28 Freezer-to-Crockpot Dump Meals That Save Your Tuesday Self

I love cooking, but not so much at the time when it’s 4:47 PM and my brain feels like a saltine cracker. To me, cooking with a crockpot feels like a peace treaty with reality because it requires minimal effort, and then later you can ‘cook’ the meal by just remembering to plug it in.

These meals are quite forgiving because if you make mistakes when measuring the slow cooker will most likely just make dinner anyway. I have 28 of these meals that I actually reach for, especially when the weeks are coming at me sideways.

1) Salsa Verde Chicken

I confess that I keep salsa verde in my pantry like I am expecting a zombie apocalypse. Works great for this meal and makes it seem like you put in a lot of effort. Just take the boneless chicken thighs and salsa verde (plus some cumin and minced garlic) and put it in the freezer. Then take it out and put it in the slow cooker. Once it’s done, shred it in the pot and squeeze some lime on it. It’s good with tortillas, rice, or even just standing at the counter setting the table.

2) Honey Garlic Chicken

This one, depending on your laundry situation, makes it look like you have a very put together home. Freeze marinated chicken thighs in soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and a little (trust me) ketchup. Then set the crockpot on low for a long time. When it’s done, pour the sticky sauce on the rice and add a bag of frozen broccoli at the end and nobody will know it started as a freezer meal.

3) Italian Beef

A sandwich that has a little, and I mean little, drizzle is quite the flex. Freeze a chuck roast with beef broth, Italian seasoning, sliced bell peppers and onion, garlic, sliced pepperoncini and a bit of the brine. Then let the crockpot do its job until the beef is shredded. Pile that in some rolls and add melted provolone if you’re feeling fancy.

4) BBQ Pulled Pork

I used to think that pulled pork was a type of ‘special occasion’, but then I had it as a dump meal and was pleasantly surprised. Simply pack and freeze the pork shoulder pieces along with BBQ sauce, sliced onions, a bit of apple cider vinegar, and some smoked paprika. Cook it until it looks like it’s about to fall apart. On the first night you will have sandwiches, the next will be tacos, and after that you’ll “accidentally” eat it straight from the container with a fork.

5) Creamy Ranch Chicken

This one has a kind of retro charm, like your neighbor came over with a casserole or something. Freeze the chicken with a block of cream cheese, some ranch seasoning, and a bit of chicken broth. When it’s done cooking, it’ll turn into a creamy, tangy sauce that you can pour over some potatoes or noodles. If ranch isn’t your thing, you might not be a convertible, but most people are.

6) Chicken Tikka Masala

Is it restaurant-level tikka masala? No. But does a warm, fragrant meal improve the mood on a Tuesday? Yes! Freeze chicken with crushed tomatoes, garam masala, ginger, garlic, and a bit of salt; you can add cream or coconut milk after cooking so that it doesn’t split. I like to add a bit of lemon at the end which may sound a bit strange but it really perks it up. Enjoy with rice and whatever naan you remembered to buy.

7) Beef and Bean Chili

Chili is a classic dish and for good reason, it is easy to mess up, and the leftovers usually taste better. For freezing, pack the following items: browned ground beef (or raw beef if you’re comfortable with that, but browning adds more flavor), black beans, diced tomatoes, onion, chili powder and cumin.

Once you put everything in, just wait until it thickens to a dip consistency to scoop with chips. If it ends up being thinner than you would like, keep the lid cracked for the last 30 minutes so the moisture can reduce.

8) White Chicken Chili

This is my chili for the “I want something cozy but not too heavy” mood. Freeze chicken with white beans, corn, green chiles, along with a bit of broth. Once it’s cooked, shred the chicken and stir it back in. You’ll want to have some cayenne nearby and let the adults spice it up later if there will be kids at the table.

9) Butter Chicken

This one is for some butter chicken comfort like you’ve never experienced before. Put the chicken in the freezer bag with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and a bit of butter, then add coconut milk, garam masala, and paprika for cream at the end. Let it cook low and slow until the sauce gets velvety in the best of ways.

10) Teriyaki Chicken

I prefer making my own freezer bag version because store bought teriyaki sauce tends to be on the sweeter side. For my version I mix the chicken with soy sauce, and either brown sugar or honey, add garlic and ginger, and a little rice vinegar. If you would like the sauce to be glossy after cooking, you can use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. It goes great with some quickly sliced cucumber on the side; fresh cold crunchy cucumber is a great contrast to the warm sauce.

11) French Dip Beef

This is the meal that causes people to turn into cartoon characters. You can literally see their eyes bulge as they hover over the kitchen like they are following a scent trail. Freeze a chuck roast with some beef broth, worcester sauce, onion, garlic and a bit of thyme. Cook until the beef shreds easily, then serve on rolls with the cooking liquid for dipping. I like to toast the rolls so the whole thing is a little less chaotic.

12) Sweet Potato Bean Chili

There are times when I don’t feel like eating meat and sometimes this option does not feel like I’m settling. Chop and freeze your prepped sweet potatoes, black beans, diced tomatoes, onions, garlic, and season with chili powder and smoked paprika. It’s going to turn into a delicious bowl that is mildly sweet and smoky. It will taste brighter with the addition of a squeeze of lime at the end and will taste less ‘stew-ish’.

13) Lentil Vegetable Stew

Dried lentils are cheap, and they are a reliable ingredient for meals. They can be a good source of protein and carbohydrates too. They can be surprisingly fun to cook with, and they are about as sophisticated as the shoes that they call sensible.

You can prepare lentils, and then freeze them along with some diced carrots, celery, onion, garlic, a can of diced tomatoes, broth, and a bay leaf. When the lentils are cooked, they will be tender, and the broth will be thick and rich with flavor. For an extra layer of richness, you can add some olive oil or butter right before you serve it.

