Easy to make healthy meals. Yes, that’s what we need more of in this world because it seems like cooking lately can be a hassle.
Even people who don’t enjoy cooking can make easy healthy meals. They just need to be given the proper tools and know where to look for recipes that are actually healthy.
Healthy mains
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Lentils, cherry tomatoes and basil provide a rich colour and flavour for this bright, modern take on beef bolognese that the family will love. The best part is that it’ll be ready in just 20 minutes.
20-minute healthy bolognese
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Healthy chilli con carne
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One-pot healthy chicken pasta
What everyone’s cooking
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Warm lentil salad with poached egg & pesto
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Quinoa crumbed fish with vegie chips
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Walnut pesto and chicken couscous
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Dukkah-roasted vegie and quinoa salad
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Baked fish on potatoes
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Tuna and potato patties with spicy apple slaw
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Fresh tomato and herb pasta
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Pecan-crusted salmon with cauliflower mash
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Turkey & cashew noodle stir-fry
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Poached eggs with coriander-lime sauce and avocado
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Thai prawn & avocado salad
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Crunchy carrot salad with pan-fried barramundi
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Pistachio-crusted salmon
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Eggplant, capsicum and haloumi stacks
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Spiced dhal soup
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Fish and chickpea tagine with lemon couscous
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Diabetes-friendly steamed ginger fish with gai lan
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Rosemary Stanton’s coconut poached fish with dukkah
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Warm chicken and soba noodle salad
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Lime-steamed kingfish with beans & ginger
HEALTHY MEAL PREP IDEAS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
6. 10-MINUTE CHICKPEA CURRY
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, NUT-FREE
You can get these containers here! I have a bit of a problem with this chickpea curry. I cook it ALL THE TIME! And Dan is getting a bit tired of it, lol! But I love it: this is my go-to weeknight meal, for many reasons!
It’s rich, spicy, but not overpowering, filling, and ready in only 10 minutes. Plus, it’s the perfect meal prep recipe. You can cook a big batch, put it in the fridge or freezer, and be done for the week. And it’s really cheap to make: a portion comes out at less than $2.
7. SPICY CHICKEN MEAL PREP WITH RICE AND BEANS
PREP TIME: 20 minutes
This spicy chicken with rice and beans is very filling and packed with proteins. If you are a fan of using an instant pot, this is the perfect recipe for you. But don’t worry, you can meal prep this even without an Instant Pot. It will just take a bit longer, and you can use a crockpot or a simple pan.
And aren’t these meal prep containers super-cute? I hate microwaving in plastic, and these glass containers not only are very durable and reusable but will keep your food organized, too, with all those dividers. You can find them on Amazon by clicking here!
8. MEAL PREP CHICKEN FAJITAS
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
These meal prep chicken fajitas are made on one (or two) sheet pans, making for super easy prep and even easier cleanup! Serve them in tortilla bowls for a no-mess lunch.
9. ITALIAN COUSCOUS SALAD
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
I never seem to have enough couscous salads! This is another variation with an Italian twist on it. This healthy meal prep recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner: it’s fresh and light tasting while still filling and satisfying. The dressing is packed with spice/dried herbs, and the vinegar and honey make it tangy and sweet at the same time.
10. THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE SANDWICH
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
VEGETARIAN
This veggie sandwich is truly epic! Not only it’s beautiful to see, but it’s also delicious too! The main ingredients are romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumber, red cabbage, avocado, sprouts, red onion, and tomatoes. Yummy!
11. 15-MINUTE MEAL PREP: SESAME NOODLE BOWLS
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
These meal prep sesame noodle bowls are made with delicious noodles, an easy creamy sesame sauce, perfect browned chicken, and all the veg!
12. TACO BOWL
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
An easy-to-make taco bowl recipe! This meal is filling, packed with good ingredients, and is a great make-ahead weekly meal prep option.
13. PANZANELLA IN A JAR
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
VEGANI love salads in a jar: they look so pretty in these Weck Mason Jars, and it’s an easy way to pack your lunch. You can make this salad ahead of time, and you’ll be ready for lunch on the go!
This filling version of Panzanella is light and quick to prep: the main ingredients are tomatoes, stale bread, olives, chickpeas, onions, and basil.
14. ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE ROMESCO
PREP TIME: 30 minutes
VEGANThese smoky, roasted cauliflower tacos with a spicy chipotle romesco sauce are super delicious! A healthy plant-based meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes and easy to pack, and so satisfying!
15. LOADED CAPRESE GRILLED CHEESE
PREP TIME: 30 minutes
I am not sure if you know this, but I LOVE pesto!
And this Caprese Grilled Cheese is loaded with basil pesto, a thick and chunky garlic butter tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella cheese, all on grilled sourdough bread. This is the perfect vegetarian lunch sandwich!
