Looking for some great Meal Prep Recipes? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled this list of easy and healthy make ahead meals for you.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner, we have some great recipes for you. Make your life easier and healthier by prepping your meals ahead of time!
How to Meal Prep
- Plan – Figure out which recipes you will be prepping and how many servings you will be making, then make a shopping list.
- Shop – One of the great things about meal prep is how much money you can save. No more buying a head of broccoli on impulse and letting it go bad in the fridge. Everything is bought for a specific purpose.
- Get containers – If you don’t already have them, you’ll need containers to store your individual portions in. We prefer glass containers, but plastic one will work as well.
- Prepare your meals – Cook your chosen healthy meal prep recipe and portion it into containers.
For a wealth of meal prep tips and advice, which includes our own tips on how to keep the kitchen tidy while meal prepping, check out this article on Porch.
1. Rainbow Pasta Salad
Lets start this Meal Prep Recipe list with this super simple pasta salad. You can make a huge batch of this colorful pasta and you are all set for all week’s light and healthy lunches. You can very easily customize this pasta salad with whatever veggies or pantry staples you can find.
Check out our collection of favorite Pasta Salad Recipes!
2. Meal Prep Chicken
This is simply brilliant! You can prep your chicken for the entire week. Use delicious orange chicken marinade like orange chicken and make this super simple meal prep chicken..
3. Sesame Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
Meal Prep Sesame Chicken Bowls! This is your thing to look forward to when you want meals on the table without slaving too much on the stove. Great to take it in school lunch boxes too…
4. Kung Pao Chicken
This is a perfect meal prep option if you feel like Chinese lunches or dinners. Make a huge batch of this sweet, savory and spicy Kung Pao Chicken and simply load it on some jasmine or basmati rice in your containers.
5. Summer Detox Chicken Buddha Bowl
Everything you need for a complete meal, all in a single bowl! It’s my Summer Detox Chicken Buddha Bowl!! This healthy meal has delicious chicken, sweet potatoes, chick peas, kale, brussels sprouts and quinoa all drizzled with tahini dressing. Tasty and healthy…
6. Korean Ground Beef Bowl
This Korean Ground Beef Bowl has just the right combination of sweet, salty, umami and just a touch of spicy. Try it when you crave some Asian flavors, or just need something super quick! Great Asian meal prep idea.
7. 15-Minute Ground Turkey Stir Fry Meal Prep
This Ground Turkey Stir Fry is excellent meal prep recipe and can be made super fast. You can pack them up either on cauliflower rice for a low carb meal prep option, or it’s great with regular rice too. Great in lettuce wraps too.. You have so many different meal ideas with this ground turkey meal prep.
8. Thai Cashew Chicken meal prep
Give your stir fry night a new twist with this Thai Cashew Chicken. It’s an easy dish that’s bursting with layers of flavor and texture. Make a huge batch and divide into meal prep containers with rice, fried rice or noodles for all future lunches.
9. Crock Pot Barbacoa Pork
Super easy, Super tasty and Super versatile. Make a huge batch and you are all set for multiple meals for next few days. Try in tacos, burrito bowls, nachos or use your own creativity!
10. Moo Shu Chicken Meal Prep
Moo Shu Chicken… All ready to get wrapped up or served on a bed of rice. This is one colorful Chinese stir fry loaded with bold sweet, savory and umami flavors. Make this Asian restaurant classic right in your kitchen in about 20 minute and prepped for the entire week!!!
11. Carne Picada (Best Taco / Burrito Meat)
If you haven’t yet come across Carne Picada, it’s about time to try this Tex-Mex delish from our Latin neighbors. This Picada style “carne” meaning beef, turns into delicious Taco and Burrito meat with a few Mexican earthy spices braised in tomato sauce. Get ready to try a new taco or burrito with the most flavorful meat in between that tortilla. Great Mexican theme meal prep idea!!
12. Moroccan Lentil Soup
Give your regular lentils an exotic makeover with this delectable soup. The warm and flavorful combination of Moroccan spices will forever change your idea of a bowl of lentils. Make a big batch so you can slurp it away for a few days.
