26 Published Mar 01, 2019, Updated Aug 04, 2021
These meals do call for a tiny bit of advance prep. If you remember to plan ahead, you can take the meal out of the freezer 24 hours in advance and put it in your fridge to thaw. If you don’t remember to do this, it’s okay – just fill a large pot or bowl with warm water and let the meal defrost in there. It just needs to be defrosted enough so that it can break it apart and fit into your slow cooker. A huge block of frozen ingredients won’t fit properly and you won’t be able to put the lid on your slow cooker, trust me – I tried! When you’re ready to cook, pour the contents of the freezer bag into the slow cooker, set it to the appropriate temp and time, and you’ll be enjoying a delicious dinner in no time.
Do You Have to Thaw Freezer Slow Cooker Meals?
Not necessarily! Most of the freezer slow cooker meals you will need to thaw in order to fit them into your slow cooker, but there are certain recipes (ones that have less liquid) that you could break apart while still frozen so it will fit in your slow cooker without thawing. That said, follow the directions below for each of the slow cooker meals.
How Long do Frozen Slow Cooker Meals Last?
These meals will last for 2-4 months in your freezer. They’re perfect to prep in advance for busy seasons of life, before having a baby or for family members wanting to incorporate healthy habits… really anytime and for anyone!
Roasted Sweet Potato Chili Freezer Slow Cooker Meal
vegan + gluten-free, serves 4
1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and chopped into small chunks 1 yellow onion, chopped 2 red or orange bell peppers, chopped 2 cloves minced garlic 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes 2 Tablespoons chili powder 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt pinch of cayenne pepper pinch of cinnamon For serving: avocado, cilantro, sliced jalapeño, cashew sour cream
Freezer Meal Instructions Want to make this right away without freezing? See the regular Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili recipe.
Sweet and Sour Tempeh Freezer Slow Cooker Meal
vegan + gluten-free, serves 4
8 oz package tempeh, chopped into chunks 1 red onion, roughly chopped 2 green bell peppers, chopped 1 16 oz bag frozen pineapple chunks 2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch + 2 Tablespoons water brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice, for serving
Sweet and Sour Sauce
1/4 cup tomato sauce 2 Tablespoons tamari or bragg’s aminos 3 Tablespoons coconut sugar 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1/2 cup water
Freezer Meal Instructions
Want More Healthy Vegetarian Freezer Meals? Check Out These Resources:
16 Vegetarian Crock Pot Freezer Meals20 Vegetarian Freezer Meals for New Moms31 Vegetarian Crockpot Freezer Meals
½ cup dry quinoa 3 cups diced sweet potato (about 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced) 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained 1½ cups prepared salsa (mild, medium or hot) 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped ½ small yellow onion, chopped ¼ cup sliced green onion ¼ cup cilantro, chopped 2 Tablespoons taco or fajita seasoning 1 cup water or vegetable broth 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese, divided For serving: Greek yogurt, avocado, extra green onion and cilantro
Freezer Meal Instructions
Butternut Squash Red Lentil Stew Freezer Slow Cooker Meal
vegan + gluten-free, serves 6
1 medium onion, diced 4 large garlic cloves, minced 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped (about 5 cups) 1 – 14 oz can diced tomatoes 1 – 14 oz can light coconut milk 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed and drained 3 tablespoons tomato paste 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, to taste 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 1-2 cups chopped spinach chopped cilantro and sliced green onions, for garnish cooked brown rice or quinoa (optional)
Freezer Meal Instructions
