I'm a big fan of spending my Sunday afternoons meal prepping for the week [1]. It gives me something to do, plus I thoroughly hate cooking during the week after I get home from work. This means my fridge and freezer are constantly full of plastic containers stuffed with prepared meals [2]. Each of the 20+ recipes here can also be prepped over the weekend and shoved in your freezer for the next night you don't feel like cooking. Bonus: they're all vegetarian, to suit anyone who's veggie or anyone (like me) who just really doesn't like cooking meat. Keep reading for meal-prep inspiration.
Pumpkin Chili
For a veggie spin on chili, make it with pumpkin and freeze a pot in smaller servings to reheat as you wish.
Get the recipe: pumpkin chili [3]
Pumpkin Chickpea Soup
Pumpkin chickpea soup is a great dish to whip up on a Sunday during the colder months to keep you warm during the week.
Get the recipe: pumpkin chickpea soup [4]
Quinoa Tabbouleh
I love how well quinoa reheats — and how quickly. You can make this quinoa tabbouleh and freeze it in whatever size servings work for you. To reheat, I like to heat up some olive oil in a skillet and toss the quinoa in it until warmed through.
Get the recipe: quinoa tabbouleh [5]
Easy Vegetarian Burrito
This simple burrito holds up great in the freezer and can just be stuck in the oven until warmed through when you're ready to dig in.
Get the recipe: easy vegetarian burrito [6]
Potato Leek Soup
Soups are one of the easiest foods to make ahead of time and freeze. This one is no exception! Make a big pot and store it in the freezer to pick away at all week.
Get the recipe: potato leek soup [7]
Squash Casserole
Prep this whole casserole ahead of time and freeze it. It's so easy to finish it up in the oven when you and your family get hungry.
Get the recipe: squash casserole [8]
Butternut Squash Soup
Make this squash soup in one big pot and portion it out into plastic baggies you can freeze flat. They'll take up less room, and then you've got a perfect portion ready to be heated back up.
Get the recipe: butternut squash soup [9]