Meal Prep Dinners and Make-Ahead Favourites
Cook once, eat twice. These dinners hold up beautifully in the fridge, so tonight's dinner becomes tomorrow's lunch or Wednesday's no-effort evening. Curries, stews, bowls and bakes are the stars here: chicken tikka masala, Moroccan lamb couscous, burrito bowls, bulgogi and a classic French ratatouille. Each recipe page has storage notes so you know how long it keeps.
44 recipes
Savoury-Sweet Birchermüesli Dinner Bowl
Light, no-cook evening Bircher with grated apple, berries, Greek yoghurt, and crunchy hazelnuts — the Swiss answer to 'too tired to cook'.
10 min · Swiss · Vegetarian
Smoky Spanish Chickpea & Spinach Stew
A Sevillian tapas favourite turned dinner: chickpeas and spinach in a smoky paprika-tomato sauce, with crusty bread for dunking.
25 min · Spanish · Vegan, Vegetarian
Air-Fryer Falafel Bowl with Tahini
Crispy herb falafel over fluffy couscous with tabbouleh-style salad, pickled red onion, and a creamy lemon tahini drizzle.
30 min · Lebanese · Vegan, Vegetarian
Moroccan Lamb & Apricot Tagine
A slow, fragrant weekend pot of tender lamb, sweet apricots, warm spices, and chickpeas, spooned over buttery couscous.
100 min · Moroccan · High protein, Dairy free
Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek)
Velvety, golden lentil soup with cumin, a hint of mint, and a squeeze of lemon. Cheap, cosy, and even better the next day.
30 min · Turkish · Vegan, Vegetarian
Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
Smoky chipotle chicken, lime rice, black beans, sweet corn, and creamy avocado — build-your-own fun for the whole table.
30 min · Mexican · High protein, Gluten free
15-Minute Korean Beef Bulgogi Bowl
Sweet-savoury caramelised beef with garlic, ginger, and sesame over steamed rice with crunchy quick-pickled cucumber.
20 min · Korean · High protein, Dairy free
Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala
Tender spiced chicken in a creamy, gently warming tomato sauce. Serve with basmati rice and warm naan for a crowd-pleasing curry night.
35 min · Indian · High protein, Gluten free
Sunday Ratatouille Bake with Goat's Cheese
Provençal veg slow-roasted until jammy and sweet, finished with creamy goat's cheese and basil. Lovely with crusty bread.
60 min · French · Vegetarian, Gluten free
Bündner Barley Soup
A hug in a bowl from Graubünden: pearl barley, smoky bacon, and chunky root vegetables simmered into a thick, warming Alpine soup.
70 min · Swiss · Dairy free
Ethiopian Misir Wot (Spiced Red Lentils)
Rich, warming red lentils slow-cooked with heaps of onion and berbere spice. Deeply comforting and naturally vegan.
40 min · Ethiopian · Vegan, Vegetarian
Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas
Smoky, fiery Jamaican-style jerk chicken with coconut rice and kidney beans. A sunny weekend feast worth the marinating time.
55 min · Caribbean · High protein, Gluten free
West African Peanut Stew
Creamy, gently spiced peanut and tomato stew with sweet potato, chickpeas, and greens. Hearty, vegan, and seriously satisfying.
35 min · African · Vegan, Vegetarian
Weeknight Chana Masala
Tangy, warmly spiced chickpea curry that's on the table in 25 minutes. Budget-friendly, vegan, and one of those dinners everyone goes back for.
25 min · Indian · Vegan, Vegetarian
Greek Lentil Salad with Feta
A no-fuss, protein-packed salad of lentils, crunchy cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and crumbled feta in a zesty oregano dressing. Perfect for lunch tomorrow, too.
15 min · Greek · Vegetarian, Gluten free
Sheet-Pan Chicken Shawarma Plate
Warmly spiced, crispy-edged chicken with roasted onions, warm pita, crunchy salad, and a garlicky yoghurt sauce. Street food, home-style.
35 min · Lebanese · High protein
Valais Cholera Pie
A wonderfully odd Valais classic: flaky pastry stuffed with potatoes, leek, apple, pear and Raclette cheese. Sweet, savoury and very cozy.
75 min · Swiss · Vegetarian
Pasta e Fagioli
Italy's thrifty, hearty bean and pasta soup with rosemary and garlic. Thick enough to eat with a fork, cozy enough for every week.
35 min · Italian · Vegan, Vegetarian
Lasagne Bolognese
Layers of slow-simmered beef ragù, silky béchamel and Parmesan baked until golden at the edges. The Sunday dinner everyone remembers.
90 min · Italian · High protein
Garden Minestrone
A big, colourful bowl of vegetables, beans and little pasta in a tomato-herb broth. Light, filling and better the next day.
40 min · Italian · Vegan, Vegetarian
Melanzane alla Parmigiana
Silky roasted aubergine layered with rich tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan. Southern Italian comfort that's naturally gluten-free.
70 min · Italian · Vegetarian, Gluten free
Chicken Souvlaki Pita
Lemon-oregano chicken skewers wrapped in warm pita with tzatziki, tomato and red onion. A Greek taverna favourite at home.
30 min · Greek · High protein
Gemista (Greek Stuffed Vegetables)
Peppers and tomatoes stuffed with herby rice and baked with potatoes in olive oil until sweet and jammy. Summer in a baking dish.
