Our best 50 Healthy Meal Prep Ideas, plus tips and tricks, are compiled below! Enjoy gluten-free and dairy-free options for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks as well. These healthy recipes contain our personal favorites that we make all the time. You’ll also find my 4 main ways to meal prep and tips for how to find what meal-prepping style works best for you.
Meal prep is the single biggest thing we ever did to start eating healthier! There’s no doubt eating food you prepare yourself does take some time. But it doesn’t need to take ‘too’ much time or be complicated.
There are 4 main styles to meal prep listed below. And I think all four ways have many benefits depending on your schedule.
With a little experimenting, you can find what works best for you. My main tip for healthy meal prep ideas is to start small!
There’s no need to prep every single meal you need all week to get started. My encouragement would be to prep something… anything at all ahead and see how your week goes.
From there, make adjustments to prep more as needed.
4 main styles of meal prepping
- Prep all or most of your meal beforehand – this works best for anyone with a super-packed schedule.
- Prep individual pieces from the recipes you’ll make that week – for instance, prepping some veggies, sauces, etc.
- Prep 1 or more recipes on hand – like my Granola , Energy Bites , or a batch of Zuppa Toscana .
- Bonus meal prep option – make more than you need each time you cook and enjoy the leftovers.
We have found a mix of 2, 3, & 4 to work best for us. I try to have something prepped for the pantry or freezer, like my Granola or Energy Bites .
From there, we’ve found having something healthy prepped for lunch really helpful. In the summer, I grill a large batch of meat and vegetables. Then we’ll eat the leftovers cold or heated up for lunch. Or make one of our favorite salad recipes listed below.
In the colder months, I almost always have a batch of soup made ahead to reheat. Then when I cook dinner, I always make more than we need to reheat for lunches and dinners.
I also love to prep sauces or dressing ahead of time to use for a quick salad or even as a marinade.
My Dairy Free Ranch or the Greek Yogurt Dressing pictured above are favorites for healthy snacking with veggies like carrot sticks or celery.
Now, let’s dive in and talk about my best healthy meal prep recipe ideas!
Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas
- Overnight Oats + 10 Flavors
- Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
- Healthy Breakfast Salad – use my make-ahead option
- Air Fryer Sausage Links
- Sausage Egg Muffins
- Turkey Breakfast Sausage
- Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits
- Homemade Granola
- Mexican Sweet Potato Bowls
- Meal Prep Egg Muffins 3 Ways
- Sweet Potato Sausage Apple Hash
- Meal Prep Sweet Potato Avocado Toast
We love these recipes for breakfast, but also some of them make great snacks. I make the Air Fryer Sausage Links almost every week to have in the refrigerator for a quick protein snack. The Turkey Breakfast Sausage is another favorite for a quick afternoon pick me up and good energy.
If you like oatmeal for breakfast, I highly recommend out Overnight Oats Recipe because there are 10 flavors to choose from and they’re so tasty.
Meal Prep Snack Recipes
- No Bake Energy Bites + 10 Flavors
- Coconut Chia Pudding
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Coconut Chips
- Rosemary Almonds
- Paleo Honey Mustard Trail Mix
- Paleo Zesty Ranch Trail Mix
- 3 Easy Apple Slice Snacks
- Slow Cooker Applesauce
The No Bake Energy Bites are our most-made healthy snack ever! They’re so easy to make and taste like cookie dough.
They keep well in the fridge and freezer so we almost always have them on hand. But don’t overlook some of the pantry options as well like the Coconut Chips, Rosmeary Almonds, and both trail mix recipes go with us hiking all the time.
Meal Prep Lunch Ideas
- Healthy Tuna Salad
- 15 Healthy Adult Lunchables
- Turkey Taco Salad
- Curried Chicken Salad
- Healthy Chicken Salad
- Spicy Tuna Salad
- Greek Chicken Meal Prep
- Thai Lettuce Wraps
- Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
- Italian Sausage Butternut Soup
- Creamy Taco Soup
- Chicken and Broccoli Soup
The healthy lunches are so easy to make, and I highly recommend hopping over to that recipe for the make-ahead and budget-friendly options!
And as I mentioned above, we’re all about the salads in the summer and a big batch of soups in the winter. Every single recipe I listed above is a longtime favorite we make often.
Easy Meal Prep Dinner Recipes
- Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Garlic Herb Chicken and Asparagus
- Korean Ground Beef Bowls
- Carnitas Burrito Bowls or Barbacoa Burrito Bowls
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
- Slow Cooker Whole30 Chili
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Creamy Taco Soup
- Slow Cooker Salsa Beef
- Creamy Broccoli Chicken Soup
- Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken Asparagus
We rarely prep a dinner recipe ahead of time. But I always make at least twice what we need of these recipes so we can reheat them for dinner. Or for a healthy lunch option.
