61 Easy Meal Prep Ideas That Use Less Than 8 Ingredients

If you’re looking for recipes to make your meal prep easier, you’re in the right place. I have a vast selection of delicious, easy meal prep ideas that all use just a handful of ingredients.

Most of these recipes take only 5-10 minutes of prep time which is a big bonus when you’re short on time. 

How to Make Meal Prep Easy by Meal Prepping Efficiently  

If you want to make your meal prep easier, take note of some of these tips. They’re real-time savers.

Use Instant Pots and Crockpots

Make use of your kitchen appliances or if you don’t have any, think about investing in some. Instant Pots and Crockpots/Slow Cookers are real-time savers when it comes to cutting down your prep time.

Instant Pots are amazing for significantly reducing your cook times, and Crockpots are great for the “set it and leave it” recipes. Most Crockpot recipes have 2-3 minutes of prep time and make four portions. You can also get larger Crockpots that make huge batches. Have a look at my Crockpot sizes guide for more information!

Use Recipes with Fewer Ingredients 

It’s a no-brainer, but generally, fewer ingredients mean less prep time, and it sure means less time in the grocery store. 

It’s wise to use ‘ingredient-dense’ recipes that are well-balanced in nutrition and don’t add unnecessary ingredients. Each ingredient should have a purpose in health or flavor.

If you’re in the search for more tips, it’s well worth reading my top meal prep tips!

61 Easy Meal Prep Ideas That Use Less Than 8 Ingredients  

Enjoy my top list of easy meal prep recipes that’ll save a bunch of prep time!

Easy Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas

Make breakfast easy by meal prepping it ahead of time. If you’re rushed in the morning, these recipes will be your best friend.

1. On the Go Breakfast Pockets

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

These on-the-go breakfast pockets are a quick breakfast to whip up on the weekend. It makes eight pockets, and they freeze wonderfully! Customizable filling options to match your tastes! Make them on Sunday, and pull one out of the freezer for breakfast all week long! They reheat in just a couple of minutes in the microwave but would also reheat in an air fryer.

2. Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos with Sweet Potato

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

These meal prep breakfast burritos with sweet potato are super easy to make, and easy to freeze for quick breakfasts! You can easily mix and match your favorite proteins and veggies to make them your own.

3. Healthy Bircher Muesli

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This healthy bircher muesli is a perfect meal prep breakfast recipe. So simple to make, delicious to eat.

4. Healthy Overnight Oats

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

Overnight oats are one of the easiest things for meal prepping ever! It’s packed with fresh blueberries and is super delicious! Forget worrying about breakfast in the morning and make this healthy overnight oats recipe for weight loss instead.

5. Sheet Pan Eggs

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

Sheet pan eggs are a great quick breakfast and a great way to meal prep scrambled eggs for a busy week ahead! Flavorful and easy and baked in the oven!

6. Sous Vide Egg Bites (Instant Pot)

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Love swinging by Starbucks and picking up your favorite egg bites? Packed with yummy bacon and cheese, this instant pot recipe is a perfect meal prep breakfast! Let me show you how to make these perfect to-go breakfast bites in less than 30 minutes.

7. Matcha Overnight Oats

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

This overnight oats recipe is super easy to meal prep for a healthy, gluten-free breakfast-on-the-go full of plant-based protein from chia seeds & Greek yogurt!

8. Date & Cinnamon Chia Pudding

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

The warming cinnamon mixed with caramelly dates makes for a wonderfully light and refreshing breakfast!

9. Turkish Fig Pudding

Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

This rich and creamy Turkish fig pudding recipe infused with butterscotchy dried figs is one of my favorite sweet breakfasts. And surprisingly, it is only made with two main ingredients: dried figs and milk

Easy Lunch and Dinner Meal Prep Ideas

A tasty range of delicious recipes to serve as lunch or dinner!

