Imagine having a home-cooked meal on the table every night, but only spending a few hours a month in the kitchen. That’s the secret of make ahead meals — nutritious, wholesome recipes prepared in advance for fast dinners, lunches or breakfasts that can be heated on demand. Dedicate an afternoon to cooking, then pop your prepped ingredients into the oven or slow cooker later for a homemade meal that’s as easy as swinging through the drive-thru.
Whether you’re searching for a Paleo-friendly lunch, a healthy vegan breakfast or a hearty dinner the whole family will enjoy, this collection of recipes for make ahead meals will satisfy your hunger and give you more time for the things that matter. Start with a few casserole dishes and you’ll be ready for once a month cooking in no time.
Find Make-Ahead Meals
Primal Breakfast Casserole
Filled with so much energy-boosting protein you likely won't even need coffee, this breakfast casserole includes sausage or ground meat, eggs and scallions.
serves: 4
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Mark's Daily Apple
Paleo Blueberry Muffin
Made with almond flour, coconut milk and fresh blueberries, this breakfast will fill you up without weighing you down.
serves: 6
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
Coffee Cake Banana Bread
Just like mom used to make, this scrumptious bread is perfect for breakfast on the go.
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Pale OMG
Paleo Peach Coconut Smoothie
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make more servings, and is a fresh way to start your day.
serves: 2
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Cook Eat Paleo
Nut Free Sunbutter Banana Waffles
Rather than settle for a store-bought brand, you can make a lot of ultra-healthy and delicious waffles with this recipe.
serves: 2
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Crave By Taylor
Green & Lean Spinach and Leek Soup
Good for what keeps you going, this soup is easy to make and reheat for lunch at home or office.
serves: 6
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Rejuvenated For Life
Shakshouka
Way easier to make than to pronounce, shakshouka is filled with the delicious meat and spices that make paleo living awesome.
serves: 4
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Naked Cuisine
Paleo Pad Thai
Kelp noodles, zucchini and cashews ensure an energizing lunch to get you through the rest of the day.
serves: 4
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Paleo Cupboard
Paleo Chicken Salad with Apricots and Almonds
When you want to mix green with your protein, this chicken salad is the perfect meal to last all week.
serves: 4
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Once A Month Meals
Pizza Casserole
If you're in the mood to make your coworkers jealous of your lunch this week, pizza casserole will definitely do the trick
serves: 4
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: A Girl Worth Saving
Pineapple Teriyaki Pork
Diced pineapple and white wine make this a meal one to look forward to every night of the week. And don't worry, the soy sauce is gluten free.
serves: 6
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Jan's Sushi Bar
Harvest-Spiced Chicken Stew
When in doubt, slow cook it out. This stew allows for minimal prep work because the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting.
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Paleo In PDX
Slow Cooker Coconut Ginger Chicken and Vegetables
While chicken and vegetables are a mainstay among slow cooker recipes, ground pepper and cumin give this dish an extra kick.
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Simple Bites
Salmon with Green Beans, Tomatoes and Olives
This delicious salmon and vegetable meal embodies convenience. Baked in a foil packet, it's ready to store before it's even done cooking.
serves: 4
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
Grilled Balsamic-Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin
This succulent tenderloin is just as good fresh as it is reheated, and the best part is the ability to be creative with the recipe.
serves: 6
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Kitchen Confidante
Quinoa Granola with Coconut and Chia Seeds
A spoonful of this delicious breakfast parfait with pecans and walnuts is crunchy perfection.
serves: 4
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Veg Angela
Simple Vegan Cinnamon French Toast
You can never go wrong with French toast in the morning. French toast for every day of the week? That just sounds like heaven.
serves: 4
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
Veggie Frittata Bites
These handheld delicacies are as tasty as they are flexible. Throw in any vegetables you like for a taste you'll truly love.
serves: 8
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Vegan Yack Attack
Baked Blueberry Donuts
For vegans with a sweet tooth, this perfect morning meal with blueberries and a tasty glaze will satisfy all of your hungry desires.
serves: 12 - 18
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: One Green Planet
Honey-Sweetened Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
A single batch of this no-bake breakfast bar recipe delivers a full two weeks of meals. It's perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle.
serves: 14 - 16
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Cookie And Kate
Lentil Salad with Walnuts and Herbs
The list of ingredients is long, but worth the effort. Toss them together for an excellent vegan salad that's so much more than leafy greens.
