Salsa Verde Chicken | Freezer Meal (Prep Ahead, Freeze + Cook Later!)

Kelly McNelis, creator of The Family Freezer blog, cooking classes and eBooks, shares three of her favorite freezer meals: this Salsa Verde Chicken, which she serves with rice, Lemon Pepper Chicken and Cranberry Pork Roast. All of them require only five ingredients or less that you combine and freeze in a gallon-size bag and then cook from frozen in a Crockpot or Instant Pot anytime within three months. (The frozen raw lemon pepper chicken can also be grilled or baked after thawing.) Just as noteworthy: "These recipes are healthy and delicious," Kelly says, "and are approved by my family of seven—with five young children!"  

Note: You need a one-gallon freezer bag to make each recipe. You can also cook the meal without freezing the ingredients first. 

Pro Tip from Kelly: If you don't have a lot of extra freezer space, start by throwing out everything that is expired. Next, create a meal plan for the following week based on the frozen meat and vegetables that you have left, supplementing as needed. That should clear enough space for at least a couple of meals.