See I told you, this would help!
- SC = Store Coupon
- MC = Manufacturer Coupon
- SS = Smart Source
- RMN = Retail Me Not
- PG = Proctor and Gamble
- WYB = When You Buy
- B1G1 = Buy One Get One Free
- .75/1 = 75 cents off one item
- .75/3 = 75 cents off three items
- EXP = Expiration Date
Going Nuts? I can help you understand coupon terms and abbreviations
Home > Menu Plans > Sample Freezer Cooking Plan & Tips
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
To have a successful freezer cooking experience, it’s important to have a plan. You want to focus on recipes that have variety, but also that use some common ingredients to make preparation easier. If we can make shredded chicken for 3 different meals and chop onions for everything all at the same time, think of all the dishwashing you are saving! (Though you may want a silly pair of onion goggles when you are done).
I’ve put together a sample freezer cooking plan and I’m also going to share my best tips for freezer cooking.
Sample Freezer Cooking Plan & Tips
I want to share several tips to help you have the best outcomes when freezer cooking, and then I have a sample freezer cooking plan for you!
Focus on sale ingredients
Meal planning alone can save you money, but if you also incorporate stocking up when essential ingredients are on sale, you can really shave a lot off the budget! It helps if you focus on in-season items and do several weeks of stocking up before your cooking day.
Remember, just like with couponing, you can choose to go extreme and make every meal for a whole month in one day, or you can keep it simple and make a few dishes to freeze that will supplement your weekly meal plans for when you have a busy night—it’s all up to your needs.
Tip: Want to get your feet wet? Next time you make something you think would freeze well, double the recipe and make one to eat now and one to freeze for later. This could be as simple as making a big pot of chili and freezing half right away.
What about dietary restrictions?
If you have special dietary restrictions, there are freezer cooking ideas out there for you, too! One resource I found are the Gluten Free and Vegetarian menus at Once A Month Mom, and there are tons of other recipe ideas out there if you do a little hunting. When you get the hang of it, you can probably even convert some of your family favorites into freezer cooking meals by doing some or all of the steps in advance!
Stock up on certain ingredients
You may think that freezer cooking is limited to casseroles and microwave meals, but the truth is that you can prepare most recipes in advance to some degree (even restaurants do it). To keep things interesting, you may want to focus on a variety of cooking methods like grilling, slow cooking, baking and sautéing. Don’t forget to label things and keep a list of any special cooking instructions handy.
To give you an idea of where to start, I’ve put together a menu for a freezer cooking session that is based on items that commonly go on sale. Select to see the best prices you can currently find on these items.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Boston Butt Pork Roast
Ground Beef
Russet or Idaho Potatoes
Baby Carrots, 16 oz
Sweet or Yellow Onions
Sweet Potatoes
Bell Pepper
You will need additional ingredients and spices, but these are a good foundation to work from because they are at a big discount!
Sample freezer cooking plan
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry – Recipe
Prep all the ingredients and store in gallon baggies to put in the slow cooker the day you want to eat it. You can freeze the coconut milk too, but it’s just as easy to add the can the day of.
Cheddar & Cracker Chicken – Recipe
Bread the chicken in advance and then thaw/bake for dinner.
Chicken Enchiladas – Recipe
Prepare completely, thaw and bake for dinner.
Spiced Pork & Apricot Stew – Recipe
Prepare completely and freeze into meal-sized portions. Thaw and reheat.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches w/ Caramelized Onions – Recipe
Prepare pork and freeze in dinner-sized portions or use as a starter for other dishes like this Pulled-Pork Torta.
Slow Simmered Meat Sauce – Recipe
Prepare ingredients for sauce into storage bags & put in the slow cooker the day you want to eat it. Serve with noodles.
Sloppy Joes for Crowd – Recipe
Prepare beef and freeze into dinner sized portions. Reheat & serve.
Potatoes O’ Brien – Recipe
Prepare as directed. Makes a great side or easy breakfast.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi – Recipe
Prepare the gnocchi & spread them on a cookie sheet to freeze. Bag into dinner sized portions and boil or saute for dinner.
Search by Item
Looking for a deal on something specific?
