27 Meal Prep Recipes to Save Time on Busy Weeknights
Take the guesswork out of cooking.
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Anytime you can get a head start on cooking, it's always a good idea! Whether it's for the holiday season or just a busy work week, this practice will ensure that you save time in the kitchen. But not all dishes are best for making ahead, so read on to find out our favorite meal prep recipes.
Meal prepping is budget-friendly and can even lead to healthy dinner ideas for the whole family. Here's an example: All you need to do is start with a base, like a big batch of shredded pulled pork or a roast chicken. Then, cut or roast some veggies, prep some garnishes, and maybe even make a batch of brown rice. You can use all the components for taco night or even a hearty salad. Or make lasagna roll ups in small foil loaf pans, then freeze them for a quick dinner solution—they're perfect for single-serving meals. Ahead, you'll find all those meal prep recipes—including healthy breakfast ideas, vegetable sides, and plenty of crowd-pleasing chicken recipes.
When you're meal prepping, Ree Drummond says, "the possibilities are endless." You can prepare individual meal prep storage containers that are easy to grab for a quick lunch during the week. Or opt for larger casserole recipes that you store in the freezer. "I do a mix of one-dish meals—things like casseroles, soups, stews, and chilis—but I also like to prepare ingredients up to a certain stage and freeze them," Ree says. She also has a few helpful tips to make the process go smoothly. First and foremost, she likes to prep and cut her veggies as soon as she gets home from the supermarket. This way, when it's time to whip up your steamed veggies or a broccoli slaw, you'll one step ahead. Another meal prep tip from Ree? Labelling is key! "It's always a good idea to know how many centuries ago something was cooked," she says. Truer words have never been spoken.
Overnight Oats
For a quick, budget-friendly, and healthy breakfast during the week, these overnight oats are a must-try. You can keep jars of them in the fridge, then top them with whatever your heart desires—berries, peanut butter, or canned pineapple.
Get the Overnight Oats recipe.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Perfectly fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these "baked" potatoes can be used in so many ways. Some fun options for topping include chili and cheese, pulled pork, shredded buffalo chicken, or pesto and mozzarella.
Get the Air Fryer Baked Potatoes recipe.
Breakfast Burritos to Go
This grab-and-go breakfast is wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge so it's ready to heat up at a moment's notice. Plus, it makes a big batch so you can breakfast all week long!
Get Ree's Breakfast Burritos to Go recipe.
Slow Cooker Chili
Not only is this chili recipe great for making ahead, but it's also hands-free! You just throw everything into the slow cooker and let the kitchen appliance do all the work. The result? A warm, spiced beef and bean chili to use throughout the week!
Get the Slow Cooker Chili recipe.
Italian Meatball Soup
Any kind of soup recipe is great for making ahead and this one in particular can even be stashed in the freezer! Portion out individual servings (meatballs and all) in airtight containers. Then, just pop one out to thaw in the fridge overnight for a quick reheat in a pot on the stovetop.
Get Ree's Italian Meatball Soup recipe.
Baked Oatmeal with Berries
Scoop out individual portions of this berry-filled oatmeal into airtight containers, then refrigerate or freezer for up to one month. For a quick (and healthy) morning meal, you can reheat the oatmeal in the microwave!
Get the Baked Oatmeal with Berries recipe.
Black Beans and Rice
Pantry ingredients, like long-grain white rice, canned black beans, chicken stock, and dried spices make this meal prep component so easy to make. Use it throughout the week for burritos, tacos, rice bowls, and more!
Get the Black Beans and Rice recipe.
Chickpea Salad
This marinated bean salad is the perfect candidate for meal prepping! It's healthy, light, and delicious as a side dish for burger patties, grilled chicken, or even steak!
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Tiramisu Overnight Oats
Whether you have it for breakfast, dessert, or just an afternoon pick-me-up, these overnight oats are always a hit! That's because they taste just like an espresso-soaked tiramisu.
Get the Tiramisu Overnight Oats recipe.
Veggie Burger
Homemade veggie burger patties are *so* worth the effort, especially since you can store them in the freezer! Reheat to serve on buns or over a hearty salad for a healthy (protein-packed) lunch.
Get the Veggie Burger recipe.
Roasted Broccoli
Roasted vegetables, like broccoli, are so versatile. They're delicious on their own as a side dish for steak or chicken. But they can also be used for Ree's roasted vegetable minestrone or as a hearty mix-in for salads.
Get the Roasted Broccoli recipe.
Spicy Dr Pepper Shredded Pork
Ree has been making this shredded pork for years. It cooks low and slow which makes it perfect for prepping once and enjoying throughout the week! Use it for anything from sandwiches to nachos.
Get Ree's Spicy Dr Pepper Shredded Pork recipe.
Individual Sausage Casseroles
Ree likes to keep these mini egg bites in the freezer at all times. Just seal them tightly in plastic zipper bags. Thaw and pop them in the microwave when you’re ready to serve.
Get Ree's Individual Sausage Casseroles recipe.
Grilled Chicken Marinade
A quick and flavorful marinade takes grilled chicken to the next level. If you have leftovers, try shredding or dicing the meat off the bone, then freezing for leftover chicken recipes.
Get the Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe.
Taco Salad
You won't believe how easy this lunch will be when you have the spiced ground beef browned in advance. Keep all the prepped components of the salad separate, then toss it together when it's time to serve.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
Chicken Salad
The best part about this chicken salad is that it actually tastes better when chilled for several hours (or overnight), so it's perfect for making ahead. Serve it one day on sandwiches and the next over a bed of leafy greens.
Get Ree's Chicken Salad recipe.
Ginger Meatballs with Sesame Broccoli
Meatballs can do double or even triple duty when served in bowls over rice, as a hearty appetizer, or even as a meatball sandwich.
Get Ree's Ginger Meatballs with Sesame Broccoli recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
You can't go wrong with a big batch of juicy, tender, slow cooked pork. It doesn't even require a ton of hands-on work—just set it and forget it.
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
Broccoli Slaw
For a salad recipe that you can make ahead, this broccoli slaw will come in handy. The flavor even gets better over time.
Get the Broccoli Slaw recipe.
Beef-and-Bean Chili
Warm, cozy, and loaded with beef—this chili recipe is delicious on its own or served over baked potatoes or nachos.
Get Ree's Beef-and-Bean Chili recipe.
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