Prep Ahead for School with Freezer Meals
We are huge fans of saving you time when it comes to food prep. With onions ready to be tossed into your favorite recipes, Gills Onions saves you time and tears. But what if you could save even more time around dinner?
It’s totally possible, thanks to freezer meals.
Freezer Meals 101
If you’ve never heard of freezer meals, your life is about to be changed. A freezer meal is a prepared entree, made with fresh ingredients, divided into family portions, and frozen for later use. You’ll want the meal to be stored in a freezer safe container or bag, sealed for freshness (no one wants freezer burned lasagna).
The best freezer meals are ones you can pop in a slow cooker before work or school, then come home to a delicious, hot meal ready to enjoy. There are also options for pulling them out an hour or less before meal time, heating them up, and having everything ready to go without spending an hour preparing anything the day of.
They’re fabulous to have when you’re in the middle of a busy season (ahem, back to school) when your kids are in a million activities, taking time away from meal prep every day. You can still have a sit down, family dinner, but all the prep is done days or weeks ahead of time.
Freezer Meals Love Onions
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that onions are frequently an ingredient in the tastiest freezer meals. Whether it’s lasagna, meatballs and marinara sauce, soups, or even fajitas, onions play a major role in the flavor profile of so many of our favorite dishes.
And yes! Onions freeze beautifully. They will stay delicious and fresh in your freezer for up to six months in the Gills Onions packaging, and, if stored properly, will do the same in a prepared freezer meal.
Want some ideas for freezer meals for your family? There are so many great options out there, but we’ve pulled together a list of five tried and true recipes that your family will love (and guess what? They all have onions!)
- Chicken Pot Pie. Packed with delicious veggies (carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, and more!) Chicken Pot Pie is the perfect comfort food on a cold evening.
- Shepherd’s Pie. Another comfort food made for freezing, Shepherd’s Pie boasts potatoes and onions, ground beef (or lamb!) and a delicious sauce to bring it all together.
- Meatloaf. Diced onions were made for Meatloaf, it seems. The flavor brings out the juiciness of the meat, perfectly paired with a veggie on the side.
- Beef Stew. All the veggies — plus some beef — make this meal perfect when you need extra vitamins in the fall and winter. Beef Stew is a hit, especially after it’s cooked slowly all day in your slow cooker.
- Quiche. Whether you choose to have breakfast for dinner or go the traditional method and have this in the morning, Quiche is a fantastic freezer meal.
By choosing freezer meals packed with veggies, you’ll get all the vitamins you’re looking for with every bite. And don’t forget: onions are full of nutrients your body needs. Just adding half a cup to your freezer meal recipe means your family will get fantastic flavor, and some of the fiber, protein, and vitamin C you need every day.
This school year, take charge of your family meals by prepping ahead of time. Freezer meals can be your best friend as you dive into after school activities and a long school day, bringing a hot, delicious, and nutritious dinner to your family every day.
Want to prep your freezer meals with Gills Onions? Contact us today!