HEALTHY MEAL PREP IDEAS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
These easy and healthy meal prep ideas are perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Plus, you can meal prep each recipe on this list in less than 30 minutes to help you start your week without stress.
If you love these meal prep containers as much as I do, you can get them here! Preparing quick and delicious meals 3 times a day might seem impossible with everything else you have going on in your life! But by using some simple tips and by planning ahead, you’ll be blown away by how easy cooking delicious food can be.
Make-ahead meals will save you money and time, plus you’ll be able to keep your diet under control and avoid eating unhealthy food.
And to help you get started, I put together an inspiring list of meal prep ideas that you can cook in less than 30 minutes on a lazy Sunday.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at how easy this is, and you’ll just ask yourself why you didn’t do this sooner!
How To Meal Prep: Tips To Get Started
1. MAKE A PLAN
Decide what you are going to cook ahead of time. Pick all the recipes you want to cook for the week, and put together a grocery shopping list. I would suggest you start with 2-3 recipes per week. It’s nice to have variety, but it takes a lot more time to cook different meals, especially if you are just starting out!
2. MULTI-TASK
Cook multiple things at once! You can actually bake chicken while roasting your veggies at the same time. This will really help you to get things done much faster.
3. USE MASON JARS
I love Mason Jars!
First of all, they look beautiful (I know, I do love pretty things!), but they are also very practical. They are cheap, microwave-safe (remove the lid!), and perfect for storing salads. Put the dressing on the bottom and the leaves at the top, so nothing gets soggy, and your salad will remain crispy for hours.
4. DON’T MEAL PREP TOO MANY MEALS
Don’t meal prep more than 5 days worth of food. Most of the food you will prep won’t last more than 3 days in the fridge, so make sure you freeze the rest.
Remove the meal from the freezer the night before eating it and leave it to defrost in the refrigerator. This will avoid germs and bacteria getting in your food.
5. USE THE RIGHT CONTAINERS
My favorite containers for healthy meals are made of glass. I prefer them to plastic containers for several reasons:
- You can see what’s in them easily.
- They can be used in microwaves.
- They won’t alter the taste of food, even if it’s left in there for a few days.
- When warming up your food, glass containers won’t release any chemicals at the hot temperature as plastic containers can.
If you do pick plastic containers, make sure they are BPA-free.
6. KEEP YOUR GOAL IN MIND
I am a big fan of having goals. They really help you to achieve results. Whether you are trying to save money, simply eat healthy food or lose weight, keep in mind why you are meal prepping! You’ll be less keen to opt for a takeout meal!
HEALTHY MEAL IDEAS
From healthy dinner ideas to healthy lunch recipes and from quick healthy meals to slow cooker meals, this list of easy healthy meals will give you all the options you need to make your meals taste better. And it will make your life stress-free because you have everything you want in one place – recipes, prep and cook time, calories, and a brief description of the healthy dishes.
1. HOW TO MEAL PREP: SALISBURY STEAK RECIPE
Learn How To Meal Prep: Salisbury Steak Recipe and make a delicious weeknight dinner that is a healthy version of the traditional Salisbury Steak. This healthy dinner is quick, easy to make, and perfect for meal prep.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 350 kcal
Get the recipe.
2. 15 MINUTE HEALTHY SHRIMP SCAMPI RECIPE
Looking for healthy 30 minute meals? How about this 15 Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi Recipe? Yes, it takes only 15 minutes to make this delicious and flavorful shrimp scampi. Pair the shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles and you’ve got yourself a very healthy dinner.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 354 kcal
Get the recipe.
3. EASY PAN SEARED SCALLOPS
Love quick healthy meals that are also a bit fancy and delicious? Try the Easy Pan Seared Scallops! Ready in 20 minutes, simple but flavorful and totes amazing, the Easy Pan Seared Scallops are great for a healthy dinner or even a healthy lunch.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 326 kcal
Get the recipe.
4. 35 MINUTE EASY BAKED EGGPLANT PARMESAN (JUST 265 CALORIES!)
This 35 Minute Easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan (Just 265 Calories!) is a delicious Italian healthy meal that is paleo and gluten-free. This is a flavorful, delicious, and unforgettable meal and you should definitely add the recipe to your list of healthy lunch recipes.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 265 kcal
Get the recipe.
5. SLOW COOKER CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (A HEALTHY MEAL OPTION!)
In need of easy lunch ideas? Try the Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup (A Healthy Meal Option!), it’s great for lunch but it makes a perfect light dinner too. It’s low-carb, gluten-free, healthy, but still comforting and delicious.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 3 hrs
- Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 172 kcal
Get the recipe.
