39 Actually Exciting Packable Meals You Can Meal-Prep Now And Enjoy Later

    Take your pick.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    If you've been working or learning from home, you could probably use some more satisfying lunch or dinner recipes. These weekday meals are filling, customizable, and can all be prepared ahead of time so you can store them and enjoy as needed.

    1. Greek Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    Greek Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
    Green Healthy Cooking / Via greenhealthycooking.com

    Bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, and chicken breast roast all together on a sheet pan. Add some homemade (or store bought) tzatziki to the mix and you've got a delicious Greek-inspired lunch.

    Recipe: Greek Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    2. Mason Jar Instant Noodle Cups

    The Girl On Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    Way more nutritious and tasty than instant ramen, this mason jar soup can be prepared completely ahead of time with cooked chicken, veggies, and boullion cubes. When you're ready to eat, just add boiling water and enjoy.

    Recipe: Mason Jar Instant Noodle Cups

    3. Sheet Pan Salmon Niçoise Salads

    The Defined Dish / Via thedefineddish.com

    This sheet pan recipe is so simple. Make enough salmon for a few days at once and enjoy it throughout the week. This recipe tastes just as delicious chilled as it does hot from the oven.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon Niçoise Salads

    4. Red Thai Curry Meal Prep

    Peanut Butter and Fitness / Via peanutbutterandfitness.com

    This recipe calls for chicken, but you can customize your curry with whatever protein or veggies you like best. It will keep in the fridge for a few days, and it even tastes better as the flavors sit.

    Recipe: Red Thai Curry Meal Prep

    5. Easy Meal Prep Cobb Salads

    Easy Meal Prep Cobb Salad
    All Healthy Things / Via allthehealthythings.com

    You can make all the components of this salad — the bacon, the hard boiled eggs, and the grilled chicken — ahead of time. When you're ready to eat, just add lettuce, tomato, and cucumber and toss with your favorite store bought dressing.

    Recipe: Easy Meal Prep Cobb Salads

    6. Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Salad

    The Almond Eater / Via thealmondeater.com

    Pre-cooked, shredded or rotisserie chicken, sun-dried tomato pesto, and mayo is all you need to whip up this chicken salad. Eat it throughout the week for lunch in a sandwich, lettuce wraps, on a big salad, or with crackers.

    Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Salad

    7. Meal Prep Caprese Chicken Quinoa Bowls

    A chicken quinoa Caprese bowl.
    Wholefully / Via wholefully.com

    You can use any grain like brown rice, farro, or quinoa as the base of this filling Caprese bowl.

     Recipe: Meal Prep Caprese Chicken Quinoa Bowls

    8. Cauliflower Cashew Lunch Bowls

    Sweet Peas and Saffron / Via sweetpeasandsaffron.com

    This vegan-friendly lunch is made with roasted cauliflower, toasted cashews, barley and chickpeas, all tossed in honey-ginger vinaigrette. Go ahead and add some greens to turn it into a salad.

    Recipe: Cauliflower Cashew Lunch Bowls

    9. Warm Farro Salad With Roasted Root Vegetables

    Farro salad with roasted root vegetables.
    Dietitian Debbie / Via dietitiandebbie.com

    Cook enough farro (or any grain) for a few day's worth of lunches and roast whatever vegetables you like best. At lunch time, just toss the ingredients with goat cheese, pistachios, dried cranberries, and drizzle with a mixture of lemon, olive oil, and vinegar.

    Recipe: Warm Farro Salad With Roasted Root Vegetables

    10. Vegan Cold Sesame Noodle Bowls

    Sweet Peas and Saffron / Via sweetpeasandsaffron.com

    This recipe calls for chickpeas, but if you need more protein, go ahead and prepare these bowls with chicken, shrimp, tofu, or even smoked salmon.

    Recipe: Vegan Cold Sesame Noodle Bowls

    11. Winter Vegetable Freezer Burritos

    Love Leaf Co / Via loveleafco.com

    You can make these burritos ahead of time and store them in the freezer for an easy, on-the-go meal whenever you need one.

