by Natalie Broders, Portland Birth Photographer
If you’ve had a baby before, you know how tough it can be to feed yourself postpartum.. Let alone cook for your whole family. These crockpot freezer meals can be made ahead and frozen, so all you (or your partner) has to do to start dinner is throw it in the crockpot.
Making crockpot freezer meals ahead was an absolute LIFESAVER for me! I also loved having packaged snacks, like almonds, protein bars, granola bars, and pop-tarts. What was your favorite postpartum snack? Shoot me an email and let me know. (Seriously, I’m making a list of the best postpartum snacks to bring moms after birth)
Teriyaki Chicken
Serves 4
Cook time: 8 hours on LOW
2 pounds chicken thighs
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
one 20-ounce can pineapple chunks (drained)
Serve with: cooked white or brown rice, green veggies
Sloppy Joes
Serves 4
Cook time: 3-4 hours on HIGH
One pound ground beef
1 diced onion
1 diced green bell pepper
15-ounce can tomato sauce (or 1 6-ounce can tomato paste mixed with 1 cup water)
one Sloppy Joes seasoning mix packet
Serve with: buns, fries
Beef Stroganoff
Serves 4
Cook time: 8 hours on LOW
2 pounds stew meat
1 pound sliced mushrooms
1 diced onion
1/2 cup red wine
1 tablespoon beef stock paste (or 2 bouillon cubes)
Extra directions: Add 1 cup water to slow cooker before cooking. Stir in 1/2 cup sour cream before serving (do not freeze with other ingredients or add at beginning of cooking time or it will curdle)
Serve with: fettuccine noodles or rice
Ham and Pinto Bean Soup
Serves 4
Cook time: 5-6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW
1 pound dried pinto beans
1.5 pound bone-in ham shank
3/4 cup ketchup
Water
Salt, to taste
Directions –
Night before: place beans in crockpot and cover with 8 cups of water. Let sit overnight (don’t turn the crockpot on)
In the morning: add ham shank. Cover and cook 5-6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW.
After cook time, add ketchup and salt to taste. Ham should fall off the bone.
Serve with: crusty bread or salad
Creamy Italian Chicken
Serves 4
Cook time: 4 hours on LOW or 8 hours on HIGH
1 and 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cut up in one inch pieces
1 bar of cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 packet zesty Italian salad dressing mix
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cup green beans, frozen or fresh
Extra directions: Add 1 cup water to slow cooker before cooking. Stir in 1/2 cup sour cream before serving (do not freeze with other ingredients or add at beginning of cooking time or it will curdle)
Serve with: noodles and Parmesan
Vegetable Beef Stew
Serves 4
Cook time: 8-10 hours on LOW
2 pounds stew meat
1 diced onion
2 sliced carrots
1 sliced parsnip
1 large rutabaga (peeled and cut into cubes)
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons beef stock base or 3 bouillon cubes
1 1/2 cups water
Serve with: mashed potatoes or rice
How-To
Step 1: Add raw ingredients to a gallon size freezer bag, then freeze
Step 2: Night before: move the meal from the freezer to the fridge to defrost overnight
Step 3: Throw it in the crockpot.
Pro tip: make 2 of each!
Shopping list for all the recipes:
CLICK HERE TO PRINT
Here’s your freezer meal shopping list:
* you probably already have these items in your cupboard
2 pounds chicken thighs
1.5 pounds chicken breasts
1 pound ground beef
2 pounds stew meat
1.5 pound bone-in ham shank
brown rice
fettucine noodles
bowtie noodles
ketchup *
1/2 cup soy sauce *
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar *
1/4 cup brown sugar *
red wine (1 cup)
1 packet zesty Italian salad dressing mix
one Sloppy Joes seasoning mix packet
beef stock paste (or beef bouillon cubes) *
frozen french fries
frozen green beans
1 20-ounce can pineapple chunks
15-ounce can tomato sauce (or 1 6-ounce can tomato paste mixed with 1 cup water)
1 pound dried pinto beans
1 can cream of chicken soup
3 yellow onion
1 diced green bell pepper
1 pound sliced mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots
1 parsnip (substitute a carrot if you want)
1 large rutabaga (substitute a potato if you want)
Parmesan
1 bar of cream cheese
Day-of shopping list – Buy when you’re ready to cook it:
broccoli ( or other green veggie)
whole wheat buns
sour cream
crusty bread
salad mix
country crock pre-made mashed potatoes from the deli
CLICK HERE TO PRINT
