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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    28 Family Friendly Recipes That Were Made for Meal Prep

    Published: Jun 13, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    Meal prepping can be a game changer for busy families, making weeknight dinners easier and more enjoyable. With 28 family-friendly recipes, you can prepare delicious meals in advance that everyone will love. These recipes are not only simple to make but also packed with flavors that appeal to both kids and adults.

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Chicken Tortilla Soup.
    Photo Credit: That Skinny Chick Can Bake.

    This Chicken Tortilla Soup is perfect for any time of the year. It's filling, nutritious, and has just the right amount of spice.

    Get the Recipe

    Penne Pomodoro

    A serving of penne pomodoro pasta.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This dish features whole canned tomatoes, fresh herbs, and penne pasta, creating a satisfying vegetarian meal. It's easy to prepare and sure to please everyone at the table!

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies

    Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables
    Photo Credit: Wholesome Made Easy.

    This dish is quick and easy to prepare. Just throw some chicken thighs and veggies on a sheet pan, bake it, and dinner is served with juicy chicken and tasty roasted vegetables.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Penne Pasta

    Chicken served over penne pasta.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    This creamy pasta dish combines fresh Roma tomatoes, hearty spinach, and a hint of spice from chili flakes, all brought together with a zesty lemon flavor. It's a delicious and satisfying meal that's easy to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Spanish Chicken Stew

    Spanish chicken stew with rice.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This chicken stew is simple to prepare using rotisserie chicken and is full of fresh lemon and rosemary flavors. It's a great option for a cozy dinner that doesn't require much effort.

    Get the recipe

    Tomato Gnocchi Soup

    Tomato Gnocchi Soup.
    Photo Credit: Kathryn's Kitchen Blog.

    This soup is rich and tasty, packed with soft gnocchi that are delightful to eat. It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect cozy dinner for any night that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Crème Fraîche Carbonara

    Fake carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This is a delicious twist on carbonara that packs in even more flavor than the traditional version. It's a great option for easy meal prep, making dinner simple and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken

    Grilled lemon chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Lemon Chicken Marinade is quick to whip up using simple and healthy ingredients. Perfect for grilling, pan frying, or baking, it keeps the chicken juicy and full of flavor with olive oil, lemon, and basil.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce on a bowl.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Instant pot spaghetti is simple to prepare with just 9 ingredients and one pot, making it a breeze to whip up. In under 30 minutes, you can serve this classic dish to your family, even on the busiest weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    Turkey Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

    One-Pan Italian Turkey Meatballs with Marinara
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    These meatballs are packed with flavor from a mix of dried herbs, panko breadcrumbs, and finely chopped onions, which keep them nice and tender. After shaping the meatballs, the rest of the dish comes together quickly.

    Get the recipe

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These meatballs are easy to make and can be done in less than an hour. You can prepare them on the stove, in an air fryer, or in the oven, and they'll turn out juicy and full of flavor.

    Get the recipe

    Eggplant Moussaka

    Eggplant moussaka.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Eggplant Moussaka is a simple dinner packed with vegetables, ground beef or lamb, and plenty of cheese on top. This version skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead, creating a healthy and tasty Mediterranean meal.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Thai Curried Chicken Soup

    Slow Cooker Thai Curried Chicken Soup.
    Photo Credit: Lauren Kelly Nutrition.

    This Thai curried chicken soup is easy to prepare and packed with flavor. It's a perfect choice for a cozy meal that warms you up.

    Get the Recipe

    Venison Soup

    Venison Soup.
    Photo Credit: Binky's Culinary Carnival.

    Venison soup is a simple dish to prepare, especially when you're processing your deer. It's a great way to use up tougher cuts of meat that might otherwise go to waste.

    Get the Recipe

    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. It's loaded with veggies and flavor, and you can enjoy it hot or cold, whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas

    Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas with dip.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas are a vibrant and flavorful dinner option. With seasoned steak, peppers, onions, and avocados, this dish is both healthy and easy to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Tater tot casserole with chicken and bacon is a simple dish you can prepare in the slow cooker. In just 5 hours, you'll have a delicious meal ready to enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup

    Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Eating.

    Slow cooker lasagna soup is a hearty meal packed with flavor. This simple soup combines everyday ingredients to create a delicious dinner with minimal work.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

    A scoop of Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: Flavorful Eats.

    Made with tender homemade Italian chicken meatballs topped with marinara sauce and plenty of melted mozzarella cheese, this one-pan recipe for Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs will satisfy your comfort food cravings! These cheesy, saucy meatballs are perfect over pasta or added to rolls for the best meatball parmesan subs!

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. With just a few simple pantry ingredients, you can whip up a rich and hearty meal in no time.

    Get the recipe

    Turkey Burgers

    An air fryer turkey burger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This turkey burger is unlike any other you'll find. It's a simple and tasty option that's perfect for easy meal prep.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Lentil Soup

    Nourishing Chicken Lentil Soup.
    Photo Credit: Supergolden Bakes.

    This Chicken Lentil soup is full of protein, fiber, and veggies. It's a hearty and warming dish that's perfect for a healthy meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for easy weeknight meals. With just a little chopping to begin, everything cooks together with chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce, making cleanup a breeze.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

    Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This easy slow cooker recipe brings the classic tastes of Tuscany right to your home. It's perfect for busy nights when you want a delicious meal without a lot of work.

    Get the Recipe

    Curry Lentil Soup

    Curry Lentil Soup.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This vegan curry lentil soup is quick to make and packed with pantry staples like curry spices, garbanzo beans, coconut milk, and red lentils. It's a comforting dish that your family will love, and they won't even realize it's full of healthy ingredients!

    Get the Recipe

    Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne with Black Beans

    Easy Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne with Black Beans
    Photo credit: always use butter

    This Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne is packed with chili flavor and plenty of veggies like zucchini, eggplant, and green bell pepper. Ready in just 40 minutes, it's full of flavor and different textures, and it comes together with just a few easy steps.

    Get the recipe

    Lamb Meatballs with Cilantro & Lemon

    Lamb meatballs.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Lamb meatballs are easy to make and full of fresh lemon and cilantro flavor. They pair well with mashed potatoes or can be served as appetizers at gatherings, and they've been a hit in my home for years.

    Get the recipe

    Cottage Pie

    Cottage Pie.
    Photo Credit: Our Love Language is Food.

    This dish features a filling of beef and vegetables, all topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer. With some easy ingredients, it can be ready in just 30 minutes, making it a great choice for family dinners.

    Get the Recipe

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      28 Quick and Delicious Dump and Go Meals for Busy Weeknights
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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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