57 Best Meal Prep Recipes - Easy Meal Prep Ideas

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: CATE BROWN

Deciding what to can be tough. Of course, meal prepping sounds like a genius idea, right? It saves time and money, takes the guesswork out of what to eat, and can lead to making choices over time. The trouble is deciding what to make. It’s got to be interesting enough that you’ll want to eat it over and over again, easy enough that it can be prepped in one go, and simple enough that the idea of prepping it isn’t overwhelming. Phew! Good thing we’re up to the challenge, for , , and . Check out our 57 best meal prep recipes for ideas—you’ll become a master at it in no time.

If you’re unfamiliar, the idea of meal prepping is just what it sounds like—making multiple meals ahead of time rather than cooking each meal individually. It’s not a novel concept (hello, !), but it can be tricky to plan to do it for all of your meals. To start, you’re going to want to get some good . The goal is to make you more organized, not less, so we definitely recommend getting a matching set.

Once you’ve got those ready, get to prepping! We recommend starting with a base like or (try it in a to make it extra easy on yourself). Then get in some veggies and legumes, like our , our , or our . Next up should be , like our , (not just for breakfast!), or . Speaking of, we've got a number of other recipes that include nearly everything you’ll need (including protein, carbs, and veggies) too, like our , our , or our . Just add something to go with them, and you’ll be all set. Check out our , our , our , or our to see examples of what a perfect meal-prepped dish looks like, then get creative in making your own.

It should be noted that SO many of our recipes are already meal prep-ready (we love making things easier for you in the kitchen). Check out our favorite , our , our , our , and our too.

1

BBQ Protein Bowls

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: CATE BROWN

If you’re searching for a delicious, well-rounded dinner with protein packed into every bite (yes, even the coleslaw), look no further. This is one customizable you can return to again and again without ever eating the same meal twice.

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2

Blended Overnight Oats

PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

These blended started to pop up on our TikTok feeds, and we needed to see if they lived up to the hype. And did they ever! Blending the ingredients together gives the finished recipe a thick, almost pudding-like texture.

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Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

With tender spiced meat, crunchy fresh veggies, , and chewy pita, it's not hard to see why are so globally beloved. Inspired by this popular sandwich, we created this healthy but hearty bowl that's perfect for a light dinner.

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4

Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles

PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Who can resist bathed in an abundance of sweet and creamy peanut sauce? The trick here is getting everything in order before starting to cook. The prep actually takes longer than the cooking, but once it's behind you, the dish comes together in a snap!

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Peanut Butter Protein Balls

PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Not only are these bites quick and easy to make, but they're so tasty, you'll have a hard time believing they're as nutritious as they are. These really are the perfect pick-me-up for a or a to hold you over until .

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6

Miso Salmon & Farro Bowl

PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Take your Monday night dinner into a Tuesday afternoon with this recipe featuring some new faves, miso and farro. has toasty, savory, and slightly sweet notes that pair well with hearty fish like , while the dense, chewy grains have a more interesting texture than average or .

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Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: PEARL JONES

We know that this is a " salad," but you can totally switch out chickpeas for your favorite canned beans: Creamy cannellini beans, black beans, or kidney beans are all great options. Our lemon-parsley vinaigrette is perfectly tart and fresh with a hint of spice, and it'll go great with anything.

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8

Sweet Potato Salad

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This salad is incredible for meal prepping—it's great for any meal from morning 'til night. , dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of the orange super food. Did we mention it's great warm or cold?

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Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies

PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This recipe combines well-seasoned with red , , and onions for a ready in a little more than 30 minutes. Not only is it so simple to throw together, it's extremely versatile. This dinner is all about ease—make it work for you.

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10

Freezer Burritos

PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

To make these easy prepped , gets simmered in spiced tomato sauce, then layered into a with , , and a blend of cheese. Though the goal is to get these wrapped and in the freezer for a future meal, we won’t judge if you eat one right away. 😉

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Peanut Chicken Protein Bowls

PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

With a homemade peanut dressing, sliced , sweet potato, spinach, and avocado, this healthy dinner is one we love to at the beginning of the week, then assemble and feast on all week long.

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12

Mini Mushroom Pasta Bakes

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING BARRETT WASHBURNE

For these , you get the best of all worlds from a creamy, cheesy sauce reminiscent of your favorite oven-baked , plus crispy, savory bread crumbs and hearty, almost meaty.

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Cosmic Brownie Protein Bites

PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Need a little sweet something at 4 p.m. to carry you until ? protein bites are here for you. Made with a handful of pantry ingredients plus your favorite protein powder, these simple stir-together bites will become as integral to your adult snacking life as their namesake was to your childhood.

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14

Summer Roll Bowls

PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Love a but don’t want to fuss with the wrapper? Meet your new favorite . Rice noodles, shrimp, avocado, thinly sliced veggies, and a plethora of greens are tossed together in a tangy nước chấm dressing that make meal prepping a breeze.

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Sushi Bowls

PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Not ready to make your own or at home quite yet but craving all of the classic flavors? A homemade sushi bowl is a great place to start. Not only will it make you a sushi expert, but will make your meal prepping feel fun and creative.

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16

Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites

PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Giving cold hard cash to Starbucks seems far-fetched in this economy, even if that cash is in exchange for their fluffy, cheesy, -packed egg bites. Lucky for you (and your wallet), we've figured out a perfect dupe for the iconic bites that will make you swear you shelled out $5 for a serving.

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Blackened Shrimp Bowls

ANDREW BUI

With seasoned, blackened , fresh veggies, fire-roasted corn, and a brown rice base, this bowl has it all. Filled with whole grains, protein, and fresh veg, these are the perfect bowls if you're looking for an easy, or an ideal meal-prep formula.

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18

Bulgogi

PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP

Extremely popular at Western BBQ joints, beef bulgogi is deeply delicious thanks to its signature marinade, which both tenderizes the meat and infuses each bite with complex flavor. This dish isn’t difficult to make, but does take some time: make it on Sunday, then enjoy the fruits of your labor all week long.

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Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowls

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

It wouldn’t be a menu without a in some form or another—these cottage cheese bowls fit the bill. Packed with , nutrient-rich vegetables, and healthy fats (not to mention a whole lot of flavor), they’re the perfect anytime vegetarian meal.

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20

Salmon Quinoa Bowls

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This recipe is not only a simple, (ready in 20 minutes!), but it’s a texture lover’s paradise. is the base for our , setting the stage for fresh arugula, thin slices of cucumber, tender, buttery , and a homemade creamy dill and yogurt dressing.

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