10 Healthy Crockpot Freezer Meals for Dinner
Make Ahead Crockpot Freezer Meals in a Bag
10 Easy Slow Cooker Freezer Meals – Dump and Go Crockpot Meals!
Crockpot freezer meals are the perfect easy dinner option for busy weeknights! I’ve got 10 slow cooker freezer meals to share can all be prepped ahead of time, stored in the fridge or freezer, and then dumped into the crockpot whenever you’re ready to cook.
For me, crockpot freezer meals are a go-to easy meal prep dinner option because they let me prepare the food ahead of time, but I still get to enjoy a freshly cooked meal. No leftovers necessary! (Although, these slow cooker freezer meals are perfect for family dinners and feeding a crowd, so they can leave you with some tasty leftovers…)
Plus, make ahead crockpot meals and slow cooker recipes of all kinds are so versatile. You can easily adjust the ingredients and seasonings to make new meals, based on whatever YOU like to eat. So, in the recipes below, don’t be afraid to make substitutions! Swap out the protein, beans, or veggies to use your favorites instead, or whatever you have on hand.
Sheet Pan & Slow Cooker Recipes eBook
You can find all of these recipes PLUS 10 deliciously easy, make ahead sheet pan meals in my Meal Prep Slow Cooker & Sheet Pan Recipes eBook! A total of 20 nutritious, simple weeknight dinners that you can prep ahead of time and enjoy as freshly cooked meals.
Or, you can also find all of these crockpot recipes in this post—just scroll down below the meal prep instructions and tips! And, if you’d like to see how I prep and cook these slow cooker freezer meals, you can watch them all in this compilation video.
Watch on YouTube: Dump and Go CROCKPOT MEALS Compilation
How to Prep Make Ahead Crockpot Meals
For meal prep purposes, here’s how to prep these make ahead crockpot meals to store in the fridge or freezer:
- Add all ingredients to a freezer-safe zip-top bag. (Except any leafy greens or instant-cooking grains—save those to add at the end of the cook time.) You may choose to keep the meat, liquids, or any veggies to add at the end of cooking out of the bag and add at the time of cooking.
- Remove all air from the bag and seal completely. Label the bag with the prep date.
- Transfer make ahead crockpot meals to the fridge if you plan on cooking in the next few days.
- Or, store in the freezer if you plan to store longer, up to 3 months. Transfer slow cooker freezer meals to the fridge to thaw ~24 hours before you plan to cook.
- When ready to cook, pour the contents of the bag into the slow cooker. (Be sure to add any additional ingredients that you didn’t include in the bag if needed.)
- Cook as described in the recipe!
- You can also freeze cooked slow cooker meals after cooking if you have more leftovers than you need.
Tips & Substitutions for Slow Cooker Freezer Meals
Here are a few tips to consider as you prep these make ahead crockpot meals so you can customize the recipes with your favorite ingredients. And, some cooking tips in case you decide to come up with your own slow cooker recipes (or if you don’t want to use a slow cooker). I hope you feel inspired to also get creative with your own ideas!
Substitution Guidelines
- Swap out whatever protein you prefer. If you have a certain protein on hand, feel free to use it! I will often buy protein when it’s on sale and then freeze it. When I find a slow cooker recipe I want to try, I will use whatever protein I have available at the time.
- Swap out any beans you prefer. When a recipe notes specific bean varieties, know that the recipe will work with any variety that you prefer or have on hand.
- Make sure there’s enough liquid if you’re substituting ingredients. If you want a thicker, chunkier meal, add less liquid.
- Get creative with spices and seasonings, and don’t feel you need to add everything a recipe calls for if you don’t have it accessible.
- If you don’t feel comfortable adjusting the ingredient amounts but you need more or less servings, consider making the recipe (or doubling it) and then freeze any leftovers.
Cooking Guidelines
- For meat proteins, cook items 6–8 hours over low heat, or 4–6 hours over high heat.
- You don’t need to brown the meat before adding to the slow cooker. You can if you prefer, it may add flavor—but it isn’t necessary to safely consume the meat, and cooking low and slow will still provide tons of flavor.
- For grains, vegetables, beans or soups, cook 4–8 hours over low heat, or 2–3 hours over high heat.
- You can cook in a pot over the stove if you don’t have a slow cooker—just monitor it and don’t leave it unattended all day!
- Consider an additional component for serving. Each of the following crockpot freezer meals contains a balance of healthy carbs, protein, and veggies, but you may want to serve the meal with rice, tortillas, pasta, lettuce wraps, etc.
10 Crockpot Freezer Meals – Recipes
Again, you can get all 10 of these recipes PLUS 10 make ahead sheet pan meals—all together in one convenient place—in my Sheet Pan & Slow Cooker Recipes eBook. Or, you can check out all of the crockpot freezer meals recipes below and bookmark this link to come back whenever you want to try a new one!