    Recipe: Winter Vegetable Freezer Burritos

    12. Chicken Fajita Meal Prep Lunch Bowls

    My Food Story / Via myfoodstory.com

    In addition (or instead of) the cilantro lime quinoa, you can always pack some tortillas on the side to heat-up and enjoy with the fajita filling.

    Recipe: Chicken Fajita Meal Prep Lunch Bowls

    13. Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Meal Prep

    Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Meal Prep
    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    Let's forget about labels. Breakfast is delicious any damn time of day.

    Recipe: Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Meal Prep

    14. Sheet Pan Honey Sriracha Tofu

    Darn Good Veggie / Via darngoodveggies.com

    When you prepare the sheet pan tofu and vegetables, boil enough rice to last the week. Boom: easy, meal-prep tofu bowls.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Honey Sriracha Tofu

    My Every Day Table / Via myeverydaytable.com

    Not only is this recipe so easy (hello, four simple ingredients), but it's also very affordable.

    Recipe: 4-Ingredient Trader Joe's Ground Turkey Meal Prep Bowls

    16. Shrimp Fried Rice Bowls

    Shrimp fired rice bowls with vegetables.
    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    Forget about ordering takeout and instead, whip up these shrimp fried rice bowls at the beginning of the week.

    Recipe: Shrimp Fried Rice Bowls

    17. Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

    Don't Go Bacon My Heart / Via dontgobaconmyheart.co.uk

    The best thing about chili, besides for the fact that it's super filling and comforting, is that it gets even more delicious as it sits in the fridge.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

    18. Instant Pot Lentil Bolognese

    Penne topped with lentil Bolgonese.
    Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com

    Make this lentil Bolognese in the Instant Pot and enjoy it throughout the week on pasta, rice, lettuce wraps, or even on a bun like a vegetarian sloppy Joe.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Bolognese

    19. No-Mayo Mediterranean Tuna Salad

    Lexi's Clean Kitchen / Via lexiscleankitchen.com

    Packed with marinated artichokes, cucumber, chickpeas, onion, red peppers, pepperocini, and tomatoes, this loaded tuna salad tastes amazing on a salad, in a wrap or sandwich, or even straight by the spoonful.

    Recipe: No-Mayo Mediterranean Tuna Salad

    Six Sisters Stuff / Via sixsistersstuff.com

    Make a big batch of this chicken noodle soup because it freezes perfectly, and you'll want to enjoy it all fall long.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Dump-and-Go Chicken Noodle Soup

    21. One-Pot Tuscan White Bean Soup

    Tuscan white bean soup with kale.
    Eat With Clarity / Via eatwithclarity.com

    This hearty, vegetarian soup tastes even better with crusty bread for dunking.

     Recipe: One-Pot Tuscan White Bean Soup

    22. Vegetarian Orzo Salad Meal Prep Bowls

    Orzo bowls with mozzarella and hard boiled eggs.
    Budget Bytes / Via budgetbytes.com

    You can whip up this pasta salad with pretty much whatever vegetables you have in the house. Add a soft or hard boiled egg to make it extra filling.

    Recipe: Vegetarian Orzo Salad Meal Prep Bowls

    Fit Foodie Finds / Via fitfoodiefinds.com

    Start with your favorite grain at the base, add roasted sweet potato, kale, sliced avocado, and drizzle it all with creamy tahini.

    Recipe: Vegan Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Buddha Bowls

    Sweet Peas and Saffron / Via sweetpeasandsaffron.com

    You can prepare this salad ahead of time and just leave off the dressing so it doesn't get soggy. When you're ready to eat, toss it with ranch dressing and tortilla strips.

    Recipe: Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad Meal Prep

    25. Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    Start with store bought pesto, diced chicken breast, and whatever vegetables you have like zucchini and tomatoes. Roast everything in the oven and enjoy.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

    26. Honey Garlic Salmon Lo Mein Meal Prep

    I Am a Food Blog / Via iamafoodblog.com, I Am A Food Blog / Via iamafoodblog.com

    It's hard to get sick of this sweet-and-savory salmon lo mein. The fish is marinated in honey, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil, then it's roasted until fork tender and tossed with noodles and veggies.

