32 Healthy Meal Prep Recipes For People With No Time

If you’re into meal prepping or just cooking healthy meals in general, you know that one of the most time-consuming steps in the process is finding WHAT TO COOK. The overwhelm is real!

I know you have better things to do with your time, so I’ve put together a list of my favorites from my personal vault (aka Pinterest). I have actually made and consumed these recipes, so they come recommended from real-life experience and not just a pretty photo on the internet. (Although I will say that I am highly swayed by a pretty photo.)

Let me tell you what I look for in a recipe so you can see if we jive on criteria here:

Scaleable. Can be easily doubled or tripled if not already a specific “meal prep” recipe. (I often prefer using “regular” recipes because they are more interesting.)
Easy. Not like Easy Mac Easy, but simple enough to navigate while prepping other recipes in the kitchen at the same time.
Clean. Whole, nutritious ingredients, not a lot of filler or junk items, light on processed sauces and sugars.
High protein. I’m a fan of protein and what it does for satiety and lean muscle growth. There are a few vegetarian recipes in this lineup, but I will typically add a source of meat to those. Your call.
Aesthetic. Call me superficial, but a stunning, colorful food photo might be the only thing to get me out of my pajamas on Saturday morning to go to the grocery store and start the whole meal prep process in the first place.

What classifies as a meal prep friendly recipe?

I look for hot meals that can be reheated well, without losing specific flavor profiles, textures or consistencies.
Some cold lunches or snacks that I can make ahead of time but won’t get soggy or sad after a few days.
A few make-ahead breakfasts or quick combos to throw together in the morning.
I’m also looking at the kinds of foods and how well they will stay fresh in my fridge. Seafood and fish will stay fresh with a smaller meal prep (2-3 days), while other meals taste just as fresh 4-5 days later if properly sealed in a good meal prep container.

Below you will find everything from Starbucks copycat egg bites to beautiful veggie bowls, to hearty Greek meatballs. The recipe amounts are all different, so be sure to take a look at the yields and adjust accordingly for the volume you need. Feel free to add or swap out certain things for your unique tastes and preferences as well!

Browse the categories, nab a few recipes, and set yourself up for a wonderful week of meals ahead. Happy meal prepping!