21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (2024)

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Completely lost on where to start with food prep? These 21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep ideas will help you prepare either breakfast, lunch, dinner, or sides for the week without feeling like you’re spending hours in the kitchen. This post contains affiliate links for products I’m obsessed with.

21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (1)

Confession- I’ve gotten away from doing a ton of meal prepping. I mean, since I became a work from home mom, having a fridge full of prepped food all week just hasn’t been a huge priority. I have some flexibility in my schedule, so I can cook things throughout the week. Plus, I am always testing recipes and love being able to try new dishes on whim.

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But, as life get busier, it does make the week go more smoothly if there is at least some food prepped ahead of time. Read: we’re less likely to order take out for dinner or pull up to the drive thru for a breakfast sandwich on the way home from preschool drop off.

Ican’t be the only one.

Here’s my secret: lazy food prep. Yes, you heard me, lazy.

While I don’t think of myself as lazy, you know I’m all about lazy recipes, like in my21 Day Fix Lazy Zucchini Enchilada Skillet,21 Day Fix Lazy Butternut Squash Lasagna {Gluten-free, One Skillet}, and21 Day Fix One Skillet Lazy Zucchini Lasagnarecipes. Because I need SOMETHING in my life to be lazy.

My favorite food prep is something I can do while I have 5 minutes here, or 20 minutes there. I love to food prep things that don’t require lots of babysitting, chopping, or standing near the stove. I like my recipes to be lazy so I can do all the things.

Food prepping while I make dinner is extra helpful, especially when I use my Instant Pot 21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (3)to pull double duty.

21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (4)

The bottom line? You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to get ahead with some meal prep. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite easy to prep/ low maintenance recipes so you can sneak in a little prep here and there to help you stay on plan without a ton of time in the kitchen!

Breakfast

21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (5)

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats using the Delay Start Button– Game changer! Literally throw water, oats, and salt in the IP, push some buttons, and you have a hot healthy breakfast waiting for you when you wake up. Double the batch and you have breakfast for multiple days!

Healthy Sheet Pan Breakfast with Sweet Potato, Brussels Sprouts, and Bacon (21 Day Fix)– Prep this ahead of time but top with a runny egg when you’re ready to eat. It’s perfect and requires minimal chopping.

21 Day Fix Overnight Oats– Your future (busy morning) self will thank you for taking the 5 minutes to set these up the night before.

21 Day Fix Baked Oatmeal Jars– Get the kids to help with these oatmeal Mason Jars21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (6)! So simple and portable for the whole family. Or make this Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal version!

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs – Hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot couldn’t be easier! They are a dream to peel and so quick and hands off to make!

Lunch/Dinner

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21 Day Fix Salsa Lime Chicken (Instant Pot/Slow Cooker)– I’m not sure if this could get any easier. “Dump and go” in either your Instant Pot 21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (8) or Crock Pot, and of course I use it as the filling in my Healthy Instant Pot Airfryer Chicken Taquitos (Slow Cooker | Oven Friendly | Gluten-free)

Shredded Mexican Chicken| Carrie Elle – Cook your Mexican chicken from frozen in the Instant Pot!

Freezer Prep Taco Meat |prep a TON of taco meat in just one minute of cook time! And when you want to defrost it, you can do so in just ONE minute!

Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce | Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce – cook your squash and sauce TOGETHER with a homemade sauce that requires almost no prep!
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Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup {21 Day Fix}– This requires minimal chopping and is an amazing make ahead for lunches for the week. It also freezes great!

