Jumping into freezer meals? Then you need the 20 Meals in 2 Hours Shopping List, detailing the ingredients you’ll need to fill your freezer!
TO VIEW ALL OF THE RECIPES CLICK HERE!
Here’s the list for the 20 Meals in 2 Hours Slow Cooker/Freezer meals post! Don’t be intimidated (I would be lol) because a lot of these things you already have in your house, I’m sure. When making this list for myself, I wrote a separate list of things I actually had to buy and it was A LOT smaller. 🙂
As a side note, this list includes only what is being frozen. So for example, the biscuits used in the chicken and dumplings dish are NOT on the list. Anything that is added after cooking for 6 hours is NOT on the list. 😉 But I would write that ingredient on the freezer bag (i.e., dumplings needs biscuits and milk – it’s on the bag so I know when I pull it out of the freezer).
- Chicken Breast (13 pounds)
- Stir Fry Beef (3 pounds)
- Stew Meat (or cubed steak) (3 pounds)
- Stew Meat (or top round cut into cubes) (3 pounds)
- Pork Chops (4–6 pounds)
- Pork Loin (2, 4 pound roasts)
- London Broil (2 london broils at least 1-1/2 to 2 pounds each)
Veggies – Canned and fresh
- Frozen bag of pepper/onion stir fry mix (2)
- Baby Carrots (5 pounds)
- Garlic (29 cloves)
- Onions (3 pounds, chopped)
- Shredded Carrots (1 cup)
- Salsa Verde (3, 16-ounce jar)
- Rotel Tomatoes with green chilis (4)
- Limes (6)
- Corn (1 cup)
- Lemon Juice
Dairy Items
- Romano Cheese (1 1/2 cup)
- Butter (8 tbsp.)
Pantry Items
- Soy Sauce (2 small jars or 1 large container because you need at least 2-1/2 cup)
- Beef Broth (1-1/2 cup)
- Chicken Broth (2 14.5 ounce cans plus 1 cup)
- 10 ounce can of French Onion Soup (2)
- 10 ounce can of Cream of Mushroom Soup (2)
- 10.75 ounce can of Cream of Chicken Soup (6)
- 12 ounce jar of chicken gravy (2)
- Worcestershire Sauce (1/2 cup)
- Meat Tenderizer
- Balsamic Vinegar (2 cup)
- Honey (4 tbsp. & 2 cup)
- Crushed Basil
- Olive Oil (2/3 cup)
- Veg Oil (1/2 cup)
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Chili Powder
- Seasoning Salt
- Parsley
- Garlic Powder
- Garlic Salt
- Sugar
- Salt/Pepper
- Don’t forget to buy Gallon Size Freezer bags!
Freezer Meals Part 2 – 20 Meals in 2 Hours Grocery List
Ingredients
Meat!
Veggies – Canned and fresh!
Dairy Items!
Pantry Items!
Is there a way to print this without having to copy and paste into a document? I don’t want to just hit the print button and end up with 4 pages. BTW – Thank you for putting all of this together.
Peggy – thanks for the idea – I just put it into the zip list recipe form. You should be able to print that out easy! Happy Shopping! and freezing 😉
Hey, this looks like a great idea! I want to try this but I have a couple questions. Roughly (ballpark estimate is fine) how much did all of the stuff on this list cost? I know it will vary greatly from store to store but my husband wants me to give him a rough estimate.
Also, do you happen to know how long these meals can stay frozen? I want to freeze them all but I need to be sure that they won’t be too freezer burnt to eat by the time we eat them all. Thanks for any help 🙂
Hey Sonia – I hate giving out prices because it’s so subjective – I started buying meat on sale and putting it in freezer bags according to the recipes (except chicken I bought the chicken just to make these 20 meals). So ball park? I’m guessing $200-300 but again – I live in NJ where things are just pricey! I really recommend because it has saved me money in terms of “oh we’ll just order pizza” 😉 Plus you put the money out once and probably eat for a month!
As for the freezer timing – I think I ate my last meal around 40 days out? Just a guess though and I didn’t have any problems with freezer burn. I didn’t eat them in 20 days that’s for sure (between left overs and other things ;)).
Enjoy! I sure have!
In KY, about $150.00. (used coupons, bought meat in family pacs).
Oh BethAnn – that’s AWESOME! Great job!!!!
Oh wow another Bethann!!! I have never met one lol
When you say “stir fry beef” what do you mean? Is that a recipe elsewhere on your site or are you talking about a cut of beef that you’ve prepared yourself?