10. Quinoa and Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

This is perfect if you’re looking for an easy yet delicious superfood recipe. It’s tasty, vegan, and gluten-free, packed with delicious roasted vegetables, high in healthy fats and complex carbohydrates, while still low in saturated fats.

11. Penne in Pesto Sauce with Grilled Sausage

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients: 5

This pesto penne pasta with sausage is a make-ahead-friendly recipe for your busiest days with only five ingredients. Even if you need to make it last minute, it’s perfect for quick meals.

12. Crustless Ham Broccoli and Gruyere Quiche

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This crustless quiche is a quick and easy dinner option. Prep time is only about 10 minutes before this quiche is ready for the oven. Featuring ham, broccoli, and Gruyere cheese, this quiche makes a delicious meal any time of day.

13. BBQ Tempeh

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

This quick and easy pan-grilled BBQ Tempeh recipe is a healthy, delicious plant-based alternative to your usual grilled meats. Barbecue sauce-slathered Tempeh packed with sweet, savory, and smoky flavors cooked in a pan until caramelized and charred to perfection.

14. Keto Baked Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 3

This easy-baked bacon-wrapped chicken tenders recipe needs just three common ingredients – chicken, bacon, and cheese! Ready in under 30 minutes.

15. Easy Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Prep Time: 1 Minute
Ingredients: 8

This quick 10 minute, easy spaghetti recipe is going to become your new favorite pasta dish on rotation throughout the week. Made simply with tomato sauce, garlic, and Parmesan, it’s a million-dollar spaghetti on a budget that’s perfect for lazy meal prep!

16. Oven Baked Chicken Breast

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

The oven-baked chicken breast recipe is easy with only seven ingredients, juicy and ready with 5 minutes of prep. Simple seasonings transform lean, healthy chicken breast into an incredibly full-flavored dish- that is baked uncovered and never turns out dry!

17. Parmesan Crusted Chicken With Mayo

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

This parmesan-crusted chicken with mayo is so easy, low carb, and absolutely delicious. With a few simple ingredients, it can be ready in 40 minutes.

18. Shrimp and Vegetable Pad Thai

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This shrimp Pad Thai makes a great quick and easy meal, full of flavor and packed with vegetables.

19. Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash Boats

Prep Time: 3 Minutes
Ingredients: 4

These cheesy baked spaghetti squash boats made with chicken are flavorful, absolutely delicious and soooo simple to make.

20. Zucchini Pizza

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

Zucchini pizza is cheesy, gooey and full of flavor. It’s all the things you love about pizza, but a great variation for a healthier meal!

21. Creamy Dairy-free Roasted Tomato Soup

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

A simple yet flavourful creamy tomato soup that’s perfect for meal prepping! With just a handful of real-food ingredients, this soup is so easy to whip up and tastes even more delicious the next day.

22. Steak Salad with Farro, Arugula, and Feta

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This super simple skirt steak salad with farro, arugula, and feta cheese comes together quickly and easily!

23. Chickpea Pasta with Arugula

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

Five simple ingredients are all you need for this healthy and delicious creamy pasta with goat cheese, arugula, and chickpea pasta!

24. Chicken Mozzarella

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

This Chicken Mozzarella recipe was such a hit with the entire family it has become a regular staple on the dinner menu!

25. Keto Chicken Enchiladas

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Cheesy chicken enchiladas are a low-carb meal prep dream. It’s easy to make & tastes better after a few days while the flavors come together even longer.

26. Baked Italian Meatballs

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

This super easy dinner idea features fresh Italian meatballs in a cheesy casserole.

27. Lentil and Bulgur Pilaf

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

Turkish Bulgur Pilaf with lentils is a healthy and delicious side dish packed with nutrition and fiber. This simple recipe requires only a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Serve is with a chicken breast and roasted vegetables for a well-balanced dish.

Easy Instant Pot & Slow Cooker Meal Prep Ideas

Save crucial meal prep time by using these handy kitchen appliances.

