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Serve your family a healthy make-ahead meal that’s easy to prep. Our recipes include hearty casseroles, warm soups and stews, and freeze-ahead family meals. Instead of stopping by the drive-through, prep one (or a few) of these satisfying recipes to take the strain off busy days.
Slow-Cooked Beef and Veggies
Combine all the ingredients for this make-ahead family meal and stash it in the fridge for up to three days. Then, just toss the ingredients into the slow cooker for a seriously delicious meat-and-potatoes meal with carrots and celery added.
Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken enchiladas are one of our favorite make-ahead meals for the whole family. We like them with chicken, but you can swap in pork or sautéed veggies for a vegetarian option. Simply prepare all of the ingredients one day before, fold over the enchiladas and refrigerate. Cover with cheese right before baking.
Beef Lentil Soup
Soup is easy to make one day before and hearty lentils hold up to the broth, unlike pasta noodles which can get extra soft. Make the soup a day ahead and then place into individual meal prep bowls. Plus, a bowl of this soup packs in plenty of veggies.
Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
BHG / CARA CORMACK
One of the easiest make-ahead dishes is a stir-fry, and this recipe doesn’t take too many ingredients. Soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil create the base. The addition of corn starch gives it that perfectly thickened consistency that sticks to the veggies and the meat. Prepare the stir-fry and serve over fresh noodles when you’re ready to eat.
Hearty and Healthy Lasagna
Assemble this lasagna the day before, so all you have to do is heat and serve! By soaking the noodles instead of boiling them, you end up with a dense noodle base that’s never soggy. Use vegetables in the recipe that are less likely to water out.
Blender Spinach Pasta
Gabe Greco
This bright green blender pasta sauce is easy super easy to prep ahead! Keep it in the fridge in your blender, and give it one more quick blend before tossing with the pasta and serving. You can even make the noodles in advance, and then stir it all in a pan over medium heat until warm.
Moroccan Chicken and Cauliflower Stew
Make this healthy North African-inspired stew ahead in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. Your chicken and vegetables will turn out every time. Plus, it’s great over fast cooking couscous, so all you need is 10-15 minutes to get a satisfying meal on the table.
Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps
Make a batch of slow cooker pork carnitas for healthy meal prep! All you have to do is get the meat going ahead of time and then top with avocado, salsa, and fresh lime juice before serving. You can add cheese, chopped onions, or any other fresh toppings that you like.
