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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    27 Nutritious Dinners That Are Perfect for Meal Prep

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on January 14, 2025, updated December 17, 2024 - Leave a Comment

    Finding healthy dinner options that are easy to prepare in advance can make your week so much smoother. These 27 meal prep ideas are not only nutritious but also simple to make, ensuring you have delicious meals ready to go. From hearty chilis to flavorful sheet pan dinners, these recipes will help you stay on track with your health goals while saving you time in the kitchen.

    Beer-Braised Short Rib Chili

    Beer Braised Short Rib Chili
    Photo Credit: Life as a Strawberry.

    Beer-braised short rib chili is full of rich flavors and surprisingly simple to prepare. It combines white and black beans, crushed tomatoes, and your favorite stout for a hearty meal.

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    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This soup is perfect for anyone who enjoys stuffed peppers. It's a filling meal, especially when served with cheese and breadsticks.

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    Slow Cooker Creamy Taco Soup

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

    This taco soup is a simple and tasty dish that combines ground beef and chopped onion with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty without a lot of work.

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    Chinese Chicken Salad

    A bowl of Chinese chicken salad.
    Photo Credit: XOXOBella.

    Chinese chicken salad with a light dressing is a simple and healthy option for a quick dinner or lunch. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something tasty without a lot of work.

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    Roasted Sweet Bell Pepper Soup

    Roasted Sweet Bell Pepper Soup.
    Photo Credit: Raising Generations Nourished.

    Roasting sweet bell peppers with creamy sweet potatoes and carrots creates a smooth and velvety soup that kids will love. This is a great option for a healthy dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Sheet Pan Chickpea Fajita Bowls

    Vegan fajita bowls.
    Photo credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    Sheet-pan Fajita Bowls are a hit with everyone. They feature roasted zucchini, peppers, cauliflower, and spicy chickpeas, all served with a tasty chipotle-lime cashew cream and quick fajita rice for a healthy and filling meal.

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    Roasted Courgette Soup

    Roasted Courgette Soup.
    Photo Credit: Sandhya's Kitchen.

    Roasted courgette soup is easy to prepare in the oven. It's a perfect meal for chilly days, for either lunch or dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.
    Photo Credit: The Kitchen Girl.

    Slow cooker pulled pork is a tasty dish made with well-seasoned pork shoulder that cooks slowly for great flavor. This juicy pulled pork is perfect for feeding a group without much work.

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    Spiced Carrot and Swede Soup

    Spiced Carrot and Swede Soup.
    Photo Credit: Cinnamon and Kale.

    This spiced carrot and swede soup is warm and tasty. It's full of flavor from curried winter vegetables and is a great way to include more veggies in your meal.

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    Spicy Southwest Salad

    Spicy Southwest Salad.
    Photo credit: The Oregon Dietitian.

    This dish features chicken marinated in honey and lime juice, then grilled just right. Served on a bed of lettuce with avocado, fresh veggies, and a zesty homemade ranch dressing, it's a salad that's hard to resist!

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    One Pan Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

    This one pan chicken and potatoes dinner features juicy roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks, tender potatoes, whole cloves of garlic, and button mushrooms all cooked together on a single sheet pan. It’s a simple meal that requires just 15 minutes of prep before it goes into the oven.

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    Home-Smoked Salmon

    Home-Smoked Salmon.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This smoked salmon dish is simple to prepare and results in tender, flavorful fish. It's coated in Dijon mustard and seasoned with a dry rub before being smoked, offering a tasty change from your regular salmon dinner.

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    Ground Turkey Soup

    Ground Turkey Soup
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This soup combines ground turkey, hearty potatoes, and fresh vegetables for a satisfying meal. It's a great option when you want something light yet filling.

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    Black Lentil Feta Salad

    Black Lentil Salad with Feta.
    Photo credit: Evergreen Kitchen.

    This Mediterranean salad is full of flavor and really easy to prepare. It's packed with healthy lentils, creamy feta, fresh veggies, and a simple dressing, making it a great option for dinner or lunch.

    Get the recipe

    Baked BBQ Chicken

    Baked BBQ Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    This simple chicken dish is great for a weeknight meal. Juicy chicken thighs are covered in a tasty glaze that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Air Fryer Steak Tips

    Air Fryer Steak Tips.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Air Fryer Steak Tips are ready in just 10 minutes, perfect for a tasty dinner any night. Using simple seasonings you probably have on hand, this meal is easy and sure to please everyone at the table.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Stuffed peppers filled with beef and rice in a tasty marinara sauce are a great choice for dinner. They cook easily in the slow cooker, making it a comforting meal that everyone will love.

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    Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This recipe features chicken thighs seasoned with lemon and pepper for a fresh and tasty dinner. With the help of a slow cooker, you can enjoy a delicious meal with minimal effort.

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    Larb Gai

    Larb gai.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Thai chicken salad is a weekly favorite that’s both healthy and satisfying. It features a tasty base with crunchy peanuts on top.

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    5-Ingredient Chicken Drumsticks

    Five Ingredient Chicken Drumstick
    Photo Credit: Karen Kelly.

    The crispy skin keeps the meat juicy and tender. The marinade combines tamari, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic for a delicious flavor.

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    Sheet Pan Portobello Fajitas

    Tacos on a plate.
    Photo credit: My Pure Plants.

    Bell peppers, onions, and portobello mushrooms come together to create tasty vegan fajitas, served with guacamole, salsa, black beans, and vegan sour cream. This is a quick and satisfying dinner option that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Smoked Salmon Fish Cakes

    Fish cakes.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Crispy salmon fish cakes are simple to make and can be ready in about 20 minutes with just a few ingredients. A quick fry gives them a nice crunch on the outside while keeping them soft and tender inside.

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    Zucchini Corn Fritters

    Zucchini fritters served with a dip.
    Photo Credit: Vintage Kitchen Notes.

    This is a great way to enjoy fresh vegetables. With just a few common ingredients, you can quickly make these crispy fritters.

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    Orange Ginger Chicken

    Whole orange ginger chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Orange Ginger Chicken is a delicious roast dinner that turns a whole chicken and some oranges into a flavorful meal. The combination of sweet oranges, spicy ginger, and salty soy sauce makes this a great choice for any night of the week.

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    Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry

    Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry
    Photo Credit: Masala Herb.

    This creamy coconut chickpea curry is packed with wholesome spices, making it a filling and hearty plant-based meal. It's perfect for a satisfying dinner that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Vegan Carrot Soup

    Vegan Carrot Soup.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This vegan carrot soup is quick to prepare, making it a go-to for busy weeknights. With roasted carrots, onions, garlic, and a mix of spices in a creamy coconut broth, it’s a filling and healthy dinner option that’s great for meal prep.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

    Baked lamb chops with veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan meal is an easy way to enjoy lamb - without worrying about it overcooking! These lamb chops bake in the juices from the veggies for super tender lamb that tastes amazing.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chicken noodle soup.
      19 Grandma Approved Pasta Dinners You Can Just Dump, Cook and Enjoy
    • Taco soup.
      24 Deliciously Lazy Beef Dinners Made for Your Spring Menu
    • Ground beef hot pot.
      16 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make Mom's Day Special
    • Coq au vin.
      28 Delicious Crockpot Summer Meals That Simmer While You Play

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of 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, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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