We’re not talking about pizza rolls in the microwave, although their appeal should never be underestimated, but healthier options you can either prep ahead of time or make on the fly.
Food is important, people. You need the nourishment for your brain to fire on all cylinders. Check out these curated recipes you can make on the fly.
Marinated Chicken Breasts
This is kind of a fun one. Get out your crockpot, if you don’t have one – get one, and set it to high. Take 4 to 6 chicken breasts, tenderize them with a mallet or use your rage and beat them with your first, and put each one on a piece of tinfoil large enough to wrap the chicken. Pick your marinades of choice – teriyaki, BBQ, ranch, etc. and put a different type on each chicken breast. Make sure both sides are good and covered in it, then wrap it up and throw it in the crockpot. Cook on high for 5 or so hours and boom – you’ve got chicken for the entire week. Put on a salad, eat with some veggies, throw it on top of rice or simply eat it alone.
So flippin’ easy and so much better for you than the Kentucky Fried Chicken you were about to order through Uber Eats.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Say goodbye to those sad desk lunches and hello to a delicious and healthy meal prep option: Chicken Tikka Masala!Not only is this dish packed with flavor, but it only takes 30 minutes to cook. That’s right, you can have a homemade, restaurant-quality lunch ready in the same amount of time it takes to binge-watch an episode of your favorite show.
To start, cook rice according to the package instructions in a large saucepan. While the rice is cooking, melt some butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Season some chicken with salt and pepper, add it to the skillet along with some onion and cook until golden.
Next, stir in some tomato paste, ginger, garlic, garam masala, chili powder and turmeric until well combined. Then, add in diced tomatoes and chicken stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened.
Finally, stir in heavy cream, lemon juice and the cooked chicken until heated through. Divide the rice and chicken mixture into your meal prep containers and garnish with cilantro for an added pop of color and flavor.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy Chicken Tikka Masala for lunch all week long. Your taste buds and waistline will thank you!
Skinny Lo Mein
Are you looking for a way to elevate your lunch game? Look no further than Skinny Lo Mein! This dish is not only delicious and healthy, but it can be made in just 30 minutes, leaving you with more time to tackle your to-do list.
To start, in a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, ginger, honey, sesame oil, and Sriracha, if using; set aside. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions; drain well. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in snow peas and spinach until the spinach has wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in spaghetti and soy sauce mixture, and gently toss to combine. Place into meal prep containers, garnished with sesame seeds, if desired.
Say goodbye to bland and boring lunches, and hello to delicious and healthy Skinny Lo Mein. This dish is sure to become a new favorite in your meal prep rotation. Enjoy!
Turkey Taco Salad
Are you tired of eating salads that taste like they were picked from a rabbit’s garden? Well, put down that carrot and spice up your lunch game with Turkey Taco Salad! This dish is not only delicious and healthy, but it can also be prepared and cooked in just 30 minutes. So, you’ll have more time to do important things like scrolling through TikTok or taking that much-needed nap at your desk.
Heat some olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add some ground turkey and cook until the turkey has browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the turkey as it cooks. Stir in some taco seasoning and drain excess fat.
Next, place some romaine lettuce into sandwich bags, so you’ll have the perfect portion of greens for your salad. Place some pico de gallo, Greek yogurt, and cheese into 2-ounce jello shot cups with lids.
Finally, place the turkey, romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, Greek yogurt, cheese, and a lime wedge into your meal prep containers. Now you have all the components for a delicious and healthy turkey taco salad ready for you to enjoy all week long.
And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good taco salad? It’s like a taco, but with less guilt. A win-win, if you ask me.
There you have it, 4+ meals for your week, there will be leftovers so package them up and skip the drive through.
Perfect Jasmine Rice – pair it with whatever you want. (See above. 😉)
The grip that jasmine rice has on us. Seriously, this recipe is perfect if you do it just like this. No rinsing required (we didn’t believe it either). Take one cup of jasmine rice, 1 ½ cups of water, a dash of salt (or more if you like that). Toss it all in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once it boils, stir it once and pop on the lid. Reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer for 18 minutes. After 18 minutes, remove from heat and let it stand covered for 5 minutes, fluff and serve.
Pro tip: If you’ve got a gas range and you’re using stainless steel, make sure it’s pretty dang low. Stainless steel takes on more heat and gas ranges are generally a bit hotter than electric ranges.
Jalapeno Chicken Salad
Want something easy but still verrrrrry tasty and a little spicy? Well, you wouldn’t be reading this blog if you didn’t. Let’s keep it simple:
- Rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1 jalapeno (2 if you like it like that)
- ⅓ cup of chopped celery
- ⅓ cup of chopped cranberries (cherries hit just as hard)
- ⅓ cup of mayo with a little dijon mustard and sour cream
- Dahses of salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and dill powder
Okay, so maybe that’s a few more ingredients than “easy”, but once it’s mixed up and ready to go, you have lunch for the next few days. Whether you eat it with crackers, on a Hawaiian roll, or plain Wonder bread, this chicken salad with be a staple in your day-to-day.
