Breakfastlunchdinner and even snacks! This collection of meal prep recipes has multiple options for any meal of the day!
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I’m going to cut to the chase—meal prep isn’t about being perfect; it’s about making life a little (IMOa lot!) easier. Whether you’re trying to save timeeat a bit healthieror just avoid the chaos of figuring out what’s for dinnerthese easy meal prep recipes will help you get organized. I’m sharing all my favorite go-to recipes and simple tips that help me meal prep for the week.
Pick a good variety of meals. Food boredom is realso don’t feel like you will get stuck eating the same meals day in and day out. Pick out around 20 meals (breakfastslunchesand dinners) that you like and keep rotating them around for variety.
Make a calendar. Make a monthly menu for yourself for breakfastslunchesand dinners. You can easily see where leftovers can be used when you have everything written down. To help with budgetingit’s often good to make a double batch of a meal and enjoy it later in the week or enjoy lighter lunches over a few days. In factthis is one of my favorite tips for meal prepping for beginners!
Make a shopping list. The key to successful meal planning is to prep ahead so that you always know what you are picking up from the store so you have everything on hand.
Buy a mix of fresh and frozen produce. It’s great to include fresh foods in your dietbut frozen is still great quality and much more convenientand often more budget-friendly. Stock up your freezer with frozen veggiesfruitsand meats so that you don’t have to worry about using them up quickly.
Choose a day to cook up your food. Choose one day a week to cook up the majority of your meals for the week. Batch cook recipes and portion them out so that all you have to do is grab and reheat them for an easy dinner.
Choose some freezer-friendly meals. The freezer is your friend! Soupschilisstewspiesand so much more are great for freezer meals. Make big batches to freeze and enjoy over the weeks. Be sure to check out my guide on How to Make Freezer Meals for Families.
Food processor: This is a helpful tool for choppingslicingand shredding vegetablesespecially when you have a lot of ingredients to work with. It can also be a blender to emulsify sauces and dressings like cilantro yogurt sauce or salad vinaigrette.
Storage containers: These clear storage containers are lightairtightand easy to carry. They’re stain and odor-resistant and come in various shapes and sizes. I use them to store prepared fruits and vegetables like cut carrotscelerycauliflowerand more.
Glass bento boxes: You can easily portion out ingredients like refried beanstaco meatand rice into individual compartments in the container to keep them separate until ready to reheat and eat. Or use these bento boxes for taco salad meal prep.
Easy Meal Prep Basics
Keep meal prep simple by having these meal prep essentials on hand for the busy week ahead.
Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs are a fast and hands-off approach for cooking eggs – no need for water! It's a quick and easy methodand the eggs peel so easily
This Southwest breakfast burrito is perfect for freezing and makes a great breakfast on the go! If you're into meal prepthis recipe is for you!
27 minutesminutes
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5 from 32 votes
Meal Prep Ideas with Oats
You know I love oats. So much so that I have a massive collection of oat recipes that has everything from traditional oatmeal to chickpea burgers made with oats. So when it comes to meal preppingincluding recipes with oats is a no-brainer.
This Blended Overnight Oats recipe packs in 17 grams of protein and is a fun twist on my classic recipebut blends everything together for a smooth and creamy version. So good!
These protein baked oats are great for make-ahead breakfasts. Choose from 4 different flavors for a delicious high-protein breakfast the whole family will love!
Enjoy these chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars in the morning or as a midday snack. They're great for meal prepping in advance and packed with heart healthy oats!
Try this easy Egg Salad Sandwich that you can whip up in 5 minutes! I use greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise along with celerydijon mustard and lettuce!
This Vegetarian Burrito Bowlwith black beanscornsweet potatoesand cilantro lime riceis perfect for meal prep—a fillingwholesome option that retains its deliciousness throughout the week.
Grain bowls are a healthy and nutritious meal that are perfect for meal prep and quick and easy dinners. Simple to make and loaded with fresh ingredients.
Chicken and Quinoa Bowl is an easy weeknight dinner that you can throw together with leftover quinoachickenany vegetables and nuts – hearty and healthy!
30 minutesminutes
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5 from 310 votes
Chicken Meal Prep Recipes
When it comes to meal prepchicken is pretty much the protein of choicein my opinion. It’s versatileeasy to cook in large batchesand pairs well with many different flavors.
Easy homemade chicken shawarma recipe made with chicken thighs and a shawarma marinade that has been passed down through my Middle Eastern family for generations.
If I'm meal preppingone-pan recipes are my go-tolike this Teriyaki Chicken that cooks the broccoli right in the same flavorful sauce. Pair with riceand you’ve got 4 meal prep containers ready for the week!
