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Crock Pot Pizza Casserole Freezer Meal

Pizza Casserole - from freezer to crock pot

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It’s always hard to get an appetizing picture of a crockpot supper and this was no exception, but this casserole is really a kid-pleaser! I often make a gluten-free version of it, so I will be including that in my instructions below. This crockpot pizza casserole is also a freezer meal, so it saves time all around.

Crock Pot Freezer Meal Pizza Casserole...it's ugly but kids love it! #freezermeals #crockpotpizza #pizzacasseroleHaving freezer to crockpot recipes on hand saves me so much time and sanity. This is one of the regular meals in my rotation. When I make it, I make two or four of these recipes at a time. The recipe below is for one meal, but if you want to make several at a time to freeze, then multiply the ingredients accordingly.

I find that most kids (mine included) are willing to try anything with “pizza” in the name. This meal is super kid-friendly because it has pizza flavors combined with a home-cooked comfort food feel.

If your kids won’t eat mushrooms and green peppers, you can either leave them out, or you can get a little bit sneaky. If you choose to go the sneaky route, just blend the mushrooms and green peppers into the tomato sauce. They’ll never know the veggies are there, but you’ll know they are getting more nutrients!

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole Freezer Meal Recipe:

  • 2 cups of cubed ham
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 10 oz. can chopped mushrooms (if your kids will eat mushrooms!)
  • 28 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups small pasta


To make this into a freezer meal, mix all the ingredients except for the pasta in a large resealable freezer bag.

Place 2 cups of pasta in a medium-sized resealable freezer bag. Seal both bags and staple them together. Be sure to staple above the seal to avoid leaks. Lay flat in the freezer.

On the day you want to serve it, thaw and put the ingredients from the large bag into the crockpot and cook for 4 hours on low. Cook the pasta on the stovetop according to the package directions and drain. Stir the noodles into the casserole just before serving.

collage of pizza casserole in the crockpot and in bowls

To make this gluten-free…

To make this gluten-free, ensure that you use gluten-free ham. Much of the ham sold in stores contains fillers that include gluten, so read the labels carefully. Use gluten-free pasta of course.

This recipe is very adaptable for those on gluten-free diets and we enjoy it just as much with the gluten-free pasta.

close up of pizza casserole in a slow cooker

This freezer to crockpot pizza casserole is sure to become a meal that your family loves!

Pizza Casserole Variations:

This easy casserole recipe can be adapted based on your family’s tastes and preferences. Try these variations:

  • swap out the cubed ham for sliced pepperoni
  • use cooked ground sausage in place of the ham
  • replace the ham with browned ground beef
  • add a can of drained sliced black olives
  • put a Mexican twist on it by using a Tex Mex blend of cheese instead of the mozzarella and adding a splash of taco seasoning or taco sauce
  • make a Hawaiian pizza version by adding a can of drained pineapple tidbits in the last 10 minutes of cooking
  • make it cheesier by topping with extra grated cheese and some Parmesan

Other Kid-Friendly Recipes…

This recipe is included in our Kid-Friendly Freezer Meal Menu Plan. The other recipes are also kid-pleasers and the plan includes printable shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels making it easy to fill your freezer with meals your family will actually eat.

Kid Friendly Freezer Meal Menu Plan

Pizza Casserole - from freezer to crock pot
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Crockpot Pizza Casserole Freezer Meal Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: casserole, Pizza
Servings: 6
: 361 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of cubed ham
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 10 oz. can chopped mushrooms
  • 28 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups small pasta
Instructions

  1. To make this into a freezer meal, mix all the ingredients except for the pasta in a large resealable freezer bag.

  2. Put 2 cups of pasta in a medium-sized resealable freezer bag.

  3. Seal both and staple them together. Lay flat in the freezer.

  4. On the day you want to serve it, thaw and put the ingredients from the large bag into the crockpot and cook for 4 hours on low.

  5. Cook the pasta on the stovetop and stir the noodles into the casserole just before serving.

Recipe Notes

To make this gluten-free, ensure that you use gluten-free ham. Much of the ham sold in stores contain fillers that include gluten, so read the labels. Use gluten-free pasta. 

