Why is it so hard to get through everything in our freezers sometimes? I love stocking up on extras of everything, especially meat- but it can be a bit of a problem getting through it all if you don’t rotate things and keep an inventory! Whether you’re trying to clear out your freezer, use things before they go bad, or just have too much stuff, here are some ideas to help you use up some of the things you probably keep in your freezer!

First, let’s talk about meat. It’s so great being able to stock up on chicken, beef, fish and pork when it goes on sale- but this only works great if you actually use it! Obviously, you have your go-to recipes, but if you’re really in a pinch and trying to find cheap ways to serve up extra meat, here are a couple ideas:

Tacos. A favorite food for everyone! And you can use pretty much any meat you have on hand. Change things up by adding different varieties of Spanish rice, beans, corn, pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro, salsa, and cheese.

Serve over rice. A can of cream of chicken soup and a couple cups of rice can go a long way with helping you use up meat! You can also make different sauces and marinades, like BBQ, teriyaki, orange sauce to create a new meal using just rice and meat.

Casseroles. There are so many variations, but a great staple is just a couple cans of cream of chicken soup and tater tots! You can add in green beans, corn, or any other veggies you have on hand while using up whatever meat you need to use from your freezer.

Soups. Another great staple. You can easily sub out one meat for another when cooking your favorite soup recipe, or even add some to a recipe that doesn’t usually call for it!

Maybe you have more than just meat to use up in your freezer. Let’s talk about some other common staples!

Bread. I love stalking up on loaves of bread because I have a large family, but sometimes a loaf sits there too long! You can make homemade croutons by dousing them in a little oil and baking them. French toast (whole slices or overnight) is a great way to use up tons of bread. BLTs make a fun and easy weeknight dinner (and you could even use up that bacon from the freezer!). And of course, buttered toast (with a little garlic seasoning) is a great side dish with most meals!

Butter. Homemade buttercream totally beats store bought, and you can use up a ton of butter! Homemade toffee is another tasty treat that can help you get through your stash. Buttermilk syrup in the morning, buttered toast in the afternoon, homemade popcorn in the evening- you can definitely get creative with butter!

Cream cheese. Cheesecakes are the obvious answer to this one! Once thawed, cream cheese is great for cheesecakes, frostings, dips, or to throw into soups for extra creaminess.

Frozen vegetables. Roasted vegetables with chicken sausage is one of my family’s favorite meals. Just chop up a couple links of chicken sausage, add a ton of veggies, toss with olive oil and your favorite seasonings, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. One pan makes it an easy clean up too! Vegetables can also be added to all those soups, casseroles, and rice meals you make to use up all your frozen meats!

To help you stay on top of your freezer, it’s also helpful to have one night a week for freezer meals (or at least every other week) to ensure that you’re rotating through your supply before things get too old and freezer burned!

What are some of your favorite ways to use up freezer staples? I’d love to hear them! Share with us below!

    Camille Hoffmann
    Monthly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com