Name: Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 365 min
Ingredients: 700 g chicken breasts; 180 ml teriyaki sauce; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp grated ginger

Are you staring into your fridge at 5 PM, realizing you haven’t even thought about dinner? Ugh, that feeling is the worst! That’s why I live and breathe for making ahead meals. Seriously, nothing beats the calm that comes from knowing dinner is already handled.

This is where my absolute favorite solution comes in: the Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal. It’s a lifesaver for chaotic weekdays. You spend five minutes assembling it now, and you have a delicious, Asian-inspired dinner ready to go later. I appreciate meals like this because they’re already planned—just seeing them labeled neatly in the freezer feels incredibly satisfying and keeps the week manageable. If you struggle with mid-week motivation, you need to check out my tips on meal prep snack boxes to beat stress too! It’s just pure, stress-free cooking!

Why This Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal is Your New Go-To

Listen, if you are looking for truly Lazy Dinners that still taste amazing, this is it. Seriously, this recipe is the champion of Dump And Go Crockpot Dinners. You get all the flavor of takeout without waiting around for delivery or spending an hour chopping after work. It’s efficient, which is something I absolutely need when my schedule gets nuts.

It’s fantastic because it’s designed to save you time when you need it most—tonight! Plus, cleaning up is a dream, which is basically my favorite part of any cooking adventure. If you haven’t tried my easy crockpot honey garlic chicken, add that one to your lineup too, but this teriyaki one is just slightly faster.

Meal Prep Simplicity for Busy Weeks

The real genius here is the assembly. You literally do the 5 minutes of prep work when you have brain power, maybe on a Sunday afternoon. You toss everything in the freezer bag, label it (trust me, labeling is key!), and then forget about it until you need it. No defrosting fuss the night before! When the time comes, you just dump the frozen contents straight into the slow cooker. That’s how real meal prep should be!

Making This Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal Healthy

Because we are using lean chicken breasts and controlling the sauce ingredients ourselves, this definitely qualifies as one of those Healthy Dinner Recipes on rotation. We aren’t deep-frying anything, and it’s packed with protein, making it one of the best Healthy Crockpot Meals you can keep on file. You know exactly what’s going into your food, which is miles better than mystery takeout sauce, right?

Essential Ingredients for Your Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal

When we’re making any kind of freezer meal, the quality and precision of the ingredients matter because you won’t be able to adjust much once it’s frozen, right? For this Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal, sticking to the recipe is super important since we aren’t marinating overnight—everything needs to go in frozen together!

We’re keeping this nice and simple, focusing on big flavor with minimal fuss. You’ll see why this preparation method is so easy to trust when you look at what goes into the bag. Remember, for Crockpot Dishes like this, fresh aromatics make a huge difference in the final taste.

Ingredient Breakdown and Notes

Here’s exactly what you need to gather before you start stuffing your freezer bags. Check these off your list twice; you don’t want to realize you forgot the ginger when it’s already sealed up!

First things first, grab about 700g of raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They freeze and shred like a dream! Then for the sauce foundation, measure out 180ml of your favorite teriyaki sauce. Any bottled brand works here; we’re just aiming for deliciousness!

For sweetness and balance, we need about 1 tablespoon of either honey or brown sugar. If you choose brown sugar for that deeper molasses note—which I kind of prefer—make absolutely sure you pack it tightly into your measuring spoon! The aromatics are crucial: you need 2 cloves of garlic, and you must mince them finely before they go in. Nobody wants a huge chunk of raw garlic popping out in their shred!

Finally, don’t skimp on the ginger! You need 1 teaspoon of grated ginger. Freshly grated is best, just grate it right over the bag if you are really trying to save steps. If you want to check out some great Asian flavor profiles for later, take a peek at this link to Taste of Home’s slow cooker teriyaki ideas!

Assembling Your Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal

Okay, this is where the magic happens, and honestly, it’s almost embarrassing how simple the assembly is for our Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal. Get yourself a sturdy freezer bag—the heavy-duty kind is best so you don’t get any freezer burn surprises later!

You are simply going to place every single ingredient we just talked about right into that bag. Chicken, sauces, honey, garlic, ginger—all in one spot! Seal it up tight, push out as much air as you possibly can, and give that bag a good shake or a gentle massage so everything coats the chicken nicely. That’s really it for the prep work!

Once it’s sealed, label it clearly—I usually write the cooking date and “TERIYAKI CHICKEN” right on the front. If you’re looking for other ways to make your freezer work harder for you, you might want to check out my recipe for healthy energy bites for quick snacks!

Freezing and Thawing Guide for Your Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal

Safety first, people! Especially when we are dealing with raw chicken and planning so far ahead. Dealing with freezer meals means we have to be smart about timing and thawing so we can enjoy safe, delicious Slow Cook Recipes later on.

