Ground Meat Freezer Meals

Ground Meat Freezer Meals

Shopping List

Meats

Beef – 4 lbs ground beef

Turkey – 3 lbs ground turkey

Sausage – 1 lb Italian sausage

Cheese & Dairy

                2 cups shredded cheddar

                Ricotta cheese, 30 oz.

                1 ½ cup parmesan

                10 cups mozzarella

                2 eggs

                Butter

                1 cup  (more or less) milk

Produce

                4 onions – diced*

                3 bell peppers – diced*

*To save even more time, buy these already prepped in the frozen section.

                4 serrano peppers - minced

                garlic

                2 stalks celery - diced

                5 large potatoes – cubed, boiled, mashed

Cans

                2 large cans crushed tomatoes

                2 cans rotel

                2 14 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes

                1 12 oz can tomato paste

                3 large jars marinara

                2 cans kidney beans

                2 cans refried beans

                2 cups beef broth

                1 16 oz Lone Star beer

Dry

                1 box no cook lasagna noodles

Frozen

                2 bags mixed vegetables

10 oz bag spinach

Seasonings

                Italian seasoning

                Balsamic vinegar

                Cumin, chili powder, coriander, salt, pepper

                2 packs taco seasoning

                4T cornstarch

Misc

                7 foil pans

                Quart sized freezer bags

  

Labels

 

Chili

Date:                                                                                                    

 

Burrito Filling

Date:                                                                                                    

 

Shepherd’s Pie

Date:                                                                                                    

Thaw. Bake at 375° for 45 min. until cheese is melted and dish is heated all the way through.

 

Lasagna

Date:                                                                                                    

THAW.  Remove top, cover with foil, bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees, take off aluminum and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until top is lightly browned and bubbly.

 

 

Preparation Tips

• Chop onion, bell peppers, mince garlic and combine in large bowl
• Chop serrano and celery, set aside in separate bowls
• Peel (or not) and cube potatoes
• Brown 2 lbs beef and 2 lbs turkey with 1/3 of onion/bell pepper/garlic and the serrano.  Divide in half, set aside for chili and burritos.
• Brown 1 lb beef and 1 lb Italian sausage with 1/3 of onion/bell pepper/garlic.  Set aside for marinara.
• Brown 1 lb beef and 1 lb turkey with 1/3 of onion/bell pepper/garlic plus celery.  Set aside for shepherds pie
• Boil potatoes, add butter and milk, make mashed potatoes for shepherds pie.
• Make chili and marinara first so they can cook while you assemble the other meals.

 

Recipes

 

Chili (makes 4-2 cup bags)

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground turkey

1 onion

1 bell pepper

1 serrano pepper

garlic

Cumin, chili powder, coriander, salt

2 cans kidney beans, drained

2 14 oz. cans fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 16 oz Lone Star beer

 

Brown meats, onion, and peppers.  Add seasonings, cook for a few minutes then add the rest of ingredients to the pot and cook about an hour.  Cool then divide evenly amongst quart Ziploc bags.

 

Meat Marinara (makes enough for 3 lasagnas plus 3 cups to freeze for other recipes)
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained

1 lb Italian sausage

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 large cans crushed tomatoes

2 6 oz. can tomato paste

3 jars store bought spaghetti sauce

½  T Italian seasoning

1  T balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Brown beef, sausage, onions and garlic. Add in the rest of the ingredients and cook for 45 minutes on medium heat, until flavors are combined.

 

Lasagna (makes 3)

Meat Marinara

Ricotta Cheese, 30 oz. tub

2 eggs

1/2 Tablespoon ground black pepper

Italian seasoning

1 10 oz bag frozen spinach, sqeezed dry

1 cup grated Parmesan

2 boxes no bake lasagna noodles

10 cups shredded mozzarella

 

Combine ricotta, eggs, pepper, Italian seasoning, spinach and parmesan.

Lightly coat bottom of pan with thin layer of sauce followed by a layer of noodles, dollops of ricotta mixture, more marinara, and mozzarella, repeat topping off the final noodle layer with sauce and a good layer of mozzarella. 

To cook:  THAW.  Remove top, cover with foil, bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees, take off aluminum and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until top is lightly browned and bubbly.

 

Shepherd’s Pie (makes 2)

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground turkey

1 onion chopped

2 stalks celery

2 cups beef broth

4 T cornstarch

1 bag frozen mixed veggies

1 bag frozen corn

1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

2-3 cups prepared mashed potatoes

 

Cook meat, onion and celery, drain grease, leaving about 1 Tbsp. in pan.

Stir in beef broth and cornstarch mixing well to create a light gravy.

Add vegetables to pan, stir and cook until heated through.  Transfer to pan, top with cheddar cheese then mashed potatoes.

To cook:  THAW. Bake at 375° for 45 min. until dish is heated all the way through.

 

Burrito Filling (makes 4-2 cup bags)

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground turkey

1 onion

1 bell pepper

1 serrano

garlic

2 packets taco seasoning

2 cans rotel

2 cans refried beans

 

Cook meats, onion and peppers.  When meat is browned and veggies are tender, add taco seasoning and cook for a minute.  Add rotel and beans, combine.  Cool then divide amongst quart Ziploc bags.