PSA: Every Single One Of These Dinners Can Be Made Ahead
Think of these recipes as a gift to future you.
During extra busy weeks, making involved, time-consuming meals can feel like a pain. Quick dinner recipes are stars during times like these, but sometimes I don’t even have the energy to start anything from scratch. Enter: these make-ahead dinners. Make some of these recipes at the beginning of the week, then enjoy quick-and-easy meals all week long. You don’t have to worry about getting bored either—these meals are ripe for variations. Make them as is, or use them as a base to serve with different grains or side dishes. From versatile grain bowls to soups and curries to sheet-pan dinners, these recipes prove that make-ahead can be so much more.
BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken
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.
Freezer Burritos
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.
Mini Mushroom Pasta Bakes
For these pasta bakes, you get the best of all worlds from a creamy, cheesy sauce reminiscent of your favorite oven-baked mac and cheese, plus crispy, savory bread crumbs and hearty, almost meaty mushrooms.
Get the Mini Mushroom Pasta Bakes recipe.
Taco Salad
When it comes to healthy salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying meal. Feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings to make it new again and again.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
Vegetarian Chili
This vegetarian chili is still every bit as warm, comforting, and filling as a classic beef chili. Three types of beans do the heavy lifting and really "beef" it up. Make a batch and freeze some, then defrost it whenever you're in need of a cozy meal.
Get the Vegetarian Chili recipe.
Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls
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.
Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry
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.
Sheet-Pan Tikka Masala
Our sheet-pan tikka masala is a fun way to enjoy a classic Indian dish, chicken tikka masala, at home in a slightly new (and easier!) way. It’s a foolproof way to get a whole dinner on the table using just a sheet pan.
Get the Sheet-Pan Tikka Masala recipe.
Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Meal prepping doesn’t need to be complicated, and these chicken shawarma bowls prove that. The longest step in the recipe is to let the chicken marinate, which allows you time to cut all your veggies. Win!
Get the Chicken Shawarma Bowls recipe.
Bulgogi
Bulgogi is a traditional Korean preparation for thinly sliced marinated beef that's deeply delicious thanks to its marinade, which both tenderizes the meat and infuses each bite with complex flavor. Make a batch and pack it with white rice and kimchi for flavor-packed meals you'll look forward to all week.
Get the Bulgogi recipe.
Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowl
In this vegan recipe, spiced cauliflower joins forces with a bright and fresh tomato salad, crunchy toppings, and a homemade vegan halal cart-style sauce. You won't miss the meat!
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
While we’re all about switching things up, when we want a tried-and-true perfect meal, we always go back to the Chipotle chicken burrito bowl. It’s classic, reliable, and, best of all, completely customizable depending on our mood. No corn salsa? Extra guac? At home, you can have it all!
Get the Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe.
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