Slow Cooker Beef Chili
Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Holy COW—this beef slow cooker chili is so easy and SO flavorful! Use broccoli rice to pack loads of veggies into this meal (or any crockpot meal that you like) and you won’t even know it’s there. Serve on top of rice, as a sloppy Joe, or stuffed into a sweet potato!
Slow Cooker Beef Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450g ground beef (or any ground meat)
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1 can, 10 oz, 280g diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 can, 15 oz, 425g petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cans, 15 oz, 425 each beans of choice, drained & rinsed
- 1 cup 235 mL beef broth (depending on how much liquid you like in your chili)
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 zucchini, chopped
- 2 cups 360g broccoli rice
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker.
- Break up the meat using a wooden spoon so it cooks through evenly.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 8 hours.
- Make sure meat is broken up and integrated well.
- Serve with your favorite garnishes or toppings and enjoy!
- Yields 6 cups slow cooker chili.
Fajita Style Crockpot Beef
Paleo | Whole30 | Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Skip the skillet and toss your fajita goodies into the slow cooker! Cooked low and slow, you’ll have irresistibly tender crockpot beef and veggies that are LOADED with zesty flavor. Serve over rice, on a salad, or stick with classic tortillas!
Fajita Style Crockpot Beef
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 900g boneless beef chuck shoulder roast, fat trimmed, cut into strips
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and cover.
- Cook over low heat for 8 hours, until beef is tender.
- Serve over rice or with tortillas with your favorite toppings!
- Yields 8 cups.
Coconut Lamb Lentil Slow Cooker Curry
Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Get a tasty blend of flavors AND healthy nutrients in this slow cooker curry meal! The lamb offers loads of protein, the slow-digesting carbs in the lentils make this dish SO hearty, and it’s all simmered in rich, creamy coconut milk. Plus, it’s packed with wholesome veggies!
Coconut Lamb & Lentil Slow Cooker Curry
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450g ground lamb
- 3 cups 600g red lentils, uncooked
- 1 28 oz, 800g can crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups 720g cauliflower florets
- 1 cup 110g frozen peas
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cans, 15 oz, 425g each light coconut milk
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups 475 mL vegetable broth
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 Tbsp garam masala
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp ginger powder
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 6 oz, 170g bag spinach
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except spinach to your slow cooker.
- Break up the meat using a wooden spoon so it cooks through evenly.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 8 hours.
- Add spinach 30 minutes before cooking finishes and stir to combine.
- Cover and finish cooking.
- Make sure meat is broken up and integrated well.
- Serve & enjoy!
- Yields 16 cups.
Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Using frozen corn and canned black beans makes this crockpot freezer meal amazingly budget-friendly, and fiber-filled! Plus, it’s deliciously fresh and light, thanks to the cilantro and lime juice. Serve with tortillas, on top of a salad, or with rice as a burrito bowl!
Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 900g boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cups 260g chopped zucchini
- 1 cup 150g red onion, diced
- 1 16 oz, 450g bag frozen corn
- 1 15 oz, 425g can black beans
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup 235 mL broth
- ½ cup 15g cilantro, chopped
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1 tsp cumin
- salt & pepper, to taste
- Add your favorite toppings! I love sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, etc.
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and cover.
- Cook over low heat for 6 hours, until chicken is tender.
- Serve with tortillas, on a salad, or as a burrito bowl with rice!
- Top with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, or your favorite toppings!
- Yields ~6 cups.
Slow Cooker Pineapple Asian Turkey
Paleo | Whole30 | Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Make your veggies FUN to eat with this sweet and salty slow cooker turkey! The combination of soy sauce, pineapple, ketchup, and sriracha is AMAZING, with a zesty flavor kick. And you get a yummy crunch from the water chestnuts! Serve on lettuce wraps, a salad, or over rice.
Slow Cooker Pineapple Asian Turkey
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 900g ground turkey
- 1 bag, 10 oz, 284g shaved Brussels sprouts
- 8 oz 225g sliced mushrooms
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 carrots, grated
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can, 8 oz, 225g sliced water chestnuts, drained
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup 120 mL broth
- ½ cup 120 mL pineapple juice
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 3 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 can, 8 oz, 225g pineapple chunks
- 1 can, 8 oz, 225g pineapple crushed
- 2 tsp sriracha, optional
- salt, to taste (may not need with soy sauce)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker.
- Break up the meat using a wooden spoon so it cooks through evenly.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 6 hours.
- Make sure meat is broken up and integrated well.
- Serve with lettuce wraps or on a salad. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!
- Yields 8 cups.
