100+ of the BEST Instant Pot Freezer Meals Recipes (2024)

Instant Pot Freezer Meals are a complete lifesaver for any busy person! Simply prep by adding all the ingredients into a bag and freezing them, then dumping them into your Instant Pot when you need dinner in a hurry.

100+ of the BEST Instant Pot Freezer Meals Recipes (1)

We have been a fan of Instant Pot Freezer Meals for many years!

Back in 2012, we were one of the first bloggers to share “dump and go” freezer meals that you can use in your slow cooker and that post went absolutely viral with millions of people using those recipes over the years.

Related Article: 25 of our Favorite “Dump and Go” Instant Pot Recipes

Since then, we have been adding Instant Pot freezer meals to our list of easy dinners and we are excited to share our top 100 Instant Pot freezer meals with you (and we will continue to add to this list as we publish new ones!).

If you haven’t made freezer meals before, welcome! They are going to change your life!

We also love freezer meals that don’t need an Instant Pot. Some of our most popular freezer meal recipes are:

  • 20 Minute Tuscan Pasta
  • Scrambled Egg Breakfast Muffins
  • Baked Ziti

Want NEW exclusive freezer meals each month?

Join our annual Freezer Meal Membership where we sent you 10 new freezer meals each month to keep your freezer stocked with quick and easy dinners!

I need these easy meals!

How to make Instant Pot Freezer Meals:

The idea is simple: using an easy dump-and-go recipe, dump all the ingredients into a freezer gallon-sized bag and place in the freezer for up to 90 days.

When you are in need of a quick dinner that you can dump into your Instant Pot, pull the prepped meal out of the freezer and dump into your Instant Pot.

Sometimes you might need to defrost your frozen meal in the microwave for a short amount of time so that you can get it out of the bag into the Instant Pot.

If you want to see how to make your own Instant Pot Freezer Meals, be sure to watch this video that shows you exactly how to do it!

And if you want to see us make freezer meals in real time, watch as we prep 15 freezer meals:

Here are the recipes that we prepped as freezer meals in the video above:

  • Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
  • Hawaiian Meatballs
  • Pork Chile Verde
  • BBQ Country Style Ribs
  • Chicken Tacos

To get started, make sure that you have an Instant Pot to cook these in. This one is our favorite:

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These are not necessary, but these Freezer Meal Bag Holders make freezer meal assembly so much easier!

These bag holders are the same ones that we use in the video when we assembled our meals.

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Now let’s jump into the recipes!

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Chicken Instant Pot Freezer Meals:

Have a whole chicken to cook? Check out how to cook a Whole Chicken in your Instant Pot!

If you are looking for more Chicken Instant Pot recipes, check out our 28 of the Best Chicken Instant Pot Recipes.

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Ground Beef and Ground Turkey Instant Pot Freezer Meals:

Note: When using ground beef, ground turkey or ground sausage in freezer meals, you will have to brown the meat before adding it to the freezer bag.

If you want to know how to cook ground beef in the Instant Pot, watch this video now!

If you are looking for more Instant Pot Ground Beef recipes, be sure to check out our 27 Favorite Ground Beef Instant Pot Recipes here!

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Beef Instant Pot Freezer Meal Recipes:

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Pork Instant Pot Freezer Meals:

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Other/Vegetarian Instant Pot Freezer Meals:

We will continue to update and add to this list as we publish more freezer meals!

Be sure to check out more of our freezer meal videos:

Want these recipes in an eBook?

You asked and we listened! You can now get our 50 Instant Pot Freezer Meals eBook so you don’t have to keep referring to this page 😉

Easy Freezer Meals Membership

Want more freezer meals? We’ll send your 10 NEW freezer meal recipes + a shopping list to your inbox every month for 12 months.

Get More Freezer Meals!

100+ of the BEST Instant Pot Freezer Meals Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook frozen freezer meals in the instant pot? ›

(Tip: Freeze the bag inside a medium-sized bowl until solid, so it's the shape of the Instant Pot.) Prepare From Frozen: Turn on the Saute function. Saute the frozen meal for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Cook for 15-20 minutes with a quick release.

What meal freezes best? ›

Not all recipes are freezer-friendly, but these dishes—from chicken noodle soup to classic lasagna—are sure to reheat beautifully and taste as good as new. Choose from dozens of delicious freezer meals including casseroles, baked pasta dishes, gumbo, pot roast, slow-cooker soups and stews, and more.

How many freezer meals should you make? ›

If your maternity leave is short or you plan to eat out regularly, then 10-20 freezer meals should do the trick. But if you have more time before the baby comes or if you plan on eating at home most of the time, then 30-50 freezer meals might be more suitable for your family.

How to freeze single serving meals? ›

Individually-sized meals should be frozen in airtight lidded plastic containers to limit the amount of outside oxygen flowing into the dish. It's also wise to double-wrap your plastic containers in a layer of freezer-proof plastic wrap if you're planning on storing the dish for more than a week.

