Check out this collection of 19 easy and delicious meal prep recipe ideas to make your life easier during a busy week.
Whether you have a hectic work and family life or just welcomed a newborn baby, these budget-friendly and effortless recipes will hit the spot!
Chicken Stir Fry With Noodles
You will never want to order takeaway Chicken Stir Fry With Noodles after you try out this delicious, healthy, and colorful recipe.
It’s one of our favorite quick and simple weekday night meals - it only takes 30 minutes to prepare!
To learn more: Chicken Stir Fry with Noodles
Fish Pie
This Easy Fish Pie Recipe With Leeks is perfect for you if you love fish and you are a big fan of a Cottage Pie or any other pot pie.
It is the ultimate British comfort food made with chunky pieces of fish, leeks, peas, and aromatic fresh herbs in a creamy white sauce, topped with fluffy and cheesy mashed potatoes.
To learn more: Easy Fish Pie with Leeks
Turkish Red Lentil Soup
Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Kirmizi Mercimek Corbasi in Turkish) is a light, nutritious, and comforting soup made with red lentils, vegetables, spices, and stock.
This extremely delicious & creamy soup is super easy to make, and ready in just 30 minutes, perfect dish for a busy weeknight dinner!
To learn more: Turkish Red Lentil Soup - Kirmizi Mercimek Corbasi
Aubergine Meatball Wraps
Aubergine Meatball Wraps (Islim Kebabi or Kurdan Kebabi) are one of those traditional Turkish dishes mainly known and loved by regular households in Turkey.
It is not a landmark dish widely representing Turkish cuisine abroad such as Turkish Chicken Shish Kebab or Lamb Shish Kebab.
However, it is an oriental dish that is an extremely flavorful and delicious combination of meat and vegetables.
To learn more: Islim Kebabi (Aubergine Meatball Wraps)
Turkish Moussaka
Turkish Moussaka (or Patlıcan Musakka - Patlıcan Oturtma) is an authentic dish in Turkish cuisine that features layers of eggplant, ground meat, and tomato sauce.
You can prepare it in advance and gently heat it up on low heat before serving.
It is one of these dishes that taste better when reheated. The best way to serve it is with a slice of crusty bread or some Turkish Rice Pilaf (Sehriyeli Pilav).
To learn more: Turkish Moussaka - Patlican Musakka
Spinach Borek
Spinach Borek (Ispanakli Borek) is a delicious Turkish pastry made of thin flaky dough called "yufka" filled with spinach and onions.
You can add cheese (Spinach and Feta Pie - Ispanakli Peynirli Borek) or mince (Phyllo Meat and Spinach Pie - Egyptian Goulash) to spinach filling for extra flavor and make it even more exciting!
They are great as a breakfast item or a snack on the go!
To learn more: Spinach Borek (Ispanakli Borek)
Cottage Pie
This Easy Cottage Pie is classic British comfort food made with a rich meaty sauce topped with creamy and cheesy mashed potatoes.
It is very easy to cook and also very affordable.
Whether you’re planning a big feast for St. Patrick’s Day, or just looking for some comforting meal prep for the week ahead, this traditional Cottage Pie recipe is perfect for you.
To learn more: Easy Cottage Pie
Braised Lamb Ragu
This authentic Italian Braised Lamb Ragu recipe is super easy to make and packed with flavors everyone will love.
It is rich, hearty, and meaty-ultimate comfort food for lazy weekends or special occasions such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter.
Serve this braised lamb ragu with some crusty bread to mop up every last bit of the delicious sauce.
To learn more: Braised Lamb Ragu Recipe
Lamb Bolognese
This rich and meaty Lamb Bolognese with Linguine is not only exceptionally delicious but also extremely easy to prepare, making it the perfect family meal for special occasions.
You can cook this delicious Italian sauce in batches and freeze it for later, ensuring a convenient option for quick weekday meals or unexpected guests.
