Every month I get together with one of my friends, Jordanna, and we make five paleo freezer meals for the next month. She usually doubles each recipe and then has 10 paleo freezer meals ready to pull out during the month! It usually takes us about 2 hours to get everything prepped and assembled, but it’s a blast, and not only do we get meals out of it, we get to hang out and chat!
I highly recommend doing this with a friend if you can, because it makes it not even seem like work. =)
Here’s what was on this month’s menu (everything is Paleo, some are Whole30. The ones that aren’t Whole30 can be altered by removing the honey or coconut sugar, which Jordanna did):
*PS–Sorry I don’t have individual photos this month. I will try to remember to take individual photos next month!
General Tso’s Chicken
Amazing Beef Stew
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Garlic Ginger Beef
Crockpot Poblano Short Ribs
Want more Paleo freezer meals? Get my new ebook with a month’s worth of paleo freezer meals that each take 10 minutes or less to prep! (Also includes recommended wine pairings!) Just click on the image below to learn more!
General Tso’s Chicken (8 servings)
*Eliminate coconut sugar for Whole30
This one had rave reviews! It was really yummy.
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut in cubes)
4 cups stir fry veggies (you can just buy frozen)
1.5 tsp ginger
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
⅓ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup coconut aminos
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp sesame oil
¼ cup green onion, chopped
salt/pepper to taste
Combine everything in a large Ziploc bag and shake to coat.
When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the fridge if possible. If you forget, you can still just dump it all in the crockpot. Cook in crockpot for a 5-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high and you’re good to go!
Amazing Beef Stew (4-5 servings)
3 lbs beef stew meat
2 cups organic beef broth **DO NOT ADD TO BAG**
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 onion, finely chopped
¼ cup chopped celery
¼ cup tomato paste
1.5 TBSP Herbes de Provence
3 TBSP olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
black pepper to taste
Combine everything except the broth in large Ziploc bag and toss to coat.
When ready to cook, thaw overnight in fridge. Add to crockpot and then pour broth over mixture. Cook in crockpot for 8-10 hours on low. Tastes much better if you don’t cook on high.
Cilantro Lime Chicken (4-5 servings)
2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 cup chopped bell pepper (any color you like! I like to mix…)
Juice from 2 big limes
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
½ cup chopped red onion
salt/pepper to taste
Combine everything in large Ziploc bag and toss to coat.
When ready to cook, thaw overnight or just put straight into the crockpot frozen. If thawed, cook about 2 hours on high or 3-4 hours on low. If frozen, cook 3-4 hours on high, or 5-6 hours on low.
Garlic Ginger Beef (6-8 servings)
*Eliminate honey for Whole30
3-4 lbs bottom round steak
¾ cup coconut aminos
1-2 tsp fresh minced or grated ginger (I just buy the kind in a jar)
12 cloves garlic, peeled
1 can green beans (or ¾ lb fresh if you like) **DO NOT ADD TO BAG**
½ cup honey
1 tsp sesame oil
pinch red pepper flakes
salt/pepper to taste
Add everything except the green beans to the bag, and toss to coat.
When ready to cook, thaw overnight for best results and add to crockpot. Cook on low for 6 hours (it’s best to cook on low), then pour green beans over the meat and cook another hour.
Crockpot Poblano Short Ribs (4 servings)
*Eliminate honey for Whole30
4-5 lbs short ribs
1 large onion, sliced
4 poblano peppers, stems and seeds removed
4 cloves garlic
2 TBSP honey
2 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP lime juice
handful cilantro
½ cup vegetable broth
salt/pepper to taste
Blend everything but the meat together, then add to Ziploc bag(s) – I separated mine into two bags. When ready to cook, thaw overnight and then cook on low for 5-6 hours. Low will have best results. =)
Hope you enjoy all the paleo freezer meals! Let me know if you get together with friends, or do it on your own!
Like what you read? Sign up here and get my Top 10 Recipes ebook for free!
Sandra Rouse says
Just a quick question, because I am kinda a dork…on the beef stew, are the strips of bacon cooked or uncooked? Thanks.
Shanti Landon says
It’s uncooked! Not a dorky question, either!
