Cooking and freezing extra food

Hi Laurel, I like to do the same. Last month I cooked several pounds of ground beef and made sloppy joe sandwich mix, which is what we're having tonight. I cut chicken breasts in half, pound them a little, and bread them to make our own chicken cutlets. I also buy the big bags of chicken quarters and cut them up myself and repackage in smaller servings for later. Right now I'm hoping pork shoulder is on sale for the holiday weekend, so I can get one in the smoker. That will keep us in pulled pork for sandwiches most of the summer. Depending on how the garden does I will freeze or dry peppers for use later, too.

I do the same- cook up a bunch of ground beef although I leave mine unseasoned. I use it for all sorts of meals. Meat sauce for pasta, shepherds pie, hamburger helper (homemade or boxed), pizza topping, mix with brown gravy for SOS (as my Mom called it).

I will also chunk up boneless skinless chicken breasts and cook them to freeze for future use. I’ll mix that in with fettuccini noodles and Alfredo sauce, chicken cordon blue casserole, chicken Parmesan casserole etc. Dh likes them mixed with turkey or chicken gravy. Sometimes I’ll use the chicken chunks just as sandwich meat.

I love having it precooked so I can make a meal for us with a little less effort. Like you I love the crockpot or Instant Pot to make a meal without heating up the kitchen in the summer.

Welcome, Laurel!

I do lots of pre-cooking, too, and also planned-overs. Tonight it's spiral ham, potatos, and cabbage. That will provide several more meals this week. I will skim the fat from the broth and save some ham to freeze with it for bean soup next winter.

I do as others do, brown hamburger 50/50 with ground chicken breast to cut the fat, and freeze in meal-sized portions for a variety of meals. I also DIY single servings of one-dish meals and freeze for handy instant meals on busy days.

Welcome....lots of good ideas here....hope you enjoy....