18 Easy Meal Prep Ideas That'll Give You One Less Thing To Worry About This Week
If the term "meal prep" conjures up visions of spending an entire day cooking to exhaustion (and then eating the same boring meals every day for an entire work week), we've got good news for you: you're not alone!
Lucky for you, we've rounded up some of our favorite meal prep recipes that we promise you won't get tired of, and will ~actually~ make you excited for your Sunday meal prep session.
1.Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
No lie: in only four simple steps, you can make a week's worth of these succulent shredded chicken tacos.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos | Shop This Recipe
2.20-Minute Beef And Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry
With this super simple list of ingredients, you can whip up a week of protein-packed lunches with very little effort (and in only thirty minutes).
Recipe: 20-Minute Beef And Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry | Shop This Recipe
3.Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry
This simple and delicious stir-fry is considered the "better, homemade version of Panda Express" by multiple commenters. Need we say more?
Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry | Shop This Recipe
4.Freezer-Prep French Toast Sticks
There's a reason kids love these — they're totally delicious. Make a big batch on Sunday for virtually-instant breakfasts all week long.
5.Microwave Meal-Prep Lasagna
Bring a container of this meal-prep lasagna to work, pop it in the microwave, and that tantalizing smell will make you the envy of every single one of your coworkers.
Recipe: Microwave Meal-Prep Lasagna | Shop This Recipe
6.Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls
To make this chicken burrito bowl totally grain-free, you can easily swap the rice for cauliflower rice or roasted veggies.
7.Strawberry Banana Smoothie Meal Prep
If you're a breakfast-skipper due to a complete lack of time (we've been there), give this easy make-ahead smoothie a try.
Recipe: Strawberry Banana Smoothie Meal Prep | Shop This Recipe
8.Balsamic Chicken And Veggies Meal Prep
Overcoming meal prep monotony looks like...well, this dish, starring sticky-sweet balsamic chicken that's anything but basic.
Recipe: Balsamic Chicken And Veggies Meal Prep | Shop This Recipe
9.Parmesan Crusted Salmon
This sheet pan salmon recipe is a great one to ensure that your baked salmon stays moist on the inside (with a crisp, cheesy crust).
Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Salmon | Shop This Recipe
10.Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls
This vibrant dish can be whipped up in just 25 minutes and will be just as delicious at the end of the week as it was in the beginning.
Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls | Shop This Recipe
11.Meal-Prep Garlic Chicken And Veggie Pasta
Miracles do happen — as one commenter put it: "this made sooo much that I actually got 6 days of meals out of it, so my husband gets to have some this week, too!"
Recipe: Meal-Prep Garlic Chicken And Veggie Pasta | Shop This Recipe
12.Meal Prep Pesto Chicken Pasta
Some readers recommend the addition of heavy cream if you prefer a creamier pasta, to which we would say...you should absolutely go for it.
13.Blueberry Overnight Oats
On busy mornings, you'll be grateful you prepped these blueberry overnight oats for a grab-and-go breakfast that's ready in seconds.
Recipe: Blueberry Overnight Oats | Shop This Recipe
14.Weekday Meal-Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies
You can easily store this veggie-packed meal in the refrigerator for up to four days, which is a major win.
Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies | Shop This Recipe
15.Three Bean Salad
For an extra punch of flavor and sharpness, one reader suggests adding crumbled feta cheese to this protein-packed three bean salad.
Recipe: Three Bean Salad | Shop This Recipe
16.Eggplant Potato Tomato Stew
If you're craving a plant-based but filling stew, this eggplant potato tomato stew might just become your new meal prep go-to.
Recipe: Eggplant Potato Tomato Stew | Shop This Recipe
17.One-Pan Teriyaki Chicken Meal Prep
You can't go wrong making this one-pan teriyaki chicken dish — it's super easy to make and you can customize each portion with the veggies of your choice.
Recipe: One-Pan Teriyaki Chicken Meal Prep | Shop This Recipe
18.Make-Ahead Chicken & Rice Bake
Besides being ridiculously satisfying and comforting, commenters love how well this chicken and rice bake freezes, so you can enjoy a warming meal whenever you need it most.
