Crockpot Freezer Cooking {Part 4}
Welcome to Part 4 of my Crockpot Freezer Cooking Series! You can find Part 1-3 here:
This week's menu includes:
Italian Bolognese
Homestyle Chicken & Rice Soup
Cheesy Ravioli Bake
Chicken Cacciatore
Salisbury Steaks with Mushroom Cream Sauce
All meals will cook fine from frozen, but be sure not to add cold/frozen meals into a hot crockpot as it can crack. Many people have concerns about putting frozen food in the crockpot, but I have never had an issue. It is my understanding that once the food reaches a certain temperature, it is fully cooked and safe. If you have concerns, just thaw in the fridge the night before.
Cook times will vary depending on your crockpot. It may take you a few tries before you get used to how long things take. In general 6-8 hours on low will do the trick. If all ingredients are pre-cooked, 3-4 hours will work. There are a lot of different crockpots out there. Mine is from the middle ages, has no temperature gauge, only low and high. I have burnt things many times:) It's a learning process, but you will perfect it with practice. Now get crockin!
Italian Bolognese Sauce
Ingredients:
1 lb. cooked italian sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic minced
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 cup water
2 T. sugar
2 T. Italian seasoning
1 T. Herbs de provence
1 t. fennel seeds
1 t. red pepper flakes
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
Directions: Mix all ingredients in freezer bag and freeze. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over hot cooked linguine.
Homestyle Chicken & Rice Soup
Ingredients:
1 lb. chopped chicken breast
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, beans, peas)
4T. butter
1 box chicken stock
1 cup rice (add last 20 minutes of cooking)
Directions:
Add chicken and mixed vegetables and butter to freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw slightly and place in crockpot. Add the box of chicken stock and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Add rice last 20 minutes of cooking.
Cheesy Ravioli Bake
Ingredients:
2 9 oz. packages of Refrigerator Ravioli
(I used the roasted portabello mushroom flavor)
1 Jar Prego Spagetti Sauce
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions: Place the ravioli and sauce in freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw slightly and add to crockpot. Top with shredded cheese and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients:
1 lb. chopped chicken breast
3 T. olive oil
1 bag frozen peppers & onions
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 fresh tomatoes chopped
1 package sliced mushrooms
1 T Italian seasoning
1/2 t. salt
2 cloves garlic minced
Directions:
Add all ingredients to freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw slightly and add to crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with hot pasta and top with parmesan cheese.
Salisbury Steaks with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
1 envelope of dry onion soup mix
2T. ketchup
2T. A-1 Steak Sauce
1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
2 eggs
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (use organic if available)
1 cup beef stock
Directions:
In a large bowl mix ground beef, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, ketchup, A-1 and eggs and form into patties. Place flat in a freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw slightly and place patties in bottom of crockpot. In a bowl, mix the mushroom soup and beef stock and pour over patties. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, until beef is well done.
Here are some of the Finished Products:
Happy Crockin!
Shopping List
1 lb. cooked italian sausage
1 onion
garlic
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 6 oz can tomato paste
sugar
Italian seasoning
Herbs de provence
fennel seeds
red pepper flakes
2lb. chicken breast (chop into bite size pieces, divide between chicken soup and cacciatore)
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, beans, peas)
butter
1 box chicken stock
rice
pasta
2 9 oz. packages of Refrigerator Ravioli
1 Jar Prego Spagetti Sauce
1 bag shredded cheese
parmesan cheese
olive oil
1 bag frozen peppers & onions
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 fresh tomatoes
1 package sliced mushrooms
2 lbs. ground beef
1 envelope of dry onion soup mix
ketchup
A-1 Steak Sauce
Italian breadcrumbs
2 eggs
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (use organic if available)
beef stock
freezer bags
sharpie marker for labeling
Thank you thank you thank you.
ReplyDeleteMy parents are in their eighties and live two hours away.
I spend a week a month there with my grandson. During that week I now make them a bunch of these meals for their freezer. My Mom is recovering from shoulder surgery and can not cook. It gives them a much needed option besides frozen dinners pot pies and pizza. Or my Cad's specialty hotdogs and beans ;(
I use a crockpot at home but would never have thought of this. I now have these at home for my daughter when I amatory my parents.
Just got done making some at Mom and Dad 's and wanted to say,
Thank you you are a lifesaver. ;)
Glad I could help!
DeleteI've printed off several of your Crockpot recipes and look forward to trying them. Do you ever have trouble with your sticky notes coming off while they are stored in the freezer? Is there a specific reason you use the sticky notes? Thanks for sharing your ideas!
ReplyDeleteYes, they do come off:) I will use a sharpie from now on.
DeleteI'm making my way through the crockpot recipes and have had some great meals. I just tried the Chicken Cacciatore and it was watery and did not retain it's tomato flavor. Any suggestions? I used fresh peppers and onions instead of starting with frozen, but think this would produce less liquid than frozen anyway. Thx!
ReplyDeleteCJ
I think it may just be the way the crockpot cooks veggies. Mine is sometimes a little watery as well. You could make a roux by adding flour or cornstarch to some of the liquid and then stirring it back in.
Deleteare these recipes for 2 or 4 people? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, # of servings info would be helpful. Did I miss it someplace?
DeleteCan't wait to try some of these recipes!
I would say 2-3 large servings, I would double the recipes if you have more than 3 adults/teenagers.
DeleteThank you thank you! I look so forward to trying these!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to try these!!
ReplyDeleteFor the Homestyle Chicken & Rice Soup is the rice cooked before you throw it in the crock pot?
ReplyDeleteI will try this recipe but I am going to use a can of precooked wild rice instead of white rice to add the last 20 minutes to heat through. I would think that I could add it in the original ingredients and freeze it as well.
Deleteuncooked white, wild or brown rice would be best!
DeleteIs the chopped chicken cooked or uncooked?
DeleteBrilliant. Thank you so much! I will try a lot of these very soon.
ReplyDeleteHi! I have the chicken soup in the crock pot now and came here to check if the rice was cooked or not. I see uncooked in the comments, but now I see on the photo, you wrote 2c of chicken stock and to add rice last hour. The recipe calls for a box of chicken broth (which I think is more than 2c) and add rice last 20 minutes. :p Could you clarify? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteuncooked rice is best!
ReplyDelete