Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (2024)

This Check out these easy freezer chicken recipes.

One of my favorite ways to save money on groceries is to buy my chicken in bulk. Bulk chicken is usually priced much lower than buying smaller amounts. This is also a great way to save time in the kitchen! When I buy my bulk chicken, I like to prep some of them for the freezer for quick to fix dinners. Today I am going to show you how to prep bulk chicken for the freezer and 6 of my favorite easy freezer chicken recipes.

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (1)

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Where To Buy Bulk Chicken

There are many different places you can buy your chicken in bulk. Watch for sales at your local grocery store. Bulk chicken will go on sale multiple times throughout the year and is usually an excellent deal.

I have also bought bulk chicken at Savory Butcher and Butcher Box, and honestly was so happy with both!

Savory Butcher

Savory Butcher is a meat coop community offering discounted meats to multiple areas around the United States. Their meat are all humanely raised, antibiotic free and no added hormones.

They are currently delivering meat to areas in Texas, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and more! Products include beef, pork, seafood, and chicken.

I just tried out Savory Butcher for the first time, and I was SO impressed! The customer service was incredible and the meat was high quality and delicious! Plus, the price is right which is so important to me.

I chose to purchase the 40 lb case of chicken, which was only $1.99/lb. This is a smoking deal! Their chicken comes fresh from the farm and already trimmed (this makes life easier, trust me!).

Butcher Box

Another great place to buy meat and get it shipped right to your door is Butcher Box! Be sure to click here for my full Butcher Box review.

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (2)

How To Freeze Bulk Chicken

I just spent a couple of hours prepping my bulk chicken. It makes me happy to stock my freezer full of chicken for quick, easy dinners. I prepped 8 ready to cook dinners; and 6 bags of plain chicken. It does take a little bit of effort to prepare your bulk chicken, but the amount of money you save is SO worth it!


  • Related:How to freeze Pancakes for a Quick Frugal Breakfast

If your chicken comes trimmed (like mine did) you can start putting them into freezer safe packaging, right out of the box.

Sometimes bulk chicken is sold still needing trimmed. Take a few minute trimming off the fat and then you can begin packaging.

When preparing chicken for the freezer I highly recommend using a vacuum sealer. This one simple purchase will make freezing bulk chicken much easier and does a great job of preventing freezer burn.

My sealer was not working (resulting in quite a bit of frustration on my part!). So, I used freezer bags instead. These don’t work quite as well as a vacuum sealer does, but they can get the job done.

To prep your chicken for the freezer you will need to separate your chicken into dinner sized portions. For my family I put about 2-3 chicken breasts per bag for my family. Place each portioned chicken into freezer bag, remove all of the air and seal tightly.

Your chicken is now ready for the freezer! Yay! Your chicken will stay fresh in the freezer for 6-12 months.


Easy Freezer Chicken Recipes

While you are preparing your chicken for the freezer, you can whip up a few of these easy recipes at the same time. I love these recipes because I can pull the chicken out of the freezer in the morning, and half of the work for dinner is already done! They are perfect for busy days, or when you just don’t feel like cooking!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (8)

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (9)

Slow Cooker Honey Chicken

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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. chicken breasts
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 4 Tbsp diced onion
  • 4 Tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 4 tsp cornstarch
  • 6 Tbsp water

Instructions

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (10)

Barbecue Chicken

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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. chicken breasts
  • 1 container of barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Put chicken in a freezer bag. Pour entire container of barbecue sauce on top.

  • Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.

  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.

  • Cook on grill. Top with barbecue sauce to serve.

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (11)

Lemon Garlic Chicken

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Ingredients

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts sliced thin
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Combine chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in freezer bag.

  • Put chicken in a freezer bag. Pour entire container of barbecue sauce on top.

  • Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.

  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.

  • Cook chicken on grill.

  • Serve with rice and veggies.

Balsamic Chicken

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (12)

This balsamic chicken recipe is available as part of my Free 5 Days to Frugal ecourse. You can sign up below and my 5 favorite frugal recipes will be emailed to you on day 3 of the challenge!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (13)

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Tacos

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Ingredients

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts
  • 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Combine chicken, tomatoes, brown sugar and red pepper flakes in freezer bag.

  • Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.

  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.

  • Pour chicken and sauce into slow cooker.

  • Cook in slow cooker on high for 5 hours.

  • When done cooking shred chicken in sauce.

  • Serve in flour tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Grilled (or baked!) Island Chicken

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (14)

This grilled island chicken recipe is available as part of my Free 5 Days to Frugal ecourse.

You can sign up below and my 5 favorite frugal recipes will be emailed to you on day 3 of the challenge!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (15)

Favorite Baked Chicken

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Ingredients

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in freezer bag.

  • Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.

  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.

  • Bake in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

  • Serve with baked potatoes and veggies.

  • Related:Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (16)

Honey Lime Enchiladas

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb. chicken
  • 6 Tbsp honey
  • 4.5 Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 10 oz. can green enchilada sauce
  • flour tortillas
  • shredded monterey jack cheese

Instructions

  • Combine chicken, honey, lime juice, chili powder, and garlic powder in freezer bag.

  • Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.

  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.

  • Pour chicken and sauce into slow cooker.

  • Cook on low for 8 hours.

