26 Crockpot Freezer Dinners In Less Than 3 hours!

Seriously, that just happened.  Recipes at the bottom!!

I know you've seen all of those amazing frozen crockpot meals on Pinterest!  Earlier this week I got a wild hair and decided that this weekend it was on like Donkey Kong!  I sweet talked one of my best friends into trying out this crazy long list of freezer crockpot meals that I had compiled from the Six Sister's Stuff website and with a quick trip to the grocery store with their printed grocery lists- we were off!  I'm telling you those ladies did a lot of the work for you!

We started our day with a trip to *ahem* 3 grocery stores to get everything we needed.  I'm confident that you like in a normal, less rural, town and could get it done in one trip.  Since my lovely friend Amy has two boys we decided to each make our own meals but split the work.  Plus, with awesome pop music playing in the background what could go wrong??

All of our groceries, minus a couple items we forgot!

First, start out by labeling all of your gallon, freezer bags with what's in them and how long they need to cook.  That way, when you pull it out of the freezer you know everything- one stop shop!

Next, get everything prepped and arranged.  We may have done this differently and learned from it!  There are a couple recipes that ask for browned hamburger (I used turkey) meat and browning ahead of time, plus cutting all veggies and maybe organizing them in "meals" will cut down some prep time!  We had everything on the counter and did a "grab and go" kind of method for each meal and while that worked.... we will probably change it up for the next time!  All of those groceries can be seriously overwhelming!!

After all of the prep is done, you can start assembling!  For us, Amy got the bags ready and dumped in all ingredients I handed to her while I cut the veggies.  Most of these recipes are seriously just a dump of all ingredients into a bag- so easy!  Assembly line is definitely the best way to go!

Be prepared to place multiple garbage cans in range!

Eh, voila!  After a solid 3 hours we made 26 meals, 14 of which are mine! (I forgot to add the last one to the picture!)  It really didn't seem like work until the VERY end and I think that a little more prep on our part would have alleviated that completely!  I'm confident you could complete all of these in an hour and a half if you do ALL 14 recipes!


Oh, you want recipes?!  Why didn't you SAY so??  haha ;)  All of these recipes can be found here and here.  The site says to let them thaw for 24hrs before cooking for best flavor.  Oh, and don't forget that they lay flat for better storage!

Recipes!

Black Bean Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef (I used turkey!)

1 medium onion, chopped
1 package mild taco seasoning mix
1 (16 oz) bag frozen corn
1 (16 oz) can black beans drained and rinsed (you could use kidney beans or pinto beans)
2 (14 oz) cans stewed tomatoes (we got a Mexian flavor- yum!)
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilis

Directions:
Brown meat and onion, drain. Let meat cool for a minute, then dump into a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag.

Dump the remaining ingredients into the bag, mix together, and zip bag closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours or LOW for 2-3 1/2 hours.

Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken breasts

1 (26 oz) jar of chunky vegetable-style spaghetti sauce

1 zucchini, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 sweet onion, chopped

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag and mix together.

Garnish: chopped black olives, shredded Parm cheese

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Hearty Beef Stew

Ingredients:

1 pound beef stew cubes
4 carrots, sliced
4 red potatoes, cut into large cubes
1 package dry onion soup mix
2 cans 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (10 oz) package frozen green peas
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed. When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or HIGH for 5-6 hours).

Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
1 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours). Sprinkle with fresh or dried rosemary for serving.

Cilantro Lime Chicken w/ Corn and Black Beans

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
Juice from 2 limes
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 (16 oz) bag frozen corn
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp cumin 

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on LOW for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours). 

Serve with tortillas and toppings such as with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.

Slow Cooker BBQ Cranberry Chicken 
Ingredients:
2 lbs chicken breasts
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1 (16 oz) can whole cranberry sauce
1 cup barbecue sauce

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag and zip closed.  When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours. 

