Weeknights can get busy. These beef freezer meals will make your life a little easier on those nights when you're just too busy to cook.
43 Beef Freezer Meals You Should Always Have on Hand
1/43
Moroccan Pot Roast
Total Time
7 hours 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loves meat and I love veggies, so we're both happy with this spicy twist on beefy pot roast. With garbanzo beans, eggplant, honey and mint, it's like something you'd eat at a Marrakesh bazaar. —Catherine Dempsey, Clifton Park, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 435 calories, 21g fat (7g saturated fat), 111mg cholesterol, 766mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 6g fiber), 38g protein.
2/43
Mini Barbecue Meat Loaves
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids can have fun helping to prepare these mini meat loaves in muffin cups. For extra spice, we sometimes add 2 teaspoons chili powder and 1 cup of salsa. —Linda Call, Falun, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
2 mini meat loaves: 330 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 668mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein.
3/43
Mexican Cabbage Roll Soup
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
I love sharing our humble and hearty soup made with beef, cabbage and green chiles. A blast of cilantro gives it a sunshiny finish. —Michelle Beal, Powell, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 186 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 604mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
4/43
Cuban Ropa Vieja
Total Time
7 hours 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love having this as a go-to recipe for a weeknight meal. Its great authentic Cuban taste puts it at the top of my list.—Melissa Pelkey-Hass, Waleska, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups (calculated without rice): 335 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 765mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 29g protein.
5/43
Grilled Marinated Ribeyes
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These juicy steaks are a favorite meal of ours when we go camping. Let them sit in tangy, barbecue-inspired marinade overnight and you've got a rich and hearty dinner ready to grill up the next day. —Louise Graybiel, Toronto, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 steak: 570 calories, 40g fat (15g saturated fat), 134mg cholesterol, 592mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 40g protein.
6/43
Skillet Beef Tamales
Total Time
30 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found something similar to this years ago and have recently added my own spin. Here’s the outcome: an easy, cheesy meal your family can't get enough of. We don't have to tell them it's healthy. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup meat mixture with 1 tablespoon sour cream: 329 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 59mg cholesterol, 679mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 6g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
7/43
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband has a hearty appetite, our two kids never tire of pizza, and I grow lots of zucchini. So this tasty tomato casserole is absolutely tops with us throughout the entire year. Once you've tried the recipe, you may even decide to grow more zucchini in your own garden next summer! —Lynn Bernstetter, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 315 calories, 20g fat (10g saturated fat), 119mg cholesterol, 855mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein.
8/43
Lone Star Pot Roast
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pot roast becomes especially delicious with the addition of chopped green chiles and taco seasoning. —Helen Carpenter, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 352 calories, 20g fat (7g saturated fat), 111mg cholesterol, 594mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 34g protein.
9/43
Sweet-and-Sour Meat Loaf
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I like basic, hearty meat-and-potatoes meals. The sweet-and-sour flavor adds a deliciously different twist to this longtime standby. —Debbie Haneke, Stafford, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 419 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 146mg cholesterol, 969mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 28g protein.
10/43
Lasagna Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
While growing up, I always wanted this meal on my birthday. Mother made the sauce from scratch, but now I use store-bought spaghetti sauce to save time. Replace the ground beef with Italian sausage if you want more spice. —Deb Morrison, Skiatook, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 667 calories, 30g fat (14g saturated fat), 157mg cholesterol, 1209mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 44g protein.
11/43
Southwestern Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 casseroles (6 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve been making this mild family-pleasing southwest casserole for years. It tastes wonderful and fits nicely into our budget. Best of all, the recipe makes a second casserole to freeze and enjoy later. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 321 calories, 15g fat (7g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 673mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.
12/43
Slow-Cooker Chuck Roast
Total Time
5 hours 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I like chuck roast recipes, so this slow-cooker chuck roast recipe is terrific. You'll also love how flavorful and tender this comforting beef chuck roast turns out. —Bette McCumber, Schenectady, New York
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked beef with 1/3 cup gravy: 365 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 787mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 2g fiber), 31g protein.
13/43
Hearty Slow-Cooker Chili
Total Time
6 hours 25 min
Servings
10 servings (2-3/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
When it’s time to build my zesty chili, I combine everything the night before. In the morning, I load the slow cooker and let it do the work. —Molly Butt, Granville, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without rice and toppings): 278 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 863mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 29g protein.
14/43
Make-Ahead Cabbage Rolls
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
12 rolls
From the Recipe Creator:
I've relied on this recipe for years, and my cabbage rolls never fail to impress. As the host of a number of holiday parties, my guests have come to expect this main entree. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
2 cabbage rolls: 492 calories, 28g fat (12g saturated fat), 176mg cholesterol, 1376mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 33g protein.
