Happy New Year!
There’s nothing like the fresh start a new year brings — I’m excited to share a collection of favorite meals to inspire your meal planning. Narrowing these down was tough: I could’ve listed hundreds more. This list includes a variety of options — vegetarian, chicken, beef, seafood, salads, soups and even pizzas — so feel free to adapt recipes to match your idea of healthy eating.
In our ideal week we plan and shop for three full meals. That rhythm keeps things interesting, usually provides manageable leftovers, allows for a night or two out or one-off dinners for work, and often leaves room for a favorite: breakfast for dinner. I’d love to hear your meal-planning tips — my main rule is that weekend meal prep must take no more than an hour or I won’t stick with it.
1. Garlic brown sugar flank steak with chimichurri
2. 30-minute Thai chili salmon skewers
3. Goat cheese whole roasted chicken
4. Bang bang shrimp with napa cabbage slaw
5. 30-minute buffalo chicken soup
6. Roasted red pepper quinoa burgers
7. Potato wedges with squash and lentils
1. Ginger garlic steak tacos with pineapple pico
2. Spicy greens and Parmesan white bean stew
3. Butternut squash galette
4. Chipotle lime whole roasted chicken
5. Pan-crisped salmon with light Dijon cream
6. Whole wheat roasted red pepper pizza
7. BBQ quinoa salad
1. 20-minute Cajun salmon with salted lime butter
2. Springtime Cobb salad
3. Spicy lime chicken enchiladas
4. Butternut squash lettuce wraps
5. White chicken quinoa chili
6. Jerk shrimp tacos
7. Black bean–stuffed sweet potatoes with arugula and poached eggs
1. Crunchy taco kale salad
2. Smoky Gruyere butternut soup with chickpeas
3. 30-minute portobello fried brown rice
4. Chipotle lime shrimp tacos
5. Honey chipotle chicken bowls
6. 30-minute shallot, spinach and goat cheese pasta
7. Shaved asparagus and whipped ricotta whole wheat pizza
1. Smoky sweet potato and black bean tacos
2. Roasted chicken ramen
3. Toasted sesame ginger salmon
4. Sweet potato cream pasta with crispy kale
5. Roasted grape and goat cheese–stuffed sweet potatoes
6. Braised short rib beef stew
7. BBQ chicken chopped salad
1. BBQ salmon burgers
2. Chili cheese polenta bowls
3. Oven-crisped cheddar chicken fingers
4. Minestrone pot pie with whole wheat Parmesan biscuits
5. 30-minute Greek chicken lettuce wraps
6. Broiled fontina toasts with poached eggs
7. Thai crunch chicken salad
1. Mushroom melts with mustard aioli
2. Honey ginger chicken tostadas
3. Caramelized leek soup
4. Beer-glazed citrus chicken
5. Spinach and artichoke linguine
6. Warm Brussels Caesar salad
7. Pulled pork tacos with chili slaw
1. Roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers
2. Sweet potato quinoa cakes
3. Coconut baked shrimp with pineapple-peach salsa
4. Hawaiian chicken fajitas
5. Thai curry butternut squash soup
6. Skillet chicken with peppers and peanuts
7. Caramelized peach Caprese salad
1. Smoky sweet potato burgers
2. Cauliflower crust pizza
3. 30-minute white bean chicken soup
4. Baked falafel with spicy feta dip
5. Lightened-up beef enchiladas
6. Zoodles with cherry tomato garlic cream sauce
7. Stuffed poblano peppers
1. Butternut squash enchiladas
2. Creamy cauliflower soup
3. Roasted chipotle chicken taco stacks
4. Crab cake sliders with pineapple-kiwi salsa
5. Lemon chicken risotto
6. Crockpot pulled pork chili
7. Thai curry pomegranate chicken
1. Pistachio pesto chicken with whole wheat spaghetti
2. BBQ salmon and crispy chickpea salad
3. Easy double-bean burgers
4. Pizza supreme on cauliflower crust
5. White bean and chicken enchilada–stuffed peppers
6. Balsamic Brussels sprouts grilled cheese
7. Crockpot smoky brisket tacos
1. Brussels sprouts breakfast hash
2. Grilled blueberry BBQ salmon
3. Thai chicken quinoa bowls
4. Roasted corn Caesar with yogurt dressing
5. Buffalo-style quinoa sliders
6. Simple summer chickpea salad
7. Mini chicken meatball soup
1. Salmon with Thai curry peanut sauce and coconut cilantro rice
2. Rosemary chicken, bacon and avocado salad
3. Summer grain bowls
4. BBQ shrimp and lime avocado toast
5. Late summer corn tortilla soup
6. Burrata pesto whole wheat pasta
7. Kale Caesar on Parmesan pizza crust
1. Toasted sesame quinoa with chicken
2. Spicy Parmesan shrimp skillet
3. Chicken pot pie soup
4. Crispy kale grilled cheese with fried eggs
5. Marinated flank steak with cherry tomato Caprese salsa
6. Pineapple cashew fried rice
7. Asian turkey burgers with spicy lime mayo
1. Ahi poke bowls with pineapple and avocado
2. Mushroom chicken noodle soup with poached eggs
3. Gruyere, fig jam and arugula breakfast sandwiches
4. Grain bowls with maple chipotle Brussels and roasted sweet potatoes
5. Brussels sprouts tacos with caramelized shallot salsa
6. Chipotle lime chicken skewers with avocado ranch
7. Butternut squash skillet lasagna
1. Marinated chickpea panzanella
2. Thai coconut curry shrimp noodle bowls
3. Grilled chicken, burst tomato and artichoke skewers with goat cheese dip
4. Farfalle with marinated feta, arugula and toasted pine nuts
5. Chipotle-marinated kale and smoky mushroom tacos
6. Honey Dijon skillet chicken
7. Zoodles with chicken, feta and spinach meatballs
1. Triple berry kale salad
2. Spinach and red pepper bacon-wrapped eggs
3. Crockpot mini turkey meatballs
4. Asiago portobello burgers
5. Crispy shrimp and mango spring rolls or lettuce wraps
6. 20-minute turkey taco nachos
7. Thai chicken enchiladas
1. Smoky white bean chicken chili
2. Chili garlic beef stir-fry with coconut jasmine rice
3. Crunchy chicken spring rolls with blood orange dipping sauce
4. Cashew chicken chopped salad with chili-dusted mango
5. Cheesy double-bean quesadillas with avocado ranch
6. Shrimp burgers with chipotle cream and coconut peach salsa
7. Stuffed peppers with tomato basil cream sauce
Enjoy these meal ideas and adapt them to suit your tastes. If you have time-saving tips or favorite swaps that help you stick to weekly meal prep, please share them — I’m all ears as I plan and prep through a busy season.