Cheesy Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole

Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole

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This cheesy slow cooker hash brown casserole is perfect for potlucks or brunches. I especially like that I can quickly make it the day before in the crockpot and then put it in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, I take it out of the fridge, plug it in, and turn it on which frees me up to make the rest of the items for the brunch. We have a large family so I have developed a fair amount of easy breakfast recipes for large families or groups over the years and this one fits that perfectly.

Cheesy Crock Pot Hash Brown Casserole. This easy breakfast recipe is perfect for a crowd. #freezermeals #hashbrowncasserole #breakfastcasserole #crockpotbreakfastI’ve actually been making this recipe since the 90s (yes, I am that old!) and it’s one of those tried and true ones that many of my friends now make too because every time I’ve brought it with me to a potluck, I get asked for the recipe. I had always made it in the oven but I was recently planning a brunch where I needed both my top and bottom oven for other dishes so I tried making it in the slow cooker. It worked wonderfully!

If you really want to save time, you can make this as a freezer meal (make several at one time) and put them in large resealable freezer bags. Take the air out before sealing and freeze flat. On the day you want to make this, thaw the bag. If you forget to take it out ahead of time, you can put the bag in a sink full of room temperature water for 20 minutes to thaw. Dump the bag contents into the crockpot to cook.

Slow-Cooker Hash Brown Casserole Recipe:

1/2 cup butter, melted
10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese*
pepper to taste
1 kg frozen hash browns

*Note: you can also try this recipe with a variety of other cheeses. I often use a combination of cheddar and jalapeño jack cheese to give it some extra kick.

In a large bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, melted butter, onion, shredded cheese, and pepper. Once that is well combined, stir in the frozen hash browns.

Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole collagePour the entire mixture into a greased crockpot. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4 hours. I find that crock pots really vary in their cooking time so the time will depend on your particular crockpot. This recipe is pretty fail-proof though.

Hash Brown Casserole in a slow-cooker

Serve this slow cooker hash brown casserole as a breakfast side dish. I like to top mine with hot sauce but that’s just a personal preference.

plate with toast, bacon and eggs, with wording at the bottom that says "large family breakfasts"Breakfasts for Large Families

All in One Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole with bread and cheese on topAll in One Breakfast Casserole

collage of Hash Brown Breakfast Nachos, topped with peppers and cheeseHash Brown Breakfast Nachos

Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole
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Slow-Cooker Hash Brown Casserole Recipe

This cheesy slow cooker hash brown casserole is perfect for potlucks or brunches. I especially like that I can quickly make it the day before in the crockpot and then put it in the fridge overnight.

Course: Main Course
Keyword: casserole, hash brown
: 679 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese*
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 kg frozen hash browns
Recipe Notes

If you really want to save time, you can make this as a freezer meal (make several at one time) and put them in large resealable freezer bags. Take the air out before sealing and freeze flat. On the day you want to make this, thaw the bag. If you forget to take it out ahead of time, you can put the bag in a sink full of room temperature water for 20 minutes to thaw. Dump the bag contents into the crockpot to cook. *Note: you can also try this recipe with a variety of other cheeses. I often use a combination of cheddar and jalapeño jack cheese to give it some extra kick.

Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Sausage

Tator Tot Casserole with ground sausage

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I’ll be the first to admit that this tater tot casserole may not be the healthiest of our recipes, but it is by far the kids’ favorite. In fact, when I make it, I have to make two at a time and they both get eaten clean! It is one of the most requested meals for the kids’ birthday suppers and there are cries of joy whenever I announce that I am making it!

Even though it’s not the healthiest or well-balanced meal, it’s good to have some kid-pleaser recipes mixed into your menu plan.

Tater Tot Casserole with ground sausageOther than being a kid-pleaser, this recipe is also fool-proof. I’ve changed it up, substituted ingredients, cooked it for too long, cooked it for not long enough, and it’s never failed me.