Thank you for putting this together! So helpful!
Hey Ashley – no by Stir Fry Beef I mean pre-cut beef ready to stir fry – a little more money but it’s a time saver!
What type of meat is that? I’m going to the butchers tomorrow. What do I ask for?
I’m sorry – I don’t know which meat you’re talking about?
Stew Meat (or cubed steak) (3 pounds)
Stew Meat (or top round cut into cubes) (3 pounds)
oh gosh – lol I just buy the package that say stew meat 😉 Top round is a cut of meat that would qualify for both. I don’t know what else you would call it 😉
Hi,
Is this for the same recipes as the 40 meals in 4 hours? They are just doubled in the 40 meals/4 hour blog right?
Nope. This is 20 meals. Here is the link to the shopping list for the 40 meals http://whoneedsacape.com/2014/02/master-shopping-list-40-meals-4-hours/
I just happen to get a post about your crock pot meals on facebook and I am amazed..I cant wait to get started on this..will be going shopping this weekend and get started..Thank you so much for the great ideas…having McDonalds and Pizza all the time is just to much and way to convenient..not to mention not the healthiest
I’m totally guilty of the pizza. I didn’t know – starting this – how much easier it would make my life lol. Hope you have the same experience 😉
Hi there – this is awesome! What size crockpot do you use? Thanks!
I think mine it big – 6-7 but these recipes would fit in a standard 5 🙂
I’m wondering if the freezer bags is made up for only one person or if it’s for two people or a family?
I made my meals family sized (probably 4-6 people depending on who and how much is eating 😉 ) Some meals my uber picky kids didn’t love but then my husband and I had left overs 😉
maybe its just me but I don’t see the recipes on here?
Nope – this is the shopping list page 🙂 The 20 meals are linked above
Thank so much for the wonderful ideas…they are awesome…I looked at the post that came up on facebook for awhile, i tried it with just a few freezer meals, so far so good…my hubby has eat everything that i have fixed so far. All of this makes life so much easier….
I’m about to attempt this and if it works for my family…..you will be my hero. I have 2 picky kids and barely time to cook. I think I love you already just because I dont have to make my own shopping list!
YEA! GOOD LUCK
You are my hero! I keep promising my hubby I will cook more but working 50-60 hour weeks and just finishing up school full time I had no idea where to start! The shopping alone would leave me standing in the middle of the store confused. Going to start this ASAP with your list 🙂
Would these meals work in a dutch oven or in Pampered Chefs deep dish casserole? Say at 350*F for 2 hours? Maybe add 1/2 C. water or broth to the recipe?
I have aluminum wiring in my home and do not own a crock pot.
Pam – I assume that most meals can be converted to the oven. However – I would think that 2 hours would be a long time. I would experiment and start checking the meat for temperature after 45 minutes to an hour 😉 good luck!
I LOVE this idea!
How many servings does each bag end up being?
I’ve got a pretty small freezer. How much room do I need for this project?
hmmm…a couple of them take up some serious room. I maybe would not double the meals if I had a small freezer (like try getting 10 in there) 🙂 good luck!
I ended up doing just single servings. It was tough on my little apartment freezer. I ended up cooking a couple dishes right away to make room.
It was SO easy! Thank you a million, billion times!!
Now I can focus on cooking the fun things–like muffins! 😉
YEA Jennifer! That’s awesome 😉
Where do you find the stir fry meat? Is it in the fresh meat department or in the frozen meat section of the store. Just wondering I guess I’ve never seen stir fry meat before except at a mongolian grill. Ha!
I’ve always found it with the fresh meat.
I’m about to give this a shot. our new place doesn’t currently have a stove we don’t have a microwave. Our cooking methods are the following: One burner hot plate, griddle, electric indoor/ outdoor grill and crock pot. it is exhausting trying to pull it all off sometimes and. I am a seasoned cook. So this may be my answer. I had a failed attempt a while back . I got a bunch of marinades free with coupons.and found chicken thighs for 0.68 a pound. I bagged all in different marinades and froze. The meat broke down pretty bad and most where not edible. So again hoping your plan is my answer and love the shopping list.
Jen – good luck to you! If your meat is breaking down my first thought is you are cooking it too long (or your crock pot just cooks hotter – this happens). So my suggestion to you would be to shorten the cooking time. If you are at work/don’t have a programmable slow cooker – get a cheap light timer. That way you can start the cooking and end it 🙂 Hope that you love the meals – we did!!!
