When it comes to the macro diet, you don’t have to count calories. (Yay!) But you do have to make sure your meals contain a healthy balance of carbs, fat and protein…and when you’re suddenly hangry at lunchtime, balance is the last thing you’re thinking about. The solution? These 26 macro meal-prep recipes, which are diet-friendly and just as delicious as an emergency slice of pizza.
26 Macro Recipes That Are Meal-Prep-Friendly
What exactly is the macro diet?
The macro diet is all about balance: While you won’t be counting calories, you will be tracking macronutrients (or macros). These include carbohydrates, proteins and fats—your body’s major source of energy. Proponents of the macro diet say that if you get the ratios of these guys right, you’ll have an easier time losing weight, burning fat and building muscle.
Your ideal macronutrient intake depends on a few factors, like your basal metabolic rate (the minimum amount of cals your body needs to function) and weight goals. For example, instead of aiming for the standard 2,000 calories each day, your target might be to eat 40 percent carbohydrates, 35 percent protein and 25 percent fats. Because this eating plan is so flexible, you don’t need to cut out food groups (looking at you, keto), and you can still indulge in moderation.
1. Bibimbap Bowls
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, dairy free
This Korean dish is as fun to say as it is to eat. Our version is inspired by the original, but it’s vegan and gluten-free so everyone can have a bite.
2. Spicy Chicken And Sweet Potato Meal Prep Magic
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients
Sometimes simplicity is exactly what you’re looking for, and we’ve found the answer in this versatile dish. Make it into a salad, a rice bowl, a taco, whatever.
3. Make-ahead Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burritos
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
A simple mix of veggies and ground meat gets magical when you add some toppings and wrap it in a tortilla. Pre-assemble a few and stash them in the freezer for your busiest days.
4. Meal-prep Turkey Meatballs With Zucchini Noodles
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, <500 calories, high protein
Meatballs on a diet? Yes, please. These are made with turkey and paired with spiralized veggies. You know, for your health.
5. Quick Guacamole Quinoa Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, ready in <30 minutes
This may look like a plate of guac masquerading as a salad…and it kind of is. But it’s actually full of protein, thanks to the addition of black beans and quinoa.
6. Green Bowl With Chicken, Citrus And Herbs
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, gluten free, high protein
With shallots, citrus, herbs and spices, you’ll never go back to store-bought (and expensive) desk salads.
7. The Ultimate Quinoa-avocado Bowl
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein
With crunchy kale, spicy shrimp and a huge helping of avocado, this bowl has everything you could want in a lunch. The pretty watermelon radishes just put it over the edge.
8. Sheet-pan Lemon Butter Veggies And Sausage
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
Prepping lunch in advance doesn’t have to mean washing a zillion dishes. If you cook your protein and veggies on one pan, you can minimize cleanup and maximize flavor at the same time.
9. Honey Barbecue Baked Salmon Bowls
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, ready in <30 minutes
Our usual thoughts when cooking salmon (Is it done? Am I doing this right? Ugh.) are nowhere to be found with this foolproof broiled version. And with bottled barbecue sauce, it comes together *that* much quicker.
10. 30-minute Thai Basil Turkey Bowls
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: dairy free, gluten free, ready in <30 minutes
Prep your cauliflower rice, sautéed veggies and tangy, Thai-inspired turkey…then assemble and go.
11. Honey Lemon Chicken Bowls
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
The beauty of this recipe is that you can sub in whatever veggies you have on hand. Even better? Six servings come together in just 30 minutes.
12. Meal-prep Mediterranean Bowls
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, paleo
A little bit of Sunday cooking and come Monday, you’ll be able to impress the pants off your coworkers with these vegetarian bowls. (You’re going to want extra za’atar chickpeas for snacking.)
13. Sheet-pan Beef And Broccoli
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, ready in <30 minutes
Everyone knows lunch is nothing without a good sauce. This one is sweet, salty and, with just a few ingredients, effortless to make.
14. Chicken Shawarma And Sweet Potato Fry Bowls
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein
We’re not sure if it’s the blend of spices, the sweet potato fries or just saying the word shawarma, but we’re hooked.
15. Sheet-pan Chicken And Rainbow Vegetables
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein
Meet roast chicken’s cool, low-key cousin. It’s just as delicious as a whole bird, but way less effort (not to mention a lot less intimidating).
16. Spicy Maple Roasted Butternut Squash And Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
There’s way more to salad than sad cubes of chicken and wilted greens. This one features hardy Brussels sprouts and all the toppings.
17. Meal-prep Honey Sesame Chicken With Broccolini
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, <500 calories
For days when you don’t feel like kale salad reruns, reach for this filling combination of sweet-and-salty chicken thighs and healthy sides.
18. Make-ahead Aloo Gobi
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <500 calories, low sugar, vegetarian
Our convenient and flavorful ode to an Indian classic requires only five minutes of prep time, and it’s tastier than any takeout version.
19. Buffalo-stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, beginner-friendly
We’re suckers for anything buffalo chicken, but since you can’t eat wings every day (even though we’d try), this lighter take will do the trick. Prep your sweet potatoes in advance and it’s even better.
20. Meal Prep Moroccan Chickpea, Sweet Potato And Cauliflower Bowls
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, vegetarian
Aside from being ridiculously good for you, this one-and-done dish is crazy easy to make. Less than 15 minutes of prep, and everything comes together on a single sheet pan.
21. Slow Cooker Meal-prep Burrito Bowls
- Time Commitment: 7 hours, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein
If you’re still not sold on the slow cooker trend, consider this: Without really lifting a finger, you could have a juicy, spicy pork dish and lunch that’ll last for four days.
22. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, <500 calories
The lightened-up chicken salad still has all the creamy, tangy flavor you crave—minus the heaviness of mayo. For ultimate ease, start with a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
23. Make-ahead Spicy Chicken And Rice Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, dairy free, gluten free
Meal-prepping salads isn’t the easiest task: The lettuce is always wilting on us by the time lunch rolls around. This crunchy dish uses cabbage as a base, so it gets better as it sits.
24. Chicken Meatballs With Coconut-herb Sauce
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, low sugar, whole30
Make a batch rice, grains, quinoa or cauliflower rice while you whip up these lean, satisfying meatballs. Voilà, a week of healthy lunches.
25. Miso-tahini-glazed Roasted Eggplant With Farro
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free
Proof that eggplant doesn’t need to be fried or covered in cheese to be positively delightful.
26. 20-minute Egg Roll In A Bowl
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: paleo, ready in <30 minutes, dairy free
Skipping the wrappers and maximizing on the filling means you can turn a finger food favorite into a make-ahead lunch, no problem. (This one also happens to be paleo, FYI.)