Tator Tot Casserole Recipe:

  • 150-200 g ground Italian sausage meat (I use the spicy variety to give it some kick)
  • 1 kg bag of frozen tater tots
  • 10.5 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup*
  • 370 mL can of evaporated milk
  • dash of paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste

*If you are wanting to make this gluten-free, you will need to use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and ensure that the tater tots are gluten-free (most brands are).

Brown the sausage meat and drain and pat with a paper towel to remove the grease. Place the ground sausage on the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish.

Place the frozen tater tots on top of the meat. In a bowl, mix the mushroom soup and evaporated milk and add the seasonings. Pour over top of the tater tots.

Bake at 350° for one hour.

Kid Favourite Mea: Tator Tot CasseroleTo double this recipe, simply cook twice as much ground sausage and double to the rest of the ingredients but assemble them in two casserole dishes.

Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal Instructions:

I make this as a freezer meal so that I can make four or six at a time to always have it on hand for the kids. To make the tater tot casserole ahead, brown the sausage and place it in a medium-sized resealable bag. Mix the mushroom soup, condensed milk, and seasonings together in a bowl.

Place the frozen tater tots into a large resealable freezer bag. Pour the sauce over top. Take out as much air as you can and seal. Staple the bag of cooked ground sausage into the large bag and freeze.

On the day of cooking, thaw. Place the ground sausage at the bottom of a casserole dish. Top with the contents of the larger bag. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for one hour.

Looking for more make-ahead family-friendly meals? Check out our Chicken and Beef Dump Recipes.

beef and chicken dump recipes

Tator Tot Casserole with ground sausage
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Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Other than being a kid-pleaser, this recipe is also fool-proof. I've changed it up, substituted ingredients, cooked it for too long, cooked it for not long enough, and it's never failed me.
Course: Main Course
Keyword: casserole, tater tot
Servings: 6
: 652 kcal
Ingredients
  • 150-200 g ground Italian sausage meat I use the spicy variety to give it some kick
  • 1 kg bag of frozen tater tots
  • 10.5 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup* *If you are wanting to make this gluten-free, you will need to use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and ensure that the tater tots are gluten-free (most brands are).
  • 370 mL can of evaporated milk
  • dash of paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions

  1. Brown the sausage meat and drain and pat with a paper towel to remove the grease. Place the ground sausage on the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish.

  2. Place the frozen tater tots on top of the meat. In a bowl, mix the mushroom soup and evaporated milk and add the seasonings. Pour over top of the tater tots.

  3. Bake at 350° for one hour.

  4. To double this recipe, simply cook twice as much ground sausage and double the rest of the ingredients but assemble them in two casserole dishes.

Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal Instructions:

  1. I make this as a freezer meal so that I can make four or six at a time to always have it on hand for the kids. To make the tater tot casserole ahead, brown the sausage and place it in a medium-sized resealable bag. Mix the mushroom soup, condensed milk, and seasonings together in a bowl.

  2. Place the frozen tater tots into a large resealable freezer bag. Pour the sauce over top. Take out as much air as you can and seal. Staple the bag of cooked ground sausage into the large bag and freeze.

  3. On the day of cooking, thaw. Place the ground sausage at the bottom of a casserole dish. Top with the contents of the larger bag. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for one hour.

Slow Cooker Mixed Bean Casserole

Slow Cooker Mixed Bean Casserole

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Making freezer meals has been the biggest time-saving strategy for me in the kitchen. Although the two days that my neighbor Christie and I take to assemble them every few months are exhausting, they are well worth it. Not only for the time saved but also in the brain space saved in not having to think of supper ideas for more than a month.

For our freezer meals, we have a standard list of recipes that we usually stick to, like Sloppy Joes, Chicken Taco Soup, Pesto Minestrone, Garden Taco Rice, and Pizza Casserole. We always throw in a few chicken recipes and some salmon ones but we also like to try at least two new recipes every time. We enjoy finding new favorites to add to our regulars.

Last week, we had one of our most successful freezer meal sessions yet thanks to being more organized than usual, and this Mixed Bean Casserole is one of the new recipes we created.