21 Day Fix Salsa Verde Pork {Slow Cooker/Instant Pot}– Just as ridiculously easy as the chicken, this pork is so yummy!

21 Day Fix Instant Pot Asian Chickenor21 Day Fix Asian Style Crock Pot Chicken– using pantry items, you can whip up the marinade for these chicken thighs. Then “dump and go” and come back to a delicious tasting meal- use the IP to make it one pot! Also great withFreezer Friendly Instant Pot Brown Rice

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How To Make Taco Meat From Frozen| The Foodie and the Fix – Cooking from frozen = ultimate lazy 😉

21 Day Fix Homemade Tomato Sauce– I put a pot of this on the stove while I am making another dinner. Whatever doesn’t get used within a few days, I freeze for later! Then, use it in things like21 Day Fix Spinach and Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups,21 Day Fix Lazy Butternut Squash Lasagna {Gluten-free, One Skillet}orover top of21 Day Fix Make Ahead Meatballs (Gluten-free)and zoodles!

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TIP – freeze sauce in muffin tins or silicone molds!

Sides

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How to Prep Spaghetti Squash [+ Recipes!]– spaghetti squash prep 4 ways- and all while you are doing something else in the kitchen!

Freezer Friendly Instant Pot Quinoa– use the Instant Pot to prep a big batch of quinoa and freeze it for when you need it.

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How to Meal Prep Sweet Potato Toast– a healthy alternative to a bun, sweet potato toast is prepped in minutes! Or just use your Instant Pot to bake up a bunch of Sweet Potatoes for your week (thanks, Carrie Elle!)

Freezer Friendly Instant Pot Brown Rice– use the Instant Pot to prep a big batch of brown rice to freeze and use whenever.

I LOVE my Instant Pot for meal prep…check out this Healthy Instant Pot Meal Prep post from The Foodie and The Fix for more easy ideas!

Dressings and Spice Mixes

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Maple Cider Vinaigrette

Simple Strawberry Balsamic

21 Day Fix Salt Free Taco Seasoning

21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep | Low Maintenance Recipes to Prep in Little Time (2024)

FAQs

How to meal prep when you're lazy? ›

Use the Slow Cooker or Instant Pot for Chicken
  1. Use as your protein in soups.
  2. Sprinkle on salads for lunch or dinner.
  3. Toss with a little seasoning for an easy taco or fajita night.
  4. Add to sandwiches or wraps.
  5. Toss with BBQ sauce for pulled barbecue chicken sandwiches.
Mar 21, 2023

What are 3 keys to successful meal prepping? ›

Follow these three steps and you'll be planning and prepping nutritious and delicious meals that fit your preferences and lifestyle!
  • Step 1: Make a Menu. First, think about your approach to meal planning — do you: ...
  • Step 2: Stock Your Pantry and Freezer with the Five Food Groups. ...
  • Step 3: Keep a Running Grocery List.
Jul 18, 2019

How do you meal prep with limited time? ›

60+ ways to meal prep when you don't have time
  1. Portion things out. This might sound silly, but portioning things out is a super important step of meal prep, and when I find myself short on time, I will just focus on portioning ingredients out. ...
  2. Wash & chop stuff. ...
  3. Assemble but don't cook. ...
  4. Cook a big batch.

How can I shorten my meal prep time? ›

Use Fewer Ingredients

To minimize your meal prep time, try cooking meals using five whole-food ingredients or fewer. Simplify your meal by reusing the same vegetables for your main, side, and appetizer.

What not to do when meal prepping? ›

How to meal prep: 6 mistakes to avoid
  1. USING CHEAP PLASTIC CONTAINERS. ...
  2. YOU PREP WAY TOO MUCH. ...
  3. YOU'RE MAKING THINGS TOO COMPLICATED. ...
  4. BATCH COOKING ONE THING FOR A WHOLE WEEK. ...
  5. NEGLECTING TO SEASON. ...
  6. OVER OILING.
Sep 11, 2023

What is a lazy meal? ›

The quintessential lazy dinner, one-pan meals are our favourite type of cooking in winter. From creamy chicken numbers to faster pasta winners, here are 100 recipes that require only one pan, pot or dish.

