Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs Freezer Meal Recipe

Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs
makes 6 entrees, about 20 meatballs each

Ingredients:
Meatballs
6 lbs lean ground beef
3 cups dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup milk
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup minced onion
2 Tbsp. minced garlic (about 18 cloves)
1 Tbsp. salt
2 tsp. black pepper
Sauce
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup corn starch
1 (106 oz.) can pineapple tidbits, drained, juice reserved
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
Optional: Vegetables
bite-size pieces of raw green bell pepper, onion, and/or carrot

Directions:
Using your hands, thoroughly combine beef, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into 1- to 1 1/2-inch meatballs, placing finished pieces close together on lightly greased broiler pans or rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes (center of meatballs read 160°). Cool.
While meatballs are baking & cooling, mix brown sugar and cornstarch in a large stockpot. Add pineapple juice, soy sauce, and vinegar; stir. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Cool sauce. Divide cooled meatballs and sauce evenly among freezer bags. Divide drained pineapple tidbits (and optional vegetables) evenly among the bags of meatballs and sauce.
Freeze.

Bag Label:
Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs    Date:___________
Oven directions: Thaw. Place in ungreased baking
dish. Bake at 350°, uncovered, for 30 min., until
heated through.
Crock Pot: Thaw. Place in a slow cooker. Cook on
low 2-5 hours, until heated through.
Serve over rice.

Fajita Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe

Fajita Chicken Freezer Meal

Ingredients:
2 cooked chicken breasts sliced or shredded OR 1/2 rotisserie chicken
1 bag frozen bell peppers OR 2-3 fresh chopped bell peppers
1 small onion, chopped (optional)
ground cumin
Cajun seasoning
chili powder
garlic salt
ground cayenne red pepper
ground coriander seed
tortillas or rice

Directions:
Mix chicken, bell peppers, & onion. Sprinkle each spice all over the top (until you can see each spice). Go easy with chili powder, red pepper, & Cajun seasoning if sensitive to spice (good to have a little extra if serving it with sour cream and guacamole). Mix & cook in a skillet until warm (or fresh bell peppers are tender). Serve on tortillas or over rice. Great with sour cream, or greek yogurt & guacamole.
- Easy sides ideas: Beans, rice, simple salad.

Freezer Meal Directions:
Prepare as directed without onion & bell peppers. Place seasoned chicken in a freezer-safe bag. Include frozen bell peppers & tortillas. Instruct to add fresh onion, if desired.

Freezer Meal Label:
Thaw chicken. Chop small onion, if desired. Add seasoned chicken, onion, and frozen bell peppers to a skillet. Heat until warm. Serve on tortillas or over rice. Great with sour cream, or greek yogurt & guacamole. - Easy sides ideas: Beans, rice, simple salad.

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas Freezer Meal Recipe

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas Freezer Meal

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large bell pepper, seeded & sliced
12 flour tortillas
toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and guacamole - if desired

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400. Grease a 13x9 baking dish. Place chicken strips in dish. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl place next 6 ingredients (oil through salt). Mix well.
3. Drizzle oil/spice mixture over chicken. Stir, & make sure chicken is well coated.
4. Add can of tomatoes, sliced onion, and peppers. Stir to coat.
5. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes (until chicken is cooked through) & vegetables are tender. Serve on warmed tortillas with toppings of your choice.

Freezer Meal Instructions:
Place all ingredients into a labeled gallon-sized ziploc container.  Mix well. Freeze.

Label as follows:
Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas
Thaw. Place contents of bag into a greased 13x9 baking dish. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Serve on warmed tortillas with toppings of your choice.