Freezer to Crockpot Cooking with Recipes and Zip List!

 

11 Freezer to Crockpot meals

I've always wanted to do Once a Month Cooking, but I just couldn't get it planned.  I did try the ideas from Dinner is Ready and I really liked how that worked out, but I'm even more impressed with Freezer to Crockpot cooking!! 

I think I found this first on Pinterest a YEAR ago:

Source: kojo-designs.com via Shonda on Pinterest

Oh, yes! That sounds awesome!! But I never got around to trying it!

Then about a week ago one of my FB friends shared her post of her freezer to crockpot cooking and I decided it was time!

The first thing I did was gather all my recipes and decided to make 2 of each.  However, I didn't buy enough chicken so that's why there are only 11 meals instead of 12.

Next I put all my recipes on ZipList and generated a shopping list.  Then I went through what I already had, took things off and doubled everything and copied off my list.  I also have it on my phone.  Pretty handy and FREE site!!

Then I came home and normally I would do all my chopping one day and assemble the next, but I honestly don't have that much time and my daughter took a fabulous nap that day.  So I spent about 2.5 hours in the kitchen chopping and getting everything ready to dump in the bags.  One thing I didn't do was chop chicken.  I figure it will cook enough to chop during the crockpot cooking.

I listened to my favorite podcasts and dumped everything in each of the bags.  I was very curious to see how these turned out.  I have never made any of these recipes before so this is all an experiment.

What I am most thrilled with is the ZERO time I'm spending in the kitchen.  Basically pull out the bag the night before and thaw in the refrigerator.  In the morning I figure out when I need to put the meal in to cook, grease the crockpot and dump it in!!  That's it, 30 seconds tops!  And the best part is that there is NO clean up.  I also have TONS of time in the afternoon and evening that I normally would be prepping, cleaning and all the other stuff I do in the kitchen.  I also have an extra meal to give to my friend who is having surgery soon.  I feel like this is a winner all around. 

Happy Assembling!!

Here are the recipes:
*BBQ Chicken- Scroll down to the recipe.  This one was fabulous!!!
*Black Bean Taco Soup- This was excellent!  I love Mexican.

I have not tried any of these yet.
*Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans
*Slow Cooker Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken
*Garlic Lime Chicken
*Lime Salsa Chicken
*Café Rio Chicken

I have several other recipes I want to try so I might do another batch in August.