Whipping up delicious and healthy family dinners doesn’t have to be a nightly struggle.
Imagine coming home to a hot, ready-to-eat meal with minimal effort on your part. That’s the magic of freezer chicken meals, especially when you harness the power of your trusty slow cooker.
These recipes are designed for busy households, allowing you to prep meals in advance, freeze them, and then simply dump them into your crock pot on a hectic morning. It’s the ultimate solution for stress-free evenings, ensuring you get more quality time with your loved ones around the dinner table.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Freezer Meal
- Total Time: 4-8 hours (mostly passive cooking)
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Description
This recipe provides a convenient and delicious way to prepare creamy chicken in your slow cooker, perfect for busy weeknights. It’s designed as a freezer meal, allowing for advance preparation and minimal effort on cooking day. The dish features tender chicken in a rich, savory sauce, ideal for serving over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken: Cut your boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into uniform 1-inch pieces. This helps them cook evenly in the slow cooker.
2. Combine Ingredients in a Freezer Bag: In a large, gallon-sized freezer-safe bag, combine the cut chicken, condensed cream of mushroom soup, condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, chopped onion, minced garlic, dried Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
3. Mix Thoroughly: Seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and gently massage the bag to ensure all the ingredients are well combined and the chicken is coated in the sauce. This step is important for even flavor distribution.
4. Label and Freeze: Label the bag clearly with the recipe name, date, and cooking instructions (e.g., “Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken, Cook 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low”). Lay the bag flat in your freezer until solid. This flat shape makes for easier storage and quicker thawing.
5. Thaw (Optional but Recommended): On the day you plan to cook, it’s best to thaw the freezer meal in the refrigerator overnight. If you forget, you can cook from frozen, but it will take an additional 1-2 hours of cooking time.
6. Cook in the Slow Cooker: Pour the thawed (or frozen) contents of the bag into your slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
7. Thicken (Optional): If you prefer a thicker sauce, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
8. Serve Warm: Once cooked, stir well and serve hot over your choice of cooked rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes (for freezing)
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Category: main dish
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: chicken, slow cooker, freezer meal, creamy, easy, weeknight, comfort food, meal prep, dump and go, family dinner
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This collection of freezer chicken meals is a lifesaver for anyone juggling a busy schedule, whether you’re a working parent, a student, or simply someone who appreciates the convenience of meal prepping. You’ll adore the simplicity of these recipes; they require minimal hands-on time on cooking day, freeing you up for other activities. These meals are perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something comforting and homemade without the fuss. They’re also excellent for feeding a crowd, as many slow cooker recipes yield generous portions. The beauty lies in the “prep once, eat many times” philosophy, making your kitchen routine incredibly efficient.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
The best part about these freezer chicken meals is that they rely on readily available ingredients you likely already have or can easily find at any grocery store. We focus on simple, wholesome components that come together to create flavorful and satisfying dishes.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch (for thickening, optional)
- 1/4 cup cold water (for thickening, optional)
- Cooked rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes for serving
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap out the cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups for other “cream of” varieties like cream of celery or even a dairy-free condensed soup alternative if you have dietary restrictions. Feel free to use fresh herbs instead of dried if you have them on hand; just remember that fresh herbs are generally more potent, so you might need a little more. Any type of onion works well here, from yellow to white, and if you don’t have fresh garlic, a teaspoon of garlic powder can be used as a substitute. For the chicken, a mix of breasts and thighs adds great flavor and texture, but using all of one or the other is perfectly fine.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
The beauty of freezer meals is that the hands-on time is concentrated upfront, making dinner time a breeze.
- Prep Time for Freezing: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time (Slow Cooker): 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low
- Total Time (Day of Cooking): Approximately 4-8 hours (mostly passive cooking)
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Preparing these freezer chicken meals is straightforward, ensuring a delicious dinner with minimal fuss later on.