 

Slow Cooker Beef and Mushrooms
Ingredients:
3 lbs stew meat, cubed
1 (10.75 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
2 (4 oz each) cans mushrooms, with liquid
1/2 cup apple juice
1 (1 oz) packet dry onion soup mix

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Zip closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 10 hours.
Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker Pineapple Glazed Ham
Ingredients:
4 thick slices of boneless ham, fully cooked (I cut mine about 3/4" thick)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (optional)

Directions:
Mix together brown sugar, pineapple, and mustard in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Place ham slices inside and zip bag closed.
When ready to eat,  remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz) jar chili sauce
1 (16-18 oz) jar grape jelly
1 (2 lb) package frozen meatballs

Directions:
In a bowl, combine chili sauce and grape jelly until smooth. Place meatballs in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Pour in the chili sauce mixture and mix together in the bag until thoroughly combined. Zip bag closed.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours or LOW for 3-4 hours. Serve over rice or with toothpicks (makes a great appetizer too!).

Mom's Slow Cooker Chili
Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (you could also use ground turkey)

1 onion, diced

2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1/4 cup ketchup or chili sauce

1/4 cup water

1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans

1 packet chili seasoning mix

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon sugar

Directions:

Brown ground beef with chopped onion. While they are browning, combine all other ingredients in resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. When the browned hamburger and onion has cooled down, add it to the rest of the ingredients in the freezer bag and zip closed.

When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours. Top with shredded cheese and crackers or Frito's corn chips.

Slow Cooker Sweet Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients:
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 onion, chopped
1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts

Directions:
Mix together soy sauce, sugar, garlic salt and chopped onion in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Place chicken breasts inside the bag and zip closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours.
Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients:
3 lb bottom round beef roast
2 (1 oz each) packages dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 cup water
1 (16 oz) jar pepperoncini peppers (can substitute milder, sweeter peppers if desired)

Directions:
Mix together salad dressing mixes, water, and peppers in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Add the roast and zip the bag closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 7 hours or LOW for 10-12 hours.
Serve on your favorite kind of buns- or salad!

Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs pork chops, boneless (about 4-6 chops, thick sliced)
6-8 medium potatoes, chopped into large pieces
2 (10.75 oz each) cans cream of chicken soup (I used 1 chicken, 1 mushroom)
2 (1 oz each) packages dry Ranch dressing mix
1 cup milk
Dried parsley to sprinkle on top (optional)

Directions:
In a bowl, mix together the soups, milk, and ranch dressing mixes and pour into a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Combine all other ingredients together and zip closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours.
Use the extra sauce in the slow cooker as a gravy for the potatoes and the pork chops. Sprinkle with dried parsley if you want.

The last recipe is actually an Advocare recipe that I LOVE!  It's seriously clean and healthy :)

Slow Cooker Chicken Burritos
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce (No Sugar Added)
½ cup salsa
1 package Low Sodium Taco Seasoning or 3 -4 TBSP Homemade Taco Seasoning
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
2 cloves minced garlic

Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour remaining ingredients on top of chicken. Cover and cook on low
for 6 hours or until chicken is cooked through.
Serve over lettuce for a Tex-Mex inspired salad using the extra juice as a dressing or creating your
own using some olive oil, lemon/lime juice, and taco seasoning.
Burrito or Salad Topping Suggestions: Black Beans (rinsed and drained), tomatoes, lettuce, black
olives, salsa, avocado (make an avocado spread by mashing the avocado with some lemon juice)

There you have it!  14 slow cooker recipes for your freezer and more importantly, more time with your family and less stressing about "what's for dinner"!  Check me out on Not Just a Housewife's Blog, here!

Until next time...

2013 Show me what you got!

As I'm reading through the PILES of old blog posts I neglected over the holiday season I'm seeing a theme that I love and want to participate in.  Everyone is jumping on the reviewing band wagon and so shall I!  Let's recap, shall we?!

*Warning: Dangerously long post filled with awesome pictures!*

January 2013- Business as usual around the Ladd house!  I was busy coaching cheerleading and D was reffing.  Yes, we were totally that couple!  Our weekends were spent in the gym, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  Also, we got our October 2012 wedding pictures back!  This was an exciting time!

Febuary- More gym time and more tournaments!  The Iceworm festival was the big highlight for this month!

I just lurve watching my man play bball!!

One of my favorites running the variety show & me doing Ms. Iceworm makeup!

