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These 70 Meal Prep Recipes Help Me Feel Like My Life's In Order (Even When It's Not)

Let us take the guesswork out of prepping.

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bbq chicken in a grain bowl with corn, pickles, and slaw
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Yes, 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 healthier 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 breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Check out our 70 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, leftovers!), 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 meal prep-ready containers. 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 pasta or rice (try it in a rice cooker to make it extra easy on yourself). Then get in some veggies and legumes, like our sweet potato salad, our Mediterranean chickpea salad, or our TikTok green goddess salad. Next up should be protein, like our slow cooker Korean beef, tofu scramble (not just for breakfast!), or sheet-pan sausage & vegetables. 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 BBQ sheet-pan chicken, our sheet-pan garlicky shrimp & veggies, or our Thai-inspired basil beef. Just add something to go with them, and you’ll be all set. Check out our halal cart-style cauliflower bowls, our avocado breakfast bowls, our copycat Chipotle burrito bowls, or our salmon quinoa bowls to see examples of what a perfect meal prepped dish looks like, then get creative in making your own.

It should be noted, SO many of our recipes are already meal prep-ready (we love making things easier for you in the kitchen). Check out our favorite one-pan meals, our sheet-pan dinners, our slow-cooker recipes, our top quick dinners, and our best air fryer recipes too.

1

Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls

ground turkey with cauliflower rice, cucumber salad, and tzatziki
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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

Get the Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls recipe.

2

Freezer Burritos

seasoned ground beef layered with refried beans, rice, and a blend of monterey jack and cheddar cheese then rolled into a flour tortilla
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

To make these easy prepped burritos, ground beef gets simmered in spiced tomato sauce, then layered into a flour tortilla with refried beans, rice, 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. 😉

Get the Freezer Burritos recipe.

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3

Copycat Egg McMuffin

copycat egg mcmuffin
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

When the McDonald’s drive-through window is closed, you can rely on this easy-to-follow copycat recipe for backup. All you need are some English muffins, Canadian bacon, American cheese, and eggs. You might actually enjoy the process of making these too; meal prep them for the morning commute or pack them for the kids to eat on their way to school.

Get the Copycat Egg McMuffin recipe.
4

Blended Overnight Oats

blended overnight oats in a jar with toppings
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

These blended overnight oats 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. Because these are peanut butter oats, a cap of melted chocolate felt important here. (And chocolate is absolutely a breakfast food. See: pain au chocolat.) Sliced bananas, crunchy peanuts, cacao nibs, and more honey complete this magical breakfast moment.

Get the Blended Overnight Oats recipe.

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5

Bulgogi

bulgogi
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP

Extremely popular at Western Korean 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.

Get the Bulgogi recipe.

6

Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowls

cottage cheese, soft boiled eggs, and a cucumber tomato salad topped with pita chips
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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

Get the Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowls recipe.

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7

Salmon Quinoa Bowls

quinoa in a bowl with salmon, arugula, cucumber, lemon wedges, and a green sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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

Get the Salmon Quinoa Bowls recipe.

8

Cosmic Brownie Protein Bites

cosmic brownie protein bites on a red plate
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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

Get the Cosmic Brownie Protein Bites recipe.

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9

BBQ Protein Bowls

bbq chicken in a grain bowl with corn, pickles, and slaw
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

With BBQ chicken, corn, an easy slaw, rice, and pickles, these grain bowls are a protein-packed dinner that's meal prep gold. Once you prep the rice ahead of time, these bowls will only take 15 minutes to cook and assemble!

Get the BBQ Protein Bowls recipe.

10

Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu)

spicy salmon, seasoned sushi rice, cucumber, pickled cabbage, carrot, and avocado, all wrapped in nori and served with sriracha soy mayo
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: TIFFANY SCHLEIGH

Inspired by the popular Japanese onigirazu, this is like a cross between sushi and a sandwich. We filled ours with spicy salmon, seasoned sushi rice, cucumber, pickled cabbage, carrot, and avocado—then wrapped it in nori to make it extra portable. Serve it with plenty of the sriracha-soy mayo on the side!

Get the Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu) recipe.

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11

Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry

creamy orange coconut chickpea and sweet potato curry served with rice and topped with cilantro
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you're craving a hearty and comforting dinner that's also vegan, look no further. This curry is bursting with ingredients inspired by chana masala, and is so chock-full of flavor that you won't miss the meat.

Get the Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry recipe.

12

Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles

chicken with noodles and carrots in a creamy peanut lime sauce topped with peanuts
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Who can resist rice noodles 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!

Get the Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles recipe.

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13

Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls

saucy, spicy, and slightly sweet ground beef tossed with peppers, fresh basil, garlic, and ginger served over white rice and topped with a runny fried egg
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Pad krapow is Thailand’s most popular stir-fry dish, and it's perfect for meal prepping. In it, saucy ground meat is tossed with sliced bell peppers, spicy chiles, fresh, sweet basil, and served over steaming rice with a runny fried egg for a filling and wallet-friendly meal.

Get the Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls recipe.

14

BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken

bbq sheet pan chicken with sweet potatoes and broccoli
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Here's an easy sheet-pan dinner featuring juicy chicken, loads of sweet–smoky flavor, and plenty of vegetables to complete the meal. Make it once and mix it up with different grains to enjoy it all week long!

Get the BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken recipe.

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15

Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies

garlicky shrimp and veggies baked on a sheet pan
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This recipe combines well-seasoned shrimp with red bell peppers, broccoli, and onions for a quick and easy dinner 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.

Get the Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies recipe.

16

Jollof Rice

jollof rice
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This rice is filling, flavorful, and truly a standout thanks to a balance of heat, sweet (from the tomatoes and peppers) and spice profile. Plus, it’s not too spicy—this is the rice you can enjoy with a variety of different proteins an veggies, so make a big batch!

Get the Jollof Rice recipe.

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17

Slow-Cooker Korean Beef

saucy korean style beef in a slow cooker with green onions
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This is not a drill: If you toss a pot roast (we went for bottom round roast, which doesn't break the bank) in the slow-cooker with a bunch of spices and soy sauce, you'll have killer Korean beef for dinner!

Get the Slow-Cooker Korean Beef recipe.

18

Hummus Bowl With Spiced Lamb

hummus bowl topped with spiced lamb, homemade pickled vegetables, and herbs
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

For this recipe, creamy hummus is topped with spiced ground lamb, onions, fresh herbs, and some pickled veggies add a bright pop of flavor and color. Make everything ahead of time, then toss it all together with some pita (for scooping!) for an easy, tasty meal with minimal effort.

Get the Hummus Bowl With Spiced Lamb recipe.

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19

Roast Chicken

roast chicken tied in a skillet with rosemary
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

The steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy. Use it anywhere you'd use a rotisserie chicken—the options are endless!

Get the Roast Chicken recipe.

20

Mexican Rice

mexican rice with tomatoes, onion and fresh cilantro
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Frequently served with refried beans at Tex-Mex restaurants, Mexican rice can often be pushed to the side (literally). We think that’s criminal—when made right, Mexican rice can be a fluffy, flavor-packed side that upgrades everything it’s added to, from grain bowls to taco dinners and everything in between.

Get the Mexican Rice recipe.

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