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is a delicious and hearty meal with tender chickenmushroomsand wild rice in a flavorful broth – so good!
40 minutesminutes
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5 from 14 votes
Meal Prep Recipe Ideas for Dinner
With a little meal prepyou can have the most anticipatedstressful meal of the day (dinner!) be the easiest. It does not have to be overly complicated or time-consuming.
This lasagna soup recipe tastes just like lasagna without the work. Lasagna noodles are broken into pieces and simmered in a tomato broth with ground beefseasoningsand veggies.
These garlic roasted potatoes are made with red skin potatoes cut into cubes and seasoned with garlicthymesalt and pepperand parmesan then baked in the oven!
This Lebanese Rice is a staple Middle Eastern (Arabic) side dish in my home that I make with only three ingredients: ricevermicelli noodles and olive oil!
15 minutesminutes
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5 from 960 votes
Vegan and Vegetarian Meal Prep Recipes
Meatless Monday on meal prep is def still possible! These vegetarian meal prep recipes are so delicious that I guarantee you won’t even miss the meat.
This cold bean salad is a heartyeasy-to-prep all-season dish (or meal!) with lentilsbeanschickpeasand vegetablestossed in a light and tangy vinaigrette.
Grain bowls are a healthy and nutritious meal that are perfect for meal prep and quick and easy dinners. Simple to make and loaded with fresh ingredients.
Easyvegetarian quinoa stuffed peppers have 20g of protein per serving and are made with white quinoablack beanscornfire-roasted tomatoesand simple spicestopped with cheese and baked in the oven.
1 hourhour10 minutesminutes
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5 from 592 votes
Freezer-Friendly Meal Prep Recipes
These meal prep recipes are seriously some of my favorite. Why? Because you can easily scale up the recipe and make some for dinner tonight and freeze the rest.
Stuff your Ground Beef Burritos with meatbeansand rice and roll tight in a flour tortilla. To get them to hold together pan sear and serve with all the things!
This Baked Spaghetti Recipe is a cheesy vegetarian pasta casserole dish that's simple to makerequiring only one pan in the ovenand a family favorite meal.
This 3-Ingredient Chia Pudding is made with almond milkchia seeds & sweetener of choice; it’s a healthy snack loaded with proteinfiber and healthy fats!
These healthy muffins for kids are great for grab-and-go breakfastlunchbox or snacks. They're filled with wholesome ingredients for a nutritious tasty treat.
These homemade pizza bites are made with a Greek yogurt doughfresh basilblack olivesand shredded mozzarella cheese. Baked in a muffin tin and ready in 30!
Pinwheel sandwich roll-ups are such an easy appetizer or lunch! Try four variations: Hummus & VeggiesEverything Bagel Cucumber & TomatoPesto Turkeyand Chicken Salad.
10 minutesminutes
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5 from 52 votes
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients are best for freezer-friendly meals?
Hearty grains like rice and quinoa and pre-cooked proteins like chicken or beef freeze well. Additionallypantry staples like beanslentilsand other legumes are great options for freezing. Avoid freezing ingredients with high water content and delicate textures like lettuce or dairy.
How can I prevent my salad from becoming soggy during meal prep?
The best way to keep your salad crisp and fresh is to keep the dressing separate and add it to the salad just before eating. Or you can layer ingredients in a specific order to create a barrier between wet and dry ingredients.
What are good make-ahead snacks?
Some great make-ahead snack options include energy bitestrail mix cookiescut veggies with individual hummus or ranch dipyogurt parfaitsor homemade granola bars. These items are convenientportableand maintain their freshness.
If you try any of these Meal Prep Recipes or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodieleave a comment below! We would love to hear about your experience making the recipes. And if you snapped some shots of itshare it on Instagram so we can repost on my stories!
Hi! I hope you’re doing well. I just want to say that your recipes are nice and ….just could you please teach us what kind of dessert we can make with for example milkbiscuitshoneybanana and other common ingredients? 🙏🙏🌸🌸🌸 And it seems like you love your job and doing our job with love makes a genius from usas Mozart has said.
Sincerely,
Ava
Hi! I hope you’re doing well. I just want to say that your recipes are nice and ….just could you please teach us what kind of dessert we can make with for example milkbiscuitshoneybanana and other common ingredients? 🙏🙏🌸🌸🌸 And it seems like you love your job and doing our job with love makes a genius from usas Mozart has said.
Sincerely,
Ava
Thank you so much! Be sure to check out the dessert tab of my recipesas I have some recipes that use those common ingredients in them.