When weeknights get hectic, having dinner already prepped can feel like a lifesaver. These easy make-ahead recipes will take the stress out of mealtime, whether you prep them fully in advance or get a head start earlier in the day. From cozy casseroles and hearty grain bowls to slow-cooker favorites and freezer-friendly soups, these dinners reheat beautifully and deliver big flavor with minimal effort. Save nourishing recipes like our Dumpling Lasagna or our Veggie Enchilada Soup to keep on hand when a busy evening pops up.
Dumpling Lasagna Is the High-Protein Dinner You Didn’t Know You Needed
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.
This playful mashup brings the savory flavors of pork dumplings to a comforting, lasagna-style bake. Layers of seasoned pork, cabbage and shiitake mushrooms are tucked between wonton wrappers and gently baked until tender. A sprinkle of chili crisp and sesame seeds adds just the right finish.
Cheesy French Onion Chickpeas: A High-Protein Dinner You Need to Make ASAP
Photographer: Alex Huang.
These French onion chickpeas are a twist on classic French onion soup that adds chickpeas for an extra boost of fiber and protein. Slow-cooked onions and savory broth create a rich, comforting base, while melted Gruyère cheese and toasted whole-wheat baguette slices bring the iconic flavors home—no soup bowl required.
Veggie Enchilada Soup Is a Cozy, Fiber-Packed Dinner
Photographer: Alex Huang.
This hearty vegetarian enchilada soup channels all the flavors of enchiladas into a cozy, one-pot meal. Sweet potatoes and bell pepper add natural sweetness, while warm spices and a touch of cream cheese give it depth and richness. Serve with your favorite toppings to make it your own.
Marry Me Chicken Pot Pie Tastes Like Love at First Bite
Photographer: Alex Huang.
This comforting chicken pot pie gets its romantic name from Marry Me Chicken—a dish traditionally made with chicken coated in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Parmesan cheese and a golden crust gives this version a flavor boost, while rotisserie chicken keeps prep easy.
Pot Roast Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Craig Ruff, Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel.
Enjoy all the flavors of a classic weekend pot roast dinner in this cozy soup. With tender chunks of beef, carrots and potatoes, this warming soup will keep you satisfied on a cold winter’s day. Serve with crusty bread and a green salad for a hearty meal.
Broccoli, White Bean & Cheese Quiche
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This broccoli, white bean and cheese quiche is an easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for any meal. This quiche skips the crust but keeps all the savory goodness in the filling, featuring protein-packed white beans and savory roasted broccoli. It’s light yet satisfying and simple enough to whip up on a busy weeknight or as part of your meal-prep routine. Pair it with a crisp green salad, roasted veggies or fresh fruit for a delicious meal anytime.
Chickpea Noodle Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.
This cozy noodle soup is the kind of simple meal that’s worth keeping in your weeknight rotation. It starts with an aromatic base of carrots, celery and onion simmered in vegetable broth and gets heartiness plus fiber and some plant-based protein from chickpeas and whole-wheat rotini. Light yet satisfying, this chickpea noodle soup is perfect for cold evenings, easy lunches or anytime you need a bowl of comfort.
Garlicky White Bean & Kale Stew with Lemon
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.
This lemony kale and white bean stew offers bright, hearty,and comforting flavors all in one pot. Tender carrots, onion and lacinato kale simmer with creamy cannellini beans, some of which are mashed to thicken the broth. A sprinkle of Parmesan and parsley adds a fresh zesty finish. Serve with crusty bread on the side for a nourishing bowl that feels just right for chilly nights.
Get Your Greens Quiche
photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle
This loaded vegetable quiche packs in the greens and skips the crust, making it easy to pull together while keeping all the savory flavors of a traditional quiche. We love earthy and tender-crisp collard greens in this quiche, but you can easily swap them out for another sturdy green like kale or Swiss chard.
High-Protein Lemon & Turmeric Chicken Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This lemon and turmeric chicken soup is comforting and packed with protein. Turmeric, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, gives the soup its vibrant yellow hue. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re sick or simply warming up on a chilly day. We love tender-crisp baby kale, but chopped kale or baby spinach can be used in its place.
Chopped Broccoli & Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.
This hearty broccoli-chickpea salad is packed with satisfying texture and flavor from tender chickpeas, crunchy almonds, sweet golden raisins and tangy feta cheese. A mash of feta forms the base of the creamy, lemony dressing, coating every bite.
Broccoli, Tomato & White Bean Quiche
Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood.
