17 Quick & Nutritious Lunches You Can Prep Ahead
We’ve all been there – lunch rolls around and you don’t have anything ready to eat. Instead of snacking (and never feeling satisfied) or spending too much money on takeout, prep a bit ahead and you’ll have nutritious lunches ready to enjoy all week. With a bit of prep and planning, you can have a healthy meal that’s ready in minutes!
Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies
If there is an easier dinner than a sheet pan meal, I haven’t seen it yet. Here we’re cooking sausage, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower all on the same pan for a meal that is both healthy and incredibly satisfying. With minimal prep and cleanup, it’s the perfect meal for busy evenings or a nutritious lunch that’s easy to meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies.
Italian Chopped Salad
Quite possibly my all-time favorite salad and maybe yours, too, this is our go-to house salad and the side to so many dinners. This is the perfect chopped salad – crunchy, well-balanced, and tossed in a flavorful homemade red wine vinaigrette. Each bite is packed with bold Italian flavors.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chopped Salad.
Taco Salad
If you love a classic taco salad, you will always be happy to see this recipe on the menu. It’s quick, easy, and always hits the spot. Ground beef cooks super fast, making it a great weeknight option. Put out all of the salad components and let everyone make their own salad.
Get the Recipe: Easy Taco Salad.
Easy Bean and Cheese Burrito
This is the bean and cheese burrito recipe you’ll find yourself making on repeat! Not only is it made with simple and nutritious ingredients, but it’s also ready to eat in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Bean and Cheese Burrito.
Big Mac Salad
Skip the drive-thru and get the flavor you crave, at home. This recipe has Big Mac-inspired flavor in each bite, but with a lighter and fresher flavor. Serve with fries for a delicious and nutritious main course dinner salad.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad.
Sheet Pan Shrimp and Andouille Sausage
Looking for tasty dinner ideas? Why not give this sheet pan shrimp and andouille sausage recipe a whirl? It’s fail-proof, easy, and oh-so delicious.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Andouille Sausage.
Cowboy Caviar
Don’t tell the party guests that this bean dip is secretly super-nutritious – it is bound to be gobbled up based on flavor alone! Made with a colorful mix of fresh vegetables, two types of beans, and a tangy dressing, it’s hard to stop eating this dip! Serve with tortilla chips or crackers for a scoopable snack that everyone always adores.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar.
Hummus Toast
Quick, easy, nutritious, and always delicious, hummus toast is an excellent lunch option. It’s less of a recipe and more a mega list of ideas and inspiration. Prep your hummus if making from scratch and any toppings that you’ll be using. Add raw veggies on the side.
Get the Recipe: Hummus Toast.
Chicken Fajita Quesadilla
Made from simple ingredients, this quesadilla fajita is incredibly flavorful and has everything you need in a meal: protein, produce, carbs, and flavor. Prep the chicken and veggie mixture and then all you have to do is assemble your quesadilla and quickly heat. Serve with fresh toppings or black beans on the side.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Quesadilla.
Mediterranean Dense Bean Salad
When you’re in the mood for a salad that’s incredibly delicious, fun to eat, and super nutritious, this garbanzo bean salad is what you’re going to want to make! Made with crunchy and fresh veggies, satisfying garbanzo beans, and a homemade vinaigrette, this salad can be prepped ahead for quick and healthy lunches or served as a side dish to your favorite protein.
Get the Recipe: Garbanzo Bean Salad.
Southwest Salad
The classic southwest salad gets a modern makeover! Greens are topped with spiced chickpeas, tomatoes, grilled chicken, sharp cheddar, guacamole, and tortilla chips so that each bite is full of flavor. You can make a few of the components ahead for an even quicker meal.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Salad.
Plant-Based Sheet Pan Ranch Bowls
You don’t have to be vegan to love this healthy plant-based sheet-pan ranch bowl! This recipe features roasted ranch potatoes, tofu, whole grains, vegetables, and a creamy non-dairy ranch dressing. It’s also a delicious meal prep recipe for a busy week ahead.
Get the Recipe: Plant-Based Sheet Pan Ranch Bowls.
Quinoa Black Bean Salad
This black bean quinoa salad recipe should be on the top of your recipes-to-make list! It’s light and bright, satisfying and nutritious, and loaded with plant-based protein and fiber, all with tons of layered flavor. Because it can be made ahead, it’s a great salad for everything from picnics to summer cookouts to healthy meal prep salads to get you through the week.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Quinoa Salad.
Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
If you love the classic flavors of chicken parmesan, you’ll adore these Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs. They’re loaded with all the savory goodness you expect from the dish but in a fun, easy-to-make meatball form. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner packed with flavor and ready in no time!
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
You’ll love this Greek orzo pasta salad with bright, fresh flavors and satisfying, salty bites! It’s made with classic Greek ingredients like crunchy and crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, salty feta, and fresh dill. Everything is tossed with tender pasta and a red wine vinaigrette for a salad that’s utterly delicious.
Get the Recipe: Greek Orzo Salad.
Best Chicken Salad
The best part of this rotisserie chicken salad recipe? The TEXTURE! Instead of big chunks of chicken and celery, everything is processed together into a pate-like texture that is absolutely perfect. It’s perfect scooped up with crackers and fresh vegetables, stuffed into tomatoes, or in between two slices of good bread for a classic sandwich. Serve with crackers and fresh vegetables, stuffed into tomatoes, or in between two slices of good bread for a classic sandwich.
Get the Recipe: Best Chicken Salad.
Lemon Kale Salad
This easy lemon kale salad recipe is made with crunchy lacinato kale, a bright lemon dressing, and extra flavor from crunchy panko and shredded Parmesan cheese. After my cousin brought this kale salad to Thanksgiving one year, it was requested year after year – it’s that good! It’s perfect for meal prep as kale salad gets better in the fridge – add your favorite protein.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad.