The great thing about this Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal is that once it’s sealed up tight in that bag, it’s good to go in your freezer for up to three whole months. That’s three months of knowing you have a dinner option ready to rock and roll! Just make sure your freezer stays consistently cold; we’re aiming for that rock-solid freeze for best quality.

Now, the important part: cooking day preparation. You can’t just toss a frozen block into the slow cooker—that’s a safety no-no and it ruins the texture! You absolutely must thaw this meal gently before it cooks. The best way I’ve found is to move the bagged contents from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before you plan to use it. That slow overnight thaw is perfect for letting the chicken start absorbing some of that yummy sauce mixture before it hits the heat.

This simple thawing step is non-negotiable for food safety, but it also helps the chicken cook more evenly once you start the low and slow process later. If you’re ever in a pinch and need a quick Crockpot Dishes idea without the freezer prep, you should look at my recipe for healthy crockpot lasagna soup—it’s a lifesaver straight from the fridge!

Cooking Instructions for This Crockpot Dishes Recipe

Alright, dinner time has arrived and you remembered to thaw the bag overnight—yay! Now we get to the actual fun part where the house starts smelling incredible. This is where this recipe truly shines as one of the best Crockpot Recipes For Dinner you will ever make because the actual cooking is almost zero effort.

Take those thawed contents—chicken breasts nestled in the teriyaki sauce mixture—and pour the entire contents of the freezer bag right into your slow cooker insert. Don’t rinse anything! We need every bit of that seasoned liquid to tenderize the meat. If you are looking for other great one-pot dinners, you must try my crockpot chicken pot pie with potatoes!

Set your slow cooker to LOW. This is important! We want that gentle, steady heat for the best result. You are going to let this cook, undisturbed, for six hours on LOW. Trust me, don’t be tempted to peek too often or turn it up to HIGH. The long, slow cook time is what breaks down the chicken breasts until they are fall-apart tender.

Once those six hours are up, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the liquid using tongs and set them on a cutting board. Now, grab two forks—using one fork to steady the chicken and the other to shred it apart is way easier. Once it’s all shredded, mix that lovely meat right back into the remaining sauce in the crockpot. Stir it really well so every piece gets coated in that rich teriyaki glaze. If you need a few more ideas for slow cooker cooking, check out this recipe for Dinner at the Zoo’s version of slow cooker teriyaki chicken—they have some great tips too!

That’s it! You now have perfectly cooked, saucy chicken ready for dinner. It’s so simple, it feels like cheating!

Tips for Perfecting Your Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal

While this Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal is nearly foolproof, I always like to have a couple of little tricks up my sleeve to take it from great to absolutely incredible. These are the kinds of things you learn after making a recipe fifty times, you know?

First off, let’s talk about that sauce! Six hours on low is perfect for tenderizing the chicken, but sometimes the sauce seems a little, well, thin when you shred the meat. If you’re looking for that glossy, thicker coating—especially if you are planning on serving this when the weather dips and you want those cozy Fall Dinner Recipes vibes—you have to finish it off.

Once you’ve shredded the chicken and mixed it back into the slow cooker liquid, take about a half-cup of that liquid out into a separate small bowl. Whisk in about one tablespoon of cornstarch until it is totally dissolved—no lumps allowed! Pour that slurry back into the crockpot, stir it, and put the lid on for about 10 to 15 minutes on HIGH if you are serving right away. It thickens up beautifully, like magic!

My second tip is all about sneaking in some veggies, because sometimes we need an easy way to make it a complete meal. Since this is a freezer meal, you can’t add delicate stuff like bell peppers during the freezing phase. But once you’ve thawed and dumped the contents into the crockpot, toss in a cup of sliced carrots or maybe some frozen broccoli florets right on top of the chicken before you set it to cook. They steam perfectly alongside the chicken and soak up all that amazing sauce. It makes it feel even more like a hearty, comforting meal!

If you love sneaky veggie additions to comfort foods, you have to check out how I manage that in my crockpot stuffed pepper soup recipe. Happy cooking!

Serving Suggestions for This Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal

Okay, the chicken is shredded, it’s perfectly coated in that rich, salty-sweet sauce, and it’s ready to go! The recipe notes mention serving it over rice, which is the classic way to eat this, and it’s fantastic for soaking up all the extra sauce. Seriously, don’t waste that amazing liquid!

But you know me, I don’t like eating the same thing every night, so we need some variety in how we use this amazing batch of shredded chicken. Since this is such a versatile protein, you can build a whole week of dinners around it without much extra work.

If you want to stick close to the Asian theme, serving it over actual rice is a must, but try trading the white rice for brown rice or even quinoa for a slightly better nutritional profile. Another brilliant option is using quick-cooking ramen or Soba noodles. Just cook your noodles according to the package directions, and then ladle that saucy chicken right over top. Maybe throw in some shredded carrots or thinly sliced cucumber for crunch right before serving!