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut your boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into uniform 1-inch pieces. This helps them cook evenly in the slow cooker.
- Combine Ingredients in a Freezer Bag: In a large, gallon-sized freezer-safe bag, combine the cut chicken, condensed cream of mushroom soup, condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, chopped onion, minced garlic, dried Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
- Mix Thoroughly: Seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and gently massage the bag to ensure all the ingredients are well combined and the chicken is coated in the sauce. This step is important for even flavor distribution.
- Label and Freeze: Label the bag clearly with the recipe name, date, and cooking instructions (e.g., “Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken, Cook 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low”). Lay the bag flat in your freezer until solid. This flat shape makes for easier storage and quicker thawing.
- Thaw (Optional but Recommended): On the day you plan to cook, it’s best to thaw the freezer meal in the refrigerator overnight. If you forget, you can cook from frozen, but it will take an additional 1-2 hours of cooking time.
- Cook in the Slow Cooker: Pour the thawed (or frozen) contents of the bag into your slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Thicken (Optional): If you prefer a thicker sauce, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Serve Warm: Once cooked, stir well and serve hot over your choice of cooked rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
These freezer chicken meals are incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit your family’s preferences. For a kid-friendly twist, you can add a cup of frozen peas or corn to the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking for some added veggies. If your kids are picky about textures, you can shred the cooked chicken before serving.
Consider adding different vegetables to the freezer bag, such as sliced carrots, diced bell peppers, or even mushrooms, for extra nutrients and flavor. For a bit of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added to the seasoning mix. If you enjoy a touch of creaminess, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
These meals are fantastic served over fluffy white or brown rice, egg noodles, or even spiralized zucchini for a low-carb option. For a heartier meal, serve alongside a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette or some crusty bread for dipping into the delicious sauce. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives before serving adds a lovely pop of color and freshness.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with simple recipes, a few common mistakes can impact your freezer meal experience. One frequent oversight is not properly sealing the freezer bag. Air in the bag can lead to freezer burn, affecting the taste and texture of your chicken. Always press out as much air as possible before sealing.
Another common issue is overfilling the slow cooker. While it’s tempting to cram in extra ingredients, filling your slow cooker more than two-thirds full can lead to uneven cooking and longer cooking times. Stick to the recommended ingredient amounts for best results.
Forgetting to label your freezer bags is a mistake many of us make! It might seem obvious what’s inside now, but a month from now, a mystery bag of frozen contents isn’t very appealing. Always label with the recipe name and date.
Finally, while you can cook from frozen, it’s generally best to thaw the meal in the refrigerator overnight. Cooking a completely solid block of frozen food can sometimes result in the outer edges cooking faster than the center, leading to uneven texture. If cooking from frozen, ensure your slow cooker is on the appropriate setting and allow for extra cooking time.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
These freezer chicken meals are designed for make-ahead convenience. Once you’ve assembled your ingredients in the freezer bag, lay it flat in your freezer. This allows for quick freezing and easy stacking, maximizing your freezer space. Properly stored, these meals can last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
When you’re ready to cook, the best method is to transfer the frozen bag to the refrigerator 24-48 hours before you plan to cook, allowing it to thaw completely. If you’re short on time, you can place the sealed freezer bag in a bowl of cold water for a few hours, changing the water every 30 minutes, until it’s mostly thawed. Avoid thawing at room temperature for food safety reasons.
After cooking, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. These meals reheat beautifully in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat, making them perfect for lunch the next day. If reheating on the stovetop, you might want to add a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce. Freezing the cooked meal is also an option, but the texture of the chicken and sauce might change slightly upon re-thawing and reheating.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use fresh chicken instead of frozen?
Absolutely! The recipe assumes you’re starting with fresh chicken that you’ll then freeze with the other ingredients. If you’re cooking it immediately without freezing, just proceed with the slow cooker instructions.
Do I have to thaw the meal before putting it in the slow cooker?
While it’
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