15/43
Bavarian Pot Roast
Total Time
2 hours 45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Since all my grandparents were German, it's no wonder that so many Bavarian recipes have been handed down to me. Because the Midwest has such a large German population, I feel this recipe represents the area well. —Susan Robertson, Hamilton, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked beef: 281 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 633mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 27g protein.
16/43
Taco Stuffed Shells
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a kid-friendly dish so flavorful and fun, nobody is likely to guess that it's also lower in fat. It's a great family supper for busy weeknights! —Anne Thomsen, Westchester, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
3 stuffed shells: 384 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 665mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 33g protein.
17/43
Steak San Marino
Total Time
7 hours 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a busy pastor's wife and mother of three, and this delicious, inexpensive and easy main dish helps my day run smoother! The steak is so tender and flavorful, my kids gobble it up and my husband asks for seconds. —Lael Griess, Hull, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
3 ounces cooked beef with 1/2 cup rice and 1/3 cup sauce: 286 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 368mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch.
18/43
Provolone Beef Pastry Pockets
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My children always make sure they're home when they find out we're having these pockets for dinner. They're a smart way to use leftover pot roast. —Karen Burkett, Reseda, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 pocket: 628 calories, 36g fat (13g saturated fat), 100mg cholesterol, 725mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein.
19/43
Pizza Casserole
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 casseroles (10 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids will line up for this zippy pizza-flavored dish. The recipe makes two casseroles, so you can serve one to your family right away and keep the other in the freezer for another night. —Nancy Scarlett, Graham, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 301 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 545mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 19g protein.
20/43
Chipotle Shredded Beef
Total Time
8 hours 25 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This beef is delicious whether you serve it all rolled up in a tortilla, with corn salsa in a burrito, in a bun or over rice or mashed potatoes. So many options! —Darcy Williams, Omaha, Nebraska
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup beef mixture with 1/2 cup cooked rice (calculated without optional ingredients): 345 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 194mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch.
21/43
Spicy Bean and Beef Pie
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter helped me come up with this recipe when we wanted a one-dish meal that was different than a casserole. This pie slices nicely and is a fun and filling dish. —Debra Dohy, Massillon, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 931 calories, 56g fat (32g saturated fat), 157mg cholesterol, 1876mg sodium, 73g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 9g fiber), 32g protein.
22/43
Potluck Taco Casserole
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the dish I most often take to potlucks, and the pan comes home empty every time. —Kim Stoller, Smithville, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 472 calories, 27g fat (14g saturated fat), 205mg cholesterol, 1360mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 32g protein.
23/43
Chili Tortilla Bake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A homestyle Tex-Mex casserole is all it takes to gather the whole family around the dinner table. With its popular flavors and bubbly cheese topping, there is never a need to worry about leftovers. —Celine Weldy, Cave Creek, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 413 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 590mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 8g fiber), 28g protein.
24/43
Jamaican Beef Stew
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
5 servings (1-1/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This delicious stew makes a hearty supper with a lighter touch. The leaner cut of meat, herbs and seasonings and fresh vegetables make it so flavorful, you'll want another bowl! —James Hayes, Ridgecrest, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 285 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 892mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 3g fiber), 32g protein.
25/43
Meat Loaf with Chili Sauce
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I used to serve this meat loaf in my cafe, where so many of my customers asked for it. I adapted the recipe for my slow cooker at home, where it's quite popular, too. —Robert Cox, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 253 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 686mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.
26/43
Sweet BBQ Meatballs
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These sauced-up meatballs have big Asian flair. If your family likes sweet-and-sour chicken, this beefy version hits the spot. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without rice): 512 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 1507mg sodium, 85g carbohydrate (61g sugars, 3g fiber), 13g protein.
27/43
Kalua Pork
Total Time
4 hours 40 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Bananas, liquid smoke and soy sauce flavor this fall-apart-tender pork roast. It's just like the kind I enjoyedat the luaus I went to in Hawaii. —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
3 ounces cooked pork: 222 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 207mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein.
28/43
Mini Shepherd’s Pies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m as confident serving these little pies to company as to family. If I have enough time, I’ll use homemade biscuits and mashed potatoes. —Ellen Osborne, Clarksville, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
2 mini shepherd's pies: 612 calories, 36g fat (15g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 1094mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein.