I have found the healthiest foods to meal prep are the ones you’ll eat! Rather than going all out with meal prep for every meal, try prepping a few veggies ahead of time for the recipes you’ll make that week. We prep our protein ahead to have on hand, like cooked chicken breasts and hard-boiled eggs. Meal prep some healthy snacks and lunch options to have on hand. Then, experiment to find what works best for you.
Not all foods will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator, so it’s best to prep a dish you know will keep that long. Also, foods like hard-boiled eggs will keep all week if you peel them as you need them. Other great things to prep are sauces, dressings or marinades.
Spring Meal Prep
Tips & Tricks
- It’s worth saying twice to start small , even just one thing prepped ahead! I love prepping ahead, like these seasonal meal prep photos when we have really busy weeks. But my mainstay for healthy meal prepping is to prep just one thing per week to help me stay on track.
- Prepping certain basics ahead can go a long way! Hard-boiled eggs are a mainstay because they’re the perfect grab-and-go option. My Instant Pot Crispy Potatoes are also prepped every single week in our house. With the potatoes cooked, you can pan-fry them quickly for breakfast or dinner.
- Meal prepping sauces is a great time saver too! My Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette , Stir Fry Sauce , Dairy Free Ranch Dressing , and Honey Mustard Sauce are on repeat in our house.
- If you’re new to meal prepping, try prepping recipes that don’t spoil for months , like granola, coconut chips, or one of the trail mixes. I store them in sealed Mason jars in the pantry. See how you enjoy having something on hand, then add something new from there.
- Expanding my tips on the #2 way to meal prep from above, I like to prep things like homemade dressings or marinades ahead. Or prep individual ingredients : grate some cheese you need, or cut up veggies like onions, bell peppers, or broccoli that will keep for 2-3 days.
- Cook your own beans from scratch on the stove or Instant Pot like chickpeas, black beans, or pinto beans. These can be on hand for Taco Bowls , or freeze for the future. You can also cook some grains ahead as well for easy healthy meal prep. Quinoa is great cooked ahead to reheat or make into salads. I also like to cook rice ahead of time to make a quick fried rice with the leftovers.
Summer Meal Prep
Seasonal Meal Prep Ideas Recipe
- Spring Meal Prep Ideas
- Summer Meal Prep Ideas
- Fall Meal Prep Ideas
- Winter Meal Prep Ideas
- How to Meal Prep for the Week
For all of my meal prep recipes, head on over to the meal prep category for more recipe inspiration!
I really hope you enjoy these Healthy Meal Prep Recipes! If you do get a chance to make these recipes, I’d love to hear from you.
Easy recipes and Date Night Dinner Ideas for endless fun possibilities. These date night worthy recipes are simple to make, gluten-free, and feel special. And don’t miss my tips sections below for ways to make date night in more fun. From dressing up to ‘sweat pants date nights’ and music to keep things flowing, there’s plenty to enjoy at home! And for more inspiration, check out my 15 Easy and Affordable Date Night Ideas .
Over the years, we’ve moved from occasional date nights at home to pretty much every single week. And we’ve figured out a few ways to make it more fun with easy recipes for easy cleanup!
Mostly we stick to the simplest dishes so we can enjoy our night. But there’s also room for a little extra effort classics like homemade lasagna.
We both have our roles, with me doing the cooking and Tyler doing some prep work and cleanup. Finding what works best for your skills will help you get into the swing of being in the kitchen together.
Since life is busy, let’s kick off these date night ideas with my favorite easy recipes. Often we just assemble some sort of Antipasto Platter or Cheese Board.
It’s about the easiest thing you can make with no cooking required. But lately, my favorite thing has been to add some cooked protein and veggies as the center of the cheese board.
From there we add some more ingredients from the recipes below to fill it out.
Currently, in the spring, I’ve been grilling up some chicken and asparagus then adding the rest of the ingredients to my platter or board.
Easy Date Night Dinner Recipes
Antipasto or Charcuterie is our favorite ‘no cook’ option for date nights!
- Antipasto Platter or Summer Antipasto Platter
- Easy Cheeseboard Date for 2
- Summer Cheese Board
- Air Fryer Ribeye
- Easy Chicken Curry
- Grilled Tuscan Steak
- Easy Spaghetti Sauce
- Roast Chicken & Vegetables
- Oven Baked BBQ Ribs
- California Sushi Bowls
- Coconut Lime Chicken
- Skillet Lemon Chicken Thighs
Indulgent Date Night Dinner Ideas
Classic comfort food recipes like this Garlic Chicken are perfect for weeknights.
