tabitha says
Thank you for the tips and recipes. I had no idea how long these were good for in the freezer or that I needed to completely thaw. I will be trying several meals with my picky kids.
Denise says
I hope you find some good ones, Tabitha!
Lizzie says
I can't even begin to explain how much I use these recipes. With 4 kids, 4 jobs between my husband and I, sports, music lessons, school, housework, and somewhere in there I sleep, I need food that can be prepped ahead of time and cooked while I do the millions of things I need to each day. I love that these are healthier than most crock pot meals out there, and it doesn't use pre packaged mixes. Honestly, if I didn't have my crock pot I don't think we would eat more than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
Denise says
I am SO happy reading your comment, Lizzie! Slow cooker meals really save me, too! Thanks so much for your comment!
Lorraine Viala says
Denise, the Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples and Sweet Potatoes recipe goes to Coconut Curried Sweet Potato and chickpea Stew recipe. I'd really like to see the Pork Chop recipe. Can you fix?
Lorraine
Stef says
https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/slow-cooker-pork-chops-with-apples-and-sweet-potatoes/
Denise says
Thank you, I've updated it now! Here's the link: https://www.stockpilingmoms.com/slow-cooker-pork-chops-with-apples-and-sweet-potatoes/
Ria Hawk says
The links for the curried sweet potato soup are pointing at the chicken teriyaki, which is sad because the curried sweet potato soup sounds very interesting.
Denise says
Thanks Ria I will fix them 🙂