Slow Cooker Mixed Bean Casserole #slowcookermeals #freezermeals #beancasserole #freezercasserole #slowcookercasseroleThis is another recipe that can go from the freezer to the crockpot and is gluten and dairy-free. Freezer to crockpot recipes are a huge time saver for me, especially on days with appointments. I also like that this casserole is a healthy one and my kids will eat it.

The day I took this meal out of the freezer to make it for the first time, something unintentionally happened. I had it in the crockpot ready to serve and when my husband arrived home, I went upstairs to take an important phone call. I came downstairs a short while later to join my husband and kids, who he had brought out flour tortillas, sour cream, and cheese. They were using my casserole as a wrap filling, genius!

Though this idea had not occurred to me, the kids really enjoyed them the next day as leftovers in wraps again. Whether you choose to serve this as a wrap filling or as a casserole, it’s healthy and hearty.

Collage of slow cooker mixed bean casserole in a bowl and in a wrapSlow-Cooker Mixed Bean Casserole Recipe:

1 – 14 oz. can pinto beans (I used a can of chili style pinto beans)
1 – 19 oz. can black beans
4 Tbsp. taco seasoning*
2 1/2 cups of salsa
1 1/4 cups of frozen corn
1 sweet potato, cubed

*I prefer to make my own taco seasoning so that I can ensure that it is gluten-free and low in sodium but feel free to use a store-bought gluten-free blend.

Mix everything together and place it in a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the air and seal before laying flat and putting it in the freezer. On the day of cooking, thaw, and cook in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.

Other Family-Friendly Recipes:

Beef and Corn Casserole

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

Spanish Rice Casserole

If you are looking for other recipes that can go from the freezer to the crockpot, you can find 12 gluten-free freezers to crockpot recipes here.

collage of a freezer filled with meals and a crock pot with something gluten-free in it.For other ideas and recipes, you may be interested in following my Crock Pot Recipes or Freezer Meals boards on Pinterest. Or you may want to follow my Gluten-Free Recipes board.

Follow Sharla Kostelyk’s board Crock Pot Recipes on Pinterest.

Chicken Dump

Slow Cooker Mixed Bean Casserole
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Slow-Cooker Mixed Bean Casserole Recipe
Course: Main Course
Keyword: bean, casserole
Servings: 6
: 538 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 - 14 oz. can pinto beans I used a can of chili style pinto beans
  • 1 - 19 oz. can black beans
  • 4 Tbsp. taco seasoning*
  • 2 1/2 cups of salsa
  • 1 1/4 cups of frozen corn
  • 1 sweet potato cubed
Instructions

  1. Mix everything together and place it in a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the air and seal before laying flat and putting it in the freezer. On the day of cooking, thaw, and cook in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.

Recipe Notes

*I prefer to make my own taco seasoning so that I can ensure that it is gluten-free and low in sodium but feel free to use a store-bought gluten-free blend.

Spanish Rice Casserole (Gluten Free Freezer Meal Series)

Spanish Rice Casserole (Gluten Free Freezer Meal Series)

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This is a nice dish to have on hand as it covers all the bases. Certainly this can be made with leftover rice or rice made specifically for this. If you’re not a fan of black olives, you can add less or omit them altogether. Eat this as a main dish or a side dish. This casserole is also an easy pot luck meal or if you have company and want to offer a variety of flavors. 

Spanish Rice Casserole (Gluten Free Freezer Meal Series)Spanish Rice Casserole Recipe:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
  • 19 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup diced green pepper
  • 2 oz. can sliced black olives, drained
  • clove minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp. basil
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. parsley
  • salt, pepper
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Begin by brown the ground beef on the stovetop until no longer pink. Cool the meat and then add it to a large resealable freezer bag. Add all other ingredients except for the cheese to the bag. Remove excess air and seal.

Put the grated cheese into a medium resealable freezer bag and seal. Staple it to the top of the other bag, being sure to staple above the seals on both bags. Lay flat and freeze.

On cooking day, thaw the bag, carefully remove the staples and throw staples away. Pour casserole into a baking dish and sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake at 350* for 35-40 minutes, covered.