March- District Basketball and I was voted South Central Conference Cheerleading Coach of the Year!!!  For my first time coaching- EVER... I took this as a HUGE compliment.  Working hard to repeat it this year!  Go Wolverines!

Cordova still lookin' like a winter wonderland!

April- What a crazy month!  April was the month I plunged head first into blogland and created Life, Laughs and Ladds!!  Check out my very first post, here!

It was also our year anniversary and honeymoon time :)  What you got married twice?  Yes, little viewers we did!  We got married in April (for military reasons) and then had our wedding in October!  For our anniversary, we stowed away on a Carnival ship- destination Bahamas.  It was an amazing cruise where we met some great people and spent time enjoying each others company, relaxing and sun bathing!  A couple weeks later we were lucky enough to attend the wedding of one of D's best friends in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

1st anniversary is paper.  D handmade me an origami flower and crane!  Major points!

It's always been the little things for me!

Selfies underwater?  Yes, please!

D, the handsome groom Ron, Jen and Chris!  Love them!

May- the month we started to say goodbye to our friends, my first Coast Guard "goodbye".

Favorite posts:  Letting my freak flag fly, What do I do? and 10 Things that make me smile!

June is one of the months where Cordova shines!  We had some beautiful weather which encouraged outdoor activities!  D and I hiked quite a bit and I even took a dip in glacier water.  D said this officially made me Alaskan haha  I'm not so sure of this, but it was fun!  May/June also brings a whole new batch of CG families to Cordova and most importantly, fishing season to the Copper River!  Ever heard of Copper River King Salmon?  Yep, we're spoiled to say the least!  I also got to see my father in law in action, it was very cool!

Favorite posts: I am thankful, Greek Spinach Feta Chicken Pockets and Breakfast Ham Cups! 

July was all about the girls!  My step daughters came up in early July and we had a whirlwind adventure.  We started out in Cordova and then drove through Alaska to Denali National Park and back to Anchorage.  It was SO fun!  We visited many places along the way including Talkeetna, Denali, North Pole, and everything Anchorage had to offer.  Denali National Park was by far everyone's favorite.  The trails and wildlife were awesome and our ranger cabin was an adventure!  I also ran my first 5k in July during the Salmon Jam festival!  The first of many hopefully!

Favorite Posts: Cara Box Reveal, Cordovaisms Vol. 2 and Salmonberries, like the fish?

The 4th was a little soggy, but we still got out and had some fun!

Left: Ice museum- seriously cool!  Right: A long lost friend I haven't seen since I was an exchange student in Belgium!  It was SO awesome/random to see her in the middle of Alaska!!

We were falling off the bear- what?

We never have ANY fun ;)

My first 5k!

Family picture time!  We had an amazing day with Cherie from Dashing Life Photography!

August- one of my best friends came to visit me in the Last Frontier! We had SUCH a great time while she was here.  I can't wait for her next visit!  I also caught my first halibut, which checked another thing off my 35x35 list!

Favorite Posts:  Are you ready for some football?, Searching for Nessie and Liebster Award

September- Hello 30, you little minx!  My friends and amazing hubby helped me celebrate in style!

Favorite Posts: Zuppa de Anna, El Presidente and Lions, Tigers and 30s Oh My!

   
October was our first Hawaii wedding anniversary, Halloween and a fun trip to see my parents!

Favorite Posts: Frank Fridays: Glee Club, What the Pho and Better than WHAT cake?!

This is what an anniversary dinner looks like when your husband is sick :(

November was my second sobriety celebration and D got a moose!  Oh, and I crossed another thing off my 35x35 list- my first homemade Thanksgiving!!

Favorite Posts: Balsamic Pot Roast, Sobriety Festival and Thanksgiving from scratch!

December started cheerleading, brought some snow and the girls were back for winter vacation!  It was a busy month!  Oh yeah, and football :)

Favorite Posts:  How to up-cycle Thanksgiving leftovers, Photography/Frank Fridays and Holiday Party Navigation Guide! 

Yep, we're those parents!  I love this picture :)

What a year!?!  As I look back it's nice to see how far we've come and think of all the exciting things that are going to happen next year!  In a few short months we'll be heading out on our new adventure to San Francisco!  I'm excited for the next chapter in our story!

Until next time...