29/43
Top-Rated Italian Pot Roast
Total Time
6 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm always getting recipe inspiration from newspapers and magazines. Here’s a tender roast with aromatic spices that give it a Moroccan feel. —Karen Burdell, Lafayette, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
3 ounces cooked beef with 2/3 cup sauce: 251 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 271mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
30/43
Easy Ropa Vieja Stew
Total Time
6 hours 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Use your slow cooker for this meaty Cuban classic, which offers bold flavors without a lot of hands-on time. —Denise Nyland, Panama City, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups (calculated without rice): 306 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 821mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 4g fiber), 25g protein.
31/43
Sirloin Strips over Rice
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this recipe in a movie magazine some 20 years ago. It was the favorite of some male star, but I don’t remember which one. Its great flavor and the fact that leftovers just get better have made it a family favorite! —Karen Dunn, Kansas City, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup beef mixture with 1/2 cup rice: 318 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 595mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
32/43
German Meatballs
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of our favorite main dishes. Because we raise our own pork and beef, the meat we use is always freshly ground. For variety, these meatballs can be cooked with a sweet cream gravy or steamed with tomatoes. But we prefer them with homemade sauerkraut. —Iona Redemer, Calumet, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
3 each: 376 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 114mg cholesterol, 1636mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 27g protein.
33/43
Hungarian Short Ribs
Total Time
2 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a special meal in our house—as soon as I get ribs, I know which dish my family will ask me to make. My husband and I have three children, so I've learned to be a versatile cook! —Joanne ShewChuk, St. Benedict, Saskatchewan
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 261 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 735mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein.
34/43
Taco Spaghetti
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I came up with this kid-friendly taco spaghetti recipe one afternoon when I was using up leftover spaghetti and ground beef. When I'm lucky enough to have extra time, I make two batches and freeze one. —Johanna Van Ness, Wichita, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 439 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 927mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.
35/43
Slow-Cooker Pepper Steak
Total Time
6 hours 40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After a long day working in our greenhouse raising bedding plants, I enjoy coming in to this hearty slow-cooker pepper steak for supper. It's one of my favorite meals. — Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup beef mixture: 232 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 639mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
36/43
Thai Beef Stir-Fry
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A distinctive peanut sauce complements this colorful combination of tender sirloin strips, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and mushrooms. I like to dish it up over spaghetti, but you could use fried noodles instead. —Janice Fehr,
Austin, Manitoba
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 586 calories, 32g fat (6g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 974mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 5g fiber), 42g protein.
37/43
Marinated Flank Steak
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I first grilled this appetizing flank steak for my father on a special occasion. We loved it so much that I now make it this way all the time. The steak marinates overnight, so there's little last-minute preparation to worry about. —Ann Fox, Austin, Texas
38/43
Beef & Mushroom Braised Stew
Total Time
2 hours 5 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Every spring, my family heads out to our timber acreage to collect morel mushrooms, and then we cook up this stew. We use morels, of course, but baby portobellos or button mushrooms or will work, too. —Amy Wertheim, Atlanta, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups (calculated without mashed potatoes): 395 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 761mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 34g protein.
39/43
Easy Beef Pies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We make a lot of French dips and always have leftover roast beef. Here's how I put it to good use. For these pies, use any vegetables you like. They're extra awesome drenched in cheese sauce. —Jennie Weber, Palmer, Alaska
Nutrition Facts:
1 pie (calculated without queso dip): 752 calories, 46g fat (19g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 921mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 31g protein.
40/43
Cajun-Style Pot Roast
Total Time
6 hours 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I often makes this zippy roast when expecting dinner guests. It gives me time to visit with them, and even my friend who's a chef enjoys this dish. —Ginger Menzies, Oak Creek, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 328 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 1336mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 31g protein.
41/43
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to dunk these appetizer meatballs in blue cheese or ranch salad dressing. If I make them for a meal, I often skip the dressing and serve with blue cheese polenta on the side. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 meatball: 33 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 338mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
42/43
Thai Coconut Beef
Total Time
8 hours 15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I love Thai food, but going out on weeknights can be challenging with busy schedules. I wanted to create a Thai-inspired dinner that could double as an easy lunch the following day. The beef is fantastic in this dish, but chicken or pork would be equally delicious! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without rice and toppings): 421 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 731mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 32g protein.
43/43
Moroccan Braised Beef
Total Time
7 hours 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Curry powder is a blend of up to 20 spices, herbs and seeds. Add a pinch of curry to your favorite soups, stews, salads and even rice for an exotic flavor. In this Moroccan stew, begin with 2 teaspoons of curry, then add more to your taste. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups beef mixture: 533 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 620mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 5g fiber), 34g protein.