Home Recipes Meal Types Dinner
Katie BandurskiUpdated: Dec. 06, 2021
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to meal prep more, check out these easy-to-reheat lunch and dinner options. You'll find tasty ideas for grain bowls, salads, sheet pan suppers and more.
Taco Bowls
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We love this delicious taco-style dish because of its super simple prep. Each serving is so easy to customize to everyone's individual tastes thanks to the toppings. It's become a regular when we're entertaining. —Hope Wasylenki, Gahanna, Ohio
Pressure-Cooker Chicken Curry
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I came up with this pressure-cooker chicken curry after searching for a flavorful chicken dinner. Making it in a pressure cooker, like an Instant Pot, means it’s easy to whip up on weeknights. Plus, leftovers taste great for lunch. —Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California
Luau Pork Lettuce Wraps
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I first made this recipe when our family took a trip to a beach house in Florida. On my night to cook, I did a luau theme and used this recipe as the appetizer. These are still a favorite today! —Joyce Conway, Westerville, Ohio
Sloppy Joe Meatball Subs
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A mashup of two favorite recipes, these sloppy joe meatball subs are certainly unique. I love to make them on a lazy afternoon and freeze leftovers for an easy weeknight meal. —Susan Seymour, Valatie, New York
Pasta fa*gioli Soup
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My husband enjoys my version of this dish so much that he doesn’t order it at restaurants anymore. With fresh spinach, pasta and seasoned sausage, this fast-to-fix soup is a meal on its own. —Brenda Thomas, Springfield, Missouri
Contest-Winning Greek Pasta Bake
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When I take this dish to potlucks, there's never so much as a morsel left! It’s a simple, healthy, hearty supper made with ingredients that are easy to find. Add a salad and a crusty loaf of bread for a quick meal solution. —Anne Taglienti, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Ground Beef Chow Mein
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My grandma used to make a fabulous chop suey with pork, but I found this recipe that uses ground beef and has the same flavor. It’s quick, tasty and wonderful as leftovers. —Ann Nolte, Tampa, Florida
Pulled Brisket Sandwiches
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Don't let the number of ingredients in this brisket sandwich recipe scare you; you probably have most of them in your pantry already. The sauce is what makes this dish so special. It's hard not to like ketchup, brown sugar and a little butter drizzled over tender beef brisket. —Jane Guilbeau, New Orleans, Louisiana
Quick Apricot Chicken
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This simple apricot chicken is one of my favorite dishes. Everybody just loves it and leftovers are always just as good the next day. For variation, I’ve used pork instead of chicken and added additional ingredients like pineapple, mandarin oranges, snow peas and broccoli. –Vicki Ruiz, Twin Falls, Idaho
Tangy Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs
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A fabulous sauce, green pepper and pineapple chunks transform premade meatballs into something special. Serving them over rice makes for a satisfying main dish. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington
Shrimp 'n' Noodle Bowls
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Here's a quick meal that feels as if it came from a restaurant. Cooked shrimp, bagged slaw and bottled dressing reduce the time needed to get it on the table. —Mary Bergfeld, Eugene, Oregon
Pepperoni Pizza Loaf
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This savory stromboli starts with frozen bread dough, so it comes together in practically no time. The golden loaf is stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers and olives. I often add a few slices of ham too. It's tasty served with warm pizza sauce for dipping. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
Sheet-Pan Honey Mustard Chicken
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This sheet-pan chicken is an easy gluten-free, low-carb meal ideal for busy weekdays. The chicken is tender, juicy and so delicious! It's now on the list of our favorite meals. You can substitute any low-carb vegetable for green beans. —Denise Browning, San Antonio, Texas
Creamy Pasta Primavera
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This pasta dish is a wonderful blend of crisp, colorful vegetables and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup
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At family get-togethers, our children always request this spirit-warming ground beef soup along with a fresh loaf of homemade bread and tall glasses of milk. This hamburger soup has robust flavor, plenty of fresh-tasting vegetables and is easy to make. —Barbara Brown, Janesville, Wisconsin
Greek Orzo Chicken
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Take your first bite and set sail for a dinner-table tour of the sunny Greek isles. Sprinkle lemon zest on top to give it a little extra flair. —Angela Buchanan, Longmont, Colorado
Sausage Ratatouille
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You’ll feel like a great chef when you serve this veggie-packed dish party guests will rave about. Don’t let the ingredient list fool you: Pantry staples and an easy-cook method make this one a cinch. —Janine Freeman, Blaine, Washington
Honey-Lime Roasted Chicken
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It's hard to believe this finger-licking main course starts with only five ingredients. "The chicken is easy, light and so good," promises Springfield, Vermont's Lori Carbonell. "It's just as tasty prepared outside on the grill."
