The Ultimate LAZY Freezer Meal Prep Method for Busy Families

[@SeeMindyMom]

😀If you are looking for easy freezer meals that don't require hours of prep in the kitchen, then check out this video, and let me know what your family's favorite quite and easy freezer meal is for those inevitable busy times!

[@susannapichula9947]

I like the cheap easy, lazy meals, especially when I'm working nights. So this video is a win for me.

[@annettenaylor9956]

Any of the El Montery chimichangas are great - micro them add a slice of cheese for the last 30 seconds then serve with a side bag salad. SO easy and it won't heat up your kitchen on warm days. Another way to use them, once you want to use your oven, take a 9 x 13 pan, pour 1/2 a can of enchilada sauce in the pan, then lay the frozen burritos in the sauce, cover with rest of sauce. Top with shredded cheese, cover the pan with foil. Bake in a 375° oven for 30 mins. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more. Serve with a bagged green salad or a veggie tray. Have a great fall!

[@MrsAlmaTrumble]

I love your royal blue glasses.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! They're from PAIR! I'm gonna talk about them in my next video. :)

[@MrsAlmaTrumble]

@@SeeMindyMom you're so very welcome, friend. Ok, looking forward to hearing about them. My hubby is in need of some glasses.

[@Midwestmomvolunteer365]

Perfect timing - life has been unusually chaotic lately, this is exactly the reinforcement that I needed. I spent this morning making stuff for the fridge. Funny enough, one of the things I made was tortellini and put it in serving size containers for later so everyone can eat when they are ready. The drive thru is just so crazy expensive I can't justify it. For sure staying ahead of the busy times makes life easier. Have a great ay everyone.

[@lilapacheco4826]

I love frozen chicken patties. I make them in the air fryer and put warmed deli ham and Swiss for a quick cordon blue sandwich. Good quick and easy options. I never thought to use the breakfast bowls as breakfast tacos or burritos! Smart!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Great idea!

[@izabelaavilapereira8719]

Im currently pregnant and due late November and that's exactly what Im gonna do to stock up my freezer for postpartum meals. I wont have time to meal prep freezer meals beforehand and these will be much cheaper than take out.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could give some ideas!

[@amyshort5625]

We are due around the same time, good luck! Freezer meals are so helpful when you are exhausted

[@floralbouquets]

Everyone needs a quick fix for a meal every now and then.

[@SeeMindyMom]

agreed!

[@hello-vs4me]

Agree

[@mfarley252]

My favorite convenience freezer item from aldi is the French bread pizzas! They heat in the oven in 20 minutes and they are so good!

[@Ddreany]

I'm with you on the takeout sticker shock. Thank you for the quick dinner ideas!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could help!

[@oliviakirksey206]

My favorite low stress meal is slowcooker shredded beef tacos! Cook a beef chuck on low 8 hours with a 15oz can tomato sauce and your choice of taco seasoning (I learned from others to add a dash ground cinnamon and ginger in for enhanced flavor). Shred and serve however you like it. If you want to then double the batch and freeze the extra meat for a busy day. I also make a big batch of Spanish rice and refried beans to keep in the freezer for enchiladas etc. I promise you these are the best tacos you will ever have in your life!!

[@DCupcake58]

Your freezer organization bag idea is a win at our house. We’ve been organizing our chest freezer like that for over a year and not only is it easy to find stuff it also helps me know what we are running low on, makes it much simpler to do a quick food inventory, which then makes it easy for me to make my monthly menu based on how full or empty a particular bag is.

[@SeeMindyMom]

I'm so glad to hear it! Glad I could give a useful tip! :)

[@kathyc5285]

This is such helpful and realistic cooking content! Love these ideas!

[@allisonwalker191]

Hash browns in the air fryer are amazing. They are dupes for McDs

[@kathleenriesner7550]

I don’t know about putting them in the toaster but I put mine in the air fryer with a little drizzle of oil and they’re perfect!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Yes! Good idea!

[@anitaholmes6824]

I put mine in the AF as well...no oil needed!

[@kathleenriesner7550]

@@anitaholmes6824 I’ll have to try it without the oil!

[@rosalielindley3583]

Put a package of those frozen burritos in a pan, pour enchilada sauce over the top and cover with cheese. Hear at 350 for about 30 minutes. They taste like enchiladas. So so good!

[@kimberlyhenderson3534]

When you cook the orange chicken air fry it, I do 5 minutes shake on repeat until it’s crisp. Then pour the cooked chicken into a bowl and add sauce on top. Best way to enjoy this classic

[@Tonick34]

Totally stole the bags in the deep freezer idea last year-game changer! I also keep a list on my fridge of what is out in the garage freezer. Makes meal planning so Mitch less of a chore!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Great idea!!