This broccoli, tomato and white bean quiche is perfect for a simple breakfast, brunch or light dinner. Made without a crust, it’s much quicker to prepare than a traditional quiche, saving time without skimping on flavor. The blend of tender roasted broccoli, juicy cherry tomatoes and creamy white beans creates a filling, protein-rich meal that’s both comforting and nourishing.
Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls
Skip takeout and whip up these equally delicious and easy-to-make burrito bowls at home. They’re great for a fast and easy dinner or a healthy meal to pack for work throughout the week.
High-Protein Butternut Squash & Lentil Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This hearty, plant-based soup is packed with protein from lentils and gets cozy flavors from warming spices like cinnamon, cumin and coriander. A swirl of tangy Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of fresh parsley finish each bowl with brightness and creaminess. Serve with lemon wedges for an extra pop of flavor.
Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps
This recipe produces a large batch of sweet-and-spicy ground chicken studded with crunchy cashews and celery—making it great for easy weeknight entertaining or meal prepping.
Cheese and Pepper Quiche
Photographer: Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This cheesy cacio e pepe quiche is a protein-packed twist on the classic Italian pasta dish. Tender cauliflower, combined with a creamy custard and nutty cheese, has the same bold black pepper and salty Pecorino flavor as the original dish and makes the perfect breakfast, brunch or dinner dish served with a green salad on the side. Precooking the cauliflower is key—it reduces moisture, preventing a soggy quiche, and enhances the vegetable’s natural sweetness and flavor.
Slow-Cooker Kale & Sausage Stew
Turkey sausage gets transformed in this rich stew made with hearty winter vegetables like carrots, kale and potatoes. Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker.
Loaded Cabbage Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.
This cozy Loaded Cabbage Soup tastes like a hug on a chilly evening and reheats beautifully for lunches all week long. Crispy bacon and sharp Cheddar bring classic baked potato vibes, while tender cabbage and creamy potatoes make it hearty yet wholesome. Each serving gets topped with the works, so every spoonful hits all the right notes.
Spinach, Mushroom & Egg Casserole
This delightful spinach, mushroom and egg casserole is layered with earthy cooked mushrooms and baby spinach, fluffy eggs and nutty cave-aged Gruyère that deepens the flavor. Serve this easy casserole for breakfast, brunch or even dinner with a green salad on the side.
Mushroom Stew
Will Dickey
This mushroom stew is hearty and flavor-packed, with both fresh and dried mushrooms adding to the rich taste. Quinoa adds protein and a boost of fiber. This flavorful fall soup will be enjoyed by vegetarians and carnivores alike.
Vegan Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl with Creamy Green Sauce
In a vegan riff on green goddess dressing, cashews provide a creamy base with tons of flavor from herbs and apple-cider vinegar. Drizzle it all over this bowl of quinoa and roasted vegetables to make a satisfying vegan dinner or easy packable lunch that is ready in just 30 minutes.
High-Protein Anti-Inflammatory Veggie Soup
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
This high-protein anti-inflammatory soup is a hearty dish designed to nourish you and fight inflammation in your body. This plant-based soup features lentils, which offer plenty of protein and fiber to make the soup satisfying. Together with anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric and sweet potato, you’ll get a balanced soup that’s warming and comforting, all in one delicious bowl.
Crustless Caprese Quiche
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
This light and fluffy crustless quiche is dotted with tomatoes, little bites of melty mozzarella and savory pesto. And the best part—it’s mixed, assembled and baked in a pie plate for easy cleanup. Enjoy as an easy breakfast or brunch option or serve for lunch or dinner with a mixed green salad on the side.
Garlic-Miso Chicken Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.
This chicken-miso soup is a nourishing bowl that’s fresh and comforting. Sweet carrots, tender chicken and plenty of spinach simmer in a light broth, then get a savory boost from umami-rich white miso stirred in at the end. Ready in under an hour, it’s the kind of recipe that feels good on a chilly evening or anytime you’re craving something warm and satisfying.
Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
This nutrient-packed grain bowl recipe comes together in 15 minutes with the help of a few convenience-food shortcuts like prewashed baby kale, microwaveable quinoa and precooked beets. Pack these ahead to keep on hand for easy meal-prep lunches or dinners on busy nights.
Eggplant Tortilla Casserole
This layered casserole is inspired by classic cheese enchiladas, minus the fuss of rolling and stuffing individual tortillas. You’d never guess that within this comforting casserole hides a layer of thinly sliced eggplant. The thin slices become tender when roasted and add a subtle savory note.
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