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20 Easy & Healthy Meal Prep Recipes to Simplify Your Week

Trust us, you’ll want to bookmark this one, it’s the kind of recipe that’s equal parts practical and delicious. Meal prep sounds like the ultimate life hack… a fridge stocked with ready-to-go meals, fewer last-minute grocery runs, and lunches that mentioned don’t cost a small fortune. Overnight oats are a secret we can’t stop sharing about breakfast meal preps. Endlessly customizable, this prep involves fresh berries. Plan meals, then add your grocery list into Instacart or another online grocery shopping platform that’s local to you.

This is a good option for someone on a specific diet since many meals are keto and paleo-friendly. You can also use filters to search for meals that fit your taste, nutrition, and diet preferences. Plus, there are about six or seven vegetarian meals per week. Whether you’re craving Haitian vegetable stew or red wine-braised short rib, you can order them for lunch or dinner. The more you buy, the cheaper they get, but you can incur an upcharge for some of the premium options. We’ve tested all the top meal kit and prepared meal services.

Easy Roasted Veggies Meal Prep Bowls

You don’t need to spend big bucks to eat tasty meals. All you need for tasty and healthy meals on a budget is a bit of planning and preparation. Cooking on a budget shouldn’t mean canned beans and ramen noodles night after night. Welcome to the world of delicious recipes designed for small budgets. Now I know the name might throw you off, but this meal prep meal is incredible.

Keep the Recipes Simple

Many of them also work well as part of your meal prep grocery list and can be frozen for later as part of a freezer meal prep routine. With a little preparation, you can fuel your body, hit your health goals, and stay within your budget every week. This meal prep idea actually has 4 different fish cheap meal prep recipes you can use! Not all of them fall into the $2 or less range, but the “Citrus Soy Salmon Fillet Recipe” is awesome!

Turkey Chili (Lean & Hearty) — from Ambitious Kitchen

low cost meal prep

And you season your meat with breakfast sausage spices. There’s corn, tomatoes, brown rice, and cheddar cheese. So, you’ll definitely feel full after eating this dish. This Greek Chickpea salad is packed with dreamy Greek flavors.

High Protein Low Carb Lunch Meal Prep

  • High protein and low carb ragù made with lean turkey.
  • This method not only elevates the taste but also offers a nutritious and satisfying meal option.
  • What I love about this dish is that you don’t have to brown the ground turkey first.
  • Meal prepping doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
  • In this article, I’ll be sharing my favorite cheap meal prep ideas alongside some unique meal concepts that I’ve come up with myself.
  • Beans, lentils, tofu, and eggs offer plenty of protein, while vegetables and whole grains round out your plate.

Indulge in the flavor of this high-protein, low-fat shrimp recipe, expertly crafted for effortless meal prep. When combined with Instant Pot brown rice and citrusy lemon snap peas, this delectable dish becomes a nutritious powerhouse, poised to energize your entire week. Elevate your weeknight taco game by swapping traditional shells for crunchy lettuce wraps. These Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps are a cinch to prepare and bursting with flavorful ground turkey, aromatic spices, and an assortment of colorful Mexican toppings.

How many days in advance is it safe to meal prep?

They’re affordable, convenient, and often as nutritious as fresh. You can’t target fat loss to one area, but meal prep makes a calorie deficit easier and more consistent—which is what reduces body fat overall. Red lentils mimic the texture of ground meat and deliver protein on the cheap.

Almond-Cranberry Chicken Salad

Even before heating up the meals, they looked delicious. Here are the most affordable meal delivery services in 2025, plus, why they impressed us. This Oktoberfest Sheet Pan Brats recipe brings German-inspired flavors to your table with brats, veggies, and apples roasted together in one pan.

This is a flexible lunch option that’s hearty but not heavy, perfect for busy weekdays. https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/healthy-recipes Roast cubed sweet potatoes with a touch of olive oil and paprika, and steam the green beans until tender-crisp. This trio is satisfying, nutrient-dense, and perfect for a midday pick-me-up. This article breaks down a variety of high-protein meals that don’t cost a fortune to prepare, are easy to batch-cook, and are packed with flavor and nutrients.

So, you don’t have a ton of pans to wash at the end. Now, you will be shredding a lot of veggies, which can be a pain. To make it easier, simply use the shredding attachment of your food processor. If you don’t have one, this one can do the job quite well.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap Meal Prep

With smart planning, a little variety, and batch cooking, you can make healthy cheap meal prep ideas part of your weekly routine with ease. The key is focusing on meals that are high in volume but low in calories think lean proteins, fiber-rich vegetables, and whole grains that keep you satisfied longer. These types of meals not only help with weight loss but are also perfect examples of cheap healthy meal prep ideas that can be prepped in bulk and stored for the week.

Black Bean & Corn Burrito Bowls

Toss with whole-wheat or chickpea pasta for a hearty lunch that won’t knock you sleepy. Crispy baked tofu, crunchy slaw, and a light peanut-lime sauce. The contrast of textures and flavors makes this one a weekly repeater even if you’re not usually a tofu person. There’s well-seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce, sesame seeds, onions, and dill pickles. This dish provides an excellent plant-based alternative to traditional Burrito Bowls. That’s because you’re using crumbled, pan-fried tofu instead of ground beef.

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

This meal is low in carbs, easy to portion out, and refreshing. Great for those who want to avoid heavy starches but still get their protein fix. The layered design in a mason jar allows for effortless make-ahead preparation, making it an ideal choice for on-the-go lunches or light dinners. Whether you’re in a hurry or just need a healthy pick-me-up, these make-ahead marvels will keep you energized and focused throughout the day.

There are twenty-seven recipes per week, typically one featuring chicken or ground beef, a few pork chop recipes and a few plant-based meals. You won’t get beef or seafood unless you shell out for premium meals, and there aren’t many options for vegans. This recipe simplifies mealtime without sacrificing flavor. The juicy chicken thighs bake to perfection alongside roasted vegetables, creating a harmony of textures and spices.

The chicken thighs are nicely browned on the outside. Meal prepping is a fantastic way to save money, time, and energy throughout the week. Make creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with just a few simple ingredients. A fuss-free side that saves time and turns out perfectly every time. Shred green and purple cabbage, toss with matchstick carrots, and coat everything in a zingy peanut-lime dressing. Crushed peanuts add crunch while keeping costs low.

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