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Add to the long list of reasons to love slow cooking easy family meal planning. Even while lives get busier and households have less time to prepare home-cooked meals, the desire to eat at home sharing thoughts of the day is growing. What is a time-conscious family to do? Look no further than to a freezer bag and your slow cooker for the answer. 

Known as "freezer dump meals" these meals require minimal prep and can be done up to three months in advance. Pull all the ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag, label the bag with the meal and cooking instructions, then freeze it. Simply pull the bag out of the freezer to thaw the night before and dump the ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning for an effortless dinner. 

We've chosen the 10 recipes below for their rich flavor, though you can feel free to adjust the spices as suits your tastes. 

Ginger-Peach Chicken

Freeze in a bag:

2-lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts

12-ounce bag of frozen peach slices

1 red onion, sliced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

2 teaspoons ground coriander 

Cook on high for 4-5 hours.  

Serve with rice.

Beef Fajitas

Freeze in a bag:

2-lb boneless beef chuck shoulder roast

2 bell peppers, sliced 

1 small onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon honey

Juice from 1 lime 

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred beef with two forks. 

Serve with warm tortillas, fresh sour cream and guacamole.

Potato and Corn Cowder

Freeze in a bag:

24-ounces red potato, diced

16-ounce package frozen corn

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

salt and pepper to taste

You also need:

6 cups chicken stock

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 cup heavy cream

Pour in chicken stock and mix. Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in butter and heavy cream. 

Serve with warm bread

Beef Stroganoff

Freeze in a bag:

1-lb stew meat

1-lb sliced baby bella mushrooms

1 onion, diced

½ cup apple juice

1 tablespoon beef stock base

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

Add 1 cup of water to ingredients, and cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in 1 cup of sour cream.

Serve with egg noodles or rice.

Chicken with Apple and Sweet Potato

Freeze in a bag:

1-lb boneless chicken, cubed

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 cup unsweetened Apple Sauce

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp Curry Powder

1/2 tsp ground ginger

salt and pepper to taste

Cook on low for 8 hours.

Serve with rice.

Chicken Alfredo

Freeze in a bag:

3-lb Chicken Breasts

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Italian Dressing Mix

8 oz Cream Cheese

Add 2 cups water to the ingredients and cook on low 6-8 hours. 

Serve with fettucini noodles.

Split Pea Soup

Freeze in a bag:

1 lb dry split peas

2 cups of diced bacon

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 cup celery, chopped

2 cups carrots, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon thyme

2 bay leaves

You also need:

32-oz of chicken broth

Add 2 cups water  and chicken broth to ingredients and cook on low for 7-8 hours.

Meatballs and Tomato Sauce

Freeze in a bag:

One bag frozen or homemade meatballs

 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

2 tsp dried Italian seasoning

Cook on high 3-4 hours

Serve with spaghetti noodles.

Shredded Beef Tacos

Freeze in a bag:

2 1.5-lb chuck roast

2 tsp chicken bullion

1.5 tbsp Chili Powder

½ tbsp Cumin

½ tsp Garlic Powder

salt and pepper to taste

Add 2 cups of water to ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred beef with two forks.

Serve with taco shells, sour cream, salsa, guacamole and shredded cheese.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Freeze in a bag:

1-lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1/2 lb carrots, peeled and diced

1 cup celery, diced

1 small yellow onion, diced 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1 teaspoon dried basil 

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

1 bay leaf 

1/4 teaspoon pepper 

You also need:

8 oz wide egg noodles 

8 cups chicken broth 

Add 8 cups of chicken broth to ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add 8 oz of wide egg noodles and cook for additional 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving. 

Happy freezing!