Let’s start this year off with some of the best healthy meal prep recipes that you guys are going to love! The new year is a great time to reset, recenter, and set goals for ourselves, but often in our society that comes with mixed messages from the diet focused culture we live in.
I’m here to remind you that you won’t find specific diets, “good” and “bad” foods, or one way of eating at Ambitious Kitchen — instead you’ll find nourishing, approachable, and delicious recipes that are meant to be enjoyed all year long.
So, let’s do some meal prep with some of my personal favs! I broke these recipes up into breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & treats so that you can pick and choose at least one recipe each week for the whole year. What’s life without a little variety?
Tips for meal prepping:
These healthy meal prep recipes are my go-to’s to make at the beginning of the week and enjoy for the next few days.
- If you’re a visual person like me, make a calendar and write out what meals you’ll be making for that week! That way you can easily create grocery lists and even write a little menu
- Shop in the bulk section of the grocery store for things like beans, grains & dried fruit
- Stock up on meal prep containers and reusable bags for easily storing leftovers & ingredients
- Prep one recipe from each category to enjoy each day of the week
- Don’t skip out on breakfasts & snacks! They’ll help keep you satisfied throughout the day and you’ll be thankful that you have them
These recipes are great for feeding a whole family and many of them are freezer friendly if you’re cooking for one or two. You’ll get plenty of protein, fiber & veggies from these feel good recipes, and you know they don’t skimp on taste because HELLO THEY ARE FROM ME.
If you meal prep any of these be sure to leave a comment, share on Instagram with the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen, or pop a photo into our Facebook group. Enjoy, xo!
V: indicates vegan
Veg: indicates vegetarian
GF: indicates gluten free
DF: indicates dairy free
Breakfast
Peanut Butter Blueberry Overnight Oats GF
Get Your Greens in Smoothie (the best green smoothie!) V, GF, DF
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes (made right in the blender!) GF, DF
Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal Bake GF, DF
Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (dairy free + gluten free) GF, DF
Spinach & Goat Cheese Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust Veg, GF
Breakfast Baked Sweet Potatoes with Almond Butter, Banana & Chia GF, DF
Scrambled Tofu Breakfast Tacos V, GF, DF
Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffin Cups Veg, GF
Vegan Paleo Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips V, GF, DF
Healthy Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Avocado Breakfast Burritos Veg
Mushroom Spinach Bacon Egg Cups (low carb!) GF
Lunch
Kung Pao Chickpea & Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry V, GF, DF
Chickpea Apple Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing Veg, GF, DF
15-Minute Healthy Moroccan Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad GF
Curry Roasted Cauliflower Sweet Potato Salad (whole30, vegan & gluten free) V, GF, DF
Vegan Pecan Apple Chickpea Salad Wraps V, GF, DF
Avocado Blueberry Quinoa Salad Veg, GF
Famous Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad (vegan & gluten free), V, GF, DF
Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad V, GF, DF
The Easiest Chopped Chickpea Greek Salad Veg, GF
One Pot Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Salad V, GF, DF
Crunchy Rainbow Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps DF
Dinner
One Pan Thai Coconut Yellow Curry Chicken & Rice GF, DF
Healthy Enchilada Chicken & Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers GF
Healthy White Chicken Chili GF, DF
The Best Chicken Soup You’ll Ever Eat DF
Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Lime Crema Veg
Vegan & Gluten Free Curry Chickpea Pot Pie with Sweet Potato ‘Crust’ V, GF, DF
One Pan Ginger Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce GF, DF
One Pot Moroccan Chicken Stew with Sweet Potato & Couscous DF
Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala GF, DF
Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Soup (whole 30, dairy free) GF, DF
Vegetarian Tofu Cashew Coconut Curry V, GF, DF
Spinach Garlic Parmesan Orzo with Crispy Bacon
Cheesy Chicken Quinoa Enchilada Meatloaf Muffins GF
Vegan Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala V, GF, DF
Sheet Pan Zucchini Chicken Meatballs with Coconut Curry Sauce GF, DF
One Pan Tandoori Chicken with Spiced Coconut Rice GF, DF
One Pan Caribbean Jerk Chicken with Pineapple-Coconut Rice GF, DF
Vegetarian Thai Pineapple Forbidden Fried Rice Veg, GF, DF
Healthy Orange Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Cauliflower Rice GF, DF
Cheddar-Stuffed Sweet Potato BBQ Turkey Meatloaf GF
Mom’s Authentic Puerto Rican Rice and Beans V, GF, DF
Snacks + Treats
No Bake Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars V, GF, DF
Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (vegan & gluten free!) V, GF, DF
Fluffy Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Muffins GF, DF
Pat’s 4-Ingredient Paleo Crackers GF, DF
Damn Good Paleo Chocolate Chunk Tahini Cookies GF, DF
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars V, GF, DF
I have noticed that you are very into peanut butter. I detest it and do not like nuts in general. What should I use instead?
Hi! It’s very recipe specific, and if you don’t like all kinds of nuts, it’s hard to find a good substitute. I’d suggest looking for a different breakfast/snack/dessert without nuts!
Love this post! The recipes, meal prep and everything looks so effortless! Meal planning and prep is so helpful for that.
Absolutely! Hope you find some recipes here to try!
Hi Monique! What are your favorite glass food containers?? Trying to ditch the plastic in my life. Thanks!
Hi Katie! I use glass ones like these 🙂