What are the easiest meals to prep for beginners?

Beginners often have success with chicken and rice because they are affordable and reheat well. Using a slow cooker or Instant Pot for meals like salsa chicken is also very forgiving and hard to overcook.

How do I start meal prepping without getting overwhelmed?

You should avoid trying to prep 21 meals per week right away. Focus on prepping just one meal at a time or doubling your dinner portions to freeze half for later.

How long should I let food cool before putting it in the fridge?

You should let your food cool down to a lukewarm temperature before sealing the containers and putting them in the fridge or freezer. This prevents condensation and bacterial growth.

What foods should you avoid freezing for meal prep?

You should avoid freezing foods like cooked noodles or leafy greens if you care about texture. They tend to become mushy when thawed, so it is better to freeze your components separately.

Where can I find easy recipes for meal prepping?

Users frequently recommend the website Budget Bytes for straightforward, budget friendly, and healthy recipes with step by step instructions.

Meal Prep Tips for Beginners Getting Started

The best meal prep tips for beginners suggest starting small by cooking larger portions of meals you already enjoy. Instead of preparing a full week of food immediately, you can simply double a normal recipe and save the extra portions for the next day.

If cooking full meals seems overwhelming at first, you can prepare individual components like proteins or grains in bulk. This lets you mix and match ingredients with fresh vegetables when it is time to eat.

You should also focus on just one meal at a time, like breakfast or lunch, to establish a routine. Users recommend testing new recipes in small batches before committing to a large amount of food.

simple prep strategies

Double existing recipes Cook larger portions of what you already enjoy and save half for the next day.
Prep components separately Prepare proteins or grains in bulk instead of full meals to mix and match later.
Cook one meal at a time Start with just lunches or dinners to build a routine without getting overwhelmed.
Use a slow cooker Appliances like Instant Pots make cooking forgiving recipes like salsa chicken very easy.
Stick to basic staples Chicken thighs and rice are affordable, versatile, and reheat well.
Season your food thoroughly Use spices, cilantro, or lime juice to prevent flavor burnout.
Label everything clearly Always write the food name and date on containers to avoid confusion.
Cool food before storing Wait until food is lukewarm before sealing containers to prevent bacterial growth.

Meal Prep Tips for Beginners Getting Started — infographic

Start Simple

Double existing meals. Instead of immediately preparing ten meals, double a meal you already cook and eat the leftovers the next day. "start with something dead simple, like just doubling what you already cook and freezing half."

Prep components, not full meals. Prepare individual ingredients like proteins or grains in bulk, and then mix and match them with fresh or frozen vegetables and dressings when it's time to eat. "If prepping full meals seems overwhelming at first, try just prepping components."

Focus on one meal at a time. Many Users suggest beginning with just lunches or dinners, gradually expanding to other meals once a routine is established. "You don't have to prep breakfast lunch and dinner for weeks at a time, even if you cook for a couple days at once that's a good starting point."

Choose Beginner-Friendly Recipes

Utilize slow cookers or Instant Pots. These appliances simplify cooking and are great for recipes like salsa chicken, which is forgiving and hard to overcook. "Take out your slow cooker or instapot. Put in as much chicken breast as you want. Dump in a jar of your favorite salsa."

Prioritize basic staples. Chicken and rice are highly recommended as they are versatile, affordable, and reheat well. "Chicken thighs and rice, my friend! Thighs are impossible to overcook, refrigerates well, reheats like a champ."

Explore Budget Bytes for easy recipes. This website is frequently mentioned for its straightforward, budget-friendly, and healthy recipes with step-by-step instructions. "When I first started cooking, I found Budget Bytes very easy to follow."

Essential Tips for Success

Season your food well. Don't be afraid to use various seasonings, as bland food can lead to burnout. "A little bit of cilantro and lime juice will go a long way to making your rice taste like chipotle. Also, season your damn food."

Label everything clearly. Always label containers with the food item and date to avoid confusion and ensure food safety. "WRITE THE NAME ON IT!"

Cool food before sealing and refrigerating/freezing. Allow food to cool to lukewarm temperatures before putting lids on and storing to prevent condensation and bacterial growth. "Let them give off steam and heat, refrigerate once they’ve cooled down to be just lukewarm, and eat all week!"

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Don't over-prep initially. Trying to prep too many meals at once can be overwhelming and lead to burnout. "Don't overdo it at the beginning. You don't have to prep 21 meals per week to be successful."

Test new recipes before making large batches. Cook a smaller portion of a new recipe first to ensure you enjoy it before committing to a week's worth of meals. "Test a recipe out before you make a bunch of them for the week, nothing worse than making 3 chicken breast with a marinade you’ve never tested and it tasted bad but you have 3 days worth now!"

Be mindful of food textures after freezing. Some foods, like cooked noodles or leafy greens, can become mushy when frozen and thawed, so it's often better to freeze components separately. "Don’t freeze cooked noodles if you have any sort of texture issue."

Do you want to explore some specific recipes that are good for meal prepping?

To start meal prepping, begin small by cooking larger portions of meals you already enjoy, then gradually increase complexity and variety as you get more comfortable.