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: The Kitchn
Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich
This juicy, creamy sandwich won't give you the urge to nap at your desk like a burger or hot dog from the vendor outside your office.
serves: 4
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
Fettucine Alfredo
The great thing about pasta is that it can keep very well and the sauce is even better the next day.
serves: 4
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Happy Herbivore
Vegan Spring Rolls
Easy and fun to make, this recipe for spring rolls can be made with a dipping sauce to make them more authentic.
serves: 4 - 6
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Vegetarian.About.Com
Basic Vegetarian Chili
Unlike many other chili recipes, no slow cooking is required. This is perfect for rainy afternoons and cool evenings.
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Chow
Tempeh & Black Bean Burger
Meat-eaters aren't the only ones who can enjoy a good grilling session. These veggie burgers are good enough to tempt carnivores to switch teams.
serves: 4
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
This concoction of melted cheese and crisp green veggies is as hardy as it is simple.
serves: 5
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Eat Good 4 Life
Coconut Curried Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew
Filling and with just the right amount of spice, this is one of those meals that will make you happy to eat the same thing every night.
serves: 5
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: One Ingredient Chef
Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Sit back while the oven does the majority of the work. This irresistible lasagna-style recipe will have you reaching for seconds.
serves: 8
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Martha Stewart
Cremini and Chard Stuffed Shells
Stuffed with mushrooms and cheese then coated in marinara sauce, this recipe may soon become part of your regular rotation.
serves: 4
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Oh My Veggies
Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
Move over Jimmy Dean, these homemade breakfast sandwiches can be frozen and reheated in two minutes flat.
serves: 6
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Damn Delicious
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Game over. Two of the greatest breakfast items combined into one? Nothing could be better.
serves: 4
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Recipe Girl
Breakfast Burrito
Egg, cheese and potatoes, this breakfast burrito has it all. And this recipe ensures you may not have to cook breakfast again for two weeks.
serves: 20
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Handle The Heat
Parmesan Hash Brown Cups
Crispy on the outside, moist and cheesy on the inside, these handheld hash browns are easy to make and reheat.
serves: 12
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: The Yummy Life
Coffee Ice Cubes
If you're the type who doesn't eat much in the morning but loves a fresh brew, this recipe for coffee ice cubes is a must. Just add milk and enjoy.
serves: 1
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Honestly Yum
Portobello Fried Brown Rice
Rice is great. Throw in some mushrooms, egg and onion and you'll have a meal that will keep you satisfied for the rest of the day.
serves: 1 - 2
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: How Sweet Eats
Asian Chicken Wraps
Chili sauce is what makes this recipe so craveable, and the best part is there's no reheating involved.
serves: 4
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: Your Home Based Mom
Homemade Hot Pockets
When you see the saucy goodness bursting from the seams of these homemade hot pockets, you won't believe they have a healthy twist.
serves: 16
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
Enchilada Casserole
Cheesy, beefy and perfectly seasoned, this enchilada recipe makes for a satisfying lunch all week long.
serves: 8
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Add A Pinch
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
Easily made in large batches, this creamy pasta salad recipe is also flexible with the ingredients. You can include any kind of meat or cheese you like!
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: PopSugar
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Spaghetti loaded with chicken and cheese is a wonderful comfort food. Freeze the ingredients ahead of time and pop them in the slow cooker for convenience.
serves: 4
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Lauren's Latest
Baked Crab Rangoon
Make Chinese takeout obsolete with this recipe for homemade crab rangoon. Add a little bit of heat with a spoonful of Sriracha.
serves: 6 - 8
prep: 0 - 10 minutes
via: Steamy Kitchen
Ranch Parmesan Chicken
Coat chicken breast with ranch dressing and Parmesan cheese before baking and you'll never go back to plain old breadcrumbs again.
serves: 6
prep: 10 - 20 minutes
via: KitchMe
Beef and Bean Burrito
The best part about these burritos is that you can freeze them for up to a month. Add cheese and sour cream after reheating for a great dinner every time.
serves: 8
prep: 20 - 30 minutes
via: Oh Sweet Basil
Mini Pizza Bagels
These mini pizza bagels can be topped with just about anything you have on hand. And we all know pizza is the gift that keeps on giving.
serves: 4 - 12
prep: 10 - 20 minutes