Completely lost on where to start with food prep? These 21 Day Fix Lazy Meal Prep ideas will help you prepare either breakfast, lunch, dinner, or sides for the week without feeling like you’re spending hours in the kitchen. This post contains affiliate links for products I’m obsessed with.
Confession- I’ve gotten away from doing a ton of meal prepping. I mean, since I became a work from home mom, having a fridge full of prepped food all week just hasn’t been a huge priority. I have some flexibility in my schedule, so I can cook things throughout the week. Plus, I am always testing recipes and love being able to try new dishes on whim.
But, as life get busier, it does make the week go more smoothly if there is at least some food prepped ahead of time. Read: we’re less likely to order take out for dinner or pull up to the drive thru for a breakfast sandwich on the way home from preschool drop off.
I can’t be the only one.
Here’s my secret: lazy food prep. Yes, you heard me, lazy.
While I don’t think of myself as lazy, you know I’m all about lazy recipes, like in my 21 Day Fix Lazy Zucchini Enchilada Skillet, 21 Day Fix Lazy Butternut Squash Lasagna {Gluten-free, One Skillet}, and 21 Day Fix One Skillet Lazy Zucchini Lasagna recipes. Because I need SOMETHING in my life to be lazy.
My favorite food prep is something I can do while I have 5 minutes here, or 20 minutes there. I love to food prep things that don’t require lots of babysitting, chopping, or standing near the stove. I like my recipes to be lazy so I can do all the things.
Food prepping while I make dinner is extra helpful, especially when I use my Instant Pot 
to pull double duty.
The bottom line? You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to get ahead with some meal prep. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite easy to prep/ low maintenance recipes so you can sneak in a little prep here and there to help you stay on plan without a ton of time in the kitchen!
Breakfast
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats using the Delay Start Button– Game changer! Literally throw water, oats, and salt in the IP, push some buttons, and you have a hot healthy breakfast waiting for you when you wake up. Double the batch and you have breakfast for multiple days!
Healthy Sheet Pan Breakfast with Sweet Potato, Brussels Sprouts, and Bacon (21 Day Fix)– Prep this ahead of time but top with a runny egg when you’re ready to eat. It’s perfect and requires minimal chopping.
21 Day Fix Overnight Oats– Your future (busy morning) self will thank you for taking the 5 minutes to set these up the night before.
21 Day Fix Baked Oatmeal Jars– Get the kids to help with these oatmeal Mason Jars
! So simple and portable for the whole family. Or make this Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal version!
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs – Hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot couldn’t be easier! They are a dream to peel and so quick and hands off to make!
Lunch/Dinner
21 Day Fix Salsa Lime Chicken (Instant Pot/Slow Cooker)– I’m not sure if this could get any easier. “Dump and go” in either your Instant Pot or Crock Pot, and of course I use it as the filling in my Healthy Instant Pot Airfryer Chicken Taquitos (Slow Cooker | Oven Friendly | Gluten-free)
Shredded Mexican Chicken | Carrie Elle – Cook your Mexican chicken from frozen in the Instant Pot!
Freezer Prep Taco Meat | prep a TON of taco meat in just one minute of cook time! And when you want to defrost it, you can do so in just ONE minute!
Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce | Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce – cook your squash and sauce TOGETHER with a homemade sauce that requires almost no prep!
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup {21 Day Fix}– This requires minimal chopping and is an amazing make ahead for lunches for the week. It also freezes great!
21 Day Fix Salsa Verde Pork {Slow Cooker/Instant Pot}– Just as ridiculously easy as the chicken, this pork is so yummy!
21 Day Fix Instant Pot Asian Chicken or 21 Day Fix Asian Style Crock Pot Chicken– using pantry items, you can whip up the marinade for these chicken thighs. Then “dump and go” and come back to a delicious tasting meal- use the IP to make it one pot! Also great with Freezer Friendly Instant Pot Brown Rice
How To Make Taco Meat From Frozen | The Foodie and the Fix – Cooking from frozen = ultimate lazy 😉
21 Day Fix Homemade Tomato Sauce – I put a pot of this on the stove while I am making another dinner. Whatever doesn’t get used within a few days, I freeze for later! Then, use it in things like 21 Day Fix Spinach and Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups, 21 Day Fix Lazy Butternut Squash Lasagna {Gluten-free, One Skillet} or over top of 21 Day Fix Make Ahead Meatballs (Gluten-free) and zoodles!
TIP – freeze sauce in muffin tins or silicone molds!
Sides
How to Prep Spaghetti Squash [+ Recipes!]– spaghetti squash prep 4 ways- and all while you are doing something else in the kitchen!
Freezer Friendly Instant Pot Quinoa – use the Instant Pot to prep a big batch of quinoa and freeze it for when you need it.
How to Meal Prep Sweet Potato Toast– a healthy alternative to a bun, sweet potato toast is prepped in minutes! Or just use your Instant Pot to bake up a bunch of Sweet Potatoes for your week (thanks, Carrie Elle!)
Freezer Friendly Instant Pot Brown Rice– use the Instant Pot to prep a big batch of brown rice to freeze and use whenever.
I LOVE my Instant Pot for meal prep…check out this Healthy Instant Pot Meal Prep post from The Foodie and The Fix for more easy ideas!
Dressings and Spice Mixes
21 Day Fix Salt Free Taco Seasoning
Jessica Barnes says
would love to get printable of this. These are great ideas for a busy mom.
Nancylynn says
That is a great idea – we will see what we can do! Just listed out or what format would be most helpful??
Rebecca says
How can I get or print off a copy of the 21 day fix lazy meal prep resource?
Thank you,
Rebecca
Nancylynn says
Right now there is no printable, but what a great idea! We will work on this!