For something a little different and maybe a fantastic lunch option, turn this into a wrap or a lettuce cup. Warm up some soft tortillas—or use big, crisp lettuce leaves if you’re keeping things low-carb. Add a scoop of the chicken, maybe some slaw mix, and a drizzle of sriracha if you like heat. It totally transforms this dinner into something new! If you’re into easy wraps, you have to see how I put together my high-protein chicken wrap recipe—it uses similar flavor principles!

And finally, don’t forget the simplest veggie pairing: steamed or lightly roasted broccoli. The bright green color against that dark teriyaki glaze just looks so appetizing. Plus, it’s super quick to steam while you shred the chicken. It rounds out the meal perfectly!

Frequently Asked Questions About Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal Prep

I get asked all the time about freezing meals, and it’s smart to ask questions before you commit freezer space to something! It takes a little planning, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without having a few of these Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal bags tucked away. Here are the things I hear most often!

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts in this Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal?

Oh, absolutely! Chicken thighs are actually fantastic in the slow cooker because they have a bit more fat, which means they stay super juicy—even if you accidentally cook them a little longer than you meant to! If you swap them in, you might find they cook just as well on low, but keep an eye on them. Sometimes dark meat can get *too* tender if you leave it for a full 8 hours, so checking them around hour 5 or 6 is a good habit, even with these wonderfully easy Slow Cook Recipes.

What is the best way to store the cooked leftovers?

Once you’ve shredded the chicken and cooked it up, you’ll likely have leftovers unless everyone eats seconds (which totally happens!). You want to get those leftovers into an airtight container as quickly as possible after cooling down a bit. I always recommend storing them in the refrigerator for up to four days. Any longer than that, and I start getting nervous about the quality, even with that salty teriyaki sauce acting as a bit of a preservative. If you know you won’t get through it by day four, just portion it out into a smaller freezer-safe container and freeze it right away!

Can I add vegetables directly to the freezer bag?

That’s a really common thought, especially when you are trying to make this a true one-bag wonder! Here’s my expert opinion on this: for the *best* texture, I strongly recommend against adding most veggies to the freezer bag. Vegetables like broccoli or peppers get really mushy and break down way too much during the freezing and the long slow cook. For this specific teriyaki chicken, it’s much better to add firm veggies—like pre-sliced carrots or maybe some frozen onion chunks—right when you dump the thawed contents into the crockpot. This way, they cook alongside the chicken and maintain a little bit of necessary bite! If you want inspiration for other ways to incorporate veggies easily, check out my guide on crockpot teriyaki chicken with rice for serving ideas!

Nutritional Estimates for This Recipe

Now, I know when we are talking about Lazy Dinners and freezer cooking, sometimes you wonder about the nutritional side of things. We are aiming for Healthy Crockpot Meals here, but it’s always important to remember that these numbers are just a ballpark estimate!

Since store-bought teriyaki sauces and the brand of honey you use can really swing the sugar count, you should treat these figures as a starting point for tracking rather than an exact science. If you’re very strict with your macros, you might want to calculate based on the exact bottle of teriyaki sauce you grab. For comparison, I often cross-reference these recipes against my notes for my avocado chicken salad, which uses much different fats!

These estimates are based on serving the cooked, shredded chicken (about 1/4 of the total recipe) over 1 cup of plain white rice—which we all know is the standard serving for these types of Crockpot Dishes.

Based on 4 servings, here is what you can generally expect per portion before any extra toppings:

Calories: Approximately 400-450 per serving
Fat: Roughly 8-10g of total fat (since we are using lean breasts)
Protein: A whopping 45-50g of protein—great for keeping you full!
Carbohydrates: Around 35-40g (this heavily depends on how much rice you add!)

This is definitely a meal that leans toward high protein, making it a solid choice for a satisfying dinner that isn’t overloaded with unnecessary extras. Just remember, these estimates don’t include any extra sauces or veggies you might add on the side!

Share Your Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal Success

I truly hope that having this Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken Freezer Meal tucked away in your freezer brings you as much joy and stress relief as it brings me! Knowing that you have a delicious, flavorful dinner ready to go in the slow cooker is just the best feeling when life gets busy.

Now that you’ve tried this super simple recipe, I would absolutely love to hear all about it! Did it make your weeknights significantly easier? Did you serve it over rice or try one of the other fun serving suggestions we talked about?

Please, please leave a star rating for this recipe right below! It helps other busy folks who are scrolling around looking for quick, satisfying meals just like you were. If you had any tweaks that made it perfect for your family, or if you found another clever use for the leftover shredded chicken, let me know in the comments!

If you ran into any snags while prepping or thawing, or if you just want to share a picture of your perfectly labeled freezer bag, you can always get in touch with me directly through the contact page. I truly love hearing from you and seeing how these simple kitchen hacks help keep your family fed and happy. Happy slow cooking!