[@MsV3]

I love that you give yourself permission, unapologetically, for some convenience meals.

[@emerie44]

Definitely stocking up on these before having a new baby in a couple weeks!

[@martinadams7949]

yes you can toast the hash browns, takes couple times

[@Sandiastef]

Mindy, your videos have been really helpful in giving me short cut meal ideas. I also like that you say sometimes our time is worth more than our money.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! Glad I can help.

[@pattiupton1499]

Dominoes pick up is usually $5.99 for med and $7.99 for large. Good deal!!

[@lisabush8299]

Thank you so much for this!!! My child started kindergarten and I am on the struggle bus for dinner BIG TIME.

[@Old.gardener]

The potato patties work in the toaster using the bagel setting

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks for the tip!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

Good to know. I've always been a bit hesitant to try.

[@chrislilly-nl5lu]

I gave these as Christmas gifts for grandkids

[@amyshort5625]

Fall sports are starting up, so at least 2x a week it’s going to be CRAZY busy for us. These are great ideas, thank you!

[@cherieamb]

At TJs our favorite quick meal is the 'bbq' teriyaki chicken - fully cooked - delicious - I either double the chicken by addin some cooked chicken on hand or sauteeing some raw chicken - or I only use half the sauce [two packets come in the bag] - it's still plenty of sauce and a little less sugar.

[@a6regner]

We have the Tyson chicken patties topped with mozzarella cheese and sauce with spaghetti and call it 'Chickken Patty Parm'. It's actually on our regular rotation.

[@SeeMindyMom]

That's so interesting because I thought about making that last night, but instead I just used them to make chicken sandwiches. Good tip!

[@alyssa7473]

That sounds really good!

[@janallen541]

I made homemade egg McMuffins….scrambled eggs and cooked them on sheet pan. Cut circles out and put them on English muffin with Canadian bacon and cheese. Wrapped each in heavy duty foil and put in freezer bag. Thaw one overnight and cook in oven or microwave…they keep approximately four months in freezer

[@erikahay6456]

We cook the hash brown patties in the toaster all the time.

[@melgon25]

Also, it’s easy to know what’s permanent at Aldi and what’s a special buy. If it’s in the middle case (the one on the floor where you slide it open) that’s special buy. They’ll probably get it again. But maybe only quarterly. If it’s on the side and the doors you open, it’s generally something they always have. I realize not all Aldi’s are the same but they all have similar set ups and stock rotations.

[@Sher1965]

I know what you mean about take out or eat in fast food prices. Crazy prices! I admit that we love Subway. Sometimes we give in and purchase 5 footlongs, a 6" sub for my mother-in-law, and 5 drinks. 70 some dollars was the total. Ouch! Our area Subways will not take the Subway Corporate coupons anymore. One excuse that I heard was told, "Corporate takes too long to pay the shop owner back.". I told my husband, "I think that I am about ready to make our own subs at home.". He agreed.

[@rosalielindley3583]

Get red bag chicken at ALDIs cook at 425 about 15-20 minutes. Put on a bun with pickles and chick filet sauce. Very good and cheap

[@cassieleefryeklund5623]

The bag organizer sounds great

[@SeeMindyMom]

It's a lifesaver!

[@EmilyMims-ui9zw]

Totally agree on the “wonky “ meat in those frozen packaged products

[@naomibonang5642]

LOVE, LOVE the freezer organization tip with the shopping bags!!

[@greyshark8258]

You can put hashbrowns in the toaster. But they are quicker and easier in the air fryer. They do leave or leak a bit of oil into the catch tray of the toaster. So, are more admin than toast.

[@glendaadams730]

Always great ideas on here. Thanks. ❤❤❤❤

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks for watching!

[@karenbrumley8095]

I saw a bunch of those kiwico crates brand new at the Goodwill..I picked up a couple of them..they were like 3.00 each .I had no idea what they were or how expensive they were or I would have gotten all of them. The grandkids loved them

[@anitaholmes6824]

You can not put those hash browns in the toaster, use the Air Fryer, no oil necessary! So Good! Your freezer organization is excellent, thanks for sharing that! Trader Joes and Aldi, two of my favorite stores when we snowbird to AZ...we don't have them in Canada and I miss them!!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I think because of the oils already in the hashbrown, you cannot place them in the toaster oven, but the air fryer is great. They prepare rather quickly. My Walmart used to sell those and they were a favorite in my household. I may have to check my Trader Joe's. I haven't been able to find them anywhere since C10. I love them as a breakfast meal with an over easy egg placed right on top of it.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Yes, good point.