Notes
Vegan White Bean Crockpot Soup
Vegan | Vegetarian | Pescatarian | Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Switch up the slow cooker routine with this vegan crockpot soup recipe! Beans are a great plant-based protein substitute, and they soak up SO much flavor in this dish. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, seed your jalapeños to enjoy their flavor WITHOUT the heat!
Vegan White Bean Crockpot Soup
Ingredients
- 1 can, 4 oz, 115g diced green chiles
- 3 cans, 15 oz, 425g each great northern beans (or cannellini), drained & rinsed
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 carrots, cut into rounds
- 2 green bell peppers, chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 jalapeños, diced (seeded if preferred)
- 4 cups 945 mL vegetable broth
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp salt, to taste
- ¼ tsp pepper
- cilantro, chopped (for topping)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and cover.
- Cook over low heat for 6 hours.
- Serve as a soup, or over rice or pasta for a complete meal with your favorite toppings!
- Yields 8 cups crockpot soup.
Tuscan Chicken Slow Cooker Soup
Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Enjoy a classic Tuscan chicken soup—and let the slow cooker do the work! It’s got an extra dose of protein and TONS of fiber, thanks to the beans and artichokes. But, the roasted tomatoes, wine, and lemon keep this hearty dish light and refreshing.
Tuscan Chicken Slow Cooker Soup
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs 680g boneless skinless chicken thighs, chopped
- 1 can, 14 oz, 400g artichokes, drained and quartered
- 1 can, 15 oz, 425g white beans, drained & rinsed
- 8 oz 225g sliced mushrooms
- 2 cans, 15 oz, 425g fire roasted tomatoes, not drained
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ½ cup 12o mL cooking wine, or dry white wine
- ¼ cup 60 mL chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp ghee, or grass-fed butter, or light olive oil
- 1 Tbsp capers
- ½ tsp fresh thyme, chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 bag, 6 oz, 170g of spinach
- basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except spinach to your slow cooker.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 6–8 hours, until chicken is tender.
- Add spinach 30 minutes before cooking finishes and stir to combine.
- Cover and finish cooking.
- Serve & enjoy!
- Yields 6 cups slow cooker soup.
Sweet Sesame Crockpot Chicken
Paleo | Whole30 | Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Get your fix of savory and sweet in this Asian-inspired slow cooker freezer meal! The honey glaze and savory sesame are an IRRESISTIBLE flavor combo. Add instant rice near the end of cooking for an easy, balanced meal, loaded with veggies and whole-grain goodness!
Sweet Sesame Crockpot Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 900g boneless skinless chicken thighs, whole
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cups 540g broccoli florets
- 3 cups 540g cauliflower florets
- 4 carrots, cut into rounds
- 2 cups 475g broth
- ⅓ cup 80 mL honey (omit for Paleo & Whole30)
- ¼ cup 60 mL soy sauce or coconut aminos
- ¼ cup 60 mL ketchup
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1½ cups 285g instant brown rice, uncooked (omit for Paleo & Whole30)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients and broth to your slow cooker, except for chicken and rice. Add the chicken thighs on top, reserve rice for later.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 6 hours, until chicken is tender.
- Remove chicken from the cooker, add rice and stir to combine. Return chicken to the slow cooker.
- Cover and let stand 5 minutes until rice is tender. Shred chicken if desired.
- Stir and enjoy!
- Yields 12 cups.
Notes
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast
Paleo | Whole30 | Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Try a new spin on a comforting slow cooker pot roast with chicken thighs! Their nutritious fats also make them more flavorful, so you’re not missing out by not using beef. And you still get to enjoy the hearty meat-and-potatoes combo, with plenty of veggies!
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450g small potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups 260g baby carrots
- 2 cups 360g broccoli florets
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 cup 150g frozen pearl onions
- 1½ 165g cups frozen peas
- 2 lbs 900g boneless skinless chicken thighs, chopped
- 1 cup 235 mL broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp light olive oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and cover.
- Cook over low heat for 8 hours, until chicken is tender.
- Serve as is, with rice, or with your favorite toppings!
- Yields 12 cups slow cooker pot roast.
Notes
Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
Paleo | Whole30 | Nut Free | Gluten Free | Dairy Free
Health-ify this classic takeout meal and amp up the flavor with your slow cooker! Soy sauce and sesame oil bring the umami, and sriracha adds a kick of heat. You’ll have tender, juicy beef, and TWO servings of broccoli in EACH serving of this dinner!
Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 900g sirloin steak or chuck roast, thinly sliced
- 1 cup 235 mL broth
- ½ cup 120 mL soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sriracha, or hot sauce of choice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 heads broccoli, cut into florets (about 8 cups)
- salt & pepper, to taste
- sesame seeds and green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and cover.
- Cook over low heat for 8 hours, until beef is tender.
- Serve over rice or with your favorite toppings!
- Yields ~12 cups.
