Husband Approved - 44 Man Freezer Meals

This will be the second time I've made freezer meals, but this time I wanted to switch gears and create a menu that's more man friendly. A lot of the meals that I made last time were new to my husband and me. These meals here, are in his comfort zone so that he doesn't have to cringe over the unfamiliar and he already loves what he is going to eat!  He even approved this list just an FYI. :) It took me a little over 4 hours to prepare everything. I was verrrrrry distracted, but it was well worth it all:) 

In total I made 44 meals out of 16 different recipes. 

Meat Marinara

(2-4 servings)

This is the meat that I used for the lasagna. It’s simple and easy. You could also use this mixture for spaghetti if you wanted to add more ground beef.

Ingredients:                           

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 small onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1- 12 oz can of tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1.5 tsp fennel seeds
• 1.5 tsp onion powder
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp crushed pepper *optional
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Directions:

1.       Brown ground beef in large pot

2.       Add in onions and garlic

3.       Add in all tomato products

4.       Add in all seasonings

5.       Let meat mixture cool completely before assembling lasagna or storing for spaghetti

Healthy Meat Mix

(4-5 servings)

This is the base of the meat mixture that I use for meatloaves and meatballs. It’s a way for me to rid my fridge of any leftover veggies and a way me to sneak in veggies for my husband. He doesn’t even notice when I cook the meat completely through.  It should be funky colors when you shape these bad boys. It's brown when you cook it, I promise. I got this recipe from a fellow wife that has an extremely picky eater as a husband:) 

Ingredients:                           

• 2  lbs ground beef
• ½ an onion, pureed
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 carrots, pureed
• 3-4 handfuls of spinach, pureed
• 1 egg
• 1 handful of Italian bread crumbs
•  Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 tsp onion powder
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

1.     Add all ingredients together in a large bowl

2.     Meatballs

·        Add in 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

·        I also add in parmesan cheese * optional

3.     Meatloaf

·        Add in 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire

·        Add in ¼ cup of ketchup  

Lasagna

(2-4 servings) * I divided my lasagna into 3 freezable trays

Ingredients:                           

• 1.5 lbs of meat marinara
• 1 box of no bake noodles
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 cup ricotta cheese *I added more in because I wanted it to be a little bit cheesier.
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 bag of shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1.     Mix together egg, parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese and seasonings

2.     Ladle meat mixture onto the bottom of the pan

3.     Layer on no bake noodles

4.     Layer/dollop on cheese mixture

5.     Sprinkle mozzarella cheese

6.     Repeat steps 2-5 until you’ve reached the top

7.     Cover up lasagna and freeze

8.     Thaw completely day of cooking and pop into a 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes or until sauce starts to bubble over

You can serve this with a side of salad and bread sticks! You are more than welcome to make this lasagna into 2 lasagnas instead of 3 smaller ones. My husband and I don’t eat that much especially if we’re pairing our meals with salad and bread sticks.

Meatball Subs

(2-4 servings) I divided my meatballs into three freezable aluminum tins.

Ingredients:                           

• 2 lbs Healthy meat mix-meatball style

Directions:

1.     Take meat mix and form 1 inch meatballs

2.     Place all meatballs into the tin

3.     Cover tin and freeze

4.     Day of cooking: Thaw completely in the fridge and bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes. 

Serve on hoagie buns with a side of chips. 

Mini Meatloaves 

(2-4 servings) I divided my meatballs into three freezable aluminum tins.

Ingredients:                           

• 2 lbs Healthy meat mix- meatloaf style! 

Directions:

1.     Take meat mix and form 1.5-2 inch large meatballs. Almost as if they were cupcake size

2.     Place all mini meatloaves into the tin

3.     Cover tin and freeze

4.     Day of cooking: Thaw completely in the fridge and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes. 

Serve with mash potatoes and gravy. I wanted to create a meatloaf cupcake with these and if I do I will surely post a picture of these adorable things! 

French Dip

(2-4 servings) * I divided meat into 4 different gallon size bags 

Ingredients:                           

• 3-4 lbs of round/chuck roast
• 2 packets of au jus, cooked and chilled

Directions:

1.     Evenly divide roast into gallon size bags 

2.     Evenly divide chilled au jus into bags 

3.   Air out bag completely and place in freezer, flat 

4.  Day of cooking: Thaw completely and place into Crockpot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low

       I scored my meat so that all of the au jus flavor would run through the meat even more. You could also put this in the oven at 350 for 30-45 minutes depending on how well you want the meat to be cooked. We like our roasts medium rare. Serve on hoagie buns and leftovers could be in a sandwich! 

