Postpartum Freezer Meals for a Month

The title of this post is a dirty, dirty liar. You don't need a newborn for freezer meals to be a good idea. You just need to be hungry. Here is what we did before the Crafted Baby was born to keep us sane and fed during that first month of sleep-deprived hysteria. Each of these recipes will feed two ravenous adults and one toddler-sized human.

Since this post is so long, I am breaking it here so that my blog's front page isn't overloaded with text!

Let's start out this expenditure with some quick tips. I don't know about you, but I love tips!

Tip 1: Always use name-brand freezer bags. Cheapo bags will lead to freezer burn, which will lead to wasted food.

Tip 2: Write the name of each meal on the freezer bag before filling the bag. It is super difficult to write on soup.

Tip 3: Get as much air out of each bag as possible before zipping the bag. Again, let's not waste food people!

Tip 4: When storing food in a casserole dish, use disposable aluminum pans. Easier clean up and less dishes rocks!

Tip 5: When storing casserole dishes, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then again in foil to preserve freshness.

Tip 6: Get really good at Tetris or store freezer bags flat to save space in your freezer. Whichever floats your boat.

Tip 7: Don't freeze anything hot. Wait until it comes down to room temperature to avoid steam crystal formation.

Tip 8: Thaw anything with vegetables in the recipe in the fridge overnight to avoid mushiness in the final meal.

Tip 9: Spread out shopping days and preparation days if you need to. Rome wasn't built in a day after all!

Tip 10: Always make sure everything is fully cooked before serving! I am beyond terrified of under cooked food!

On to the recipes! Put everything in each recipe into a bag or dish, stir or shake, and then flatten and freeze. Each of these recipes makes 2 meals, so don't forget to split everything between two bags, or end up with too much food!

You will need to make taco seasoning and chili seasoning to complete these recipes. Here is the chili seasoning recipe I use. Here is the taco seasoning recipe I use. You can also use packets, but I think the homemade stuff tastes better!

Beef Tacos: 1 lb. ground beef, 2 tbsp. taco seasoning, 1/2 diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 diced jalapeno, and 1 diced bell pepper of your choice. To cook, throw in a pan and cook on medium until meat is cooked. Serve with rice, beans, and flour tortillas.

Chicken Tacos: 3 large diced chicken breasts, 2 tbsp. taco seasoning, 1/2 diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 diced jalapeno, and 1 diced bell pepper of your choice. To cook, throw in a pan and cook on medium until meat is cooked. Serve with rice, beans, and flour tortillas.

Steak Tacos: 2 large diced steaks (I used flank steak), 2 tbsp. taco seasoning, 1/2 diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 diced jalapeno, and 1 diced bell pepper of your choice. To cook, throw in a pan and cook on medium until meat is cooked. Serve with salsa, beans, and corn tortillas.

Teriyaki Chicken: 2 large diced chicken breasts, 1 cup teriyaki sauce, 1 head chopped broccoli, 1 diced carrot, 1/2 diced onion, and 3 minced garlic cloves. To cook, throw in a pan and cook on medium until meat is cooked. Serve with rice.

Beef and Broccoli: 2 large diced steaks (I used flank steak), 1 cup teriyaki sauce, 1 head chopped broccoli, 1 diced carrot, 1/2 diced onion, and 3 minced garlic cloves. To cook, throw in a pan and cook on medium until meat is cooked. Serve with rice.

Chili: 2 lbs. ground beef, 6 tbsp. chili seasoning, 2 cans dark red kidney beans, 2 cans diced tomatoes with chilies, 1 diced onion, and 2 diced jalapenos. Cook in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Serve with cornbread.
Chili Cheese Hotdogs (not a freezer meal. Eat this the night after chili!): Leftover chili from the night before, hotdogs, cheese, and buns. Grill the hotdogs, put on buns, and top with chili and cheese.

Firehouse Chili: 2 lbs. ground spicy sausage, 6 tbsp. chili seasoning, 2 cans black beans, 2 cans corn, 2 cans diced tomatoes with chilies, 1 diced onion, and 2 diced jalapenos. Cook in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Serve with cornbread or crackers.

Pulled Pork: 1 large pork loin (cut in half), 1 bottle BBQ sauce, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Cook in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours, then shred the pork. Serve on hamburger buns with your favorite side dish.

Meatloaf: 2 lbs. ground beef, 1 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, 2 eggs, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1/2 diced onion. Mix everything well and load into two meatloaf pans. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. Serve with your favorite side dish.

Lemon Pepper Chicken: 4 chicken breasts, 1 lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. To cook, bake in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite side dish.

Broccoli, Rice, and Cheese Casserole: 2 cups cooked rice, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can cheddar cheese soup, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 head chopped broccoli. Mix everything well and load into two casserole dishes. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with garlic bread.

Sausage and Vegetables: 8 diced sausage links, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can cheddar cheese soup, 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables, 4 diced red potatoes, and 1/2 diced onion. Cook in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Serve with garlic bread.

Chicken Bake Casserole: 2 diced chicken breasts, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can cheddar cheese soup, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 bundle diced asparagus, 1 diced onion, and 6 diced red potatoes. Mix everything well and load into two casserole dishes. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with garlic bread.

Stuffed French Bread: 1 lb. cooked ground beef, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup shredded cheese, and 1/2 diced onion. To cook, hollow out a loaf of French bread, warm this mixture, and load the mixture into the bread. Then bake it at 300 degrees until the bread is toasty and golden brown. Serve with vegetables or a salad.

And now onto the shopping list for these 30 meals! Hoorah! I made this pretty picture because, hey, why not?

I buy the food needed to serve my meals the Sunday before we plan to eat it. That way, everything stays fresh!

Of course, you'll also need 4 casserole dishes, 2 loaf pans, 6 sandwich-sized freezer bags (for the tacos), 16 gallon-sized freezer bags, foil, and plastic wrap. Don't forget a permanent marker to label everything with!

All in all, I spent $185 for everything, including the supplies listed above. Not bad for the whole month, huh?

Are you a freezer meal person? Do you have any tips to make this easier for new parents?