25+ Easy Meal Prep Recipes That Save Time and Money
These 25+ Easy Meal Prep Recipes are the key to eating healthy without wasting a bunch of time and money. These meal prep ideas will save you a ton of cooking time throughout the week, are budget-friendly, and super customizable to what you have on hand!
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You don't need endless meal-prep services. You need a plan, but not an overwhelming one. Meal prepping doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, you can meal prep recipes every single week without breaking a sweat or your wallet. In this list, I've compiled tons of meal prep recipe ideas that everyone will love, no matter your diet or food preferences! From breakfast to bowls, salads, and tacos, this list has everything you need.
Meal Prep Breakfast Recipes
Healthy Freezer Breakfast Burritos
Healthy Freezer Burritos packed with scrambled eggs, black beans, pepper, onions, and cheese make the best meal prep breakfast.
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Quinoa Egg Muffins
Quinoa Egg Muffins are made with broccoli, sundried tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese for a crave-worthy breakfast that keeps your belly full and your taste buds happy. These easy egg muffins are perfect for on-the-go breakfasts and healthy snacks alike!
Slow Cooker Meal Prep
Chicken Tinga (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Stovetop)
This easy Chicken Tinga is the best way to make shredded chicken for Mexican dishes. The chicken is cooked in a smoky, slightly spicy tomato sauce and comes out perfectly tender every time.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos are made with juicy, melt-in-your-mouth pork cooked with smoky, savory spices, topped with a crunchy, creamy slaw! The slow cooker makes things super easy and hands-off, so you don't have to worry about standing over the stovetop.
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas (6 Ingredients)
Made with just 6 ingredients, Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas are an easy, hands-off way to make delicious, tender chicken fajitas right in the crockpot! Use this delicious shredded fajita chicken with bell peppers and onions for tacos, burritos, bowls, salads, and more.
Meal Prep Bowls
Chicken Kofta Bowls
These healthy Chicken Kofta Bowls are an easy 20-minute recipe that takes all the flavors of a traditional Kofta kebab and combines them in an easy-to-prepare bowl. The chicken really soaks up the spices, giving it a delicious flavor!
Mexican Street Corn Chicken Bowl
Mexican Street Corn Taco Bowl are made with juicy taco-seasoned chicken, smoky street corn, and fun toppings. Ready in 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep!
BBQ Chicken Bowl
These BBQ Chicken Bowls are an easy, no-fuss dinner that brings together juicy chicken, homemade corn slaw, and all your favorite BBQ flavors in just under 45 minutes.
High Protein Chicken Buddha Bowl
These High-Protein Buddha Bowls with Chicken are packed with protein, fiber, and flavor, making them my go-to for a healthy, satisfying meal that's easy to make any day of the week.
Chipotle Ranch Chicken Bowls
These Chipotle Ranch Chicken Bowls are an easy meal packed with juicy chicken, whole grains, black beans, tons of fresh veggies, and a creamy chipotle ranch dressing that doubles as a marinade and sauce. They are perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep!
Vegan Ground Beef Burrito Bowls (with Impossible Meat)
These Vegan Ground Beef Burrito Bowls are made with Impossible Meat, cilantro lime rice, avocado corn salsa, and tons of delicious toppings!
Greek Chicken Bowls (Grilled or Rotisserie Chicken)
Healthy and delicious Greek Chicken Bowls with marinated grilled chicken, quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and olives in a delicious Greek dressing. Easy to make and great for meal prep.
Mexican Meal Prep Recipes
Black Bean Tacos
Black Bean Tacos are made with a flavorful combination of black beans, veggies, and fresh cilantro for out-of-this-world flavor. Serve these vegan-friendly tacos on their own or alongside rice for the ultimate healthy lunch or dinner.
Healthy Chicken Quesadillas
These Healthy Chicken Quesadillas come together in less than twenty minutes and are filled with good for you ingredients like chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes. With 300 calories and 27 grams of protein, this quesadilla will keep you full all day.
Fish Burritos
These Fish Burritos are the ultimate easy weeknight dinner. They're ready in 20 minutes, packed with flavor, and endlessly customizable (plus kids love them!). With a mix of smoky ancho chili powder, zesty citrus, and fresh toppings, these burritos have it all.
Chicken Poblano Tacos
Chicken Poblano Tacos are a quick, delicious dinner that's packed with flavor and easy to make! This recipe checks all the boxes, too. It's spicy, creamy, and completely satisfying!
Turkey Taco and Cauliflower Rice Skillet
This Turkey Taco and Cauliflower Rice skillet is an easy 20-minute dinner that is bursting with flavor, naturally low carbs and high in protein, and great for meal prep.
Meal Prep Salads
Avocado Chicken Salad
This healthy Avocado Chicken Salad is made with chicken breast, avocado, lemon juice, and celery for a fun twist on a classic that's ready in 10 minutes. Slap it on bread, salads, lettuce wraps, and more for an easy lunch.
Ensalada De Pollo (Mexican Chicken Salad)
Ensalada de Pollo is Mexico’s classic chicken salad—creamy, refreshing, and protein-packed! Make it in less than 15 minutes with shredded chicken, peas, carrots, corn, and a delicious zesty dressing. Enjoy it on tostadas, sandwiches, wraps, or a green salad!
