8 High-Protein Recipes That Are Easy to Meal-Prep

Boiled broccoli and grilled chicken, meet your match. This hearty recipe for Philly Cheese Steak bowls yields a total of six protein-rich, easy dinners you can make ahead of time. A cashew-based queso is the star of the show here; the protein-dense nut gives the meal an added nutrient boost. Each bowl packs 30 grams of protein, and will stay good for three to four days in the fridge.

Food isn't just fuel — incorporating a variety of spices and flavor profiles is important to ensure emotional satisfaction after a meal, too. (That rings especially true for meal-prep recipes where you might be repeating the same thing across multiple days.) A flavorful batch of roasted chickpeas and root veggies, like in this recipe from Half-Baked Harvest, is the easy answer. For high-protein, vegetarian meal prep, it doesn't get simpler than this.

Looking forward to a farmer's market run? Build a grocery list around seasonal produce, as seen in this vegan-friendly recipe from Zen & Zaatar. It includes the coziest flavors of the season, including brussel sprouts and tumeric, for a cozy dinnertime bowl that contains just over 25 grams of protein. Reheat the roasted vegetables in the microwave, then drizzle a maple tahini dressing on top—YUM.

We're always on the lookout for a meal we can toss into the slow cooker, simmer for several hours on a lazy Sunday, and then portion out for the week's lunches. This thick Tuscan chicken stew is a fantastic bet when it comes to a veggie-filled soup that'll keep you satisfied for hours. It clocks in at around 30 grams of protein and approximately 650 calories, but the ingredients can easily be tweaked based on your nutrition goals.

Sheet pan meals are one of our favorite go-tos, especially when we're running low on time. This roasted chicken pita recipe includes a slew of tasty vegetables and spices, all served over a thick piece of pita. The best part? A rich pop of flavor from briny kalamata olives. Reviewers say they love prepping this recipe (along with separate containers of tzatziki) for office meals throughout the week.

No microwave? No problem. Whenever the cold noodle craving strikes, this no-heat mason jar recipe from The Woks of Life is genius. You'll layer sauce, cooked noodles, protein, veggies, and aromatics in a jar, then shake it up whenever you're ready to eat. This recipe developer recommends stirring in chili oil and topping with toasted sesame seeds for even more flavor, but feel free to add any toppings you want.

If you're prioritizing protein, it might be easy to forget about hitting goals for other macros. Enter Dude That Cookz's recipe for Cajun Meatballs and Dirty Rice, a flavorful yet nutrient-dense bowl that's easy to assemble for a quick weeknight dinner. This balanced meal-prep recipe includes a fair variety of carbs, fats, and a solid 26 grams of protein. Not to mention that this Southern-style dish also lasts up to four days in the fridge.

High-protein breakfast is a breeze when you've already got a burrito ready. This turkey chorizo version is filled to the brim with scrambled eggs, potatoes, herbs, cheese, and bell peppers. Once you've assembled all cooked ingredients in a large flour tortilla, wrap these hearty burritos in foil before storing in the freezer for up to three months. You'll thank yourself on all those chilly winter mornings ahead.

Nicolette Baker is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her expertise lies primarily in food, drink, and fashion media, but she enjoys covering all aspects of lifestyle with an accessible approach. She's written for Food & Wine, Byrdie, Business Insider, VinePair, and Flourish.