View OtherCurrent Deals
Sunday Ads Best Deals Freebies- Latest Articles
- Categories
- Videos
- 55¢ Oral-B Scope Floss Picks at CVS
- Lowes Foods Weekly Ad: 5/15-5/21
- Get 16 oz. Galbani Fresh Mozzarella for $2.74
- Amazon | J&J 80-Piece First Aid Kit $6.58 (reg. $14)
- Kohl’s Lowest Prices | Pickleball, Water Toys, Outdoor Games & More!
- Harris Teeter Weekly Ad: 5/15-5/21
- 12 Easy Beach Crafts For You and Your Kids
- Get the Big Bottles of All Free & Clear Detergent for $4.99 (reg. $15.99!)
- Kate Spade Outlet | Up to 70% Off Sitewide + Extra 20% Off
- Get Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser for only $2.99 at CVS!
- Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat $119 (reg. $140)
- 50% off Kohl’s Patio Furniture
- $1.92 Duke’s Mayonnaise at Publix
- Amazon Summer Beauty Haul | Spend $50, Get $10
- Walmart Ad Deals: 5/12-5/18
- Amazon | Women’s 6-Pack Underwear Just $4.70
- Kroger Weekly Ad: 5/15-5/21
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 5/12-5/18
- Groupon | Great Wolf Lodge From $89 Per Night
- $1.44 Whole Fruit Frozen Fruit Bars
- H&M | Free Shipping On All Orders – Today Only
- Amazon Women’s Clothing Deals | Up to 70% Off!
- 89¢ Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap at CVS
- Sam’s Club Membership Only $25 at Groupon!
- Target Unadvertised Deals: 5/12-5/18
- 15 Rotisserie Chicken Meal Ideas for Easy Dinners
- $3.39 Finish Detergent Tabs | Publix Deal Ends Today
- Vera Bradley Compact Backpack $29.99 (reg. $125) Today Only!
- 49¢ Dove Hair Care at CVS
- Lands End | B1G1 Swim Separates + 40% off Everything Else!
- Top Baby Deals: Diapers, Food & Wipes
- $3.99 Bizzy Cold Brew | Kroger Mega Deal
- Walmart | Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker Only $149 (reg. $199)
- Hollister Jeans Clearance + Extra 20% Off!
- Publix Meal Plans: Dinner Ideas Based on Sales Starting 5/15
- Dove Haircare FREE + $2.51 Moneymaker at Walgreens!
- Eddie Bauer Clearance | Extra 40% off with Code thru 5/19
- FREE + $1.82 Moneymaker CoverGirl Eye Shadow Kits at CVS
- Top Amazon Coupons: Grocery, Personal Care & Household Deals
- Craftsy Premium Membership – $1.49 down from $113!
- Publix Weekly Ad: 5/15-5/21 or 5/16-5/22
- BCP Code | $20 Off Raised Garden Bed
- Amazon Clothing Deals | Men’s Shorts $7 & More
- $2.24 Tide To-Go Pens at Kroger
- Space Saving Products for Small Spaces
- 120+ New Target Circle Offers: All 20% to 50% off Deals!