This recipe is part of my 10 Days of Gluten-Free Freezer Meals series. You may also be interested in following my Gluten-Free Recipes or Freezer Meals Pinterest Boards.

If you are looking for another pot luck friendly meal idea, try this Crockpot Pizza Casserole:

Pizza Casserole - from freezer to crock pot

Spanish Rice Casserole (Gluten Free Freezer Meal Series)
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Spanish Rice Casserole
Course: Main Course
Keyword: casserole, rice, Spanish
Servings: 6
: 443 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 LB ground beef
  • 14 oz can tomato sauce
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 1/4 cup onion diced
  • 1/2 cup green pepper diced
  • 2 oz can sliced black olives drained
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp basil
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions

  1. Brown the beef and allow it to cool before putting it into a large resealable freezer bag

  2. Add other ingredients, except the cheese. Remove excess air and seal.

  3. Put the shredded cheese into a medium resealable freezer bag and staple to top of the other bag.

For the day of cooking:

  1. Thaw the bags and carefully remove staples

  2. Pour into a baking dish and sprinkle cheese on top

  3. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, covered

Beef and Corn Casserole (Gluten Free Freezer Meal)

Gluten Free Beef and Corn Casserole Freezer Meal

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This comfort food meal is perfect for cold winter days. Beef and corn casserole was first introduced to me by my friend Tyler and she helped me figure out how to make it gluten-free because she and I both have kids that are on gluten-free diets. This freezes well and is a fairly well-balanced meal. It is also extremely kid-friendly.

Gluten Free Beef and Corn Casserole Freezer Meal #beefcasserole #freezermeal #chaosandtheclutterrecipe #glutenfree #makeaheadBeef and Corn Casserole Recipe:

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 12 oz. can kernel corn, drained
  • 20 – 24 oz. tomato soup – this can be creamy tomato soup that is gluten-free or gluten-free condensed tomato soup
  • 1 Tbsp. ketchup
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups cooked gluten-free noodles*
  • 1 1/4 cups grated cheddar cheese

*I prefer Tinkyada pasta to the other brands of gluten-free pasta I’ve tried as I find it has a better texture and doesn’t get mushy. For this, I used Tinkyada brown rice penne.

Brown the ground beef until no longer pink, adding the onion about halfway through cooking time. Put cooked meat mixture, corn, soup, ketchup, and seasoning in a bowl and mix.

Cook noodles (al dente). Drain. Mix into the other ingredients. Put the whole thing into a large resealable freezer bag. Remove excess air and seal.

Put the grated cheese into a medium resealable freezer bag and seal. Staple it to the top of the other bag, being sure to staple above the seals on both bags. Lay flat and freeze.

On cooking day, thaw the bag, carefully remove the staples and throw staples away. Pour casserole into a baking dish and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes, covered. Uncover for the last 10 minutes of cooking.

This recipe is part of my 10 Days of Gluten-Free Freezer Meals series. You may also be interested in following my Gluten-Free Recipes or Freezer Meals Pinterest Boards.

Gluten Free Beef and Corn Casserole Freezer Meal
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Beef and Corn Casserole
Course: Main Course
Keyword: beef, casserole
Servings: 6
: 629 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 12 oz can of kernel corn drained
  • 20-24 oz tomato soup
  • 1 Tbsp ketchup
  • 2 cups gluten-free noodles cooked
  • 1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese grated
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
Instructions

  1. Brown beef, adding onion about half way through

  2. Add corn, soup, ketchup and seasoning to the beef

  3. Cook noodles (al dente), drain and mix in with other ingredients

  4. Put everything into a resealable bag, remove excess air, and seal

  5. Grate cheese and seal in a bag, then staple it to the top of the other bag

For the day of cooking:

  1. Carefully remove staples and thaw ingredients

  2. Pour casserole into an oven-safe dish and sprinkle cheese on top

  3. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes, covered

  4. Uncover for the last 10 minutes of cooking

Recipe Notes

I prefer Tinkyada past to other brands of gluten-free varieties.