[@rosemarydoran9907]

Mindy, I am a big fan of the beef and sausage lasagna two-tray pack from Costco. Microwave ready from frozen in 24 minutes. They also make a beef only version which is also good but the beef and sausage has some kick to it; unusually flavorful for a frozen entree! Very tasty! It's about $18 for the two trays. With a salad or vegetable and garlic bread, one tray would serve 4-6; the trays are about 11" x 7". Hope your kids have a great school year!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you for the recommendation! I actually don't have a costco membership right now, but I have been thinking about signing up again soon!

[@marciemceachern]

I second this lasagna recommendation!

[@sabrinagarner915]

The TJ hasbrowns toast nicely in the air fryer. I like them crispy, so I cook them at 400F for 12 minutes, turning halfway.

[@bigal4101985]

I use the bag trick to keep my deep freezer organized too ❤

[@jimmiepatrum]

The George Foreman grill cooks those hashbrown patties beautifully. My widowed mom had a small George Foreman grill and she even did french fries on it. I haven't tried that. For a family your size, I bet a regular George Foreman grill would fit the bill. I loved your video today. Diane in NC

[@kellymoody8326]

Just found you tonight and love your videos! Thank you for sharing so many amazing ideas!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@celestecolton1638]

Oh my God, I absolutely love your idea of putting items in bags in categories in your chest freezer, I desperately need to do that, I’m always rearranging and digging through stuff because I can’t find it

[@SeeMindyMom]

It's a game changer!

[@celestecolton1638]

Last Thursday, when all of the kids were in school, I ripped apart my deep freezer completely and I had gotten a car organizer that would normally goes in the trunk and I was able to organize and separate and now I am able to find everything in my freezer, it’s awesome, and then I organized my regular fridge and freezer so that I can see what I really have and now I can cook with what I have instead of ordering out or going to the store for things I don’t need, thank you so much for the awesome idea, I truly appreciate it, it definitely helps me to keep organize being that I am disabled and not able to get out to any stores because I cannot drive, love your channel and love you

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

The bag in the freezer idea also works well for smaller freezers. Without them, I can never mind anything without major dramatics! Thank you for the video!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks for watching! Yes, the freezer bag thing changed my life (not to be too dramatic).

[@tinawright1027]

Great bag idea in the chest freezer. I enjoy your videos. Thank you for your time in helping us.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@tessjune88]

I have always been an avid cooker (from scratch) however in grief right now and I just want to add besides being busy, sometimes you’re just in a low place emotionally and I’m working on mindfully buying premade stuff to take some of the burden off. Importance is that I eat something, and buying some premade items to eat a couple times a week is as you said, way cheaper than eating out! (Side note - for anyone with an aldi, they have these decent freezer chicken/pork bowls that have good ingredients and are like $3.19 a bowl)

[@shellyturner2766]

My heart hears you. I've been spending the past year with grief and busy with the aftermath of a death. We've never relied so much on convenience items, "heat-and-eat" items in over 45 years. Hopefully it's a short season of life, but it's real.

[@SeeMindyMom]

You make a very good point. When are walking through difficult life events, it's important to make some tasks easier for ourselves, including meal prep.

[@tessjune88]

@@shellyturner2766 I feel you ❤️ it’s really rough sometimes.

[@tessjune88]

@@SeeMindyMom exactly!

[@theresaegbuniwe5808]

Always love your show!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you!

[@kari-gs4eq]

I was really happy with Aldi chicken and pasta skillet meals. The chicken wasn't weird at all.

[@dianelabrecque691]

Love the ideas and the glasses!

[@SeeMindyMom]

thanks!

[@marybowling7652]

Amen -- love this idea for a video! Tell the truth. I love this and I also get lots of ideas to launch off of yours!

[@lisamuir2091]

The freezer tip is genius, thank you!!!

