Advantages Of Instant Pot Easy Freezer Meals:
- Real Food | These meals are real food! Tasty options that you and your whole family can enjoy.
- Vegetables | You will see a lot of our recipes have veggies packed into them. A great way to sneak in vegetables into your childs diet or even yourself in a tasty way.
- Variety | If you get stuck in a dinner rut, these easy freezer meals will also bring you variety in your menu. It will feel like a treat to whip up something different than a classic dish of spaghetti.
- Quick & Easy| Instant Pot Freezer Dump Meals are so easy and quick to put together. The best part they are delicious.
- Time Savings| Each Night you will have lots of time to spend with the kids while the magic Instant Pot does all the work. You simply throw your meal in from frozen and wait for it to be done.
Tip : Allow Extra Time To Come To Pressure And For Cooking Freezer Meals In The Instant Pot
Ive found that freezer meals take almost twice as long to come to pressure than a thawed meal does. Make sure you allow for that time when prepping or youll have a hangry family. I wish there was a one size fits all pattern to freezer meal cooking times in the Instant Pot but there just isnt.
One trend we see is that the longer it takes a meal to come to pressure, the less additional time you need to add to cook a frozen meal. It seems counterintuitive, I know. Youll just have to trust us on this one. So for example, in our recipes for a large batch of soup, we dont add any additional cooking time when cooking from frozen. On the flip side, we add 10+ minutes to a small chicken recipe. Its counterintuitive but our tests have confirmed the theory over and over again.
Video Result For Instant Pot Frozen Meal Kit
INSTANT POT PORK RAMEN NOODLE MEAL KIT from SAMS CLUB…
12 EASY FREEZER MEALS for Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
15 EASY FREEZER MEALS For Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
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Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is another meal thats simple to put together, and pairs up with so many different sides, so it will be a good choice no matter what you have handy. Steamed potatoes, plain rice, pasta, cauliflower rice, or any veggie this is the flavourful, protein-packed main component to anything you throw together.
Freezer Meals: Frequently Asked Questions
How long will these meals keep in the freezer?
It all depends on how well theyre stored. But if you are able to get most of the air out , these should keep for at least 6 months in the freezer.
Do you have to thaw your freezer meals before cooking?
I am so happy to say that you do NOT need to thaw them first! I dont thaw my freezer recipes before cooking! *evil laugh* I just take them straight out of the freezer and put them in the Instant Pot, slow cooker, or oven.The one exception is the category of meats in the slow cooker. Those should always be thawed first. Its a food safety thing it takes longer amount of time for the meat to heat up in the slow cooker, leaving the frozen meat in the danger zone for a potentially unsafe amount of time.
How long does it take to thaw frozen meats before cooking?
If youre making meat in the slow cooker, I recommend thawing them in the fridge for 24 hours first.If youre using the Instant Pot / pressure cooker, you dont need to thaw the meat first.
What about thawing and refreezing meat?
For food safety, I always use freshly purchased, unfrozen meat to assemble the freezer meals.Once a recipe has been frozen, I dont thaw it out and re-freeze it .And once a recipe has been cooked, I dont freeze it again. Most of these recipes make 6 servings so we just keep it in the fridge and eat it up over the next 2-3 days.
What do these terms mean?
that I use!
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Best Containers For Freezer Meals
Obviously plastic bags are the most common, but lets be real not everyone wants to use depressing plastic bags all the time so here my favorites along with a few pros and cons of each type of container.
These products are linked using affiliate links on Amazon.
- Pros: Fits perfectly inside the Instant Pot or slow cooker! Pretty to look at. NO PLASTIC WASTE!
- Cons: More expensive. Takes up more space.
**These are my personal favorite!** I own 5 of them and use them all the time. I definitely cant fit 12 of them in my freezer , but thats fine by me since I only prep a few recipes at a time.
Considerations: Many recipes will require leaving the liquids out in order to fit. The food expands a little bit as it freezes, so you want to leave a little space at the top. To loosen the frozen food before cooking, I just run the containers under hot water for a minute until loosened, and then dump them into the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Unlike freezer bags, the food will be frozen in a round shape so they fit straight into the Instant Pot like a dream! No plastic waste! No awkward square shaped frozen blocks of food! Wash and use for leftovers! Did I mention these are my favorite?
The Best Containers For Freezer Meal Prep
- Reusable 1 gallon silicone bags My preferred method and they work!
- Gallon Size Ziploc Bags: It is true you cannot recycle bags in your curbside blue box. Option 1: Wash, dry and re-use . Option 2: Collect and take directly to nearby recycling depot.