  • Shred chicken in sauce.

  • Pour a small amount of green enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

  • Fill tortillas with shredded chicken and cheese. Place in pan.

  • Pour the rest of the green enchilada sauce over the tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese.

  • Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

In Conclusion

I love buying my chicken in bulk. It has proven time and time again to be a money and time saver for me. Feel free to try any of these recipes for any chicken, it doesn’t have to be in bulk. Let me know which one is your favorite!

If you are looking for more easy recipes be sure to check out my very own recipe book! Mel’s Home Cooking offers 65 simple, delicious and easy recipes for one low price. You are sure to find a new family favorite!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (17)

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Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book

Pin For Later:

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (18)

Enjoy these easy freezer chicken recipes!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken - Sweet Frugal Life (2024)

FAQs

Is 2 year old frozen chicken still good? ›

It depends on the cut. A whole chicken or turkey can be kept in the freezer for up to one year. Chicken or turkey in pieces can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months. Ground chicken or turkey is best consumed within three to four months if frozen from the date of purchase.

How do you prepare chicken for freezing? ›

How to Freeze Chicken
  1. Ditch the supermarket packaging. ...
  2. Wrap each chicken part (or whole bird, if you bought it whole) in plastic wrap, as tightly as possible.
  3. Place those wrapped parts in a zipper-lock freezer bag in a single layer. ...
  4. Store frozen chicken in the back of the freezer. ...
  5. Use it within two months.
May 31, 2023

Can you freeze chicken in Ziploc bags? ›

To prevent freezer burn, one method is to wrap the packaged chicken with a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Another approach is as follows: Remove the chicken from the packaging. Place the raw chicken in ziplock plastic freezer bags.

Can you eat chicken that's been frozen for 10 years? ›

Related Stories. According to the USDA, frozen foods are safe to eat indefinitely. But just because something is ok to consume doesn't mean it will still taste delicious after years in a deep freeze.

Is it safe to eat 10 year old frozen meat? ›

What happens to meat that's frozen too long? Food that is stored in a freezer at zero degrees will be safe to eat indefinitely. However, if meat is frozen too long it may lose quality and taste. If you are unsure if meat is still fresh, you can determine this once it has been thawed.

How do you freeze meat in bulk? ›

A vacuum sealer is ideal to store your meat, but use freezer paper and a freezer bag if a vacuum sealer is not available. Double wrap the meat in a combination of plastic wrap and aluminum foil or plastic wrap and parchment paper. 5. Place the meat in plastic bags and seal tightly.

Is it best to season chicken before freezing? ›

We found that salting the chicken before freezing worked best, resulting in chicken that was well seasoned and that lost only 11 percent of its weight when cooked (the samples that were brined before freezing lost 15 percent).

How do you batch cook and freeze meals? ›

Cool the food quickly after cooking and before freezing. One way of doing this is to split the food out into smaller portions. One of the simplest ways to approach batch cooking is to make one base recipe which can be adapted into different dishes.

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.

How long does meal prep chicken last in freezer? ›

If you're freezing cooked chicken, you can expect that to last for 2–6 months.

Can I freeze chicken in aluminum foil? ›

Food grade materials, such as aluminum foil, heavy freezer-weight plastic bags, heavy plastic wrap and parchment or freezer paper are excellent choices. It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its supermarket wrapping, but this type of wrap is thin and lets air in.

Does aluminum foil prevent freezer burn? ›

Proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. Aluminum foil, freezer paper, plastic containers, and plastic freezer bags will help food maintain optimum quality in the freezer. Plastic wrap alone will not provide enough protection by itself, but can be used to separate foods within another package.

How long does raw chicken last in ziplock? ›

Cook raw chicken within one or two days, or freeze at 0 °F. You can keep cooked chicken in the refrigerator three to four days or freeze it within that length of time. If kept frozen continuously, it will be safe indefinitely. Chicken may be frozen in its original packaging or repackaged.

Is 2 year old frozen meat safe to eat? ›

Poisonous microbes like bacteria are put into sleep mode by freezing. In simpler terms, it's almost impossible for most frozen foods to ever become spoiled in a working freezer. So, from a food safety perspective, your two-year-old meat is good to go. Thaw it, cook it, and enjoy it!

Is it safe to eat 3 year old frozen meat? ›

Well, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, any food stored at exactly 0°F is safe to eat indefinitely. But this is if it is at 0°F for 3 years straight. I wouldn't eat it if it looks moldy or smells like it has gone bad, but just trust your gut, and if you are unsure then don't eat it.

How can you tell if a frozen chicken has gone rotten? ›

If the color fades, it's looking yellow or gray in color, has mold or a different color tinge, it's no longer safe to eat. When purchasing frozen chicken, check for signs of thawing and refreezing. “This would be fluid stains on packaging and frozen liquids on the food or inside the packaging,” Danielson said.

How long can you keep chicken in the freezer before it goes bad? ›

Cold Food Storage Chart
FoodTypeFreezer [0°F (-18°C) or below]
Fresh poultryChicken or turkey, whole1 year
Chicken or turkey, pieces9 months
Fin FishFatty Fish (bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.)2 - 3 Months
Lean Fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.)6 - 8 Months
49 more rows
Sep 19, 2023

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