25 Recipes That Make Meal Prep a Breeze

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Tara Donne©Tara Donne

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Renee Comet

Photo By:Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Con Poulos

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Renee Comet

Photo By: PACIFIC TV

Photo By: Caitlin Ochs

Meal Prep Sesame Chicken Breasts

The sesame flavor of these easy-prep breasts can take you in a million directions. Toss them in a Caesar salad one night and tuck them into fajitas the next.

Get the Recipe:Meal Prep Sesame Chicken Breasts

Lentil Quinoa Salad

Quinoa is packed with protein and lentils are a great source of fiber — which means this easy salad is sure to keep you full and fueled all week long. Top with roasted veggies for a hearty grain bowl or portion into microwave-safe containers along with some meal prep chicken for ready-to-reheat lunches.

Get the Recipe:Lentil Quinoa Salad

Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli

Ellie’s recipe for broccoli and cauliflower makes it easy to prep a week’s worth of veggies at once. And, because she keeps the seasoning simple, you can toss the florets into everything from grain bowls to veggie wraps.

Get the Recipe:Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli

Chickpea Salad

Meal prep pros know that it’s always good to have a bean salad on hand. Beans are loaded with keep-you-full fiber and make a great vegetarian protein. Plus, bean salad is easy to portion out for ready-to-eat meals — or add to your favorite green salad.

Get the Recipe:Chickpea Salad

Meal Prep Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Cook a couple of pounds of chicken at the start of the week, shred it up, and you have the base for an infinite number of quick and easy meals. This version of the meal prep staple (usually so bland, so blah) is so flavorful, you don’t need to do much — or really anything — to dress it up. But if you want to, we have plenty of ideas.

Get the Recipe:Meal Prep Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Simple Short-Grain Brown Rice

The trick to making un-boring rice? Cook it in vegetable stock so that the grains soak up all the flavor. We add a strip of citrus zest too, for a nice pop of brightness. Perfect for burritos or rice bowls.

Get the Recipe:Simple Short-Grain Brown Rice

Moroccan Harissa Roast Cauliflower

Wake up your veggies with a flavorful homemade harissa. It’s easy to can control the spice level — simply include the seeds from the chiles if you want a spicy seasoning instead of mild.

Get the Recipe:Moroccan Harissa Roast Cauliflower

Instant Pot Egg Casserole Bites

These bite-size Instant Pot® egg casserole bites have everything that’s in your favorite breakfast casserole, tater tots included. Make a few batches and stash them in your refrigerator so you’ve got a quick, microwave-ready breakfast when you’re in a hurry.

Get the Recipe:Instant Pot Egg Casserole Bites

Cold Peanut-Sesame Noodles

These noodles are the perfect make-ahead lunch because they’re served cold. After you mix all the ingredients, portion the noodles into lunch-size containers and refrigerate. Wait to top them with the peanuts, cilantro and sesame seeds until you’re ready to eat.

Get the Recipe:Cold Peanut-Sesame Noodles

Meal Prep Roasted Chicken Thighs

The idea of cooking ahead of time to have dinner or lunch ready to go all week is grand and all if you don’t mind eating the same thing over and over again. There’s another way: Make these juicy thighs, stow them in the fridge, and then use them to serve up grain bowls, salads and more.

Get the Recipe:Meal Prep Roasted Chicken Thighs

Herbed Farro Pilaf

If you’re a regular meal prepper and cook a big batch of grains every week, you’re probably looking for ways to mix things up. That’s why we created this herbaceous farro pilaf. The grains are cooked in stock — and combined with toasted pasta pieces — for extra flavor.

Get the Recipe:Herbed Farro Pilaf

Roasted Carrots

The method that Ina uses to roast her carrots can be used for just about any hardy vegetable you want to meal prep. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast on a sheet pan until brown and tender. It’s that easy!

Get the Recipe:Roasted Carrots

Curried Chicken Salad

Ellie’s healthy chicken salad is a recipe you’ll make again and again. It’s loaded with flavor (thanks to curry powder, sweet red grapes and bright, herbaceous cilantro) and perfect for wraps or lettuce cups.

Get the Recipe:Curried Chicken Salad

Freezer Breakfast Panini

If you’ve got a lot of mouths to feed in the morning, meal prepping breakfast can help. Take an afternoon to whip up a dozen breakfast sandwiches and store them in your freezer. Then, when you need to feed your family, all you need to do is reheat a few sandwiches in the oven.

Get the Recipe:Freezer Breakfast Panini

Meal Prep Chicken Bites

These herby nuggets of chicken are delicious straight from the skillet. Or, you can make them on a Sunday and keep them on hand for last-minute meals. They’re great tossed with noodles, slipped into a sandwich and more.

Get the Recipe:Meal Prep Chicken Bites

Quinoa and Rice Pilaf

Here’s how to cook quinoa with rice: Put them in the pot together and let them simmer until tender. It’s really as simple as that! Use the fluffy grains as a side dish or base for a grain bowl. Or try our favorite way to enjoy them: sprinkled into a salad for a hearty lunch.

Get the Recipe:Quinoa and Rice Pilaf

Roasted Beets

Beet and goat cheese salad is one of our favorite lunches — and it comes together quick with the help of Ina’s recipe. Bake a batch of beets on Sunday and store them in the refrigerator so all you have to do at lunch time is toss them over some greens.

Get the Recipe:Roasted Beets

Mexican Green Quinoa

The great thing about this quinoa is that it’s delicious served hot or at room temperature. That makes it perfect for meal prep. Make a big batch and toss it into burritos, wraps, salads and more.

Get the Recipe:Mexican Green Quinoa

Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower

If you’re trying to eat more veggies (or less carbs) Ina’s Parmesan cauliflower is a good place to start. It’s great as the base for a homemade, microwave ready meal. Plus, you’ll have enough cauliflower to last for a few lunches.

Get the Recipe:Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower

Black Bean and Corn Salad

One of our favorite things to meal prep is corn and bean salad. If you’ve got some on hand you can easily turn pre-cooked chicken and rice into a burrito or give salad greens a southwestern spin.

Get the Recipe:Black Bean and Corn Salad

Farro Tabbouleh with Feta

With hearty farro and chickpeas, a healthy dose of herbs and veggies and a flavorful sprinkling of feta cheese and olives, Ina’s tabbouleh makes a great vegetarian meal. Add some variety throughout the week by serving over greens or alongside grilled chicken.

Get the Recipe:Farro Tabbouleh with Feta

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Cinnamon

Roasted sweet potatoes are a meal prep two-for-one. They’re useful at lunchtime in salads and wraps — and just as good in the morning for breakfast. Sprinkle a few over your bowl of oatmeal and top with syrup, cinnamon and some almonds for a sweet and satisfying start to your day.

Get the Recipe:Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Cinnamon

Pasta Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing

Rachel’s no-mayo pasta salad is a must-try. It’s great on its own but also turns leafy greens into a meal on the fly. You can even add some of your meal prep chicken for extra protein.

Get the Recipe:Pasta Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing

The Best Tuna Salad

Turn canned tuna into a lunch-ready protein with just a few, simple ingredients. Scoop this classic tuna salad into lettuce cups or tuck it into pita for a quick meal.

Get the Recipe:The Best Tuna Salad

Instant Pot Meal Prep Breakfast Burritos

Step up your meal prep game with these breakfast burritos. They are easy to prepare in a variety of flavors — all at the same time. It’s nice to have choices!

Get the Recipe:Instant Pot Meal Prep Breakfast Burritos

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