What is the rule of 3 meal plan? ›

The Rule of 3's is made up specifically of these guidelines: Eat at least three meals and up to three snacks a day (you might think of this as a breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal plan) Eat at least three food groups per meal (and two per snack) Allow no more than three hours between eating.

What are the top 5 food prep steps? ›

Here are five steps to turn a once dreaded task, into a doable and enjoyable one.
  1. Step 1: Know the Components of a Balanced Meal. ...
  2. Step 2: Search for Recipe Inspiration. ...
  3. Step 3: Map Your Meals for the Week. ...
  4. Step 4: Choose a Day to Shop and Meal Prep. ...
  5. Step 5: Dedicate One Hour per Week to Meal Prep. ...
  6. Key Takeaway.

What are the 5 basic steps of meal planning? ›

  • M E A L P L A N N I N G. Organize your meal plan and shopping list in a way that inspires you to stick with it. ...
  • WRITE I T DOWN. CHECK YOUR CALENDAR. ...
  • START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. Check your pantry, refrigerator,and freezer. ...
  • SHOP O N SALE. ...
  • COOK ONCE , EAT TWICE ( O R MORE ! ) ...
  • KEEP I T BALANCED .

What food lasts the longest for meal prep? ›

Meal-prepped soups and stews can last up to four days in the fridge. Chicken and rice can last up to five days in the fridge.

Can I eat the same meal prep everyday? ›

Preparing the same meal for the week may be a popular and easy cooking option, but it has a few big disadvantages. Consistently eating the same thing for dinner, especially if it's not a well-balanced meal, might deplete your body of essential nutrients. Trying to decide what to have for each meal can be a hassle.

What meal preps last the longest? ›

Soups, stews, and chili are the ideal meal prep because they last a little longer than most meals (up to five or six days) AND they're extremely freezer-friendly. If you're new to meal prep and are nervous about how foods taste after a few days, I recommend starting with a soup, stew, or chili.

How do I meal prep for a week without food going off? ›

There's no one way to do it, but three common techniques include:
  1. Batch Cooking. Make big recipes at once (like on the weekends) to freeze or save for use later on.
  2. Individually Portioned Meals. Divvy up portions into containers ahead of time so you can grab and go.
  3. Prepped Ingredients.
Dec 21, 2023

How do you meal prep and not eat the same thing every day? ›

Buffet meal preps involve cooking ingredients separately (a big batch of grilled chicken, a big batch of rice, a big batch of roasted veggies, etc.) so that you're able to build meals as you go. It's ideal for anyone who craves variety in meals more than anything else but doesn't want to cook every day either.

How do you meal prep for ADHD? ›

How to do meal prepping with ADHD
  1. Round up your favorite recipes. Choose easy meals and recipes using pantry ingredients, or try sheet pan and one-pot meals. ...
  2. Save money with similar recipes. ...
  3. Stock your food inventory. ...
  4. Create a plan. ...
  5. Be flexible. ...
  6. Prep your meals in batches.
Feb 24, 2023

Is meal prepping good for ADHD? ›

As someone with ADHD, Becca has found meal planning, grocery shopping and prep beneficial in both her and her clients' lives. “Sometimes it is just pre-planning, pre-thinking about the easy things that you can make and having those ingredients on hand.”

How do I stop being so lazy to cook? ›

7 Easy Cooking Tips for Lazy People
  1. Stock your pantry with the basics. ...
  2. Stock up on frozen ingredients. ...
  3. Cook an extra batch of food. ...
  4. Have freezer-friendly containers and bags handy. ...
  5. Master a few one-pot meals. ...
  6. Roast your meals. ...
  7. Invest in the right kitchen helper. ...
  8. 6 Beginner's Recipes you can make with a Kitchen Machine.

Why is it so hard to meal prep? ›

It can be time consuming. You have to figure out what you're going to make, go grocery shopping, and then actually cook the food. Another reason meal planning is so hard is that it can be difficult to stick to a plan when life gets busy. It can also be expensive.

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