- Plastic Containers: You will need large containers, preferably round shape to fit easy into Instant Pot or slow cooker. A good option since they are reusable.
- Glass Containers: These are heavy, pricey and will fit only smaller recipes like White Chicken Chili. But another option. Look for large round 7 cup containers.
To write on re-usable bags and containers, I stick a few rows of overlapping painters tape as a label and write on it with a sharpie. It can be easily peeled off and discarded after use.
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Why Make Instant Pot Freezer Meals
Now that winter is on its way in, there are a few reasons to stock up the freezer.
- Preserving leftover summer produce from the garden.
- Back to school season! Whether its you or the kids, everyone needs those easy lunches or weeknight meals.
- Soups and stews to warm up when you need an immune boost or a comforting meal.
- Prepping ahead of time for parties and holiday events.
- Staying healthy through the influx of heavy foods and sweets that the season brings on.
Truly, this mentality applies to any season or any time of year. The point is, freezing meals makes batch cooking simple. You can load up on recipes you love without worrying about finishing them before they go off in the fridge.
How To Freeze Cheesecake
If youre not going to dig into a stunning and creamy cheesecake fresh from your Instant Pot, its a perfect dish to store for later.
We love this tip for freezing whole cheesecakes: Place the cooked and cooled cheesecake on the lid of a round plastic container, then invert the container itself over the cake to seal. Then simply pop the whole thing in the freezer for up to 3 months. When youre ready to serve, thaw the cake at room temperature. (from Christine in our :
To freeze individual slices of cheesecake : After you let the cake cool fully, slice it up. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet, making sure theyre not touching.
Freeze the slices until theyre fully hard. Remove the freezer, then wrap each slice in plastic wrap. Then freeze everything together in one big freezer-safe ziploc bag.
When youre ready to indulge in your homemade dessert, remove the slices from the freezer and allow them to come up to room temperature. You can start by defrosting them in the fridge overnight and placing them on the counter for a few hours before serving.
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Amazon Fresh Grocery Shopping
For those lucky ducks that live near a Whole Foods and have , you have access to another amazing online grocery shopping resource! .
Whole Foods has online selections of fresh organic produce, organic meat, canned goods, etc through and they deliver!
It just doesnt get any easier than that, except for getting an in-home chef that does all the cooking for you. Does offer that service yet? How about automatic self-loading dishwasher? Im first in line for that one.
Save the Instant Pot freezer meal grocery list below to your recipe app or print it out and take it to the store with you!
Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas
Its hard not to like Carnitas made in the Instant Pot. In fact, pork shoulder is one of my favorite cuts of meat to cook in electric pressure cookers! Carnitas can be prepped in minutes, they make a great freezer meal, and they feed a large number of people. Be sure to quarter the pork shoulder before freezing in the marinade!
How Freeze For Later: Place the quartered pork and ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag or round freezer container. Seal and freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Turn on the Saute function. Saute the frozen meal for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Cook at high pressure for 45-50 minutes with a natural release for 10 minutes and then a quick release.
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Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is filled to the brim with hearty vegetables, black beans, and barley. It provides the nutrition you need this winter to boost your immune system and fight off sickness plus amazing taste that will make you want to lick the bowl clean.
Freeze For Later:
Method 1 : Assemble the soup. Transfer the uncooked soup to a gallon-sized freezer bag or round container. Seal and freeze. Tip: Place freezer bag in a bowl until frozen to freeze in the shape of the Instant Pot.
Method 2 : You can also fully cook this soup, freeze in small portions for individual meals, and rewarm in the microwave or stove top. Or you can fully cook it, freeze the whole recipe in a round container or freezer bag. Tip: Place the freezer bag in a round container in the freezer until it freezes in the shape of the Instant Pot.
Prepare From Frozen:
Method 1 : Turn on the Sauté function. Sauté the frozen soup for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press Cancel. Lock and seal the lid. Cook for 12-15 minutes at high pressure and use a quick release.
Method 2 : For individual portions, thaw and warm up the soup in the microwave or on the stovetop. For an entire frozen batch, drop the frozen soup block in the Instant Pot and saute for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Then, lock and seal the lid and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes with a quick release.
Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs With Japanese Gravy
All meatballs are a good choice for a freeze easy meal. These ones work really well because theyre preserved in a Japanese gravy, meaning theyll taste just as good if not better when you enjoy them later down the road after the flavors have marinated for some time. This recipe is paleo, gluten-free, and perfect for an Asian food fix.
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Grab Our Free Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart
We have tested hundreds of recipes for the Instant Pot for our cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker. During that time, we have honed in on thebest timing and methods for cooking different types of meals in the Instant Pot. We are excited to share this valuable information with you in a 1 page cheatsheet!