28. Slow Cooker Chipotle Bean Chilli

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This delicious vegan chili is so easy to make! All you need is a slow cooker, a handful of ingredients, and 5 minutes to prep. It’s also high in protein, vegan, and low in calories. It’s perfect for cooking in a big batch and meal prepping, costing just $1.61 per serving.

29. Slow Cooker Bolognese

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This bolognese is hands down one of the easiest recipes I have ever made! It’s perfect to get started in the morning before work, taking just 5 minutes to prep. It’s high in protein, great for meal prepping, and is dirt cheap, costing just $1.65 per portion.

30. Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

This slow cooker chicken is so easy and flavorful! Made with salsa verde and veggies, it’s colorful, nutritious, and easy to keep in the fridge for quick meals.

If you’re a lover of Mexican food like us, check out these delicious Mexican meal prep recipes!

31. Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

This crockpot salsa verde chicken is creamy, flavorful, and easy to prepare. It’s an easy dump-and-go crockpot recipe.

32. Crockpot Ranch Chicken

Prep Time: 1 Minute
Ingredients: 4

Crockpot ranch chicken is an easy-to-make, delicious crockpot meal. You can have a simple, hearty dinner on the table with only four ingredients.

33. Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 4

Slow cooker shredded chicken is an easy recipe for shredded chicken. You can use this chicken in all kinds of dishes, from tacos to burrito bowls, salads, and quesadillas. This chicken is freezer-friendly and such a great busy weekday option.

34. Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

Slow-cooked corned beef comes out tender & juicy every time. It’s a simple recipe great for dinner, plus the leftovers for sandwiches & breakfast hash cannot be beaten.

35. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Your family is going to love having a slow cooker pulled pork sandwich for dinner. You’re going to love how easy it is to make.

36. Instant Pot Chicken Tenders

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

If you haven’t made Instant Pot chicken tenders, you are seriously missing out! They are such a game-changer when it comes to getting healthy meals on the table fast, and this Instant pot Chicken Tenders with Korean marinade recipe is a super flavorful and budget-friendly dish that everyone will love

37. Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

This Crockpot Hawaiian chicken dish is sweet and spicy and simple to make. This cheap chicken recipe is a weeknight dinner superstar. With only four ingredients

38. Instant Pot Steak

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

This quick and easy Instant Pot steak is incredibly tender and flavorful. It requires only seven ingredients and it’s great for meal prep and leftovers

39. Slow Cooker Meatballs with Ravioli

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

Slow cooker meatballs with ravioli is an easy meal the whole family will love! Soft pillows of ravioli cooked together in a red sauce topped with meatballs and cheese.

40. Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

These crockpot cilantro lime chicken tacos are so easy to make. They’re an easy toss and go crockpot recipe. These easy tacos are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

41. Beef Teriyaki

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 3

This is the easiest recipe ever! Crock Pot Beef Teriyaki Recipe is also delicious! Since I can get teriyaki sauce on sale frequently, this recipe is also very frugal-friendly! The perfect recipe for a busy day that is quick, delicious, and easy on the budget!

42. Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 3

Busy weeknights are made easier with this delicious but straightforward Crockpot ranch pork chops recipe. They are so tender, and the flavor is so amazing.

43. Slow Cooker Caprese Pasta

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

This easy slow cooker Caprese pasta is delicious and uses your favorite jarred pesto to keep the prep to a minimum- just toss four ingredients into your crockpot and go. 

Easy Air Fryer Meal Prep Ideas

Make use of your air fryer with some of these easy recipes.

44. Air Fryer Falafel

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

Ditch the deep-fryer and make healthier air fryer falafel instead! This vegan, gluten-free recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, too, and is great for meal prepping!

45. Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 3

Yes, you really can cook a whole chicken in the air fryer! This no-fail recipe is faster than the traditional oven method and gives you a perfectly cooked chicken every time! This recipe is great for weekly meal prep.

46. Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak with Blue Cheese

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

Make air fryer rib eye steak with blue cheese butter with my perfected method for a melt in your mouth perfectly cooked rare steak.

Easy Snack Meal Prep Ideas

Enjoy one of these homemade, energy-packed, easy snack ideas.

47. Date and Nut Rolls

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

Naturally sweet with the right amount of crunch from the nuts, these fudgy treats are packed full of energy and nutrients!

48. Turkish Cheese Rolls

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Ingredients: 8

Turkish Rolls with cheese is a type of pastry made with thin filo pastries called yufka, filled with cheese then shallow-fried for extra crispness. These delicious pastries have a cylindric shape that looks like cannolis or taquitos, but much different in taste.

49. Healthy Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

This healthy chocolate chia seed pudding is an easy meal prep recipe for breakfast or a nutritious snack! It’s packed with health benefits and full of chocolate goodness!

50. Healthy Bliss Ball with Wild Blueberries & Lemon

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

These wild blueberry and lemon bliss balls are a quick & easy no bake snack or light dessert that both adults and kids will love – perfect for on the go, in lunch boxes, for picnics, parties and gatherings, or as an after school or work treat. They’re perfect for meal prep as a large batch can be made in just 5 minutes.

51. No Bake Almond Butter Energy Balls

Prep Time: 8 Minutes

Ingredients: 6

No bake almond butter energy balls are filled with almond butter, oats, coconut and dark chocolate chips! These bites are the perfect healthy meal prep snack.

52. Banana Pikelets

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

These healthy banana pikelets are super easy to make with just four ingredients. They freeze well and are great for batching.

Easy Dessert Meal Prep Ideas

Desserts can be implemented in a healthy meal plan in moderation and as long as the dessert is reasonably healthy!

53. Vegan Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 3

Easy vegan almond flour cookies with only three ingredients! This gluten-free shortbread is healthy, oil-free, crispy and buttery. They are also keto and grain-free!

54. Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Thick & super crunchy eggless chocolate chip cookies are highly addictive with a rich, sweet, and nutty flavor. They are straightforward to make and ready in a short period of time.

55. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 5

With only 10 minutes of prep time and five ingredients, you’ll be able to bake these delicious, healthier pumpkin cookies. They’re gluten-free, low in sugar and high in fiber. They can be prepared in advance and used to curb sugar cravings throughout the week.

56. 6-Ingredient Gooey Swedish Chocolate Cake

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

This Swedish chocolate cake is not only one of the best I’ve ever eaten, but the easiest, too. One-pan only and no whisking required. Just melt the butter and stir everything else in, and you’re only 20 minutes away from oozy, gooey, richly chocolaty heaven!

57. Golden Milk Panna Cotta

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

This healthy turmeric/golden milk panna cotta is a light and creamy dessert, perfect for any time of year. Allergy-friendly (free from gluten, dairy, lactose, soy, grains, nuts, seeds, refined sugar & oil) and vegan, autoimmune protocol (AIP) & paleo-friendly.

58. Vegan Protein Brownies

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Easy vegan protein brownies made with only six ingredients and are incredibly easy to make! They are flourless and healthy and can be prepared weeks in advance if frozen.

59. Mung Bean Dessert with Coconut Milk

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Traditionally enjoyed for breakfast, this sweet mung bean with coconut milk and palm sugar is good for dessert too. Packed with protein and all other goodness, you’ll love this simple yet delicious Bubur Kacang Hijau.

60. Apple Blackberry Crumble

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients: 7

Nothing can beat the classic apple and blackberry crumble. With only seven ingredients you need, it’s surely one comfort dessert you want to make.

61. Dark Chocolate Mousse

Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Ingredients: 6

Dark chocolate mousse is a versatile dessert; you can pack it for a picnic or add it to your 5-course menu for a touch of sophistication.