I'm Hosting My First Meal Prep Party—Here's Everything On The Menu
Here's what to bring to the party.
There ain't no party like a meal prep party, because a meal prep party truly does not stop. Never heard of a meal prep party? Well, it's a lot like what it sounds: You gather your friends, some containers, and every chooses their own recipe to swap at the party. The result? Everyone cooks just one dinner recipe but gets to go home with multiple dinner options to enjoy all week long, much like a cookie swap but for dinnertime. So if you gather five friends, you'll go home with six dinners. It's basically magic, especially if you're anything like me (someone who can't stand to eat leftovers more than once).
Wondering what to bring? Opt for easily shareable, batch-able dinners like stuffed peppers and casseroles (like our cheesy baked burrito rice), and a few dietary restriction-friendly dishes like a vegan white bean chili or our gluten-free Indian butter chickpeas. If you're meal prepping on a tight budget, any dish that goes with rice is guaranteed to be a crowd (and wallet) pleaser, like our recipes for orange chicken and vegetable curry.
When in doubt, vary your cuisines, carbs, and proteins to keep things fun and exciting for everyone — you just might find you wish you did have leftovers of our recipes for Thai basil beef bowls and Sloppy Joe orzo. No matter which recipes you choose, a meal prep party really is the hottest ticket in town, so be prepared when everyone asks for a double-batch of Philly cheesesteak pasta next time!
Stuffed Peppers
Here at Delish, we’re big fans of stuffed peppers—they're the perfect vessel for countless combinations and ingredients. While we love to experiment with countless variations, this classic recipe is hard to beat.
Get the Stuffed Peppers recipe.
Philly Cheesesteak Pasta
This cheesy pasta skillet, which combines tender skirt steak, sautéed peppers, onions, and mushrooms, and creamy provolone all in one pan, is something you'll find you can't resist. The real one-pan magic happens when the pasta is simmered in beef broth and half-and-half, soaking up all those rich flavors. Once the cavatappi reaches al dente perfection, the dish is finished with melty provolone, turning it into the ultimate savory skillet dinner.
Get the Philly Cheesesteak Pasta recipe.
Baked Feta Chickpeas
Thought the baked feta pasta craze was over? Think again. Let me introduce you to your next obsession: baked feta chickpeas. Tossed in a fresh garlic-burst cherry tomato sauce and served with slabs of bubbling browned feta, these chickpeas are your weeknight ticket to protein-packed dinnertime bliss.
Get the Baked Feta Chickpeas recipe.
Indian Butter Chickpeas
Looking for your new favorite way to dress up canned chickpeas? You’re in the right place. Simmered in an aromatic tomato gravy, this vegetarian spin on classic butter chicken will forever change the way you look at a can of beans.
Get the Indian Butter Chickpeas recipe.
Spinach & Artichoke White Bean Skillet
It's no secret that we can't get enough of beans, and our newest obsession features iconic spinach & artichoke dip reimagined as a glossy white bean skillet. We love this pantry-friendly recipe because it’s an easy vegetarian dinner with complex flavor and it’s incredibly affordable—the perfect addition to your weeknight rotation!
Get the Spinach & Artichoke White Bean Skillet recipe.
Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice
I love a burrito bar moment, but at home, I don't want to spend the time cleaning extra dishes. That's where this baked burrito rice comes in. Seared chorizo sausage, hearty pinto beans, salsa, and rice are baked until the rice is tender, then topped with a mountain of cheese and broiled to melty perfection. Sprinkle the top with your favorite burrito accessories—I went with tomatoes and cilantro—and scoop it into a warm tortilla for the most hands-off burrito you’ve ever made.
Get the Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice recipe.
Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls
Pad krapow is Thailand’s most popular stir-fry dish for a reason. It’s got saucy ground meat tossed with sliced bell peppers, spicy chiles, and a handful of fresh, sweet basil, served over steaming rice. Our take is the perfect protein-packed meal prep that’ll keep you excited to eat all week.
Get the Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls recipe.
Vegetable Curry
When you want something comforting, savory, and just a little spicy, you can’t go wrong with some form of curry. In this recipe, a variety of vegetables takes center stage alongside a creamy Thai-style curry. We promise you won’t even notice it's meatless.
Get the Vegetable Curry recipe.
Sloppy Joe Orzo
You don’t need to sandwich a sloppy Joe to enjoy it; transform the classic comfort food into a date night staple instead. It’s really the sauce and ground beef mixture that makes sloppy Joes so delicious, so we took that and pair it with one of our favorite pasta shapes of all time: orzo.
Get the Sloppy Joe Orzo recipe.
Chicken Enchiladas
When the craving for satisfying comfort food meets the need for a straightforward weeknight dinner, chicken enchiladas are a guaranteed winner. They’re easy, filling, and take less than an hour to prepare from start to finish.
Get the Chicken Enchiladas recipe.
Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles
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.
Carnitas Tamale Pie
Just like our OG tamale pie and our chicken tamale pie, this recipe puts the cornbread underneath the topping (rather than on top). This method provides a sturdy bottom that helps the tamale pie cut and lift like a slice of loaded pizza, leaving the shredded pork surface open for extra toppings like fresh tomatoes and scallions.
Get the Carnitas Tamale Pie recipe.
Orange Chicken
If you just can't get enough of the classic Panda Express dish, this copycat recipe will be a game-changer. Ready in under an hour with all of the same sweet and savory flavors you love, staying in for weeknight dinner has never been easier.
Get the Orange Chicken recipe.
Sushi Bake
Recipes only go viral when they’re incredibly good or laughably bad, and this sushi bake falls firmly at the top of the “incredibly good” list. This easy casserole (because, let's be honest, that’s what this is) is the perfect entry point for trying your hand at making sushi at home or introducing sushi to picky kiddos. Not only is it a perfect introduction to sushi, but this bake is endlessly versatile.
Get the Sushi Bake recipe.
Vegan White Bean Chili
Whether you’re full-time vegan or just love a plant-based moment, vegan chili is where it’s at. This flavor-packed vegan take on our white chicken chili has so much goodness going on and all of the fresh, crunchy toppings too.
Get the Vegan White Bean Chili recipe.
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