Check out our collection of favorite Soup Recipes!
13. The BEST Mongolian Beef
Mongolian Beef – Melt in your mouth tender strips of beef stir fried in a silky velvety sauce. You can stir fry this in less time than a trip to the takeout place! Or for other options, try the crock pot or instant pot methods.
14. Tortellini Pasta Salad with Prosciutto
This gorgeous Tortellini Pasta Salad is one dish that looks as great as it tastes. It’s so quick and easy, making it an ideal easy meal prep option. Some days it’s just mixing everything in a bowl…
15. Japanese Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
This Teriyaki Chicken Bowl is absolutely Irresist-A-Bowl! Tender juicy chicken, glistening in tasty sauce, alongside Asian coleslaw and creamy avocado. All atop a bed of hot rice. Yum! This meal is ideal for your make ahead dinner options.
16. Flank Steak Fajitas
These flank steak fajitas are the perfect easy option when that Mexican food craving hits. Perfectly marinated, melt in your mouth tender beef strips with colorful peppers. You’re in for a fun meal with this one!
17. Meaty Cabbage Soup
This hearty, meaty cabbage soup is the perfect one pot dinner. It’s loaded with protein and healthy veggies. Cook it in the crock pot, instant pot or on stove top, it’ll turn out great every time!
18. Beef Kheema (Indian Ground Beef with Peas)
If you’re craving for some curry time, this Indian ground beef with peas is super simple to make with just few Indian staple ingredients. Make a big batch and pack it up over basmati rice for your next week’s dinner or lunches.
19. Mediterranean Pasta
Looking for some meatless meal prep ideas? This Mediterranean Pasta is your answer. Super simple and easy and yet it looks gorgeous and taste awesome!
20. Ropa Vieja
This Ropa Vieja, Cuba’s national dish, is slow cooked tender shredded beef in an amazingly flavorful sauce. So good! We have methods for stovetop, slow cooker and instant pot so you can cook it however you want!
21. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas for Meal Prep
These quick Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas are the perfect family dinner, full of flavor and easy on the cleanup!
Well seasoned chicken and veggies all cook on a single baking sheet, and the end result is so succulent and delicious that you’ll want to make this recipe again and again. Make a big batch as a great meal prep option for all future meals.
22. Egg Roll Soup
This Egg Roll Soup is everything you dream about in your beloved egg roll, but in a cozy, delicious soupified way. You wouldn’t mind eating it for multiple days…
23. Chile Verde
Chile Verde – Melt in your mouth tender pork chunks in a flavorful, spicy tomatillo sauce. It’s a great winter warmer, but it’s so good you’ll want it all year long! Make a huge batch and you can have it in so many ways… in your burritos, tacos, taco bowls or over rice!
24. Crack Chicken
This addictingly delicious Crack Chicken is loaded with creamy cheesy goodness. And it’s topped with bacon! This easy recipe is equally great in the crockpot or instant pot.
25. Meal Prep Ground Beef Stir Fry
Does dinner in 20 minutes sound good? Then this Ground Beef Stir Fry recipe is a jackpot for you!
Packed with hearty ground beef, an assortment of colorful veggies, and a stir fry sauce that’s an umami lover’s dream, this may be the easiest dinner you’ve ever cooked. Make a big batch and you are all set for few days.
26. 15-Minute Egg Roll in a Bowl
If you try this one time, you will always come back to this easy meal prep idea for all your lunches or dinners. Simple ground pork with aromatics like ginger and garlic with veggies like carrots and cabbage and some Asian staple ingredients and BAM… great tasting meal in no time!
27.Asian Meatballs
These easy Asian Meatballs are succulent, juicy and smothered with a sticky sauce that pops with vibrant flavors!They also take less than 30 minutes to make and are perfect for weekly meal prep!
Check out our collection of favorite Meatball Recipes!
28. Cuban Mojo Pork
Rich and succulent tender shredded pork with amazing flavors created by citrus juice, plenty of garlic and some select herbs. All you are doing is making a quick Mojo Marinade and cooking the pork slow and low for hours, smothered in citrusy Mojo.
