7 Easy Prep Freezer Meals

With a new baby coming, you can never be too prepared! That includes things you need! We have baby number 2 on the way and I am determined to make this maternity leave as stress-free as possible. For me, that means less cooking! I’m planning ahead with these easy prep freezer meals. I can never have enough freezer and slow cooker meals ready for when the baby arrives.

This time around, I created a lot of “dump meals” or meals that you just dump ingredients in and freeze. Then, all you need to do is cook! This meal prep process only took a couple of hours because there was so much less prep involved! The less prep the better, considering this time I’m also chasing around a toddler. PLUS, the meals were still so cheap to create – each meal feeds 4 (with some leftovers) and comes out at $5 a meal!

 

Here’s what we created this time around:

• Taco meat (2)
• Ground beef (2) (perfect for Sloppy Joes, spaghetti, or adding to the ravioli lasagna)
• 6-can taco soup
• Meatloaf
• Ravioli lasagna

For these recipes you will need:

• 8 pounds ground beef
• 2 packets taco seasoning
• 1 can corn (dump the liquid)
• 1 can pinto beans (rinsed)
• 1 can black beans (rinsed)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can diced tomatoes & green chilies (Rotel)
• 1 can tomato paste
• 1 small white onion
• Garlic
• Frozen raviolis
• Ricotta cheese
• Frozen chopped spinach
• 1 can pasta sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Marinara sauce
• Two eggs
• Crushed pork rinds or bread crumbs
• Two pieces of bread
• Italian seasoning
• Worcestershire Sauce

PLUS you will need freezer safe bags, plastic wrap, tinfoil, 9×13” baking tin, 9×5” loaf pan (there are disposable versions of these)

Prep:

• Dice onion
• Crush pork rinds (if using)
• Rinse pinto beans
• Rinse black beans

 

For the taco meat:

1. Brown two pounds of ground beef
2. Drain the grease and rinse meat, if desired
3. Return to cooked beef to pan, add 1-2 tablespoons of water and taco seasoning. Cook until taco seasoning is distributed evenly
4. Let cool
5. Separate into two separate freezer quart bags labeled with date and name

 

For the ground beef:

1. Brown two pounds ground beef, half the onion, and 1-2 cloves of garlic until beef is cooked through
2. Let cool
3. Separate into two separate freezer quart bags labeled with date and name

 

For the taco soup:

1. Brown two pounds ground beef (if desired, not necessary)
2. Dump ground beef, packet taco seasoning, rinsed can of pinto beans, rinsed can of black beans, drained can of corn, can of diced tomatoes, can of diced tomatoes and chiles, can of tomato paste into freezer gallon bag labeled with date and name

 

For the meatloaf:

1. Add two pounds ground beef, 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 2 eggs, 1 cup crushed pork, 2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce into a large bowl. Mix together
2. Put two pieces of bread on bottom of 9×5” loaf pan
3. Shape meat in loaf pan
4. Cover with plastic wrap, then with tinfoil. Label with date and name

 

For the ravioli lasagna:

1. Mix together ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, and frozen spinach in a small bowl
2. Spread a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13” baking pan
3. Spread one layer of ravioli evenly on top of the sauce. Cover with another layer of sauce.
4. Spread a layer of the ricotta cheese mix, and cover with more mozzarella cheese.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 once more, adding more mozzarella cheese to cover the final layer.
6. Cover with plastic wrap, then with tinfoil. Label with date and name.

**you can add the ground beef to layers, if you want meat ravioli lasagna

 

Voila! You now have 7 easy prep freezer meals ready to go for maternity leave! These maternity freezer meals will be sure to make life easier when your new bundle arrives!