20 Recipes You Can Make Once And Enjoy Throughout The Week

    These recipes are gifts that keep on giving.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Look, we get it. You're probably tired of cooking by now. Which is why you'll love these no-fuss recipes that make delicious leftovers for days to come. Make a big batch of these meals, keep them in the fridge, and enjoy them for the rest of the week without worrying about more cooking.

    1. Caprese Pasta Salad

    Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

    Your favorite pasta, cherry tomatoes, tiny mozzarella balls, and fresh basil get tossed in a simple olive oil and balsamic drizzle. Sometimes simple really is best. Get the recipe for Caprese pasta salad here.

    2. 20-Minute Vegetable Lo Mein

    Savory Bites Recipes / Via savorybitesrecipes.com

    This noodle dish happens to be vegetarian, but you can always add whatever protein you like best from sliced beef to chicken or even tofu. Get the recipe for 20-minute vegetable lo mein here.

    3. Vegetarian Lasagna Roll-Ups

    The Mediterranean Dish / Via themediterraneandish.com

    Lasagna noodles get coated in a mixture of ricotta cheese, goat cheese, shredded mozzarella, garlic, and fresh parsley and topped with a zucchini ribbon. Roll the noodles up, coat them in marinara sauce and more shredded cheese, and bake until golden brown and bubbly. Get the recipe for vegetarian lasagna roll-ups here.

    Spices In My DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com

    If you don't have the time or energy to make homemade pesto, just grab your favorite store-bought version. Roast whatever veggies you have on hand, and toss everything together with some pasta. Get the recipe for broccoli pesto pasta with roasted vegetables here.

    5. Cheesy Baked Ziti

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    If you don't devour the whole casserole throughout the week, you can freeze this baked ziti once it's cooked for up to three months. Get the recipe for cheesy baked ziti here.

    6. Chicken Fajita Rice Bowls

    A skillet filled with cheesy rice, chicken, peppers, black beans, and herbs.
    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    Usually, leftover rice gets stale and dry, but not this recipe. It's cooked with chicken broth, fajita seasoning, plenty of veggies, and cheese, which keeps it moist and delicious. Pro tip: Add a little more chicken broth when you reheat it, and it will taste good as new even on the third or fourth day in the fridge. Get the recipe for chicken fajita rice bowls here.

    7. Turkey Meatballs

    Spend With Pennies / Via spendwithpennies.com

    Meatballs are so easy to make in bulk. Not only can you keep these cooked in the fridge for a few days, but you can also freeze any leftovers for future lazy nights. Toss them with some spaghetti, zucchini noodles, or rice and your favorite past sauce for a filling meal. Get the recipe for turkey meatballs here.

    8. Baked Caesar Chicken

    The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com

    Is this the easiest chicken recipe ever? Perhaps. All you need is chicken breast, store-bought Caesar dressing, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese. Get the recipe for baked Caesar chicken here.

    9. Pad Thai

    Life Made Simple Bakes / Via lifemadesimplebakes.com

    Name a better leftover food than rice noodles in sweet and savory peanut sauce... yeah, you can't. Get the recipe for pad Thai here.

    10. 10-Minute Maple Glazed Salmon

    Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

    Salmon tastes delicious either hot or chilled, so you can make an extra piece or two, keep it in the refrigerator, and eat it the next day on a salad or with your favorite grain. Get the recipe for 10-minute maple glazed salmon here.

    11. Six-Minute Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks

    An ahi tuna steak, seared and rare on the inside, sliced into strips and topped with scallions and sesame seeds.
    Bowl of Delicious / Via bowlofdelicious.com

    Unlike most seafood recipes, which don't taste great the next day, seared ahi tuna tastes great served cold. Enjoy it on top of a salad, a bed of rice, or over some sliced avocado. Get the recipe for seared ahi tuna steaks here.

    12. Better-Than-Takeout Beef With Broccoli

    Chinese-inspired beef and broccoli stir-fry in a bowl.
    Averie Cooks / Via averiecooks.com

    There's nothing fancy about this take-out inspired recipe. The sauce is made with soy sauce, brown sugar, olive oil, and sesame oil. Boil it until it thickens, then add the sliced beef and broccoli and mix it all up. Get the recipe for better-than-takeout beef with broccoli here.

    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    Not only is this a one-pot meal with minimal clean up required, but the orzo tastes even better as it sits overnight in the fridge sopping up diced tomato juice and spicy harissa. Get the recipe for one-pot shrimp with orzo and feta here.

    14. Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad

    Love and Lemons / Via loveandlemons.com

    The thing we love most about this couscous salad is you can make a big batch, keep it in the fridge, and then bulk it up with whatever protein you have on hand like grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon. Get the recipe for cherry tomato couscous salad here.

    15. Chinese-Inspired Pork Lettuce Wraps

    The Real Food RDs / Via therealfoodrds.com

    If you're saving the extra for leftovers, just don't assemble the lettuce wraps. Store the pork mixture separately in an airtight container and then assemble the wraps when you're hungry. Get the recipe for Chinese-inspired pork lettuce wraps here.

    16. Sheet Pan Chicken Fried Rice

    A sheet pan topped with rice, cubes of chicken, and vegetables like peas, scallions, and carrots.
    Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    Everything (besides for the rice, which should already be cooked or steamed), cooks on a single sheet pan. If you don't love chicken, you can substitute something else or keep this meal vegetarian. Get the recipe for sheet pan chicken fried rice here.

    17. Southwestern Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com, Via foodiecrush.com

    You can fully prepare these stuffed peppers, eat whatever you have room for, and save the remaining peppers in the fridge, wrapped in tin foil. Heat them up in the oven when you need a quick and satisfying meal.Get the recipe for southwestern stuffed bell peppers here.

    Our Salty Kitchen / Via oursaltykitchen.com

    There's something about grain salads that just gets better as they sit in the fridge. This quinoa bowl is loaded with flaky salmon, snap peas, carrots and spinach or chard. If you're worried about the salad getting soggy, just keep the dressing on the side. Get the recipe for salmon quinoa salad with honey soy dressing here.

    19. Sheet Pan Eggplant Parmesan

    Sliced of eggplant coated in panko and topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
    The Two Bite Club / Via thetwobiteclub.com

    This sheet pan take on eggplant parm is so easy. Just dredge sliced eggplant in eggs and panko breadcrumbs, line them up on a sheet pan, and top with tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and fresh herbs. Serve with your favorite pasta! Get the recipe for sheet pan eggplant parmesan here.

    20. Korean Beef Bulgogi Tacos

    A taco topped with marinated beef bulgogi, kimchi, onion, cabbage, and queso fresco.
    The Woks of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com

    Make more beef than you need and instead of assembling all of the tacos, store the bulgogi and taco ingredients separately. For the next few days, you can enjoy delicious tacos on demand. Get the recipe for Korean beef bulgogi tacos here.