We all want to cook healthy homemade meals during busy weeknights, but finding the time is a major challenge.
Here's a simple strategy that will give you back hours during the busy work week: Prep all your ingredients for the week at one time. You'll be amazed how much time you save -- and weekday dinners will come together 1-2-3.
Here are time-saving tips -- and four weeks' worth of recipes --to get you through the busy weekdays with your sanity fully intact (and your family fully fed!).
Pre-Prep Quick Tips
1) On Sunday, do your grocery shopping for the entire week -- a big time saver in its own right!
2) Once you have the goods, check out the recipes' ingredient lists to determine how much and what kind of prep you'll need for each ingredient throughout the week. (We've made it simple in our menu plans below.)
3) Sunday afternoon, set aside some time for washing and prepping ingredients. Note: Don't pre-prep fresh herbs, potatoes, and other ingredients that are delicate or might discolor if pre-prepped.
4) Put the pre-prepped ingredients into containers or baggies for each recipe, label them, and pop 'em in the fridge.
OK, let's get to the recipes.
WEEK 1 RECIPES
![Easy Philly Cheese Steak Pizza](https://www.allrecipes.com/thmb/RWzuU7p9xjWH8tnGOGi4ypyZUJk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2460327_Easy-Philly-Cheese-Steak-Pizza2_Photo-by-gnomeygoose-e9e44cd6871c43d4a486a67031854b21.jpg)
Monday: Easy Lasagna I
Tuesday: Yummy Honey Chicken Kabobs
Wednesday: Homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers
Thursday: Boilermaker Tailgate Chili
Friday: Easy Philly Cheese Steak Pizza
WEEK 1 PRE-PREP
Here's what you'll prep on Sunday:
8 onions:
- 2 onions, chopped
- 1/2 onion, cut into wedges
- 5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
Approx. 3 cloves of garlic:
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 red bell peppers:
- 2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 green bell peppers:
- 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 green chile peppers:
- seeded and chopped
3 stalks celery:
- chopped
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms:
- sliced
WEEK 2 RECIPES
![Broccoli Chicken Divan](https://www.allrecipes.com/thmb/nmV4vE3YUFaz-6tCTNhh0f7MpFU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2204020_Broccoli-Chicken-Divan_Photo-by-Reyna-c763e07981784c629033ce2a80672ebf.jpg)
Monday's chicken casserole is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Roast a chicken (or two) for Sunday dinner, then cube up the breast meat for Monday's casserole.
Monday: Broccoli Chicken Divan
Tuesday: Classic Goulash
Wednesday: Zucchini Caprese
Same-Day Prep: 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Thursday: Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs
Friday: Chicken Stir-Fry
Same-Day Prep: 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
WEEK 2 PRE-PREP
This week, we introduce broccoli (chopped and broken into florets) and zucchini (chopped and sliced).
Here's what you'll prep on Sunday:
2 heads broccoli:
- 1 pound chopped fresh broccoli
- 1 head broccoli, broken into florets
5 onions:
- 3-1/2 large yellow onions, chopped
- 1 onion, cut into large chunks
10 cloves garlic:
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 7 cloves garlic, minced
2 green bell peppers:
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into matchsticks
4 zucchini:
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 3 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 bunch green onions:
- chopped
Approx. 3 carrots:
- 1 cup sliced carrots
2 plum tomatoes:
- diced
WEEK 3 RECIPES
![closeup of a white ceramic bowl filled with beef stew made with carrots, potato and onion, garnished with a parsley sprig](https://www.allrecipes.com/thmb/v268r_hWNmmpFtGc3cbn-e8JrqU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/276397_Slow-Cooker-Beef-Stew-I_Photo-by-Dianne-be098f49f33344859af3d014f6d8e148.jpg)
Monday: Slow Cooker Beef Stew I
Same-Day Prep: 3 potatoes, diced
Tuesday: Actually Delicious Turkey Burgers
Wednesday: Spaghetti Carbonara II
Thursday: Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Friday: Terrific Turkey Chili
WEEK 3 PRE-PREP
Here's what you'll prep on Sunday:
5 onions:
- 3 onions, chopped
- 1-1/2 onions finely diced
3 cloves garlic:
- minced
1 stalk celery:
- chopped
1 bunch green onions:
- chopped
1 green bell pepper:
- diced
4 carrots:
- sliced
Fresh Parsley:
- chopped, 1/3 cup
3 medium zucchini:
- halved lengthwise and sliced
WEEK 4 RECIPES
![Sloppy Joes II](https://www.allrecipes.com/thmb/zDqJcG1XQFojXZRGwa3SZ8l_kZ4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/747244_Sloppy-Joes-II_Photo-by-Dianne-19d9b294a489421cadbab262088e861f.jpg)
Monday: Easy Meatloaf
Tuesday: Spicy Beef Fajitas
Same-Day Prep: 4 large cloves garlic, crushed
Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie IX
Thursday: Sloppy Joes II
Friday: Chicken and Biscuit Casserole
Note: The recipe calls for baby carrots, but you can use "grown-up" carrots, too.
WEEK 4 PRE-PREP
This time we're cutting bell peppers into thin strips for fajita night and chopping them for sloppy joes.
Here's what you'll prep on Sunday:
3 yellow onions:
- 2-1/2 onions, chopped
1 red onion:
- thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper:
- 1/4 cup chopped
1 red bell pepper:
- cut into thin strips
1 yellow bell pepper:
- cut into thin strips
2 anaheim chile peppers:
- thinly sliced
Approx. 6 carrots:
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
Approx. 4 stalks celery:
- 1/2 cup sliced celery
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic:
- minced
More Top-Rated Recipes to Pre-Prep
Need a substitute recipe? We've got a deep bench. Here are more 5-star favorites to choose from.
- Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Homemade Tomato Sauce I
- Indian Chicken Curry II
- Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
- Quinoa and Black Beans
- Fantastic Black Bean Chili
Here's a great way to keep it simple: The Weekly Bag of Veg! It's the easy way to sneak fresh, seasonal veggies into every meal -- cut up a variety of vegetables, pop 'em into one bag, then add them to recipes during the week. Read more of Chef Bill Telepan's tricks for getting kids to eat veggies.