Beef Tagine Freezer Meal
This Beef Tagine recipe has melt-in-your-mouth beef, bold flavor, and a hint of sweetness - an effortless weeknight feast at your fingertips.
A cozy Mediterranean slow cooker recipe that takes five minutes to prep, no effort to cook, and will win everyone over with its Moroccan spices, apricots, and almonds. This Beef Tagine will find itself on your dinner menu regularly.
Why You’ll Love this Beef Tagine Freezer Meal Recipe
- Tagine…without a tagine pot. This is the easy version of tagine.
- Fancy, schmancy, but without the effort.
- Kid-friendly (surprisingly!) – it’s slightly sweet and tender, a win for even the picky one.
- Exotic flavor with ease. Tastes like Morocco, but it’s 100% dump-and-go.
- Unique crowd-pleaser. Beef Tagine stands out from your typical stews or chilis.
Beef Tagine Freezer Meal
This Beef Tagine recipe has melt-in-your-mouth beef, bold flavor, and a hint of sweetness – an effortless weeknight feast at your fingertips.
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs beef chuck cut into 2-3-inch chunks
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 cup dried apricots quartered
- 0.5 cups almonds chopped
- 1 cup beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 tsp salt
Serve With:
- 1 cups couscous cooked according to package
Instructions
Make it Fresh | Slow Cooker Directions:
- Dump all ingredients, except Serve With ingredients, to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 9-11 hours.
- Shred beef and stir in slow cooker. Serve over couscous and enjoy.
Freezer Meal Prep Directions:
- Prepare a gallon freezer bag, labeling according to your preferred method.
- Add all ingredients, except Serve With ingredients, to the freezer bag.
- Seal bag, removing as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Meal Prep | Slow Cooker Directions:
- Thaw freezer meal in the fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking.
- Dump the contents of the freezer bag into a slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 9-11 hours.
- Shred beef and stir in slow cooker. Serve over couscous and enjoy.
Meal Prep | Instant Pot Directions:
- Thaw in the fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking. (Meals can be cooked from frozen, but some Instant Pots may trigger a burn notice due to slow steam generation).
- Dump the contents of the freezer bag, plus 1 cup water, into the Instant Pot.
- Set to High Pressure for 65 minutes, then allow a 15-minute natural release followed by a quick release.
- Shred beef, stir, and serve over couscous.
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What to Serve with Beef Tagine
- Quinoa or Rice – If couscous isn’t your thing, this is delicious over quinoa or rice.
- Chopped Tomato and Herb Salad – Simple yet so flavorful! Dice tomatoes and mint (or parsley) and toss with olive oil and salt.
- Flatbread, Naan, or Pita Bread to soak up all those yummy juices.
- Frozen Cauliflower steamed and salted, of course!
- Steamed Green Beans – Grab a bag of frozen green beans, steam and lightly season to balance the richness of the tagine.
Freezer Notes for Beef Tagine
- Recipe will last for 3-6 months in the freezer (be sure to remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag before freezing).
- As a meat recipe, I recommend thawing for 12-24 hours before cooking. This follows food safety guidelines and makes it much easier to transfer from the freezer bag to your slow cooker/Instant Pot.
- Recipe can be frozen after cooking, however this does change the texture and flavor. I recommend freezing raw, not cooked.
- When reheating, warm in a pot over medium heat with a splash of water or reheat in the microwave in 30–45 second intervals, stirring between each.
Want to Make It Fresh in the Slow Cooker Today?
Step 1: Dump all ingredients, except Serve With ingredients, to the slow cooker.
Step 2: Cook on low for 9-11 hours.
Step 3: Shred beef and stir in slow cooker. Serve over couscous and enjoy.
Real Mom Tips
- Pair with a sweet side – it helps balance all the rich flavors.
- Thaw in a bowl in the fridge to avoid the meat juice surprise.
- Not a fan of apricots? Eliminate or use fewer – the flavor will still be rich, just a bit more savory.
- Batch cook the couscous and freeze it in portions; it’ll reheat in no time and you’ll win the day.
- Serving kids? Just call it “beef and rice” – no exotic names means no resistance.
Beef Tagine Dietary Adjustments:
Make it Gluten-Free: Recipe is naturally gluten-free.
Make it Dairy-Free: Recipe is naturally dairy-free.
Make it Nut-Free: Omit almonds or substitute with sunflower seeds.
Make it Egg-Free: Recipe is naturally egg-free.
Leave ordinary weeknight dinners behind. This cozy, flavor-rich tagine makes any night a special occasion.
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FAQs
Do I really need to thaw beforehand?
Honestly, yes. If you don’t, it’ll be hard to get out of the bag, and it’s safer to thaw large cuts of meat before cooking. I grab it out of the freezer the night before and set it in the fridge to thaw (sometimes I set a reminder on my phone if I think I’ll forget!).
How spicy is it?
I’d say not spicy at all. It has warm flavors from the cinnamon and ginger, but it’s not hot. Definitely kid-friendly – all four of mine love it!
We aren’t big beef fans. Can I use chicken instead?
Definitely! I’d go with chicken thighs for this recipe because they’re juicier and more flavorful than chicken breasts. Just be sure to reduce cooking time to 6-7 hours in the slow cooker.
Should I brown the beef first?
No need to brown beforehand! Some people do that to lock in flavor, but I’ve found that it doesn’t make that big of a difference overall. It cooks perfectly raw and is just as flavorful.
Do I need a tagine pot for this recipe?
Our version is made especially for the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Nothing special required (other than you!).
Other Beef Freezer Meal Recipes You’ll Love
- Barbacoa Beef Freezer Meal Recipe
- Garlic Butter Steak Freezer Meal Recipe
- Hamburger Soup Freezer Meal Recipe
- Homestyle Beef Stew Freezer Meal Recipe
- Mississippi Pot Roast Freezer Meal Recipe
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Comment below and let me know how your Beef Tagine turned out!
