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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Fun Meal Prep Dinners That Will Spice Up Your Week

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on September 1, 2025, updated August 27, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Meal prepping can be a game changer for busy weeks, making it easier to enjoy delicious and satisfying dinners without the daily hassle. With 24 fun meal prep ideas, you can mix things up and keep your weeknight meals exciting. From hearty casseroles to vibrant salads, these recipes will help you stay organized and enjoy a variety of flavors all week long.

    3-Ingredient Chili

    Chili.
    Photo credit: Manila Spoon.

    This chili is simple to prepare and can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. It's packed with flavor and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Slow Cooker Vegetable Alphabet Soup

    Slow Cooker Vegetable Alphabet Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Lazy Slow Cooker.

    Alphabet soup packed with vegetables is a tasty and healthy meal option. Everyone in the family will enjoy this fun vegetarian dish. It's a great way to get some nutrients while keeping mealtime exciting.

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    Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

    Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole combines the classic taste of a bacon cheeseburger with pasta, creating a filling dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It's cheesy, hearty, and perfect for a cozy dinner. Even kids who are picky eaters will find this casserole hard to resist.

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    Garlic Butter Chicken

    Garlic butter chicken.
    Photo credit: Served From Scratch.

    This garlic butter chicken is quick to prepare, taking only 15 minutes. It's loaded with rich flavors from butter and garlic, making it a great addition to any meal. This dish is a simple way to get a tasty protein on your plate.

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    Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

    Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This recipe features just six simple ingredients and results in a creamy, savory dish that creates its own tasty gravy. It's a comforting casserole that's perfect for busy weeknights, potluck gatherings, or Sunday dinners. Enjoy the ease of preparing a meal that everyone will love.

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    Sausage Lentil Soup with Kale

    Sausage Lentil Soup with Kale.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This lentil soup is packed with healthy ingredients like turkey sausage, lentils, and kale. It's a filling meal that will keep you satisfied all evening. Perfect for those busy nights when you want something nutritious without a lot of work.

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    Vegan Chili with Black Beans

    Vegan Chili Recipe with Black Beans
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie Blog.

    This vegan chili is quick to prepare, taking only 15 minutes from start to finish. It's packed with delicious flavors and includes black beans and split red lentils for a hearty meal. Perfect for busy nights, this dish is both satisfying and easy to whip up.

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    Meaty Cabbage Soup

    Meaty Cabbage Soup.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    This dish is perfect for when you want something warm and comforting. It uses just a few simple ingredients, mainly meat and cabbage, making it easy to prepare. It's a great option for busy nights when you still want a hearty meal.

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    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce on a bowl.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Instant pot spaghetti is a simple dish that comes together with just 9 ingredients and one pot. In under 30 minutes, you can have this classic meal ready to serve, making it perfect for busy weeknights. It's a family favorite that doesn't take much time or effort to prepare.

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    Air Fryer Flank Steak

    Sliced flank steak.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Air Fryer Flank Steak is quick and easy to prepare, taking only 8-10 minutes to cook. The marinade adds great flavor and helps to make the meat tender, resulting in a juicy steak that’s ready in no time. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.

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    Chicken Pasta Bake

    Chicken Pasta Bake.
    Photo Credit: The Recipe Well.

    Chicken Pasta Bake is a cozy dish that combines cheesy tomato sauce with simple ingredients. It's a great option for using up leftover rotisserie chicken and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Sweetheart Cabbage Salad with Gyoza Chickpeas

    sweetheart cabbage salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sweetheart cabbage salad comes together in just 15 minutes and is perfect for anyone who thinks they don’t like salads. It features fresh spinach, crunchy sweetheart cabbage, and tasty chickpeas, all topped with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This dish is not only healthy but also satisfying and simple to prepare.

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    Roasted Sweet Potato & Feta Cheese Salad

    A plate of sweet potato salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    A healthy salad can be just what you need, and this sweet potato salad fits the bill perfectly. It's warm, filling, and makes a great meal for lunch or dinner. Plus, it tastes just as good the next day, making it a convenient choice for meal prep.

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    Baked Apricot Chicken

    Easy Baked Apricot Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Casual Foodist.

    Baked Apricot Chicken is a simple and delcious chicken dinner recipe with a sweet and savor glaze your family will love. With a handful of ingredients this Baked Apricot Chicken is ready in 30 minutes and perfect for weeknight dinners.

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    Gnocchi with Bacon & Mushrooms

    A spoonful of bacon mushroom gnocchi.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Pan-fried gnocchi is a hidden gem that really outshines the boiled version. When you cook it this way, it gets a nice crispy texture that adds a lot to the dish. Adding bacon and mushrooms brings in a rich flavor that makes this meal even more enjoyable.

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    Lamb Meatballs with Cilantro & Lemon

    Lamb Meatballs with Cilantro & Lemon
    Photo credit: always use butter

    These Lamb Meatballs are simple to prepare and packed with fresh lemon and cilantro flavor. They pair perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes, but also work great as a snack or part of a larger spread. I've been making these for years, and they always hit the spot.

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    Halloumi Wraps

    A halloumi wrap.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Halloumi wraps are a hit with everyone, from kids to food lovers. Filled with halloumi cheese, red pesto, avocado, and walnuts, these wraps are full of flavor. They come together in just 20 minutes and are really simple to prepare.

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    One Pot Creamy Vegetable Soup

    One pot creamy vegetable soup.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This dish is perfect for using up whatever vegetables you have on hand, making it a great way to clean out the fridge. You can easily swap in your favorites or whatever needs to be used up. It's a simple and flexible meal that fits right into your weeknight routine.

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    Crack Chicken Casserole

    Crack Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Crack Chicken Casserole is a fantastic choice for a cozy weeknight meal. It's creamy, cheesy, and packed with bacon, juicy chicken, and pasta, making it a hit with everyone at the table. This dish is simple to prepare and perfect for busy evenings when you want something satisfying and delicious.

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    Chicken Burgers

    A stack of chicken patties.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These chicken patties are simple to prepare and come together in no time. With just a few easy steps and only 10 minutes in the air fryer, you can have a delicious meal ready. There's no need for chopping, as powdered seasonings do all the work, and a splash of fresh lemon juice keeps them juicy.

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    Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Meatballs

    Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Homemade chicken meatballs are packed with flavor when they simmer in a spicy chipotle sauce. This dish is sure to keep everyone coming back for seconds. It's a simple and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These meatballs are simple to prepare and can be ready in less than an hour. You can cook them on the stove, in an air fryer, or in the oven, giving you plenty of options. The result is a juicy and flavorful meatball that everyone will enjoy.

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    Slow Cooker Creamy Taco Soup

    Slow Cooker Creamy Taco Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Ground beef is cooked with chopped onion and then combined in the crock pot with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, cream cheese, and various seasonings. This results in a tasty and simple taco soup that’s perfect for any night of the week. It's a great option for busy evenings when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Spicy Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole

    Spicy Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole.
    Photo Credit: A Taste of Madness.

    This spicy chicken and cauliflower casserole is easy to make with only five ingredients. It's perfect for a quick dinner during the week when you're short on time. With its bold flavors, this dish is sure to satisfy everyone at the table.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Pasta with pancetta and peas.
      22 Stupid Simple Pasta Dinners for Busy Weeknights
    • A bowl of potato soup with toppings.
      21 Best Crockpot Fall Recipes to Make Right Now
    • Breakfast muffins.
      23 Easy Breakfast Potluck Recipes That Will Impress Your Friends
    • Greek salmon with rice and peppers.
      22 Simple Recipes That Will Transform Your Weeknight Meals

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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