10 brilliant meal prep hacks for busy weeknights to save money and remain calm because you prepared ahead!
Coming home after a long day to a house of hungry mouths is a nightly struggle. But resorting to expensive takeout or frozen dinners can take a toll on your wallet and your waistline. The solution? Weekly meal prep! By batching out a few simple tasks ahead of time, you’ll have amazingly delicious homemade meals ready to go all week. These 10 brilliant meal prep hacks make it so easy, you’ll wondered why you waited so long.
1. Chop Once, Use Twice (or More!): Take 30 minutes on the weekend to chop a huge quantity of veggies like onions, peppers, and carrots. Stash them in containers to use as the bases for recipes all week, slashing prep time in half. Brilliant!
2. Protein Batch Cooking: While you’ve got the cutting board out, cook up a huge batch of proteins like chicken breasts, ground turkey or beef, and hard boil a dozen eggs. These versatile proteins can be mixed and matched into smoothies, salads, wraps and more in a flash.
3. Romaine Calm: Hate when your fresh greens wilt before the week’s up? Keep romaine lettuce crisp and fresh for days by storing it in an oversize mason jar or tall drinking glass in your fridge, with the ends barely dipped in water.
4. Soup’s On: Nothing’s easier or more satisfying than throwing a prepped soup together on a chilly night. Make a huge pot on Sunday, then freeze portions to thaw and heat whenever hunger strikes. Bone broth is a great nutrient-dense shortcut base.
5. Beans on Deck: Pinto, black, white, chickpeas – keeping a stash of ready-cooked beans in the fridge lets you whip up amazing dips, burritos, and side dishes in minutes. Cook extras anytime you open a can.
6. The Gift of Gab: Go ahead and roast several pans of vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes while you’ve got the oven hot. Then reheat quickly for sides, bowls and salads.
7. Salad Salary: Make your salad prep work double-time by prepping extra toppings you can use two ways. Extra tomatoes, cukes, and cheese from taco salads make perfect pizza toppers later.
8. Baked Spud Spuds: Bake up a big batch of potatoes to refrigerate or freeze. Quickly reheat in the microwave with your favorite toppers for an easy and satisfying anytime meal.
9. Big Batch Pancake Mix: Save time and money by mixing up a double or triple batch of your favorite pancake mix. Portion out into jars or bags so all you need to do is scoop and cook for an easy, homemade breakfast for dinner winner.
10. Grab and Go Wraps: Whip up a bunch of homemade wraps or burritos on Sunday using your precooked proteins, veggies, and grains. Wrap individually and freeze, then grab one or two to reheat and take as a hot or portable meal on busy nights.
With these clever meal prep hacks, you’ll go from hangry to happy with just a few minutes in the kitchen. Cook once, eat for a week (or more) with delicious variety thanks to all your prepped components. No more sad desk salads or expensive breakfast sandwiches! You’ll save money, reduce waste, and bring some much-needed calm to your hectic evenings. Now, get prepping, superstar!
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