29. Korean Ground Chicken Bowl
These Korean Ground Chicken Bowls are a hit! They’re loaded with umami flavor, a bit of spiciness, and plenty of great textures. You can serve it over rice with different veggie options.
30. Meal Prep Beef and Broccoli
Everyone’s favorite meal prep recipe.. Beef and Broccoli. Make it the best stir fry night ever with our Beef and Broccoli Recipe. It’s an under 30 minute meal that’s bursting with flavor. Perfect for any busy weeknight dinner.
This quick beef stir fry only takes simple ingredients, but you’ll end up with flavors that top any takeout place.
31. Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls
These chicken burrito bowls are healthy and delicious. This burrito bowl is super customizable, so you can easily make it your own. And it’s ideal for meal prep, so you can chow down all week long!
32. Sheet Pan Chicken
Sheet Pan dinners, the perfect answer to fuss free weeknight meals! This Sheet Pan Chicken with colorful veggies not only looks very inviting, but every single bite is bursting with flavor.
Here, chicken bites and veggies are seasoned well with a zesty, herby marinade and cook on a sheet pan in about 30 minutes.
33. Meal Prep Taco Pasta
Taco Pasta!! Now that’s a taco lover’s sweet dream. All your favorite taco flavors get cheesy and creamy, mixed in with any type of your preferred pasta, and Taco Pasta happens. How cool!!
34. Healthy Hibachi Chicken
This restaurant style Hibachi Chicken dinner includes sautéed veggies and fried rice, along with tangy Yum Yum sauce, for a complete one pan meal. It’s easy, delicious and perfect for meal prep.
35. Kalua Pork (Hawaiian Style Pulled Pork)
This Kalua Pork recipe uses minimal ingredients, but ends up super tasty and succulent. It’s perfect for a meal prep, and can be cooked in the slow cooker, instant pot, or oven.
36. Chicken Shawarma
This easy Chicken Shawarma brings the flavors, big time! It is boldly flavorful Middle Eastern dish that you can grill, bake or cook on stovetop. Make a big batch, this one is a great meal prep contender!
37. Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
These easy Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a hit! Brimming with Mediterranean flavors, even your picky eaters won’t mind their veggies.
With hearty wild rice, sweet cherry tomatoes, briny olives, nutty pine nuts, and plenty of great seasonings, they’re a meal that you’ll want to make again and again.
38. Spicy Sausage Pasta
This Spicy Sausage Pasta takes your favorite combination of pasta with meat sauce, and gives it a little bit of fiery kick.
39. General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s Chicken is a Chinese restaurant favorite. Skip the takeout, homemade is so much better!
This easy recipe is lightened up, no deep frying required, but still has those same amazing flavors you love.
40. Teriyaki Chicken
Meal prep the easiest teriyaki chicken recipe and you are all set with great tasting meal for days. These Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are the ultimate Umami BOMB, thanks to the easy homemade marinade.
So many meal prep recipes! You’ll be all set for make ahead breakfasts, lunches and dinners!
40 BEST Ways to Meal Prep
This great collection of make-ahead Meal Prep Recipes will help you eat healthier, cheaper and more convenient! We especially love this pasta salad:
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 1 lb pasta such as rotini, penne or farfalle
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, chopped
- 1 cup garbanzo beans
- 8 oz crumbled feta cheese
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1 tsp pepper or to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp parsley fresh, chopped
- 2 Tbsp oregano fresh, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried oregano)
- 2 Tbsp basil fresh, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried basil)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Add salt to your water, at least 2 tbsp of salt. After draining your pasta add a little olive oil to prevent it from sticking together.
- In a small bowl or jar add all the dressing ingredients together and whisk well. If using a jar, put the lid on and close it, then shake well.
- Toss all salad ingredients together, mix in dressing. Chill before serving.
Notes
- Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!
Check out these other great recipe collections!
Chicken Recipes
Sheet Pan Dinners
Keto Lunch Recipes
Keto Breakfast Recipes
Healthy Dinner Ideas
Quick Lunch Ideas
Cheap Dinner Ideas
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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I love meal prepping! These recipes are perfect for me!