Best 3 Make Ahead Chicken Freezer Meals Recipes
Do you crave delicious and nutritious meals without the hassle of daily cooking? Look no further than make-ahead chicken freezer meals! This innovative approach to meal preparation allows you to create a variety of delectable dishes in advance and store them in your freezer for future enjoyment. Whether you're a busy professional, a parent with limited time, or simply someone who enjoys the convenience of having ready-to-cook meals on hand, make-ahead chicken freezer meals are a lifesaver. With just a little planning and effort, you can transform your freezer into a treasure trove of culinary delights, ready to be enjoyed whenever the craving strikes.
Let's cook with our recipes!
MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER CHICKEN PARMESAN
My family loves chicken Parm but making it from scratch on a busy school night is next to impossible. The good news is the chicken can be made ahead and frozen along with the right portion of sauce and cheese for a quick weeknight meal. Serve with pasta and Caesar salad.
Provided by Cari Sultanik
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
- Pound chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness or less.
- Place beaten egg in a bowl. Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder in another bowl. Dip each chicken breast in egg, then roll in bread crumb mixture to coat evenly. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, about 10 minutes more. Let cool, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Freeze in a 1-gallon resealable bag with smaller bags of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- To serve: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat chicken at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) until heated through and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes. Top chicken with tomato sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and bake until cheese is melted, an additional 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 258.9 calories, Carbohydrate 10.7 g, Cholesterol 126.9 mg, Fat 8.7 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 33.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 602.6 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER-TO-OVEN CHICKEN PACKETS
Imagine this: a stack of packets in your freezer that you can take straight to the oven for a full dinner in 30 minutes.
Provided by Bruce Weinstein
Categories Small Plates Freezer Food Freeze/Chill Chicken Dinner Kid-Friendly Steam Quick & Easy Quick and Healthy Wheat/Gluten-Free Dairy Free
Yield Makes 4 packets per batch
Number Of Ingredients 45
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients in a very large bowl until the meat is well-coated in a uniform sauce.
- Place a 12-inch piece of aluminum foil on your work surface; top with a 12-inch piece of parchment paper. Spoon a quarter of the chicken mixture into the middle of the parchment paper.
- Fold the long sides so they meet in the middle of the packet, then crimp these long edges together to make a tight seal, using the foil to catch and hold the waggly parchment paper in the seam. Roll both of the ends of the packet to seal as well. continue to make 3 more packets.
- Set the packets on a large baking sheet and freeze for at least 24 hours. Remove the sheet and stack the packets flat in the freezer.
- To bake, position the rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F.
- Place 1 or more of the packets straight from the freezer on a large lipped baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until hot and steamy inside. Cool for 10 minutes before opening and serving.
COCONUT CHICKEN CURRY (MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER MEAL)
Gourmet from your freezer! Sweet, creamy, spicy, and meaty-this make-ahead chicken curry meal is full of delicious flavor and great when you're craving something like takeout but want to make it at home. Top with fresh green onions and cilantro to brighten up the dish.
Provided by Allrecipes
Categories Chicken Curry
Time P1DT4h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Combine chicken, chickpeas, bell pepper, sweet potato and onion in a 1-gallon, resealable freezer bag.
- Whisk coconut milk, peanut butter, lime juice, brown sugar, curry paste, garlic powder, ginger, and salt together in a medium bowl until well combined. Pour mixture into the bag. Tightly seal and mix the contents until well combined. Freeze for up to one month.
- The day before cooking, remove bag from the freezer and allow contents to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Empty bag into a slow cooker. Cook on High for 4 hours until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear.
- Serve curry over hot rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 854.7 calories, Carbohydrate 88.4 g, Cholesterol 98.8 mg, Fat 32.6 g, Fiber 11.6 g, Protein 54.7 g, SaturatedFat 22.2 g, Sodium 1295.3 mg
Tips:
- Choose the right chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are the best options for freezer meals. They're easy to cook and versatile enough to use in a variety of dishes.
- Cook the chicken ahead of time. This is the key to freezer meal success! You can cook the chicken in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. Once the chicken is cooked, let it cool completely before shredding or dicing it.
- Portion the chicken into freezer-safe bags or containers. This will make it easy to grab a portion of chicken when you're ready to make a meal. Label each bag or container with the type of chicken and the date it was cooked.
- Freeze the chicken for up to 3 months. Properly stored, cooked chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use the chicken, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or under cold running water.
- Use the chicken in a variety of dishes. Freezer chicken can be used in soups, stews, casseroles, salads, and tacos. It's also a great addition to pasta dishes and pizzas.
Conclusion:
Freezer meals are a great way to save time and money. By cooking chicken ahead of time and freezing it, you can have healthy, homemade meals on hand whenever you need them. With a little planning, you can easily create a variety of freezer meals that will please everyone in your family.
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