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

via: Living Healthy With Chocolate

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

via: Stuff I Make My Husband

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

via: Jessica In The Kitchen

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

via: Big Flavors Tiny Kitchen

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

via: May I Have That Recipe

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

via: Don't Waste The Crumbs

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

via: The Comfort Of Cooking