Barbecue Pork and Penne Skillet
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I'm the proud mother of wonderful and active children. Simple, delicious and quick meals like this BBQ pork skillet are perfect for us to enjoy together after school activities, especially if I have leftover pulled pork. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana
Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili
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This recipe turned my husband into a quinoa lover. I made it the day he got good news on a new job, and we'll always remember how excited we were as we ate this beautiful meal. —Claire Gallam, Alexandria, Virginia
Ranch-Marinated Chicken Breasts
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The pub favorite pairing of ranch dressing and chicken comes home to your kitchen. With just a little prep time the night before, you can have these savory breasts ready in about half an hour! —Barbee Decker, Whispering Pines, North Carolina
Asparagus Tuna Noodle Casserole
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I updated a traditional tuna casserole using fresh asparagus and asparagus soup. This is so different and so delicious. Use frozen asparagus when fresh is not in season. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Cranberry Turkey Wraps
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Fruity and flavorful, these hefty grab-and-go handfuls are quick to assemble, easy to handle and low in calories. We often take them in a cooler to the local stock show and eat them in the stands. Everyone seems to love them! —Bobbie Keefer, Byers, Colorado
Creamy Pumpkin Tortellini
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My kids love the creamy, rich sauce on these tortellinis so much that they don't even realize there's pumpkin inside. Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best nutty and delicious flavor. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Veggie Fajitas
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For a scrumptious and super healthy party dish, these colorful, hearty veggie fajitas packed with crisp-tender vegetables are perfect. —Sarah Mercer, Wichita, Kansas
Black Pepper Chicken
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I just love this black pepper chicken recipe, and the aroma is out of this world! The dish is slightly sweet and very peppery, so you may want to serve it over white or brown rice to tame the heat. —Barbie Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota
Cheeseburger Cups
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This is a terrific recipe for moms with young kids and busy lives. This simple, inexpensive dish is made with handy ingredients and takes just a short time. Best of all, kids will go crazy for these darling dinner bites! —Jeri Millhouse, Ashland, Ohio
Seasoned Taco Meat
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I got this recipe from the restaurant where I work. It's famous in our town for the blend of seasonings, and now the secret is out! —Denise Mumm, Dixon, Iowa
California Roll Wraps
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I love the California rolls I get at sushi restaurants and wanted to capture those flavors in a sandwich I could take to work. I started with the standard ingredients, added a few others and came up with a hit. —Mary Pax-Shipley, Bend, Oregon
Favorite Beef Roast Dinner
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This is our family's favorite slow-cooked beef roast. My two children love it and always want seconds. I love putting together new flavor combinations in the kitchen. —Sheryl Padilla, Peyton, Colorado
Mexican Chicken Chili
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Corn and black beans give this satisfying chili a Mexican flair the whole family will love. Adjust the cayenne if you have small children or are looking for a little less zip. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schappacher, West Chester, Ohio
Kung Pao Sloppy Joes
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What happens when you combine two favorites into one easy dish? Clean plates, that’s what! My family loves Chinese food, but takeout can be expensive and not always the healthiest. This colorful stovetop sloppy joe recipe will please everyone at dinnertime, including the kids. My husband prefers to skip the bun and eat it over brown rice or rolled in lettuce wrap. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Meatless Chili Mac
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I came across this recipe in a newspaper years ago and it’s been a hit at our house ever since. It’s fast and flavorful, and it appeals to all ages. — Cindy Ragan, North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Maple Mustard Chicken
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My husband loves this chicken dish. It calls for only five ingredients, and we try to have them all on hand for a delicious and cozy dinner anytime. —Jennifer Seidel, Midland, Michigan
Taco-Filled Pasta Shells
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I've been stuffing pasta shells with different fillings for years, but my family enjoys this version with taco-seasoned meat the most. The frozen shells are so convenient, because you can take out only the number you need for a single-serving lunch or family dinner. Just add zippy taco sauce and bake. —Marge Hodel, Roanoke, Illinois