Do you need to add time for frozen meat in an Instant Pot? ›

Do Expect Cook Times to Vary: A frozen piece of meat will not only take longer to cook, but it will also take longer for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. Because of this, be prepared to add a few extra minutes to your overall cook time.

How do you adjust Instant Pot recipes for frozen meat? ›

The frozen pieces will make things colder, longer and cause the pot to take longer to create steam, and thus pressure. What is this? Bargain for at least 10 extra minutes for the pot to come to pressure when using frozen meats. Sometimes up to 40 extra minutes, depending on what you are making.

What should you avoid in frozen meals? ›

Excessive Sodium, Sugar, and Saturated Fats

One of the primary dangers of grocery store frozen meals is their high content of sodium, sugar, and saturated fats. Even so-called “healthy” pre-packaged frozen meals can contain excessive amounts of these additives.

What meals can I batch cook and freeze? ›

Freezable family recipes
  • Sausage pasta bake. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Meatballs in tomato, cardamom & lime sauce. A star rating of 3.8 out of 5. ...
  • Chicken & chorizo ragu. ...
  • Broccoli stem falafel bowl. ...
  • Creamy halloumi & tomato curry. ...
  • Chicken & bacon pie. ...
  • App onlyCheesy potato patchwork pie. ...
  • Peanut butter chicken.

What foods cannot be frozen? ›

Here are 12 common ingredients that don't freeze well due to quality issues and safety concerns.
  • 01 of 12. Milk. ...
  • 02 of 12. Mayonnaise. ...
  • 03 of 12. Cream Cheese. ...
  • 04 of 12. Cucumbers. ...
  • 05 of 12. Zucchini. ...
  • 06 of 12. Lettuce and Cabbage. ...
  • 07 of 12. Tomatoes. ...
  • 08 of 12. Baked and Boiled Potatoes.
Oct 5, 2022

Is it cheaper to cook or eat frozen meals? ›

While some frozen meals can be very cost-effective, others may be more expensive than cooking the same meal from scratch. If you're cooking a meal for multiple people, you may find it's cheaper to buy the ingredients separately than to purchase enough frozen meals for everyone.

What meat dishes freeze well? ›

15 Best Freezer Friendly Meals with Beef
  • Beef Sausage & Egg Muffin Cups. A breakfast with protein can be so quick and easy with make-ahead egg muffin cups. ...
  • Lean Mean Cheeseburger. Prep ground beef into patties ahead of time and freeze for any day of the week. ...
  • Barbacoa Empanadas.

How healthy are freezer meals? ›

While frozen meals are a convenient way to eat a balanced meal, it's easy to be led astray–they're also known for being packed with sodium, calories, and saturated fat, making moderation important.

How do you keep freezer burn off frozen meals? ›

How can I prevent freezer burn?
  1. Step 1: Prepare your food for freezing. ...
  2. Step 2: Use airtight storage containers. ...
  3. Step 3: Set freezers to the proper temperature. ...
  4. Step 4: Limit the amount of time your freezer is open. ...
  5. Step 5: Rotate your foods to help prevent freezer burn. ...
  6. Step 6: Avoid thawing and refreezing food.

How do you freeze meals in Ziploc bags? ›

Freeze Foods Flat for Smart Storage

Here's the scoop: freeze them flat. Get yourself some sturdy zip-top freezer bags and fill them up. Press out as much air as you can, place the bags on a baking sheet or the floor of your freezer, and freeze.

Do you cook freezer meals before freezing? ›

You don't need to cook freezer meals before freezing! The meals in our database are prepared with fresh quality ingredients and are frozen raw. This saves you from having to cook meals twice, maintains better texture, and preserves nutrients.

Can you cook frozen bag meals in an Instant Pot? ›

The Instant Pot will take much longer to come to pressure for the frozen meal than it will for the fresh/thawed version. So while it will only take say 15 minutes to cook, it might take the frozen version 20 minutes to come to pressure, while the fresh/thawed version only takes 5 minutes to come to pressure.

Can you cook freezer meals from frozen? ›

Absolutely. Most frozen recipes — from raw and cooked meat to casseroles and dumplings — can be cooked or reheated directly from the freezer. Just keep in mind that dishes will take about one-and-a-half times longer to cook.

Can you cook frozen meals from frozen? ›

If you are cooking straight from frozen, you'll need to add more time to your cooking time to ensure a safe and even result. Around 50% more time is usually needed.

Can you cook frozen ready meals from frozen? ›

A: Many pre-prepared foods, such as the frozen ready meals and pizzas that you'll find in the freezer aisle at the supermarket, can be cooked directly from frozen because the manufacturers have designed the cooking method to ensure they will be properly cooked through.

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