Easy Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal
This teriyaki chicken freezer meal makes dinner stress-free and delicious. This will make your weeknigh meal prep a dream, plus your kids will gobble it up!
One crazy year, we had three kids in this swim club that met EVERY DAY, and, naturally, they had opposite schedules…and this took place after school for the entire months of May and June. Dinner was a nightmare.
So, after one too many dinners driving through McDonald’s and feeling uber guilty, I decided I needed a better option: slow cooker meals from the freezer! That’s why I love this teriyaki chicken freezer meal!
It can be made in the morning, and packed up for dinner in the park! OR, you can set your instant pot to cook the meals, so you have a delicious teriyaki chicken freezer meal that’s nice and hot when you get home.
Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal Ingredients
2 lbs chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)
½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, grated
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder (optional, for thickening sauce)
The ingredients are pretty standard. If you didn’t have the rice vinegar on hand, you could always just substitute more apple cider vinegar!
I LOVE the flavour of sesame oil. It’s nutty and adds a bit more complexity, but if you don’t have any…no problem! (Although, I totally recommend having it in your fridge. It’s great for all sorts of meals!)
Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal Method
Well, this is pretty simple. I like to use a liquid measure to combine all ingredients (except chicken) to make the marinade.
I like to use ziplock bags or even a food saver bags. You can also use plastic or glass containers. The bags are great to flatten, which makes storage easier in your freezer. If you’re trying to avoid micro plastics…you might want to go with glass.
So next, place chicken thighs in a freezer-safe bag and pour in the marinade. Seal, label, and freeze flat. Keep in freezer up to 12 months.
You might be tempted not to label your freezer bags…don’t do this. Label it. You might forget what’s in there or the date. It’s also SUPER handy to write the cooking instructions down to simplify life.
To cook in an instant pot or pressure cooker, you can add the chicken and sauce frozen to the inner liner of your pressure cooker. Cook on high for 15 minutes, and release using your preferred method.
If using slow cooker, thaw in the fridge overnight.
Cook in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours or bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
How to serve:
- Steamed broccoli or a stir-fry mix of zucchini, carrots, and snap peas.
- Cauliflower rice or brown rice for a lighter option.
- Cucumber salad with rice vinegar, sesame seeds, and a touch of honey.
Recipe Card for Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal
Teriyaki Chicken Freezer meal
This teriyaki chicken freezer meal makes dinner stress-free and delicious. Made with tender chicken thighs, a savoury homemade teriyaki sauce, and simple, wholesome ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey, it’s perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder (optional, for thickening sauce)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients (except chicken) in a bowl to make the marinade.
Place chicken thighs in a freezer-safe bag and pour in the marinade. Seal, label, and freeze flat.
It will keep in the freezer for up to 12 months.
To cook in a pressure cooker, empty bag into inner liner (from frozen is fine), and cook on high for 15 minutes.
To use slow cooker, thaw in the fridge overnight.
Cook in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours or bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Notes
Serve with some steamed broccoli, carrots, and rice.
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Love freezer meals!
Me too!