This is such a lifesaver! I’m moving in with my younger brother coming up soon and he hasn’t (and doesn’t know how to) cook even one meal for himself since purchasing his own home (two years ago)! Can’t wait to try it out!
YEA!! I think it’s a life saver too (or at least a dinner saver 🙂 )
Thanks for the great list! I did my shopping tonight – I had a few of the staples on hand, but the total price was about $200. For 20 meals that’s a great deal!
Side note: As I loaded the groceries I realized that I forgot zip lock bags! If you can add them to the list, you may save someone else that ‘walk of shame’ back into the store. 🙂
Amy – duh – thanks for the suggestion of the bags on the list (I am a slight hoarder of bags so I always have them and didn’t think about it!) Can’t wait to see how much you love the meals!!!!
I’ trying this for the first time. Thanks for the list. I found that buying a pork loin roast (11 lbs) broke down to 2.25 to feed 2 people. This is just one example to save $$$. I have a vacuum sealer which makes it possible to freeze meats for a longer period of time. What I would like to know is, Can some of the meals being cooked ahead, last longer than 20 days? Can any of the meals be cooked in a pressure cooker?
I am not sure about pressure cooker – I have never used one (I would think yes but ?) as for longer than 20 days – do you mean in the freezer? yes I had some that went way past 20 days in the freezer and they were fine 😉
So I’m gone for 8-10 hours a day…. Is it okay to cook them that long?
8 yes…10 I think would probably be too much – a lot of our readers have bought cheap light timers and attached them to the crock pot! That way it always cooks the right time!
Light timers?
yup – instead of purchasing a (usually) expensive slow cooker that has a timer built in – you know those cheap things that will turn your lights on whether you’re home or not? You can plug a crock pot into instead of a light and you won’t burn dinner! like this http://www.homedepot.com/c/timers_HT_BG_EL
I love this idea but I can’t find the recipe list that would tell me what to make. Where do I find it?
http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/09/20-meals-in-2-hours-slow-cooker-freezer-meals/
Im new to Pin it to be exact just 3 days into it and so far im finding it truly amazing.One question I have is do you have any receipes made for just one person and that cn be frozen or just follow the receipes as shown a bag them in songle portions? Well that part is a no brainer , but i would hate to make up too many portions only to have to toss the remainder in the garbage if I didnt eat it fast enougj!!!
I am sorry I don’t! What you could do is split these meals (buy half of the groceries and don’t double the recipes) and freeze them in smaller quantities!
Hi just a bit confused do I put all 20 meals in bags and freeze them ‘raw’ and the bring them out to cook as and when is needed or do I cook all and then freeze? Sorry this may be obvious to everyone else
Hi Shan – no all meals go in the bags raw…the cooking part comes later when you want to eat them 😉 Have fun!
Just went back to work after 20 years at home. These are a lifesaver!! Thank you
Good luck back at work! I just went back this year after 5 years with the kiddos – they ARE a life saver! Come back for more when you eat the 20 😉
This is so wonderfully put together! Thank you so much. My only suggestion would be to have the recipes linked into PDFs so they don’t need to be printed. Thanks again 🙂
This is such a great idea. I can’t wait t try this with my family. I was wondering if you have a separate shopping list for the items I will need that are NOT going in the freezer? I don’t want to end up with 40 meals in the freezer with no idea of the other items needed for the meals.
Hi Kelly,
No there is no other list except for our main list. If you print out the recipes though it will tell you what’s not frozen and you can add those to a separate shopping list.
Also this is for 20 meals not 40 😉
Thanks for the recipes. I look forward to trying them. I decided to do this to make lunchtime easier. I like making supper, but not lunch, so I decided to try this. I do want to note some things that I found frustrating. The shopping list had some quantity issues and omitted a bit. I had to send my son back into town for more chicken and it still wasn’t enough. I also did not have enough beef. I ended up with 17 meals. The Fiests Soup
Continuing from last comment where I hit submit by accident.
I could only make one Fiesta Soup and there was one recipe that could not do at all. Also, this was not two hours of work at all. It took all evening and I’m a pretty good cook.
Heading to store now. I’m so excited to do this
You won’t regret it! Let me know how it goes!!!
Why does this show 2 lists? There is a list not labeled and a second that says part 2
Hi all where are the recipes all I am getting is w list with the same ingredients on
This looks great but, What am I gonna do with just one shopping list I need recipes too..
All of the recipes are linked via this post: https://whoneedsacape.com/2013/09/20-meals-in-2-hours-slow-cooker-freezer-meals/