Week 7: Comfort Food Freezer Prep & Protein Powerhouse Stock-Up

Welcome back to Week 7 of our Summer Stock-Up series! Can you believe we’re already seven weeks in? Your freezer should be looking absolutely amazing by now! This week we’re diving into some serious comfort food territory with two incredible recipes that will have your family asking for seconds (and thirds!).

With chicken and ground beef on sale right now, we’re taking full advantage and prepping two of my most requested recipes: Butter Chicken and The Best Pumpkin Chili. Both of these are dump-and-go freezer meals that taste like you’ve been cooking all day!

What We’re Prepping This Week:

🧈 Butter Chicken Freezer Packs (THM S)

Y’all, this butter chicken recipe was such a hit in my house that my hubby went back for seconds – and he’s not usually an adventurous eater! I’m using coconut milk instead of heavy cream to keep it dairy-light, and the flavors are absolutely incredible.

Why you’ll love this:

• Dump everything in a freezer bag and forget about it
• Tastes like it came from an Indian restaurant
• Even picky eaters love it (trust me, I’ve tested this!)
• Perfect over cauliflower rice for a complete S meal

🎃 Pumpkin Chili Freezer Prep (THM Any Fuel)

Don’t let the name fool you – this chili doesn’t taste like pumpkin AT ALL! The pumpkin acts as a secret thickener and adds amazing nutrition without anyone knowing. I made this for my daughter’s baby shower and it was the first thing to disappear!

Smart freezer tip: I add the black beans and crushed tomatoes the day I serve it to save precious freezer space. Everything else goes in the bag now!

Here’s the youtube video link
https://youtu.be/a0-0D0BMYPE

🐟 Tuna Packet Stock-Up

We’re hunting for tuna packets at $1 or less this week. These are absolute lifesavers for quick protein additions to salads, wraps, or emergency meals when life gets crazy. And they are great for on the go!

🫒 Artichoke Hearts Stock-Up

Whether you use them in salads, pasta dishes, or as pizza toppings, artichoke hearts are versatile and shelf-stable. Stock up when you find good prices!

This Week’s Recipes:

Butter Chicken (THM S)

Perfect for freezer prep – just dump and go!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 medium onion, diced
• ¼ cup coconut milk (instead of heavy cream)
• 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilis
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Chopped cilantro for topping

Freezer Prep Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients except coconut milk and cilantro in a gallon freezer bag
2. Seal well, removing as much air as possible
3. Label with cooking instructions: “Cook on low 4-5 hours or high 2-3 hours. Add coconut milk during last 30 minutes.”
4. Freeze flat for up to 3 months

Serving Day: Dump contents in crockpot, cook as directed, add coconut milk at the end, and serve over Indian-spiced cauliflower rice with cilantro!

The Best Pumpkin Chili (THM Any Fuel)

The pumpkin is completely hidden but adds amazing thickness and nutrition!

Freezer Prep Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef, browned
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 medium bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium jalapeño, deseeded and diced (optional)
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1½ tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon sweetener (I use Swerve)
• 2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
• 15 oz can pumpkin puree (NOT pie filling!)

Add on Serving Day:

• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes
• 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed
• 1 can water (use the crushed tomato can)

Freezer Prep Instructions:

1. Brown ground beef with onions, bell pepper, and jalapeño
2. Let cool completely
3. Add to freezer bag with all spices, tomato paste, and pumpkin puree
4. Mix well, seal, and freeze
5. Label: “Add canned tomatoes, black beans, and water. Cook low 6-8 hours or high 2-4 hours.”

Pro Tips for This Week:

🥄 Cauliflower Rice Game-Changer: For the butter chicken, really cook that cauliflower rice until it’s soft and has no cauliflower flavor. Add plenty of Indian spices (cumin, curry powder, garam masala, turmeric) and keep adding liquid until it’s perfectly tender.

💰 Sale Shopping Strategy: With chicken and ground beef on sale, this is the perfect time to prep multiple batches. I always stock up on chicken when they’re buy-one-get-one-free!

🥫 Tuna Hunt: Check multiple stores for those $1 tuna packets. They keep forever and are perfect for emergency meals.

This Week’s Shopping List:

Proteins:

• Chicken thighs (stock up while on sale!)
• Ground beef (buy in bulk!)
• Tuna packets ($1 or less target price)

Pantry Items:

• Artichoke hearts (various sizes)
• Coconut milk
• Canned pumpkin puree
• All the spices for both recipes

Fresh Items:

• Onions, bell peppers, jalapeños
• Fresh ginger and garlic
• Cilantro, for the day of

Money-Saving Win:

By prepping these freezer meals during sales, you’re essentially “buying” future dinners at today’s sale prices. Plus, you’ll avoid the temptation of takeout on busy nights!

Ready to fill those freezer bags? These comfort food classics are going to be absolute lifesavers on busy fall and winter nights!

Happy prepping, and remember – you’re not just making meals, you’re making your future self’s life so much easier! And that’s the point of this!!  Let’s bless our future selves with healthy meals made easy.