Our Instant Pot Freezer Meals:
Chicken Tikka Masala Instant Pot Freezer Meal has beautiful flavours.
If youre wanting an East Indian dish thats a bit more kid-friendly, try the Instant Pot Butter Chicken Freezer Meal.
And if youve got kids, this Pizza Casserole is a must. You wont be hearing any complaints from them!
Youre going to love this Chicken Paprikash Stew. The flavours are amazing!
Chicken or Pork Shawarma in the Instant Pot is one of our most popular recipes. Its been pinned thousands of times.
Did you know that you can make Turkey Sloppy Joes in the Instant Pot?
Have you tried making Tomato Soup in the Instant Pot? So easy!
Hawaiian Chicken is an easy freezer to Instant Pot recipe.
These Country Style Ribs use the Instant Pot to allow you to create BBQ flavours when the weather isnt cooperating with your cooking plans.
Breaded Red Curry Shrimp is a unique meal that cooks quickly in the Instant Pot.
BBQ Baked Beans really hit the spot when it comes to comfort food.
This Bone Broth is also keto friendly.
Our Stuffed Pepper Soup can also be made in the Instant Pot.
The Spicy White Bean and Chicken Soup has just enough kick without being overboard.
Borscht is a Ukrainian soup with a long history. This recipe combines a bit of the new with the cooking style and yet keeps the history and tradition.
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Healthy Freezer Meal Prep #1
- Tortilla chips
- INSTANT POT: Pressure cook on High from frozen for 30 minutes with Quick Release.
For cooking in Instant Pot, it is important to finish with tomatoes on top to avoid Burn.
- SLOW COOKER: Sauté onion, garlic, carrots and celery before freezing with other ingredients. Thaw in the fridge for 24 hours , then add to a large slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on High or 8 hours on Low.
- AFTER COOKING: Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks. Return to the pot.
This is a large meal, so if you are cooking in anything other than 8 quart Instant Pot then freeze in 2 bags or 2 containers. For 8 quart Instant Pot freeze the bag standing upright, then it fits and lid will close.
CONTAINER LABEL
Instant Pot 30 mins, QR OR Slow Cooker Thaw 24 hrs. Low 8 hrs, High 4 hrs. After shred chicken.
Cuban Pulled Pork Paninis
This panini has the perfect balance of complex flavor, texture, and gooey goodness. Trust us when we say, the interesting combo of ingredients results in one amazing hot sandwich. Plus, you can make the fall-apart pulled pork in either the slow cooker or the Instant Pot.
Freeze For Later: Place the marinade ingredients and pork shoulder in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal, toss to combine, and freeze. Place the ciabatta rolls, cheese, and ham in separate freezer bags. Seal and freeze alongside the pork to create a meal kit.
Prepare From Frozen: Note: You will need to have butter, mustard, and pickles on hand to complete this meal. Thaw meal kit. Cook the pork in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Build the sandwiches. Cook in a pan on the stove, pressing them down until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted.
A down-the-pipe, classic chili with the perfect balance of ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices. Perfect for groups!
Freeze For Later: Two options for freezing:
Prepare From Frozen: Two options for preparing:
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Grocery Ordering Within Recipe App
Can we say GAME CHANGER?! I mean, it just doesnt get any easier to shop for Instant Pot freezer meals. No guessing which items to buy, no crowded aisles to push your cart through and no forgetting any essentials items from your list!
You just need to sign up first with Walmart, then choose grocery pick up or have Walmart deliver it right to your house after you order within the Prepear app.
For grocery delivery, sign up for a FREE 15 day trial for unlimitedWalmart deliveries. After that, you can choose to cancel or purchase a monthly unlimited grocery delivery plan for $12.95 per month or $98 annually.
To Be Considered Easy Freezer Meals They Needed To Be:
- Freezer meals that even beginners could make, not complicated
- Freezer meals that are quick! They need to take 15 minutes or less each to prep.
- Freezer meals that dont require cooking first before you prep. And minimal veggie chopping too.
- Freezer meals that you dont have to thaw overnight first.
- Freezer meals that are actually healthy too, like using real foods, or having some gluten-free and vegetarian options too.
- Freezer meals that are kid friendly and taste amazing ..like ones your family after trying actually says, Whoa, this is soo good!
So I decided to look through some of my own freezer meal recipes on Happymoneysaver, to figure out which ones would work great for this easy freezer meals list, and found some awesome ones. Then I decided to create some new recipes as well!
And so in all its glory, I present to you 15 of the easiest freezer meals of all time that are super delicious and healthy too.
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