- Creamy Garlic Chicken (dairy-free opt.)
- Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken (dairy-free opt.)
- Pizza Chicken
- Pizzadillas
- Grilled Tortilla Pizza
- Instant Pot Pork Ragu
- Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Date Night Pasta Recipes
- Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Instant Pot Pork Ragu
- Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
- Sausage Broccoli Pasta
- One Pot Gluten Free Mac & Cheese
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- Creamy Caprese Pasta
- Gluten-Free Lasagna
- Vegetable Pasta Bake
- Chicken Pot Pie Pasta
- Creamy Tomato Pasta
To add a veggie to your pasta dinner, try some options from my Side Dish Recipes , or add a fresh Salad Recipe . My two favorites that go with so many pasta dishes are my Apple Spinach Salad or Strawberry Spinach Salad .
Healthy Date Night Dinner Recipes
- Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Best Baked Garlic Butter Cod
- Lettuce Wrap Burgers
- Fish Taco Bowls
- Grilled Chicken Caprese
- Banh Mi Burger Bowls
- Balsamic Bruschetta Chicken
- Greek Salmon
- Thai Turkey Basil Lettuce Wraps
- Aloha Teriyaki Burger Bowls
The best option is your favorite thing to eat together. We love a good charcuterie board or antipasto board to share together, plus they’re super easy to make. Pasta is another great option because it feels indulgent and is simple to make.
First, I think that a good mood makes date night dinner special, so pick recipes that are easy enough to make and do not leave a huge mess and you exhausted. Next up, light some candles and have a date night playlist. Try eating outside with candles or romantic stringed lights if it’s warm out.
Sheet Pan Recipe Options
- Garlic Butter Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
- Sheet Pan Salmon & Asparagus
- Lemon Chicken & Asparagus Sheet Pan Dinner
- Honey Mustard Chicken & Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
- Sausage and Peppers Sheet Pan
Choose a Sauce Dinner
- Garlic Butter Sauce + steak/chicken + asparagus/broccoli
- Garlic Parmesan Sauce + pork chops/shrimp + broccoli/ roasted carrots
- Cilantro Chimichurri + chicken/shrimp + grilled potatoes & asparagus
- Simple Marinara + 1lb Italian Sausage + 12oz pasta + 4 c chopped spinach
- Basil Aioli + Grilled Protein + Grilled veggies and Grilled potatoes
- Mushroom Cream Sauce + Steak + Sweet Potatoes + Brussels Sprouts
- Creamy Tomato Sauce + Pasta + Chicken + Chopped Spinach
‘Choose a sauce’ is one of my favorite go-to ways to make a super easy dinner for at-home date nights. Rather than making a full recipe, I choose a sauce to pair together with simple protein and veggies.
For instance, choose steak and asparagus and cook them seasoned with salt on the stovetop or grill. Then serve them with the Garlic Butter Sauce pictured above for an easy menu.
This makes a fantastic meal and it couldn’t be any easier. For a romantic dinner idea, add seafood or lobster tails, light candles and turn on your favorite playlist!
Tips & Tricks
- Create a playlist together to listen to during your at-home date nights. We started with an acoustic guitar CD by Tommy Emmanuel, which we listened to when we were dating, and then created more playlists. It’s been a really fun addition to date night. Currently, we enjoy listening to this Tommy Emmanuel playlist on Spotify . (Also, how old do I sound talking about CDs?!)
- Dress up or dress down for at-home date nights. Both ideas are great! Sometimes, we have a dress-up date night; other times, we have a ‘sweat pants’ date night at home. It’s fun to cook your favorite foods and enjoy a night together in your most comfortable clothes. But it is also great to ‘make an effort’ and dress up sometimes too.
- If possible, turn your phones off and hide them out of sight so you can have a ‘focused’ evening.
- Try making one of the more portable recipes, like Antipasto, and taking it to another location. Move your date night from home to a park or anywhere you can sit and eat together. Sometimes, getting out of the house is the key to a great date night dinner. We have many dates on our truck’s tailgate, picnic tables, or pretty much anywhere. Our latest ‘date night dinner’ was spaghetti out of a thermos while skiing in Glacier National Park .
No Recipe Nacho Night
- Oven: 450ºF & line a cookie sheet with parchment. Layer of corn chips with grated jalapeno jack cheese. Bake until bubbly and tips with minced red bell pepper, green onion, and diced cherry tomatoes. Serve with sour cream and my Guacamole recipe .
- This nacho night is our absolute favorite date night with no need for a recipe and it’s the perfect ‘sweatpants date night’!
These recipes are perfect for romantic dinner ideas, Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or even an easy weeknight dinner together.