14) Chicken Tortilla Soup

Even If I mess up the rest of the day, I can always count on this soup to make me feel like I got something right. Freeze chicken with diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, corn, and broth. After the chicken has been cooked and shredded, mix it with crushed tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, or whatever else you feel like. I’ve served it with chips that were a little stale and no one said anything, which says it all.

15) Green Chile Chicken

If you like a combination of a little heat with some tang, this is it. Freeze the chicken with green chiles, salsa verde, diced onion, diced garlic, and some chicken broth. After cooking and shredding, it can be placed in enchiladas, and burritos, or served on top of rice with cheese. If you know some people are more sensitive to spice, you should leave hot chiles out of the freezer bag and add them after if you want to give the dish a kick.

16) Balsamic Beef

This is my trick for “fancy flavors, low effort”. Freeze the chuck roast along with the balsamic vinegar, beef broth, garlic, onion, a touch of brown sugar, and rosemary. The slow cooker changes the beef to a deep, tangy, and mildly sweet taste. If you want to feel virtuous, serve with grains, polenta, mashed potatoes, or a grain bowl.

17) Mississippi Pot Roast

This has very strong (salty, buttery, tangy) flavors and generally people either love it or immediately want a glass of water. Season a chuck roast with ranch seasoning, an au jus gravy mix, some butter, and a few pepperoncini and then freeze it. Prepare it until it can be easily shredded and then serve with potatoes to soak up the sauce. If you’re sensitive to salt, you can skip the seasoning packets and still get the idea.

18) Lemon Garlic Chicken

I prefer the taste of this one as it is clean and bright. It’s also not too heavy. Freeze chicken (thighs work well) with lemon juice, zest, garlic, olive oil, baby potatoes, and oregano. The potatoes absorb the garlicky lemony juices with everything cooking. If you want you can add in some spinach at the end for a little extra green.

19) Sausage and Peppers

This meal gives me street fair vibes! We’ve got the grilled peppers, onions, sausage and spices (you choose if they’re cooked or raw). Just like all street fair food, it’s super easy to pack up and take with you if you need to eat on the go. Just make sure the sausage is cooked all the way, and the peppers are nice and soft. They can be eaten in a roll, or with rice. Either way, it makes for a great meal.

20) Chicken Pho Broth

Freeze chicken along with the broth, some sliced ginger and garlic, a little star anise and a cinnamon stick (if you have either). Then, add a splash of fish sauce. Once everything thaws, finish cooking the chicken, and use rice noodles. Everybody else is looking for something warm and comforting, and while it may not fool a pho purist, it could do the job for most people.

21) Beef Stew

Beef stew is like a heavy sweater for dinner. It consists of stew meat, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, broth, tomato paste, and thyme. When cooked, the broth turns into a rich savory gravy that coats all the meat and veggies. If you want it to be even thicker, you can mash some of the potatoes against the pot and stir.

22) Chicken and Dumplings

You’re probably thinking this is getting a little crazy… and you’re right! You can use biscuit dough to make the dumplings. Along with the chicken, freeze the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, broth, and thyme. Once it’s cooked, take the refrigerated biscuit dough and break it apart (don’t freeze the dough, put it in at the end) and put it in the crockpot so it steams until it puffs up. In the winter, it gets cold outside but this place is warm, a little messy, and very welcoming.

23) Turkey Meatballs

I personally love turkey meatballs, they taste so good, but they do need a nice sauce to go with them. You can put raw or pre-cooked meatballs in the freezer with some sauce (store bought or homemade) and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. When you’re ready, just dump it in the crock pot and let it simmer until the meatballs are tender. If you don’t feel like serving it with pasta, you can also have the meatballs with roasted veggies, in subs, or as a side dish with roasted veggies.

24) Beef Barbacoa

This is my favorite because I like to have some feel in the meat for my tacos. I freeze the beef with chopped chipotles in adobo (as they say, less is more), cumin, oregano, garlic, onion, and lime juice. I cook it until I can shred it and mix in more lime at the end for a big flavor boost. It is smokey and rich, elevating even the simplest tortilla to another level.

25) Chicken Fajitas

This one focuses on the sweetness of the cooked-down peppers and onions. Freeze sliced bell peppers and onions with chicken, fajita seasoning, and some lime juice. Cook the chicken and either shred it or slice it. If you’re low on energy, feel free to skip this step, but I like to add a quick hot pan sear to finish it off and add a little char.

26) Coconut Curry Chickpeas

This is what I prepare when I want something warm and spicy but don’t want to deal with raw meat. For the chickpea curry, freeze curry powder, coconut milk, diced tomatoes, ginger, garlic, onion, and chickpeas (it’s okay to freeze coconut milk, it may separate but usually it smooths out when you heat it). Let it simmer until thick and smells good. Chickpeas like salt so add a pinch at the end. Serve with rice.

27) Stuffed Pepper Soup

I love stuffed peppers, but I don’t have the time to stuff them. With this soup you get the same flavor without the work. Freeze diced tomatoes, broth, and seasoning with ground beef (browned works better), bell peppers, garlic, and onion. Add the cooked rice at the end so it doesn’t get mushy. It’s like a traditional dinner, but… in a bowl.

28) Chicken Enchilada Soup

When I want to be a little extra, this is the one I make. Freeze some chicken with enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, onion, garlic, and cumin. You’ll want to cook and shred the chicken, then top it with crunchy tortilla strips and cheese to add a crispy texture contrast. For guests that are sensitive to heat, it is recommended to use mild enchilada sauce and then put hot sauce on the table for the adventurous.