Sweet & Sour Chicken 

(2-4 servings) * I divided this into 2 bags 

Ingredients:                           

• 4 chicken breasts
• 16 oz Catalina dressing
• 12 oz apricot preserves
• 1 pkg onion soup

Directions:

1.     Divide ingredients into 2 bags 

2.     Air out bag and place in freezer, flat 

3.   Day of cooking: Thaw complete in fridge and place into crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low 

Serve with rice. You can also make this in the oven at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. 

Sloppy Joes

(2-4 servings) * I divided this into 2 bags 

Ingredients:                           

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tsp steak/burger seasoning
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• ½ an onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar ( you could also use apple cider)
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1 table spoon maple syrup

Directions:

1.      Brown ground beef and drain

2.      Add in all ingredients to pot

3.      Take pot off of the heat and let meat mixture cool completely

4.       Divide mixture into 2 bags 

5.     Air out bag and place in freezer, flat 

6.   Day of cooking: Thaw complete in fridge and place into crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

     Serve with hamburger buns. You can also make this on the stove by warming the meat mixture completely.  

Chicken Pot Pie

(3-6 servings) * This mix made two pies 

Ingredients:                           

• 2 ½ cups of shredded chicken ( I boiled my chicken and let cool)
• 2 packets of chicken gravy ( You could also make your own)
• 2 premade pie crusts in pan
• 2 premade pie crust tops
• 1 bag of frozen peas/carrots mix ( I used peas, beans and carrots)
• 1 small onion
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.     Bake bottom pie crust and let cool

2.     While bottom pie crust is in the oven, thaw out top of pie crusts T

3.      Mix all ingredients in large bowl

4.     Divide mixture into both of the pie crusts

5.     Top pies with pie crust tops

6.     Wrap pie with plastic wrap and foil

7.     Place in freezer

8.     Day of cooking: Pop into oven at 400 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

This could be served by itself or with a salad on the side.

Frozen Pizzas

(1 serving/ mini pizza)

Ingredients:                           

• Premade pizza dough ( I used Pillsbury 2 cans)
• 1 bag of mozzarella cheese
• 1 jar of Marinara sauce
• 1-2 bags of pepperoni
• Italian seasoning

Directions:

1.     Par bake the pizza dough ( You should bake it for 6-8 minutes) Bake bottom pie crust and let cool completely

2.     Top crusts with marinara sauce, cheese, pepperoni and Italian seasoning

3.     Cut pizzas into any shape or size you’d like

4.     Wrap pizzas in plastic wrap and place them in freezer bags

5.     Day of cooking: Pop into oven at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes ( for a crispier crust bake at 450)   

These mini pizzas are great for when you just want a pizza for yourself. The kids could easily help you make these ahead of time. It’s such an easy recipe and the ingredients are easy to switch up if you want different types of pizzas.  

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

(2-4 servings) * I divided mixture into 2 containers  

Ingredients:                           

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2-4 cups of diced thin ham
• Swiss cheese
• 1 10 ¾ oz of Cream of chicken
• Italian seasoning

Directions:

1.     You can boil chicken and shred it or place frozen chicken breasts in container ( I did both variations)

2.     Mix all ingredients except for the cheese and put into containers

3.     Day of cooking: Place into oven at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes- add cheese to top of casserole the last 5 minutes.

This could also be put into the crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Make sure that chicken is NOT cooked if you are going to put it into the crock pot. It will come out over cooked.

Apple Tenderloin

(2-5 servings) * I cut my tenderloin into 4 different 1 lb sections  

Ingredients:                           

• 3-4 lbs of pork tenderloin
• 1-2 apples, sliced into rounds
• 1 onion, sliced
• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1.     Slit tenderloin for apples to be in

2.     Season tenderloin with seasonings with exception to honey

3.     Place apples into slots that you’ve cut

4.     Drizzle honey over tenderloin

5.     Place tenderloin in freezer bag along with onions

6.     Day of cooking: Place into oven at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes-add more honey if needed.  

This could also be put into the crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. I would add extra honey last minute. This would pair beautifully with mash potatoes

Bacon Wrapped Cheese Dogs

(2-3 servings) * I divided 8 hot dogs into 2 bags

Ingredients:                           

• 8 slices of bacon, thawed
• 2-3 slices of American cheese
• 8 hotdogs

Directions:

1.     Create slits along the length of the hotdogs

2.     Slice cheese thin enough to fit into slots

3.     Wrap hot dogs in bacon

4.     Place hotdogs into freezer bag

5.     Day of cooking: Thaw out hotdogs and fry!

Serve with hot dogs buns and chips! This was extremely easy and I wouldn’t mind eating these on a really lazy day.