Amy says
I wondered the same thing. Thanks for asking her:)
Jen says
Sincerely thank you for this. My husband and I both must work full time, and our sons have celiac disease among other problems. We moved a month ago and have not gotten back on track. I am meal planning tonight and this came across my FB feed. Thank goodness. I NEED to do freezer meals or I will not stay sane. I have had enough of pre-packaged foods like Ian’s Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets and Daiya Vegan GF pizza. It is time for REAL FOOD and you have provided recipes that look easy!!
Shanti Landon says
Aw, thanks, Jen! I am so glad they are helping you! How tough to have two kiddos with celiac. It was hard for me in the beginning, and I just have a hubby with it! Praying for you as you try to settle in and get back on track!
Laura says
Could you please describe how you do this with your friend? Do you each bring your own ingredients and just do the prep work together as in you work in the kitchen together but you each chop your own vegetables, cut your own meat etc? Or do you do the shopping together too? I’m just curious since you said she doubles her recipes? Also, I buy milk in bulk ( e.g. half a cow etc). How could I do this if my meat is frozen? Can I thaw and referee?
Laura says
Refreze , sorry
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Laura! We grocery shop separately. I go to her house with all my stuff, and then we chop our own stuff and just chat as we’re working! You can thaw and re-freeze if necessary. If the recipe calls for a whole roast, though, you could just keep it frozen and put it in the bag. If you need to cut it up, it would need to be partially thawed so you can cut it. Hope that helps!
Julie says
These recipes look awesome! I haven’t done freezer meals in a while, but I will be using these & getting them going again. Just a tip I’d like to share. Fold the bag over tightly around the food to remove air, zip, then lay the on the counter & finesse the food until it fills every inch of the bag. What you are left with is a flat bag that only takes up a footprint the size of the bag on the freezer shelf or in a freezer basket. Because it’s a thinner layer of food you can stack as many will fit on the shelf AND have the added bonus of quicker thaw times because it is a thinner layer than if everything is left in the bottom of the bag as pictured. Great work on these recipes! Thanks for sharing!!
Leigh says
I made the garlic ginger beef for the fam, and can I just say….
NOM NOM NOM! We all went crazy for it. Hubby wants to make sure I make it again. (I doubled the recipe so he’s bound to get it at least one more time…)
Sara says
I need to do this! Quick question: what are the coconut aminos for and what do they taste like? Thanks!!
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Sara! Coconut aminos is a sub for soy sauce. You can use GF soy sauce or regular if you eat that! Hope that helps!
Whitney says
Hi. I’m pregnant and due in February. Im thinking about making some freezer meals to have for when the baby gets here and I’m way too exhausted to prep dinner. Do you know how long these dinners will last in the freezer? Thanks so much!
Shanti Landon says
I would say a solid six months would be fine! Congrats!
Renie says
Thanks so much. These look delicious. Appreciate your willingness to share.
Stephanie says
Is there a possible alternative to cilantro? My husband and daughter do not like it and I LOVE it, which is quite a shame. I’ve been trying to think of something to substitute in recipes such as this.
Shanti Landon says
Hmm. That’s a difficult one. Have you ever tried Parsley in its place?
Valerie says
Thanks for these great recipes. My friend and I got together and made them, it took us about 2.5 hours. Can’t wait to try them. We shopped together but we each had a cart and divided it up. It would be great to get some serving suggestions, for example what do you serve along with the garlic ginger beef to increase the veggies? BTW I think some of these would be good stir fry dishes, after marinating the meat to tenderize it.
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Valerie! I usually serve the garlic ginger beef with rice or cauliflower rice, some broccoli, and/or another veggie!
Lorren says
Hello, I was how many people will these recipes feed. I will typically feed between 4-6 ppl.
Thank you!
Shanti Landon says
So sorry I missed your comment! Mine always feed our family of 7!
Rachael says
For the CROCKPOT POBLANO SHORT RIBS when you say blend everything together do you mean in a blender or just in a bowl? Thank you! 🙂
Shanti Landon says
Good question! It means to actually blend in the blender. =)
sarah kaven says
question? with the cilantro chicken, do you add any broth or water when you throw in into the crockpot thanks? I leave for work and it will be cooling for about 8 hours or so.
shashi shekhar says
Thanks for sharing and it really looks delicious