Healthy Tuna Salad
This Healthy Tuna Salad, made with Greek yogurt, crunchy celery, fresh lemon juice, tastes just like classic deli tuna salad without the extra fat and calories! Ready in just 10 minutes.
Protein Packed Salad Bowls
These Protein-Packed Salad Bowls are the perfect healthy lunch or dinner. Each power bowl has over forty grams of protein from a combination of chicken, crispy chickpeas, bacon, quinoa, veggies, and the most delicious creamy cilantro ranch dressing.
Asian Meal Prep Recipes
Easy Salmon Stir Fry
Make this healthy and delicious Salmon Stir Fry in less than 30 minutes! Packed with tender chunks of salmon, lots of fresh vegetables, and the most amazing homemade teriyaki-inspired stir-fry sauce.
Korean Beef Bowls
These healthy Korean Beef Bowls with Vegetables are a quick and easy dinner made with lean ground beef, a sweet and spicy Korean sauce, and plenty of vegetables!
Sweet Chili Pork and Rice Bowl
This Sweet Chili Pork and Rice Bowl is a weeknight winner. Packed with flavor, lean protein, and loads of veggies, it's easy to make and so delicious!
Sweet Chili Chicken Salad
This Sweet Chili Chicken Salad is packed with vibrant Asian-inspired flavors and is ready in 15 minutes, making it the perfect quick meal for busy days or meal prep!
Soup Meal Prep
Minestrone Soup
Minestrone Soup has to be one of the best ways to enjoy a cozy, hearty meal that's still packed with veggies and good-for-you ingredients. This soup is ready in 40 minutes, so it's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something hearty yet quick.
Healthy Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
This Crockpot Lasagna Soup is everything you love about lasagna but in an easy to make, hearty soup that's made in the crockpot! It's so much easier than traditional lasagna and is the perfect comfort food.
Chicken Tortilla Soup with Corn is a hearty and delicious take on classic comfort food. With tender chicken, fresh corn, and a rich, spicy broth, this dish is bursting with flavor and perfect for chilly nights.
Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup
This cozy Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup is loaded with tender chicken, hearty sweet potatoes, pearl couscous or pasta, carrots, celery, and onion. It's the perfect cold weather soup.
Meal Prep Sides
Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
This Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is what happens when your favorite taco night toppings meet the best parts of a summer salad, all in just 15 minutes. Loaded with sweet mango, creamy avocado, crisp jicama, black beans, and juicy tomatoes, it's quick to prep and full of satisfying flavor and crunch.
Easy Mediterranean Salad
This Chickpea Mediterranean Salad Recipe is packed with fresh veggies, ready in less than 15 minutes, and bursting with flavor from fresh herbs, lemon, and feta cheese. Enjoy it as a side dish or main dish, plus it's great for meal prep!
Mexican Quinoa (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Stovetop)
This hearty Mexican Quinoa couldn't be easier to make! We love it as an easy one-dish meal with melted cheese and your favorite taco toppings.
Tips and Tricks for Meal Prepping for the Week
If you're new to meal prepping, here are some quick tips and tricks to make meal prepping something you look forward to each week:
- Pick a game plan: Choose 2–3 recipes for the week that use some of the same ingredients. It'll save you time, money, and fridge space, and you won't feel like you're eating the same thing every day.
- Use good containers: This makes a huge difference. Go for microwave-safe containers with compartments so your food doesn't all mush together. Glass containers are great if you plan on reheating.
- Batch the basics: Cook a big batch of grains like quinoa or rice, roast some veggies, and maybe prep some protein. You can mix and match all week without starting from scratch every night.
- Label stuff: Trust me, by midweek, you won't remember what's in which container. A little masking tape and a Sharpie go a long way.
- Don't forget snacks: Prepping snacks like cut fruit, veggies, or boiled eggs helps you stay on track and keeps you from grabbing whatever's convenient (and probably not the best).
- Freeze the extras: If you made more than you can eat in a few days, freeze a couple of portions for next week.Things like soups, stews, and quinoa bowls hold up well in the freezer.
- Keep sauces on the side: Nobody likes soggy food. Store your dressings or sauces separately and add them when you're ready to eat.
- Make it easy to see: Stack your meals in the fridge so they're front and center. You'll be more likely to grab what you've prepped instead of forgetting it's in there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance can I meal-prep?
Cooked dishes usually stay fresh 3–4 days in the refrigerator when sealed tightly. If you need a full week, freeze half and thaw mid-week or do a quick second prep session on Wednesday.
What containers work best?
Choose BPA-free, microwave-safe containers with tight lids. Glass or silicone is ideal for reheating; lightweight plastic is fine for packed lunches. Divided containers keep sauces and crunchy toppings separate.
Can every recipe be frozen?
Soups, stews, chili, cooked grains, and saucy proteins freeze well. Raw salads, yogurt parfaits, and dishes heavy on eggs or dairy often lose texture after thawing. Test-freeze a single portion if you’re unsure.
What’s the safest way to cool and store food?
Let hot food cool for no more than two hours, portion it into shallow containers, and refrigerate promptly. Keep meals at eye level in the fridge so they’re not forgotten.
More Easy Recipes
More Easy Recipes
These are always a favorite!