To learn more: Lamb Bolognese with Linguini
Izmir Kofte - Soutzoukakia
Izmir Kofte (a.k.a Soutzoukakia or Smyrna Meatballs) is a traditional dish made with lightly fried meatballs and vegetables baked in tomato sauce.
It is typically served with Turkish Rice Pilaf (Sehriyeli Pilav) or Bulgur Pilavi (Turkish Bulgur Pilaf) and a bowl of Greek Cucumber Salad. They are perfect for weeknight supper and can be prepared beforehand.
To learn more: Izmir Kofte (Smyrna Meatballs)
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
These delicious Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers are filled with aromatic stuffing made of rice, onions, pine nuts, currants, and various herbs/spices.
You can serve them as a side dish as well as the main meal or an appetizer. The leftovers are great for a boxed lunch the next day or a picnic.
To learn more: Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers (Biber Dolmasi)
Mediterranean Green Beans
Mediterranean Green Beans is a popular vegetarian/vegan dish that is quite popular in most Turkish homes during the summer.
This simple yet delicious dish can be made beforehand and usually served warm or at room temperature.
The same as Zeytinyagli Pirasa Yemegi (Turkish Braised Leeks), Zeytinyagli Enginar Dolmasi-Stuffed Artichokes, and Zeytinyagli Kereviz Yemegi - Braised Celeriac, Zeytinyagli Taze Fasulye keeps well in the fridge for up to 7 days.
To learn more: Mediterranean Green Beans (Taze Fasulye)
Cauliflower Cheese
If you are looking for a simple, quick yet extremely delicious side dish for your Sunday roast, this Cauliflower Cheese recipe is perfect for you.
This delicious roasted cauliflower with cheese is not just a perfect side dish but also a tasty vegetarian main meal when served with some nice crusty bread and Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans on the side.
You can make this delicious Baked Cheesy Cauliflower 3 days in advance and cook it when needed.
To learn more: Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
Kuru Fasulye
Kuru Fasulye is a hearty and rich Turkish stew consisting of white beans and lamb or beef slowly cooked in a tomato sauce. It is usually accompanied by some crusty Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread and "tursu" (pickled vegetables).
You can prep it ahead, making it a perfect meal for a busy day.
To learn more: Kuru Fasulye
Turkish Meatballs
This spicy Homemade Kofte (Turkish Meatballs) recipe is extremely easy to make and full of flavor.
You can serve them as an appetizer on their own or as a main meal along with some Crispy Sauté Potatoes with Garlic, Greek Pita Bread, or Turkish Rice (Sehriyeli Pilav).
You can make the kofte mixture in big batches, shape it into balls, and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. The leftover meatballs taste even better, you can keep them in the fridge for up to five days.
To learn more: Homemade Kofte (Turkish Meatballs) Recipe
Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves - Dolmas
Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves is a Turkish dish that is also very popular in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.
This dish is known as "Etli Yaprak Sarma" in Turkey and consists of mince meat, fresh herbs, and rice wrapped in vine leaves.
To learn more: Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
Mushroom and Leek Pie
A creamy mixture of leeks and mushrooms topped with a crispy, golden handmade pie crust.
This vegetarian Mushroom and Leek Pie is great when you need a meatless main meal that even the most meat-lovers will enjoy.
The leftovers will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
To learn more: Mushroom and Leek Pie
Turkish Stuffed Aubergine - Imam Bayildi
Imam Bayildi is a classic Ottoman dish consisting of aubergines cooked in a generous amount of olive oil, and stuffed with a mixture of onions, tomatoes, and garlic.
Full of Mediterranean flavors, this popular dish is a very easy yet extremely delicious recipe to make.
To learn more: Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)
Fellah Koftesi
Fellah Koftesi is a delicious vegetarian bulgur dish made with simple ingredients such as bulgur, semolina, onion, tomato and pepper paste, and spices.
You can serve this traditional Turkish recipe as a vegetarian main, an appetizer, or as a side dish. I usually do this budget-friendly dish in batches and freeze some to serve later.
To learn more: Fellah Koftesi
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