70 min · Greek · Vegan, Vegetarian
Gigantes Plaki (Greek Baked Giant Beans)
Big, buttery beans baked in a dill-flecked tomato sauce until thick and sticky. Vegan, budget-friendly and loved all over Greece.
50 min · Greek · Vegan, Vegetarian
Tortilla Española
Spain's beloved potato and onion omelette: tender inside, golden outside. Great hot, cold or packed for tomorrow's lunch.
35 min · Spanish · Vegetarian, Gluten free
Quiche Lorraine
A buttery pastry case with a silky custard of eggs, cream, smoky bacon and Gruyère. Brunch, dinner or picnic, it fits them all.
60 min · French
Adana-Style Köfte with Rice Pilaf
Juicy spiced lamb köfte with buttery rice pilaf, a tomato-onion salad and cool garlic yoghurt.
35 min · Turkish · Gluten free, High protein
Imam Bayildi
Aubergines slow-baked with sweet onions, tomatoes and lots of olive oil until meltingly soft. The name means 'the imam fainted'. Try it and you'll see why.
60 min · Turkish · Vegan, Vegetarian
Mujadara (Lentils, Rice & Crispy Onions)
Humble, magnificent Levantine comfort: spiced lentils and rice crowned with a tangle of sweet, crispy onions. Vegan and cheap.
45 min · Lebanese · Vegan, Vegetarian
Lebanese Beef Kafta with Hummus
Herby, spiced beef kafta skewers with creamy hummus, warm flatbread and a crunchy tomato-cucumber salad.
25 min · Lebanese · Dairy free, High protein
Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon & Olives
Tender chicken braised with ginger, saffron, salty olives and fragrant preserved lemon, spooned over fluffy couscous.
60 min · Moroccan · Dairy free, High protein
Harira (Moroccan Lentil & Chickpea Soup)
Morocco's soul-warming soup of lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes and herbs, gently spiced and brightened with lemon.
50 min · Moroccan · Vegan, Vegetarian
Moroccan Carrot & Chickpea Couscous Salad
A sunny, crunchy salad of fluffy couscous, sweet carrot, chickpeas, raisins and herbs in a cumin-lemon dressing. Perfect for meal prep.
20 min · Moroccan · Vegan, Vegetarian
Chicken Yakitori Rice Bowl
Sticky, smoky glazed chicken thigh pieces with spring onions over fluffy rice. Japanese izakaya flavours without the skewers.
25 min · Japanese · Dairy free, High protein
Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles)
Bouncy sweet-potato glass noodles tossed with beef, spinach, mushrooms and carrots in a sweet sesame-soy glaze. Festive yet easy.
35 min · Korean · Dairy free
Massaman Beef Curry
Slow-simmered beef and potatoes in a rich, mildly spiced coconut curry with peanuts and tamarind. A weekend showstopper.
120 min · Thai · Gluten free, Dairy free
Thai Peanut Noodle Salad
Cold rice noodles with crunchy veg, edamame and herbs in a creamy, zingy peanut-lime dressing. Your new favourite meal prep.
20 min · Thai · Vegan, Vegetarian
Thit Kho (Vietnamese Caramel Pork & Eggs)
Melt-in-the-mouth pork and eggs braised in a glossy caramel and coconut water sauce. Sweet, salty and deeply comforting.
60 min · Vietnamese · Gluten free, Dairy free
Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
Turmeric-marinated chicken skewers, charred and served with creamy peanut sauce, rice and cucumber. A crowd-pleaser for all ages.
30 min · Indonesian · Dairy free, High protein
Beef Rendang
Indonesia's legendary slow-cooked dry curry: beef simmered in coconut milk and spices until the sauce caramelises around every piece. Weekend magic.
150 min · Indonesian · Gluten free, Dairy free
Keema Matar
Spiced minced lamb with sweet peas, ginger and garam masala. A homely Indian one-pan dinner that's great for meal prep.
30 min · Indian · Gluten free, Dairy free
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken
Golden chicken thighs in a glossy honey-garlic-soy glaze with green beans and rice. Every kid's (and adult's) favourite.
25 min · Asian · Dairy free, High protein
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Tortillas rolled around chicken and black beans, smothered in smoky red sauce and baked under bubbling cheese. A guaranteed family hit.
45 min · Mexican · High protein
Chili con Carne
Rich, smoky beef and bean chili with a whisper of cocoa, simmered until thick. Even better tomorrow, which makes it a meal prep legend.
60 min · Mexican · Gluten free, Dairy free
How to meal prep dinners
Cook a double batch, cool it quickly and portion it into containers. Keep crunchy or fresh toppings separate and add them just before eating so everything stays bright.
What keeps best
Sauced dishes like curries and stews often taste better on day two. Bowls keep well if grains, protein and dressings are stored separately.
FAQ
- How long do meal prep dinners last?
- Most keep two to three days in the fridge. Check the storage notes on each recipe.
- Can I freeze them?
- Many stews and curries freeze well; recipe pages note when freezing works.
- What's the best meal prep dinner for beginners?
- Turkish lentil soup: one pot, cheap and it reheats perfectly.
More collections
Not sure which one?
Tell Salty who's eating and get dinners that fit everyone.
Get personalized ideas