Easy Meal Prep Ideas – Spend With Pennies
There is no need to stress over dinner with these easy meal prep ideas.
Looking for something healthy to make for those nights on the go when everyone is rushing out the door? Then look no further because this long list of recipes will keep everyone happy – especially the chef of the house!
Tips for Meal Prepping
- For quick meals try planning. This includes choosing recipes and then purchasing all the necessary ingredients ahead of time.
- Chop, dice, and slice all the vegetables ahead of time.
- Measure out some of the dry ingredients, and the vegetables, and place them in containers or baggies with labels indicating measurements, what they are, and for which recipe.
Meal Prep Basics
Baking and even shredding chicken ahead of time is a great way of having juicy and tender chicken ready for adding to a variety of dishes. Ground beef, pork tenderloin, and baked salmon fillets are all great for adding to other dishes or serving as a stand-alone addition of protein to the dinner plate.
Table of Contents
Breakfast Meal Prep
Start the morning with a meal that is nutritious and hearty.
Make-ahead and freezer friendly for the perfect grab-and-go breakfast!
Overnight oats are a perfect meal prep breakfast recipe! Oats are mixed with yogurt, chia seeds, and fruit!
Egg muffins are a delicious and tasty breakfast, naturally low carb, and easy to make ahead of time!
Sheet pan eggs are the perfect recipe when cooking for a morning crowd!
This banana bread is one of the easiest recipes and turns out perfectly moist every time!
This simple fruit salad is tossed in a homemade cinnamon vanilla simple syrup and served fresh!
Meal Prep Bowls
These meal-in-one bowls are the best in customizable dishes that are easy to prepare in advance.
Fajita Bowls (Meal Prep) – With simple make ahead ideas like these Fajita Meal Prep Bowls, eating great all week is as easy as opening the fridge to grab a dish!
Salmon Rice Bowls are healthy and hearty with rice, flavored salmon, and veggies!
Light, flavorful, & loaded with crunchy veggies, these Sesame Ground Turkey Bowls are perfect for lunch or dinner!
Taco Quinoa Bowls are loaded with chicken, seasoned veggies, and quinoa! Top with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Soups and Salads
Simmer a heartwarming and comforting soup on the stove or try making a low-carb and quick salad for a quick and easy make-ahead meal.
Nourishing, comforting and flavorful lentil soup is a simple one pot meal that is warming and satisfying.
A healthy way to enjoy Chicken Fajitas without the starchy carbs from the tortilla! All the grilled flavor of fajitas and classic toppings tossed together in a salad bowl!
Hamburger Soup is a quick and easy meal loaded with vegetables, lean beef, diced tomatoes and potatoes. It’s great made ahead of time, reheats well and freezes perfectly.
This kale and quinoa salad combine two healthy superfoods – kale and quinoa!
This soup is so easy to make and filled with beans, corn, tomatoes, and chicken. Top it with cilantro, lime, and tortilla chips for the perfect comfort food!
This homemade beef barley soup is loaded with nutritious veggies, tender beef and plump barley. It’s a complete meal in a bowl!
This 15 Bean Soup is budget-friendly and easy to make. It’s the perfect soup for a cold winter’s day!
Shredded Brussels sprouts, crisp tart apples, feta cheese, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and walnuts are tossed in a tangy honey dijon vinaigrette.
This fresh Greek salad recipe is a simple combination of fresh veggies, olives, and feta tossed in a fresh and easy dressing.
“Salad” Recipes
A classic chicken salad recipe is always a favorite at a picnic, a barbecue, or an office potluck! Just a few ingredients can be transformed into a cold, creamy salad or filling for a homemade chicken salad sandwich or wrap!
This easy tuna salad recipe is a quick lunch time fix on a sandwich or bed of lettuce.
The best thing about leftover ham is it gives you the chance to make ham salad! You can whip it up in the food processor in a flash.
Deliciously simple, full of fresh veggies all tossed in a zesty lime dressing, this is the perfect easy lunch or dinner.
This beautiful Chickpea Salad combines all of my favorite fresh vegetables in one delicious bite. Chickpeas are combined with juicy tomatoes, refreshing cucumbers, and creamy avocados all tossed in an easy homemade lemon kissed dressing.
Nothing is more picnic-perfect than a creamy egg salad recipe! This recipe makes perfect egg salad sandwiches!
As warmer weather approaches, Shrimp Salad will be a fabulous light entrée to add to your go-to recipe collection.
Pasta Salad with fresh veggies and a tangy Italian dressing is perfect for a potluck or backyard BBQ!
Sandwiches
I look forward to lunch with these great sandwich ideas!
Turkey Wraps are full of fresh veggies, turkey slices, cheese, and cranberry sauce!
Made with fresh ingredients, spicy meats, and tangy cheeses piled high on a toasted sub roll they are great for a crowd.
Not only are these Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches a crowd pleaser they’re really easy to make! The great thing cooking meat in a slow cooker is that the less expensive cuts of meat tenderize the best and don’t dry out (which is why pulled pork is always so good in the slow cooker)! The low and slow cooking method gives you beef so tender you can easily shared it with a fork.
Layers of bacon, turkey and ham with juicy tomatoes and crisp lettuce make up this classic sandwich!
Make this ultimate ham sandwich using holiday leftovers for an easy lunch or on-the-go dinner!