Tex-Mex Chili
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Need to satisfy big, hearty appetites? Look no further than this Tex-Mex recipe with beef stew meat, plenty of beans and tasty spices. —Eric Hayes, Antioch, California
Meat Lover's Pizza Rice Skillet
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For a quick dinner, I threw this together from what I had in the fridge and pantry. Add any other pizza toppings you desire. I often add black olive slices or mushrooms. My son loves this and calls it pizza rice. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Decadent Spinach-Stuffed Shells
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I created this comforting stuffed shells dish to serve on Christmas Eve, but it’s so good we enjoy it all year long. It can easily be assembled and frozen to bake at a later date. If you have any leftover cheese mixture, it can be served as a dip, either cold or spooned into ramekins and baked until browned. If you don’t like roasted red peppers, feel free to substitute chopped sun-dried tomatoes in the filling and any other pasta sauce. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, CO
Southwest Frito Pie
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I got a real culture shock when we moved to New Mexico several years ago, but we grew to love the food. Now back in South Carolina, we still crave New Mexican dishes, and this is one of my go-to favorites. —Janet Scoggins, North Augusta, South Carolina
Easy Chicken Tetrazzini
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This easy chicken tetrazzini is made with leftover cooked chicken and canned soup. It's the perfect recipe for busy weeknights because it's so easy to assemble. Once you pop the dish in the oven, you'll have time to take care of other things on your to-do list. —Martha Sue Stroud, Clarksville, Texas
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The combination of spices is key to this slow-cooked pork—it's my family's favorite burrito filling. The aroma that fills the air as the pork slowly simmers is like a Mexican restaurant. A perfect recipe for tailgate parties. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California
Pressure-Cooker Char Siu Pork
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I based this juicy pork on Asian influence in Hawaii. It's tasty as is, in a bun or over rice. Use leftovers with fried rice, ramen and salads. —Karen Naihe, Kamuela, Hawaii
One-Skillet Pasta
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This recipe was given to me 25 years ago and remains a family favorite. It's a tasty twist on traditional spaghetti, and making a one-skillet pasta saves time on prep and cleanup, too. —Susan Spence, Lawrenceville, Virginia
Fiesta Chorizo-Chicken Soup
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Just place some crusty rolls on the table when you serve this soup and you'll have a hearty, comforting meal that will chase away winter's chill. The slightly spicy soup is chock-full of veggies.—Kathy Rodenbeck, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Smoked Salmon Egg Salad
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Served on croissants, these grown-up sandwiches offer a great way to use leftover Easter eggs. Salmon adds smoky flavor. —Cathy Tang, Redmond, Washington
Roast Beef with Chive Roasted Potatoes
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It’s hard to believe that last night’s beef roast could get any better, but it shines in this heartwarming dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Meatball Alphabet Soup
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Bite-sized meatballs made from ground turkey perk up this fun alphabet soup. A variety of vegetables are mixed in a rich tomato broth seasoned with herbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Vegan Taco Salad
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The best salads are made with ingredients that have different textures and complementary flavors. In this vegan taco salad, you'll love the crunch of the tortilla chips mixed with the sweet, crisp lettuce and "meaty" crumble mixture. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ravioli Lasagna
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When you taste this dish, you’ll think it’s a from-scratch recipe—but it starts with frozen ravioli! —Patricia Smith, Asheboro, North Carolina
Cabbage Sausage Supper
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Everyone is surprised at how this flavorful cabbage and sausage recipe calls for just a few ingredients. I usually complete my family's favorite meal with a no-bake fruit dessert. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Spinach and Tortellini Soup
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A simple tomato-enhanced broth is perfect for cheese tortellini and fresh spinach. Increase the garlic and add Italian seasoning to suit your taste. —Debbie Wilson, Burlington, North Carolina
Up Next: I Tried a Meal Prep Service for a Week—Here’s What I Thought
Originally Published: December 30, 2020
Katie Bandurski
As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments.When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.