[@cathyburns750]

Hi Mindy! Love this video! I'm alone and I seem to gravitate toward the items in the freezer section. I don't have a stove or oven right now so the microwave and I have become best friends. I love the Tyson chicken patties the most I think. There are so many things you can make with them. That said, there are so many of them in the bag it's hard to get through them all. But eventually they get eaten. I also like the pizzas you showed. I get the Lean Cuisines when on sale and Marie Calendar and Boston Market, etc. I know they're all full of sodium and other bad stuff but they'll work til I get a new stove. And I have been enjoying trying them. Thanks for sharing!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

I like those frozen individual meals, too! In fact, I have one sitting next to me right now that I'm eating for lunch today while I read some of these comments! :)

[@bearclaire]

If you don't have a stove and oven i highly suggest getting an air fryer. Tho you can also cook a lots in the microwave, dry pasta, rice, noodles etc just put them in microwave safe bowl with water, also potatoes, vegetables. Oats etc

[@peggywalker2103]

Hi Mindy, Love your channel, especially your cooking vlogs. I have a large chest freezer which I can never find anything in, so I followed your trick by putting items by type into bags, now its so easy! Thanks so much. Have a great week!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could provide a helpful tip! :)

[@MotherCoconuts811]

Frozen hashbrowns reheat great in the air fryer!

[@candycemonroe7345]

This is amazing timing. Yes, I feel the same about drive through meals.

[@edsuthoff]

We used to have a Mazzios here in Central MO. Loved it back in the day.

[@SeeMindyMom]

can't beat Mazzio's ranch!

[@allisonwalker191]

The Tyson Chicken Pattie’s are our go to for chicken sandwiches on baseball nights. Easy and cost saver verses Chick-fil-a

[@jennypecht9809]

This was a great topic for a video, thanks! I look forward to more.

[@juliemanley5233]

Unfortunately you can't put the trader Joe's hashbrowns in the toaster but you can use the air fryer or a toaster oven ☺️

[@e.smeltzer9286]

The el Monterey shredded beef / steak are so good! They made good breakfast burritos too!

[@PattyMason-d7g]

i use chicken patties for chicken parm.

[@BarefootFarm]

Hash browns are a staple at our house and we always pop them in the air fryer

[@kayburris8464]

Yes you can put the hashbrowns in the toaster, there good.

[@barbhopell1649]

Love the chest freezer idea with the bags. I need to use this idea! Great video!

[@Kiley_and_the_Hendersons]

My boys put those hash brown patties in the toaster all the time! Chicken patties too! 😜

[@melann7380]

That Trader Joe's frozen Jasmine rice is an absolute staple in my house. It makes life so much easier and is delicious. I also love their frozen Chimichurri rice . Another freezer staple that I love (not from Trader Joe's) is the Tyson Blackened Chicken Strips. I love air frying them and making blackened chicken tacos, super quick and easy

[@Rollergirl601]

Love the glasses!

[@jessguzman7676]

Thank you Mindy for your knowledge and help for your best advice thank you! You did it again luv ya!! 😉😊

[@nullasalus3]

I really like the purpley blue frames! We moved to Iowa from Texas this past year because my wife got a job at Iowa State University, and I have learned that Rice Krispies Treats were invented at ISU. Subsequently, Scotcheroos (not Special Ks) are also super popular here. Carmelitas are another super popular dessert bar here, which were a new name for me. 😀

[@SeeMindyMom]

Oh, I haven't heard of carmelitas! I'll have to look that one up!

[@lisamccoy4216]

Those has browns heat up really quick in my air fryer. So simple my hubs can do it.

[@SeeMindyMom]

My son loves those kinds of breakfast sandwiches! Good idea!

[@heather3706]

We love the steak chimmichangas. I'm sure I spelled it so wrong lol. My family loves them with our breakfast sometimes. I'll make some eggs and heat those. I use then more on days we have sports or activites and lunch won't be until later. They honestly aren't bad if they aren't super hot either. Heat them and wrap them in foil to eat for later.

[@jodiflinn2342]

You are right on the prices at fast food, we stopped by Wendy’s for 25 dollars and Dennys for forty

[@hello-vs4me]

Done with Christmas shopping ❤😊

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

Nobody likes a bragger!!! 🤣🤣 Seriously, though. That's great. I used to try to start in July. Not so much this past couple of years, but I did place my first order just the other day.

[@sherryr1222]

What a great idea for the chest freezer! We currently have a fridge style freezer but have sold our house and it was a requirement of the offer that we leave it (3 month + backorder for freezers where we live). Our new house has a 2nd fridge so a small extra freezer but we've been debating on keeping the fridge and getting a cheap chest freezer to supplement. I was against it because we always used to lose things in our old one. Bags....perfect solution.

[@sheilaschindler9848]

Love your food ideas and meals, also may i ask where your eye glasses are from? They look so good ok you. Tyou❤

[@laloralewis3726]

Hi Mindy thanks for all the quick and easy meal ideas I for one love the way tou bring heat and eat items together for such delicious meals 😊❤️👍

[@savanah1407]

Please let us know how the Cacio E Pepe is! Their veggie fried rice is Amazing!