- Today Only | Free Kids Safe Gabb Phone 3 Pro
- Billie Body Wash $4.97 after Walmart Cash Back
- $2.49 Tate’s Bake Shop Cookies & Cookie Bark
- Free $10 Target Gift Card With Purchase of 3 Household Items
- $1 or Less
- Advantage Buys
- Aldi
- all Detergent Coupons
- Amazon
- Baby & Toddler Coupons
- Baby Deals
- back to school
- Beauty Coupons
- Beverage Coupons
- Bi-Lo
- BJs
- Black Friday
- Bloom
- Booklets
- Catalina Deals
- Cereal Coupons
- Cheese Coupons
- Clearance Deals
- Clothing Deals
- Coffee Coupons
- Colgate Coupons
- Commissary
- coupon booklets
- Crest Coupons
- CVS
- Daily Deal Sites
- Desserts
- Diaper Coupons
- Dining
- DIY Christmas
- Dollar General
- Dollar Tree
- Donations
- Earth Fare
- eCoupons
- Entertainment
- Entrees
- Extreme Couponing 101
- Family Dollar
- Family Life
- Florida Price Match
- Food City
- Food Lion
- Fred's
- Free
- Free Shipping
- Friday Finals
- Frugal Crafts
- Frugal Dates
- Frugal Decor
- Frugal House
- Frugal Living
- Frugal Look Alikes
- Frugal Recipes
- Frugal Travel
- General
- General Mills Coupons
- Gift Ideas
- Giveaway
- Glade Coupons
- Grocery Coupons
- Grocery Store Coupons
- H-E-B
- Harris Teeter
- Harvey's Coupons
- Harveys
- Holiday Deals
- Home School Resources
- Household Coupons
- Household Deals
- Huggies Coupons
- In-Store Deals
- Ingles
- K-Mart
- Kelloggs Coupons
- Keto
- Kids Deals
- Kraft Coupons
- Kroger
- Kroger Meal Plans
- Laundry Coupons
- Lidl
- Local Coupons
- Lowes Foods
- Magazine Deals
- Making Money
- Menu Ideas
- Menu Plans
- Movie Kiosk Codes
- Office Depot-Max
- Office Depot-Max Online Deals
- Office Supply Stores
- Online Deals
- Online shopping
- Organic Food
- Organic Living
- Other Grocery Stores
- Other Stores
- Pampers Coupons
- Paper Towel Coupons
- Penny Item
- Personal Care Coupons
- Pet Coupons
- Photo Deals
- Pillsbury Coupons
- Podcasts
- Printable Coupons
- Publix
- Publix Meal Plans
- Publix Weekly Ad
- Randalls
- Reader Questions
- Rebates
- Recalls
- RecycleBank Rewards and Points
- Regional Coupons
- Reviews
- Rewards Programs
- Rite Aid
- Safeway
- Saving Money
- SavingStar eCoupons
- Sides
- Staples
- Staples Online Deals
- swagbucks
- Sweepstakes
- Sweetbay
- Target
- Target Coupons
- Tide Coupons
- Time Sensitive
- Toilet Paper Coupons
- Travel Deals
- Uncategorized
- Upromise eCoupons
- Video
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Warehouse Clubs
- Weekly Best Prices
- Weekly Inserts
- Weekly Top Deals
- Weekly Weigh In
- Whole Foods
- Winn Dixie
- Yogurt Coupons
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 5/12-5/18
- How to Cut Your Utility Bills | Part One: General Tips + Water, Trash, Electricity
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/28-5/4
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/14-4/20
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 3/31-4/6
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 3/17-3/23
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 2/11-2/17
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 2/4-2/10
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 1/21-1/27
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 1/7-1/13
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 12/31-1/6
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 12/10-12/16
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 12/3-12/9
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 11/12-11/18
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 11/5-11/11
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 10/29-11/4
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 10/22-10/28
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 10/8-10/14
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 10/1-10/7
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 9/24-9/30
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 9/17-9/23
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 9/10-9/16
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 8/27-9/2
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 8/20-8/26
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 8/6-8/12
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 7/30-8/5
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 7/23-7/29
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 7/16-7/22
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 6/25-7/1
- Live Q&A Tonight: Saving More at Publix & Kroger
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/30-5/6
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/23-4/29
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/16-4/22
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 4/9-4/15
- Live Q&A: Walmart+ vs Amazon Prime
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 3/26-4/1
- Ways to Earn Extra Money + Live Q&A: Tonight!
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 3/19-3/24
- Traveling on a Budget | Tips & Tricks + Live Q&A
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 3/5-3/11
- Live Q&A: Saving & Planning for College
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 2/26-3/4
- Video: Top Drugstore Deals 2/5-2/11
- Saving on Meat & Produce Live Q&A Tonight at 8:30 pm
- Video: Top Drugstore Deals 1/29-2/4
- Saving at Walmart, Target & Dollar General + Live Q&A
- Video: Top Drugstore Deals 1/22-1/28
- Video: Top Drugstore Deals 1/15-1/21
- Live Q&A Tonight – How to Shop the Drugstores
- Video: Top CVS & Walgreens Deals 1/8-1/14