If You're Stuck In A Meal Prep Rut, These 24 Meal Prep Ideas Are Guaranteed To Shake Things Up

PSA: Meal prep can (and should) be better than bland chicken and veggies.

If the term "meal prep" conjures up visions of spending an entire day cooking to exhaustion (and then eating the same boring meals every day for an entire work week), we've got good news for you: You're not alone!

Lucky for you, we've rounded up some of our favorite meal prep recipes that we promise you won't get tired of, and will ~actually~ make you excited for your Sunday meal prep session.

1. Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken

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This versatile dish allows you to mix up your meals all week. You can enjoy the honey teriyaki chicken with rice, noodles, farro, or steamed veggies — you name it!

Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken

2. Taco Soup

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Don't count out soup for meal prep! This taco soup is full of great flavor and protein to keep you satiated. The flavor of this soup gets better with age, too.

Recipe: Taco Soup

3. Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

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Packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like quinoa, avocado, spinach, and tomatoes, this salad not only fuels your body but also keeps you satisfied throughout the week.

Recipe: Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

4. Honey-Soy Sheet Pan Salmon

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This sweet and savory oven-baked salmon couldn't be simpler to prep. Pair with green beans, as shown, or swap in your favorite vegetable.

Recipe: Honey-Soy Sheet Pan Salmon

5. Turkey Taco Bowls

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Say hello to your new favorite mealtime savior: loaded turkey taco bowls. These protein- and flavor-packed bowls are perfect for busy bees looking to spice up their meal prep game. 

Recipe: Turkey Taco Bowls

6. Easy Honey-Mustard Chicken Meal Prep

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Tender chicken breasts are coated in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce, then paired with roasted veggies and quinoa for a healthy and satisfying meal prep option.

Recipe: Easy Honey Mustard Chicken Meal Prep

7. Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

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No lie: In only four simple steps, you can make a week's worth of these succulent shredded chicken tacos.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

8. 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry

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With this super-simple list of ingredients, you can whip up a week of protein-packed lunches with very little effort (and in only 30 minutes).

Recipe: 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry

9. Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry

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This simple and delicious stir-fry is considered the "better, homemade version of Panda Express" by multiple commenters. Need we say more?

Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry

10. Freezer-Prep French Toast Sticks

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There's a reason kids love these — they're totally delicious. Make a big batch on Sunday for virtually instant breakfasts all week long.

Recipe: Freezer-Prep French Toast Sticks

11. Microwave Meal-Prep Lasagna

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Bring a container of this meal-prep lasagna to work, pop it in the microwave, and that tantalizing smell will make you the envy of every single one of your coworkers.

Recipe: Microwave Meal-Prep Lasagna

12. Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

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To make this chicken burrito bowl totally grain-free, you can easily swap the rice for cauliflower rice or roasted veggies.

Recipe: Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

13. Strawberry Banana Smoothie Meal Prep

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If you're a breakfast-skipper due to a complete lack of time (we've been there), give this easy make-ahead smoothie a try.

Recipe: Strawberry Banana Smoothie Meal Prep

14. Balsamic Chicken and Veggies Meal Prep

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Overcoming meal prep monotony looks like...well, this dish, starring sticky-sweet balsamic chicken that's anything but basic.

Recipe: Balsamic Chicken and Veggies Meal Prep

15. Parmesan Crusted Salmon

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This sheet pan salmon recipe is a great one to ensure that your baked salmon stays moist on the inside (with a crisp, cheesy crust).

Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Salmon

16. Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

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This vibrant dish can be whipped up in just 25 minutes and will be just as delicious at the end of the week as it was in the beginning.

Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls

17. Meal-Prep Garlic Chicken and Veggie Pasta

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Miracles do happen — as one commenter put it: "This made sooo much that I actually got six days of meals out of it, so my husband gets to have some this week, too!"

Recipe: Meal-Prep Garlic Chicken and Veggie Pasta

18. Meal Prep Pesto Chicken Pasta

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Some readers recommend the addition of heavy cream if you prefer a creamier pasta, to which we would say...you should absolutely go for it.

Recipe: Meal Prep Pesto Chicken Pasta

19. Blueberry Overnight Oats

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On busy mornings, you'll be grateful you prepped these blueberry overnight oats for a grab-and-go breakfast that's ready in seconds.

Recipe: Blueberry Overnight Oats

20. Weekday Meal-Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies

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You can easily store this veggie-packed meal in the refrigerator for up to four days, which is a major win.

Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies

21. Three Bean Salad

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For an extra punch of flavor and sharpness, one reader suggests adding crumbled feta cheese to this protein-packed three bean salad.

Recipe: Three Bean Salad

22. Eggplant Potato Tomato Stew

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If you're craving a plant-based but filling stew, this eggplant potato tomato stew might just become your new meal prep go-to.

Recipe: Eggplant Potato Tomato Stew

23. One-Pan Teriyaki Chicken Meal Prep

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You can't go wrong making this one-pan teriyaki chicken dish — it's super easy to make, and you can customize each portion with the veggies of your choice.

Recipe: One-Pan Teriyaki Chicken Meal Prep

24. Make-Ahead Chicken & Rice Bake

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Besides being ridiculously satisfying and comforting, commenters love how well this chicken and rice bake freezes, so you can enjoy a warming meal whenever you need it most.

Recipe: Make-Ahead Chicken & Rice Bake

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