    Recipe: Honey Garlic Salmon Lo Mein Meal Prep

    27. Make-Ahead Cauliflower Shawarma Grain Bowls

    A grain bowl topped with cauliflower, veggies, and tahini.
    Our Salty Kitchen / Via oursaltykitchen.com

    A meatless meal anyone will love, cauliflower gets tossed in a blend or turmeric, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and olive oil, then it's roasted until charred and tender. Serve it over your favorite grain with chickpeas and veggies.

    Recipe: Make-Ahead Cauliflower Shawarma Grain Bowls

    28. Teriyaki Meatball Bowls

    Budget Bytes / Via budgetbytes.com

    Not only do these Asian-inspired meatballs stay great for a few days in the fridge, but they're also freezer-friendly so you can make an extra large batch and keep them on hand for a lazy day.

    Recipe: Teriyaki Meatball Bowls

    Life Made Sweeter / Via lifemadesweeter.com

    Prepare this sweet and sour chicken in the slow cooker, then pack it for lunch with rice, salad, or noodles.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken With Pineapple

    30. Meal Prep Buffalo Chicken Wraps

    The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    Pro tip: envelope this buffalo chicken in a layer of crispy lettuce and it will prevent the wraps from getting soggy when you pack them for lunch.

    Recipe: Meal Prep Buffalo Chicken Wraps

    31. Meal Prep Cajun Shrimp and Veggies

    Cajun shrimp with vegetables meal prep.
    Eat Well 101 / Via eatwell101.com

    This sheet pan recipe comes together in about 20 minutes with just a few ingredients. If you don't love shrimp, you can swap in chicken, salmon, sausage, or even tofu.

    Recipe: Meal Prep Cajun Shrimp and Veggies

    32. Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

    Life Made Sweeter / Via lifemadesweeter.com

    This super filling and totally vegetarian soup is so satisfying once the temperature starts to drop. Plus, it's extremely portable. All you need is a microwave to heat it up.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

    33. Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala Meal Prep

    Sweet Peas and Saffron / Via sweetpeasandsaffron.com

    This plant-based lunch can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer. It's loaded with tofu, cauliflower, and peas in a delicious Indian-inspired tikka masala sauce.

    Recipe: Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala Meal Prep

    34. Korean Beef Meal Prep Bowls

    Korean beef bowls over rice.
    Destination Delish / Via destinationdelish.com

    Ground beef (or turkey or chicken) is cooked in sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and scallions. Serve it over rice with some pickled cucumbers for a meal that rivals take-out.

    Recipe: Korean Beef Meal Prep Bowls

    35. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

    Best Recipe Picks / Via bestrecipepicks.com

    This simple pasta salad recipe is timeless. You can always dress it up with extra vegetables like mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or even butternut squash for a fall flavor boost.

    Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    Chicken, couscous, chickpeas, avocado, and sweet potato make for a seriously satisfying lunch. Even if you don't eat meat, there's enough protein in here to keep you feeling full.

    Recipe: Meal Prep Moroccan Chickpea, Sweet Potato, and Cauliflower Bowls

    37. One-Skillet Ground Turkey Thai Curry Meal Prep

    Skillet ground turkey Thai curry with vegetables.
    The Roasted Root / Via theroastedroot.net

    Made with ground turkey, vegetables, coconut milk, and yellow curry paste, this one skillet meal is a gift that keeps on giving. It tastes even better as leftovers.

    Recipe: One-Skillet Ground Turkey Thai Curry Meal Prep

    38. Mason Jar Antipasto Salad

    Fed and Fit / Via fedandfit.com

    Shake up your boring salad routine with this mason jar medley, loaded with olives, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, cheese, romaine, and salami. The recipe calls for chicken breast, but adding sliced deli turkey is a simple and delicious way to save time and effort.

    Recipe: Mason Jar Antipasto Salad

    39. Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

    Sweet Peas and Saffron / Via sweetpeasandsaffron.com

    Make the Thai-inspired turkey filling on a Sunday and enjoy it throughout the week in crisp lettuce wraps. You'll want to make some extra peanut sauce for drizzling.

    Recipe: Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps