If You're Stuck In A Meal Prep Rut, These 34 Meal Prep Ideas Are Guaranteed To Shake Things Up (2025)

How does a wholesome coconut curry that serves TEN sound to you? Sounds like an amazing lunch or dinner all week to us! And it only takes 15 minutes to prep it all before using the slow cooker.

Recipe:Slow Cooker Coconut Curry

Sweet, teriyaki-infused chicken can be served atop all sorts of meals: tacos, rice, nachos, you name it! And it's just 15 minutes of prep time to get it all ready. We love having a giant batch of this in the fridge to use all week long.

Recipe:Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken

Don't forget the snacks in your make-ahead meal planning! These hearty, wholesome peanut butter balls are a fabulous grab-and-go snack, and they double as a breakfast or dessert in a snap. Whip 'em up in just 30 minutes!

Recipe:Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Perfect for a make-ahead lunch or dinner option, this recipe checks off so many boxes: It's a one-pot dish, it can be made in under an hour, and it makes a large number of servings. It's a keeper!

Recipe:One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

This colorful entree is a delicious way to pack in the veggies (and the flavor). It's vegetarian-friendly but hearty enough to satisfy all tastes.

Recipe:Portobello Fajita Bowl Meal Prep

This make-ahead slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe is perfect for prepping in advance and enjoying later. Tender beef and fresh broccoli are simmered in a savory sauce of soy, garlic, and sesame oil, which melds together beautifully in the slow cooker. Simply refrigerate or freeze portions after cooking, then reheat for a quick, hearty meal over rice on busy days.

Recipe:Slow Cooker Beef And Broccoli

Prep the veggies and toppings ahead of time, then simply cook and assemble these fajitas on the night of. Or batch-cook the chicken ahead of time, and simply assemble the rest when the moment strikes!

Recipe:30-Minute Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Sweeten up your mornings with these peach cobbler overnight oats. Multiply the recipe for the days ahead and enjoy a delicious, fuss-free breakfast that's ready whenever you are.

Recipe:Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats

Simplify your meal prep with this sausage & potato one-pan bake — just prep, bake, and enjoy! A hearty, hassle-free dinner that’s perfect for busy weeks.

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Meal prep just got a lot easier with this grated egg salad. Ideal for quick lunches or snack cravings, it’s light, flavorful, and ready in a flash. Double or triple the recipe for hassle-free meals — serve it over salad greens or as a tasty sandwich throughout the week.

Recipe:Grated Egg Salad

This versatile dish allows you to mix up your meals all week. You can enjoy the honey teriyaki chicken with rice, noodles, farro, or steamed veggies — you name it!

Recipe:Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken

Don't count out soup for meal prep. This taco soup is full of great flavor and protein to keep you satiated. The flavor of this soup gets better with age, too.

Recipe:Taco Soup

Packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like quinoa, avocado, spinach, and tomatoes, this salad not only fuels your body, but also keeps you satisfied throughout the week.

Recipe:Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

Say hello to your new favorite mealtime savior: loaded turkey taco bowls. These protein- and flavor-packed bowls are perfect for busy bees looking to spice up their meal prep game.

Recipe: Turkey Taco Bowls

This beef and broccoli meal prep is a one-pot wonder, combining tender steak, vibrant broccoli, and fluffy jasmine rice in a rice cooker for effortless preparation. With just a few ingredients and minimal cleanup, it’s an ideal make-ahead option for quick, balanced weekday meals. Store in portions to enjoy fresh or reheated — perfect for busy schedules!

Recipe:Beef And Broccoli Meal Prep

Tender chicken breasts are coated in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce, and then paired with roasted veggies and quinoa for a healthy and satisfying meal prep option.

Recipe: Easy Honey Mustard Chicken Meal Prep

No lie: In only four simple steps, you can make a week's worth of these succulent shredded chicken tacos.

Recipe:Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

With this super-simple list of ingredients, you can whip up a week of protein-packed lunches with very little effort (and in only 20 minutes).

Recipe:20-Minute Beef And Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry

This simple and delicious stir-fry is considered the "better, homemade version of Panda Express" by multiple commenters. Need we say more?

Recipe:Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry

There's a reason kids love these — they're totally delicious. Make a big batch on Sunday for virtually instant breakfasts all week long.

Recipe:Freezer-Prep French Toast Sticks

Bring a container of this meal-prep lasagna to work, pop it in the microwave, and that tantalizing smell will make you the envy of every single one of your coworkers.

Recipe:Microwave Meal-Prep Lasagna

To make this chicken burrito bowl totally grain-free, you can easily swap the rice for cauliflower rice or roasted veggies.

Recipe:Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

If you're a breakfast-skipper due to a complete lack of time (we've been there), give this easy make-ahead smoothie a try.

Recipe:Strawberry Banana Smoothie Meal Prep

Overcoming meal prep monotony looks like...well, this dish, starring sticky-sweet balsamic chicken that's anything but basic.

Recipe:Balsamic Chicken and Veggies Meal Prep

This sheet-pan salmon recipe is a great one to ensure that your baked salmon stays moist on the inside (with a crisp, cheesy crust).

Recipe:Parmesan Crusted Salmon

This vibrant dish can be whipped up in just 25 minutes and will be just as delicious at the end of the week as it was in the beginning.

Recipe:Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

Miracles dohappen — as one commenter put it: "This made sooo much that I actually got six daysof meals out of it, so my husband gets to have some this week, too!"

Recipe:Meal-Prep Garlic Chicken And Veggie Pasta

Some readers recommend the addition of heavy cream if you prefer a creamier pasta, to which we would say...you should absolutely go for it.

Recipe:Meal Prep Pesto Chicken Pasta

On busy mornings, you'll be grateful you prepped these blueberry overnight oats for a grab-and-go breakfast that's ready in seconds.

Recipe:Blueberry Overnight Oats

You can easily store this veggie-packed mealin the refrigerator for up to four days, which is a major win.

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For an extra punch of flavor and sharpness, one reader suggests adding crumbled feta cheese to this protein-packed three bean salad.

Recipe:Three Bean Salad

If you're looking for a plant-based (and filling) stew, this eggplant potato tomato stew might just become your new meal prep go-to.

Recipe:Eggplant Potato Tomato Stew

You can't go wrong making this one-pan teriyaki chicken dish — it's super easy to make, and you can customize each portion with the veggies of your choice.

Recipe:One-Pan Teriyaki Chicken Meal Prep

Besides being ridiculously satisfying and comforting, commenters love how well this chicken and rice bake freezes, so you can enjoy a warming meal whenever you need it most.

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