15 Meal Prep Ideas for the Week

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Meal prepping is an excellent way to ensure you have nutritious, homemade meals ready to go throughout the week. It saves time, reduces stress, and helps maintain a balanced diet. Here are 15 meal prep ideas that are delicious, easy to prepare, and perfect for a week of healthy eating.

1. **Chicken and Veggie Stir-Fry**

**Ingredients:**

– Chicken breast

– Bell peppers

– Broccoli

– Carrots

– Soy sauce

– Garlic and ginger

– Brown rice or quinoa

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook the brown rice or quinoa according to package instructions.

2. Sauté chicken with garlic and ginger until fully cooked.

3. Add chopped bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots.

4. Stir in soy sauce and cook until veggies are tender.

5. Divide into containers with a portion of brown rice or quinoa.

2. **Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles**

**Ingredients:**

– Ground turkey

– Bread crumbs

– Egg

– Parmesan cheese

– Italian seasoning

– Zucchini

– Marinara sauce

**Prep Steps:**

1. Mix ground turkey with bread crumbs, egg, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.

2. Form into meatballs and bake until fully cooked.

3. Spiralize zucchini into noodles.

4. Sauté zucchini noodles lightly.

5. Combine meatballs with marinara sauce and serve over zucchini noodles.

3. **Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas and Veggies**

**Ingredients:**

– Quinoa

– Chickpeas

– Cucumber

– Cherry tomatoes

– Red onion

– Feta cheese

– Lemon juice

– Olive oil

– Salt and pepper

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook quinoa according to package instructions.

2. Chop cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.

3. Mix cooked quinoa, chickpeas, veggies, and feta cheese.

4. Dress with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

5. Divide into meal prep containers.

4. **Beef and Broccoli**

**Ingredients:**

– Beef sirloin

– Broccoli

– Soy sauce

– Garlic

– Ginger

– Brown rice

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook brown rice according to package instructions.

2. Sauté beef slices with garlic and ginger until browned.

3. Add broccoli and soy sauce, and cook until broccoli is tender.

4. Divide into containers with a portion of brown rice.

5. **Greek Chicken Bowls**

**Ingredients:**

– Chicken breast

– Cucumber

– Cherry tomatoes

– Red onion

– Kalamata olives

– Feta cheese

– Tzatziki sauce

– Brown rice or quinoa

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook brown rice or quinoa.

2. Grill or bake seasoned chicken breast.

3. Chop cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.

4. Assemble bowls with rice/quinoa, chicken, veggies, olives, feta, and tzatziki.

6. **Vegetable Frittata**

**Ingredients:**

– Eggs

– Spinach

– Bell peppers

– Mushrooms

– Onion

– Cheese (optional)

**Prep Steps:**

1. Sauté veggies until tender.

2. Beat eggs and pour over veggies in a baking dish.

3. Sprinkle with cheese if using.

4. Bake until eggs are set.

5. Cut into portions and store in containers.

7. **Shrimp and Asparagus**

**Ingredients:**

– Shrimp

– Asparagus

– Olive oil

– Garlic

– Lemon juice

– Brown rice or quinoa

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook brown rice or quinoa.

2. Sauté shrimp with garlic and olive oil until pink.

3. Add asparagus and cook until tender.

4. Drizzle with lemon juice.

5. Divide into containers with a portion of rice or quinoa.

8. **Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Bolognese**

**Ingredients:**

– Spaghetti squash

– Ground turkey

– Marinara sauce

– Onion

– Garlic

– Italian seasoning

**Prep Steps:**

1. Roast spaghetti squash and scrape out the strands.

2. Sauté ground turkey with onion and garlic until browned.

3. Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning.

4. Combine with spaghetti squash and divide into containers.

9. **Teriyaki Salmon with Veggies**

**Ingredients:**

– Salmon fillets

– Teriyaki sauce

– Broccoli

– Carrots

– Bell peppers

– Brown rice

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook brown rice.

2. Marinate salmon in teriyaki sauce and bake until cooked through.

3. Sauté or steam mixed veggies.

4. Divide into containers with rice and salmon.

10. **Lentil Soup**

**Ingredients:**

– Lentils

– Carrots

– Celery

– Onion

– Garlic

– Vegetable broth

– Tomatoes

– Spinach

**Prep Steps:**

1. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery.

2. Add lentils, vegetable broth, and tomatoes.

3. Simmer until lentils are tender.

4. Stir in spinach until wilted.

5. Portion into containers.

11. **Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps**

**Ingredients:**

– Chicken breast

– Romaine lettuce

– Parmesan cheese

– Caesar dressing

– Whole wheat tortillas

**Prep Steps:**

1. Grill or bake chicken breast and slice.

2. Toss chopped romaine with Parmesan and Caesar dressing.

3. Wrap in whole wheat tortillas with sliced chicken.

4. Store in containers or wrap in foil.

12. **Taco Bowls**

**Ingredients:**

– Ground beef or turkey

– Taco seasoning

– Black beans

– Corn

– Bell peppers

– Brown rice

– Salsa

– Avocado

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook brown rice.

2. Brown ground meat and season with taco seasoning.

3. Sauté bell peppers.

4. Assemble bowls with rice, meat, black beans, corn, bell peppers, salsa, and avocado.

13. **Mason Jar Salads**

**Ingredients:**

– Leafy greens

– Cherry tomatoes

– Cucumbers

– Carrots

– Chickpeas

– Dressing of choice

**Prep Steps:**

1. Layer ingredients in mason jars starting with dressing, followed by hard veggies, and ending with greens.

2. Seal jars and store in the fridge.

3. Shake before eating.

14. **Stuffed Peppers**

**Ingredients:**

– Bell peppers

– Ground beef or turkey

– Quinoa

– Black beans

– Corn

– Tomato sauce

– Cheese (optional)

**Prep Steps:**

1. Cook quinoa.

2. Brown ground meat and mix with quinoa, black beans, corn, and tomato sauce.

3. Stuff bell peppers with mixture and top with cheese if using.

4. Bake until peppers are tender.

15. **Overnight Oats**

**Ingredients:**

– Rolled oats

– Greek yogurt

– Milk or plant-based milk

– Chia seeds

– Honey or maple syrup

– Berries or other fruit

**Prep Steps:**

1. Mix oats, yogurt, milk, chia seeds, and sweeteners in a jar.

2. Top with berries or fruit.

3. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy in the morning.

These 15 meal prep ideas offer a variety of flavors, ingredients, and cuisines to keep your weekly meals interesting and nutritious. By dedicating a little time each week to meal prep, you can enjoy healthy, homemade meals without the daily hassle of cooking.

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