There are recipes that are staples for your family. You know the ones. They are the recipes you don’t even look at anymore. You make the meals on autopilot. One of those meals for our family is this freezer pinto beans with ham recipe. In fact, I have been making this recipe for so many years that I didn’t even realize how long it took to make until making it for you. Don’t let that scare you away from making it, though. The hands-on time is minimal and it makes 2 whole meals you can freeze for later. Oh, and did I mention that it’s delicious?! Make it and find out for yourself.

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[bctt tweet=”There are recipes that are staples for your family. For ours it is this freezer pinto beans with ham recipe. #recipe” username=”diyadulation”]

Ingredients

• 1 32 oz Bag of Dry Pinto Beans
• 2 Sticks of Margarine (1 cup)
• 1 Leftover Ham Bone (With some meat still on it)
• Water (12+ Cups)
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Step 1

Place your beans into a large pot and cover with water.

Step 2

Boil the beans for 1 hour. Add more water as needed to keep the beans covered the entire hour.

Step 3

Drain you beans in a strainer and pull out any bad ones (these are the ones that are still hard or discolored ones). Transfer your strained beans to a bowl and set off to the side.

Step 4

Put your ham bone into your pot and cover with water.

Step 5

Boil the ham bone in water for 30 minutes. Again, add water as needed to keep the bone covered during cooking.

Step 6

Next, move your ham bone to the strainer with tongs (don’t pour out your water).

Step 7

Add your beans to the ham bone water.

Step 8

Bring your beans to a boil again. Boil them for an additional 2 hours. Remember to add more water as needed and stir occasionally.

Tip:

• I recommend setting a timer for every 20-30 minutes to remind you to check on them and give your pot a stir.

Step 9

While your beans are boiling, remove the remaining pieces of ham from the bone. Throw out your bone when done.

Step 10

Cut the ham into small pieces and toss into the bowl your beans rested in.

Step 11

Turn down the heat to low on the beans and add your ham, margarine, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to incorporate all of the ingredients.

Step 12

Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until everything has thickened.

This makes a large amount of beans. If you are serving to your family for dinner, divide the batch in two and freeze half for a later meal. To freeze both meals, allow the beans and ham to cool to room temperature and add each half to a separate gallon freezer bags. Freeze for up to 30 days (longer if using a vacuum seal system like a FoodSaver). Our family love to have sweet cornbread with our beans. Make this easy on yourself by mixing up a box of Jiffy Muffins according to instructions. Next, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar to the mix. Note: don’t add more than this because adding too much will result in hard, cornbread chips instead of moist deliciousness.

You can’t beat the price of this meal. Even adding the cornbread still brings it to $3 per meal! For our family that works out to 60¢ per person. Talk about a frugal meal to add to your monthly meal plan! Get more awesome meal ideas like healthy freezer-friendly chicken nuggets or easy bacon and broccoli alfredo on our recipes page.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:5]

See where I’m linking up!

Being a mom doesn’t come with sick days. When you are feeling under the weather you can let the housework slide and the errands go. Of course, that means more on your to-do list once you’re back on your feet. One task you can’t let slide is feeding your family. (Well, you can but the law frowns upon that kind of thing.) Freezer meals like these homemade chicken nuggets and pot pie minis make dinner easier. This goes double for when you’re sick. Unfortunately life sometimes catches you with your freezer meal pants down. When that happens, this easy bacon and broccoli Alfredo is the next best thing.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Last Saturday I went shopping for tons of groceries. I was so on my game and these groceries will last us until October save for items such as milk and eggs. How is that possible? They will last that long because each and every item is a part of a specific meal. Most of these babies will be Crockpot and freezer meals and Monday was supposed to be my day for batch cooking. Then, “Wham!” I got slammed with some annoying virus that isn’t severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor but bad enough that every ounce of energy I have is gone. Now, I have freezers full of unprepared food and no energy to do anything with it.

[bctt tweet=”When life catches you with your freezer meal pants down make this easy bacon and broccoli Alfredo.” username=”diyadulation”]

Every mom who has gotten sick at the worst opportune time understands where I’m coming from. Just cutting up fruit (since it is perishable) to make chips drained me. My poor family has been living on leftovers while I suck on saltines. The leftovers are dwindling and I’m still not feeling great so I’m whipping up this easy bacon and broccoli Alfredo. It comes together fast and it’s healthier than ordering pizza. The best part is that my kids love it!

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Rotini Pasta (about half a box)
• Progresso Recipe Starters: Alfredo (or you can get a recipe for the homemade version at the end)
• Real Bacon Crumbles
• 12 oz. Bag of Steamable Broccoli

Step 1

In a large pot, cook your pasta according to package directions. Once it is done, strain it and set to the side.

Step 2

Pour your sauce into the same large pot and heat over medium heat. Stir your sauce occasionally.

Step 3

While your sauce is heating, microwave your broccoli according to package directions.

Step 4

Once your broccoli is finished, strain it. Next, add it and your package of bacon crumbles to the sauce. Stir well and remove from heat.

Step 5

Add your pasta to the sauce mixture and toss until coated.

Optional:

Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh tomato slices.

See? I told you it was super easy. Don’t forget to check out these freezer-friendly breakfast burritos for fast meals on busy mornings before you go. You can also find the recipe for homemade Alfredo sauce. It can be frozen to make this recipe just as easy for you in the future. (You simply heat the sauce at a lower heat until defrosted and then continue with the recipe as listed.)

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:4]

See where I’m linking up!