BBQ Beef Teriyaki

(2-5 servings) * I divided the steak among 2 containers

Ingredients:                           

• 1-2 lb flank steak
• Skewers
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 cup soy sauce
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of garlic
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• ¼ cup cold water

Directions:

1.     Mix all ingredients with exception to meat in a medium sized bowl

2.     Cut flank steak into strips and skewer each strip

3.     Divide steaks into containers

4.     Pour even amounts of soy sauce mixture into containers

5.     Cover container up and freezer

6.     Day of cooking: Thaw completely in fridge and grill or bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Easy marinade goes with easy cooking. You can serve this with rice!

Easy Pulled Pork

(2-6 servings) * This recipe goes for Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwiches and Pork Tacos!

Ingredients:                           

•  Sirloin Pork Tip Roast ( from Costco, 1 roast roughly about 2 lbs)
• 1 small onion
• 3 tablespoons garlic
• ½ tablespoon of paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup beef broth *add more if you see roast drying too quickly
• Sprinkles of onion/garlic powder

Directions:

1.     Place frozen tip roast in Crockpot along with all ingredients

2.     Cook for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low

3.     Shred pork with 2 forks

·        DO NOT DRAIN JUICE FOR TACOS

This is so easy! It makes the house smells so good too when you’re cooking it!

Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwiches

(2-4 servings)

Ingredients:                           

•  Easy pulled pork , cooled
•  1 cup of Bbq sauce ( I used  Sweet Baby Ray’s )

Directions:

1.     Mix ingredients together

2.     Place in freezer bag and put in freezer

3.     Day of cooking: thaw out in fridge and cook over stove top until heated

My husband and I love this pulled pork and it usually lasts us two servings of it unless we’re extremely hungry that dayJ this goes great with some hoagie buns, coleslaw and chips!

Pulled Pork Tacos

(2-4 servings)

Ingredients:                           

•  Easy pulled pork , cooled
•  Juices drained from easy pulled pork

Directions:

1.     Mix ingredients together

2.     Place in freezer bag and pop into the freezer

3.     Day of cooking: thaw out completely in fridge and cook over stove top

Serve this with your favorite taco seasonings! We also love doing pulled pork quesadillas too!

Beef Stroganoff

(2-4 servings) * I divided all ingredients into 2 bags

Ingredients:                           

•  1 lb stew beef , seared and cooled
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
• 1 packet of brown gravy mix ( you could make your own if you’d like)
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• ¼ cup sour cream

Directions:

1.     Add all ingredients together with exception to the sour cream

2.     Place all ingredients into freezer bag and freeze bag flat

3.     Day of cooking: Thaw out mixture completely and cook in Crockpot high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours

·        Add in sour cream 1 hr before cooking time is done

Serve with egg noodles.

Stromboli

(3-5 servings) * I divided all ingredients into 2 Stromboli’s

Ingredients:                           

•  1 package of provolone
• 2 packs of pepperoni
• 8 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• Pizza dough ( you might need 2 cans of the premade)
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic/onion powder

Directions:

1.     Lay out pizza dough

2.     Add all ingredients with exception to oil and seasonings and parm cheese as you’d like

3.     Wrap together the Stromboli and pinch where you are closing it together

4.     Brush on olive oil on top of Stromboli

5.     Sprinkle over Italian seasoning, powders, salt and parmesan cheese.

6.     Wrap Stromboli in plastic wrap and foil

7.     Pop into freezer

8.     Day of cooking: place Stromboli in oven at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes

A man meal all on its own:) 

Bacon Mac & Cheese

(2-4 servings) * I divided all ingredients into containers

Ingredients:                           

•  1 lb pasta , cooked
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups milk
•  3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• ¼ cup parmesean cheese
• ½ pkg of bacon, cooked  

Directions:

1.     To a hot pot add in butter and let melt

2.     When melted add flour in to create roux

3.     Add in 3 cups milk until simmer/boiling

4.     Whisk in cheese slowly

5.     Once all mixed together add in pasta and bacon

6.     You can place this into a container, let cool and place in freezer

7.     Day of cooking: Place in oven at 400 degrees for 1 hr

We couldn’t wait to eat this, so we didn’t and we put what we wanted in a baking container and placed it under the broiler for about 8 minutes.