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Are you looking for quick and easy vegetarian meal prep ideas and recipes?
Between work, the kids and all your responsibilities, cooking at the end of the day may be the last thing you want to do.
You may have no energy or motivation by the end of your work day and picking up your phone to order pizza may be all you can handle.
But there’s an easier, healthier way to do things. Meal prep your week!
We’ve put together a list of 23 options for vegetarian meal prep recipes that will have you feeling healthy, energized, and prepared for the week!
Plus, save you money in the long run.
To avoid those late night cravings, and to make your mornings a little easier (or at least less rushed), try meal prep.
It not only means you don’t have to do extra work when you are tired from a long day, but will help you stay on track with healthy eating. And it is budget friendly.
This list of quick and easy vegetarian meal prep ideas will have you feeling healthy, energized, and ready for the week.
In this post on vegetarian meal prep recipes we will cover:
- What is meal prep and why should you do it?
- What tools do I need to start meal prepping?
- Easy vegetarian meal prep ideas
- One-pot vegetarian recipes for meal prepping your week
- Vegetarian soup meal prep recipes
- Salad meal prep ideas
- Vegetarian side dishes
What is Meal Prep and Why Should you Try it?
Meal prepping just means you make your meals for the week (or event the month) ahead of time.
It allows you to have meals ready at a moment’s notice, without having to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen every day.
So, instead of rushing around trying to pack a lunch for work at the last minute, or trying to find the energy to cook dinner at the end of your work day, you can grab something ready-to-go.
Your weeknight dinners will be ready to go. You just have to do the cooking all at once on the weekend and then store it in the fridge or freezer.
There are many benefits to meal prep. It can save you time for one thing.
Meal prep also saves you money over going out to eat. The average cost of just a lunch meal out at a restaurant is between $10-15. That can add up fast!
And, it is a lot healthier to prep your meals for the week in advance. You might be tempted to eat pizza or fast food that can pack on the cholesterol and the pounds.
But, having your meals cooked and prepped ahead of time will keep you from making that unhealthy and sometimes expensive choice. You can even set aside healthy snacks for the week too.
Check out these Cheap Ramen Recipes for easy, budget-friendly meals.
What do I need to start meal prepping?
You don’t really have to have anything to start vegetarian meal prepping your weeknight dinners! However, there are some tools and kitchen appliances that will make it easier.
Meal Prepping Tools:
- Snapware Plastic Meal Prep Food Storage This is a 5-piece set for only $12.99! Plus, they are BPA Free, Microwave, Freezer and Dishwasher Safe
- Snapware Glass Food Storage Container If you prefer a more heavy-duty meal storage container you can opt for this glass version
- Ziploc Freezer Bags If you are planning out your meal prep for longer than a week these freezer bags will help
- Easy Lunch Boxes – 3 Compartment Bento These are perfect for keeping different parts of your meal separated but still in one container to take to work or school
- 2 & 3 Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers This is a nice set of 4 containers that are glass and include both 2 and 3 compartment options
Cooking appliances to help with meal prep:
- Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker If you don’t have a slow cooker yet you should definitely invest in one. They are an easy way to cook one-pot meals ideal for your weekly meal prep.
- Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker An Instant Pot is another handy cooking appliance to make your meal prep even easier. This one even includes a rice cooker, steamer and slow cooker.
Books about meal prep
Here are some books that can be helpful for making a vegetarian meal prep plan. These books have tips, grocery lists and vegetarian recipes for meal prep.
- Meal prep weekly planner and grocery list journal
- Clean eating meal prep recipe book
- Smart meal prep for beginners
Easy Meal Prep Recipes for Vegetarians
These vegetarian recipes for meal prep are healthy, easy and cheap!
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Tofu Curry
This curry can be made in advance to eat for dinner or to take with you on your commute as lunch.
Add this dish to a bowl, pack it up in a healthy wrap, or enjoy with cauliflower rice for an easy meal.
Try this delicious vegetarian recipe and incorporate it into your meal prep for the week. Vegetarian meal prep lunches like this make for an easy, delicious week!
Smoky Lentil Tomato Soup
Soup can be an easy and cheap meal prep recipe. Combine lentils, garlic cloves, carrots, sweet onion, celery sticks or diced onions in a pot and add broth.
Add tomatoes (or tomato paste) and season with salt, black pepper and red chili flakes to taste.
Soba Noodles With Stir Fry
Easy vegetarian recipes like this one make ideal meal prep.
Cook soba noodles in boiling water for three minutes or according to the package instructions then rinse them under cold running water until they are cool enough to handle.
Then sautee your choice of vegetables in a wok or pan with soy sauce, ginger and garlic. Try broccoli, water chestnuts and snap peas for a nice mix!
Add the noodles to your stir fry mixture and serve on a plate with cilantro sprinkled over top (optional).
Try this super healthy Sesame Soba Noodles Recipe.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Avocado
Cut sweet potatoes into wedges or chunks then drizzle them with olive oil, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Place in roasting pan and roast at 425 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until tender.
Peel an avocado and cut it into bite size chunks then place in a bowl with the roasted sweet potatoes. Easy Peasy meal prep recipe that is vegetarian! For a little variety try these sweet potato, avocado bacon bites!
Vegan Burrito Bowls
Layer brown rice or quinoa with black beans, red onion, corn, pico de Gallo or guacamole (or avocado slices), and cilantro leaves.
Top with your hot sauce of choice for a quick meal prep dish that is packed with protein! With vegetarian meals it is important to make sure you are consistently including protein to make up for the lack of meat which these burrito bowls cover.
Burrito bowls make an excellent choice of vegetarian meal prep for lunch.
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Crispy Quinoa Patties
These quinoa patties can be made ahead of time and used for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Add them to a salad, eat with side veggies or in a wrap.
This recipe is vegan as well so it covers all bases when you are looking for healthy vegetarian meal prep ideas. Quinoa is an ideal vegetarian dish because it is packed with protein.
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Taco Bowl Vegetarian Recipe
Make a pot of brown rice according to package instructions. Fill bowl with brown rice, top it off with sauteed veggies of your choice like broccoli, carrots or sugar snap peas. Add Lipton vegetarian soup mix, and blac