[@Blonde_Sky_Bunny]

Im not even a mom, just busy and these are a life saver! thank you for sharing :)

[@kerryjames6312]

I always have four freezee meals and meat cheese bread fir lunches

[@jamiestanley9234]

We have tried the “premium” brand in the burritos. My husband takes the breakfast burritos to work with him. He says they’re very good! He gets the potato, egg, sausage, and cheese ones. We’ve never tried the others tho.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Oh, good to hear! My two littles love breakfast burritos, so maybe we'll have to try those out!

[@elizabetha3906]

Oh, thanks for the info!

[@jonimurray1184]

We love the hash browns from Trader Joe’s. I haven’t tried the toaster, but in the air fryer they are phenomenal .The rest of my family loves the orange chicken. I can’t have gluten so I don’t get to enjoy it anymore. Thanks for the bag trick in the freezer I am going to try that. I am too short to reach the bottom of mine and things get lost down there.😬

[@Pjzweek6586]

Oh my! I love your eyeglasses! What brand are they?

[@sherrydaugherty6144]

Mindy and family have a great week have fun thanks from Oklahoma

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! You too!

[@jessguzman7676]

Love your shirt! I want one 😛❤️

[@mylittlepony-s1m]

cool

[@judywho2249]

Love the blue glasses. The chicken patties are getting smaller and smaller! I like to make the KFC bowl at home too!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! I got those from PAIR, and they're sponsoring my next video, so I'll talk about the glasses more then. Interesting on the chicken patties! We are eating those tonight (chicken sandwiches) so I'll be interested to see if they look smaller than last time!

[@edsuthoff]

Does anyone know the link to the freezer burritos in the crockpot?

[@beckyw9000]

I would love a video where you go to the “pricey” grocery store (like a Safeway) and show us what your strategy would be in a place like that. Those Tyson Patties would be like $20 or something at the stores around me. Those of us in very urban and HCOL areas do not have a clean, friendly Wal-mart near us, I will spare the readers what happens to people in the Walmarts in reasonable driving distance from my home (iykyk). Just a random suggestion. Thank you as always for your content and continuing to put it out there for us, I enjoy your POV and I treasure you chicken and rice which has become a meal rotation favorite around here (as well as putting cucumbers in lunchboxes!)

[@tanyaembly7630]

I googled about putting hash browns in the toaster is says not recommend because the liquid could cause the toaster to short out.

[@DevilAggie-mn6ec]

Just came here to say that I love the glasses!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! PAIR is sponsoring my next video, so you'll hear more about them then! :)

[@marciemceachern]

Hot take: Costco's orange chicken totally beats Trader Joe's. Way better value, too, especially if you get it on sale. We do love TJ's kung pao chicken, though. Yum! Costco's lasagna is a winner, as well. I can't make a pan of lasagna for that same price either, so it's a good value.

[@mwahl1686]

You're right! Unfortunately we can - edit - *can't!* easily use it because we have a soy allergy and it has soy products, whereas Trader Joe's does not. :( Eh. I'm used to it by now! If you don't have a soy allergy, Costco is absolutely the better deal!!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

I'll have to put that on the list if I ever get a Costco membership again!

[@jlt1160]

Great ideas! Thx

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad you like them!

[@betterlivingonabudget]

This is such a great video - lots of families are so busy, they're relying on fast food/Door Dash, and that's not healthy food-wise or money-wise. I always think of you now whenever I buy tortellini or risotto! 😍♥

[@Medina323]

You you have the recipes on like a book? E-book?

[@alicha_zanreading_horder3982]

a would really wish we had just half of all the option in denmark, you guy can find in the us.. i't also really sad aldi is closing the last 120 store and leaving denmark this year

[@SeeMindyMom]

Ah, man, I'm so sorry to hear that! They're expanding here in the US, so that is interesting news to hear about Denmark.

[@alicha_zanreading_horder3982]

@@SeeMindyMom i believe it's because there is a lot of stores in denmark, and with a small size country where there is not long betweens town, they are not getting the sale they need for them to stay.. sadly aldi has alway being a little 'hidden' store in denmark.

[@pattywilliams788]

Hey there, Mindy! Great tips and hacks as always. I haven’t bought the hash browns patties that you mentioned but I have bought the Great Value version and I cook mine in the air fryer and they turn out very crispy. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipes and ideas.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Yes! The air fryer would make more sense. Don't know why I didn't think of that!