Imagine walking through the front door, and smelling the delicious aroma of a Tuscan Garlic Chicken cooking for you, a dish so packed with flavors that your taste buds begin doing the happy dance.This recipe transforms simple chicken breasts into a mouth watering meal that’s both filling and satisfying. It’s a taste of Tuscany right in your home.
As a working mom, with four kids and a business, I understand the power of Make-Ahead meals. This Tuscan Garlic Chicken is an excellent freezer meal option, allowing you to prepare in advance and save precious time during hectic weeknights. Just thaw, dump in your slow cooker, and enjoy a gourmet dinner with minimal effort – perfect for those evenings when cooking from scratch just isn’t in the cards.
Join me in this blog post as we prepare this amazing Tuscan Garlic Chicken together. I’ll guide you through each step, mentioning tips and tricks along the way, making it easy to follow and fun to cook. Let’s create delicious memories and make meal prep stress-free!
Why You’ll Love this Garlic Tuscan Chicken Freezer Recipe
- Delicious Flavor: The combination of garlic, Parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes creates a mouth-watering dish that everyone will love.
- Freezer-Friendly: It can be prepared in advance and frozen, saving time on hectic weeknights.
- Nutritious: Packed with protein from the chicken and vitamins from the spinach, it’s a healthy meal option.
- Great for Guests: Impress guests with a delicious meal that didn’t take all day to prepare.
- Comfort Food: Its rich, creamy texture makes it a comforting dish for any time of year.
Tuscan Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe
This Tuscan Garlic Chicken is an excellent freezer meal option, allowing you to prepare in advance and save precious time during hectic weeknights. Just thaw, dump in your slow cooker, and enjoy a gourmet dinner with minimal effort.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 hours hrs
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
1 gallon freezer bag
1 Slow Cooker
- 2 lbs Chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups Chicken broth gluten-free
- 1/2 cup Sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 4 tsp Salt
Day of Cooking:- 1/2 cup Coconut cream full-fat
- 8-12 oz Gluten-free noodles
- 2 cups Spinach
Prep/Freezer DirectionsPrepare a gallon freezer bag, labeling according to your preferred method.
Add all ingredients, except for day of cooking ingredients, to the freezer bag.
Seal bag, removing as much air as possible, freeze for up to three months.
Slow Cooker | Cooking DirectionsThaw freezer bag in fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking.
Dump the contents of the freezer bag into a slow cooker.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
During the last 1 hour, stir in ½ cup full fat coconut cream and pasta.
Stir in spinach and serve.
Instant Pot | Cooking Directions- Dump the contents of the freezer bag, plus ½ cup water, into the Instant Pot.
- Set to High Pressure for 10 minutes, after cooking quick release.
- Add ½ cup full-fat coconut cream and the pasta directly into the pot. If necessary, add just enough water or broth to ensure the pasta is barely covered.
- Set to high pressure for half the cook time listed on pasta package, after cooking quick release.
- Stir in fresh spinach until it wilts from the heat of the sauce, stir and serve.
Make It Gluten Free: - Ensure chicken broth is gluten free
Make it Dairy Free: - Recipe is naturally dairy free
Keyword Chicken Freezer Meals, Easy Chicken Recipes, Easy slow cooker recipes, Slow cooker Chicken Recipe, Tuscan Garlic Chicken
Equipment needed to Make Easy Make-Ahead Tuscan Garlic Chicken
- 1 gallon freezer bag
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients for your Tuscan Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe
- 2 lbs Chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups Chicken broth, gluten-free
- 1/2 cup Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 4 tsp Salt
- Day of Cooking:
- 1/2 cup Coconut cream, full-fat
- 8-12 oz Gluten-free noodles
- 2 cups Spinach
How to Make a Tuscan Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe
Prep/Freezer Directions:
- Prepare a gallon freezer bag, labeling according to your preferred method.
- Add all ingredients, except for day of cooking ingredients, to the freezer bag.
- Seal bag, removing as much air as possible, freeze for up to three months.
Slow Cooker | Cooking Directions
- Thaw freezer bag in fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking.
- Dump the contents of the freezer bag into a slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- During the last 1 hour, stir in ½ cup full fat coconut cream and pasta.
- Stir in spinach and serve.
What to Pair with your Best Freezer-Friendly Tuscan Garlic Chicken
Sides:
Desserts:
Mocktails:
Popular Substitutions and Additions
Substitutions:
- Coconut Milk for Coconut Cream: Substitute 1/2 cup of full-fat coconut cream with 1/2 cup of full-fat coconut milk. While slightly less thick, coconut milk still provides a creamy texture and rich flavor suitable for freezing.
- Chicken Thighs for Chicken Breasts: Substitute 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts with 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Kale for Spinach: Substitute 2 cups of spinach with 2 cups of chopped kale. Kale holds up well when frozen and reheated.
Additions:
- Mushrooms: Add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (such as cremini or button mushrooms). Mushrooms add an earthy flavor and extra texture, and they freeze and reheat well within the sauce.
- Bell Peppers: Add 1 cup of diced bell peppers (any color). Bell peppers add a sweet and slightly crunchy element to the dish.
- Basil: Add 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil. Basil adds a fresh, aromatic flavor that complements the Italian seasoning.
These substitutions and additions can easily be incorporated into your Tuscan Garlic Chicken recipe, making it versatile while ensuring all ingredients are freezer-friendly for convenient meal prep.
How to Reheat and Store Tuscan Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe
Best Way To Store Quick and Easy Tuscan Garlic Chicken
Leftover?
Ensuring the taste and safety of your leftovers is contingent upon proper storage. Start by allowing your leftovers to cool to room temperature, ensuring they aren’t left unattended for more than two hours. Once sufficiently cooled, transfer them into airtight containers or resealable plastic bags, then place in refrigerator.
How long will Tuscan Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe last in the fridge?
If you’ve ever wondered about the lifespan of leftovers in your fridge, here’s a handy guideline: they usually stay fresh for about three to five days. The trick is to cool them down properly after cooking, and then seal them up in airtight containers. This ensures that the flavors remain intact and prevents any premature spoilage due to exposure to air. Now, if you ever find yourself with more leftovers than you can consume in that timeframe, don’t worry. The freezer is your ally, preserving their taste and quality for an extended period.
Can I Freeze Healthy Tuscan Garlic Chicken Meal Prep?
Yes, we specifically designed this recipe to be a freezer recipe. We recommend preparing this recipe as a Raw Freezer Meal. Label a gallon freezer bag, add all ingredients, except the day of ingredients, into the freezer bag. Remove excess air, seal, and store for up to three months. Delicious and Easy.
If you are looking to extend the shelf life of your leftovers that you have already made, you may also freeze those. Just allow your leftover chicken to cool to room temperature, then store in a resealable freezer bag for up to three months. The flavor and texture can be maintained with proper storing and reheating practices.
How To Reheat Tuscan Garlic Chicken with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes?
To reheat your Tuscan Garlic Chicken, we recommend using the stovetop. The microwave and oven may also be used. To reheat on the stovetop, take a splash of broth or water and place on a skillet, then warm the desired amount of chicken leftovers in the skillet, stirring occasionally until heated through completely.
If you wish to use the microwave, beware of overheating, as this will change the texture and flavor of your dish. Use short bursts of 30-60 seconds, and remember to stir between each interval.
Quick and Easy Tuscan Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe FAQs
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