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Dinner with Lunch Leftovers: 7 Meal Prep Recipes That Do Both
Now when people hear meal prep, they think of spending their entire Sunday batch cooking dry chicken, plain rice and broccoli into identical containers for the week ahead… That’s not what we’re doing here. This is about making a proper family dinner in the evening and simply cooking enough so that tomorrow’s lunch is already done without any extra effort.
Why is everyone meal prepping?
If you’re anything like me, you don’t just want a great dinner – you want tomorrow’s lunch sorted at the same time.
That’s where smart meal prep comes in.
Now when people hear meal prep, they think of spending their entire Sunday batch cooking dry chicken, plain rice and broccoli into identical containers for the week ahead…
That’s not what we’re doing here.
This is about making a proper family dinner in the evening and simply cooking enough so that tomorrow’s lunch is already done without any extra effort.
Cook once. Eat twice. Less time in the kitchen. Less temptation to order food at work. Less money spent on overpriced supermarket meal deals.
Below are seven of my favourite meal prep dinners that reheat brilliantly for lunch the next day – no soggy rice, no dry chicken, no bland leftovers.
So, What Is Meal Prep?
In simple terms, meal prep just means preparing meals in advance so you’re not cooking from scratch every single day.
But here’s the key thing… You don’t need to prep an entire week’s worth of food to make meal prep work. Even just making a double portion of your dinner so that you’ve got leftovers for lunch the next day:
- Saves time
- Saves money
- Helps you avoid takeaways
- Makes sticking to your calories easier
- Stops you skipping lunch altogether
If you’re already cooking one portion, cooking two or four portions takes barely any extra effort.
How Long Does Meal Prep Last in the Fridge?
Most properly stored meal prep lunches will last:
- 3 to 4 days in the fridge for chicken dishes
- 4 to 5 days for slow cooker beef meals
- Up to 3 days for rice-based dishes
Just make sure you cool your food fully before refrigerating, store in airtight containers and reheat until piping hot before eating.
Slow cooker meals like stroganoff or sticky chilli beef often taste even better the next day once the sauce has thickened and the flavours develop overnight.
What Are the Best Dinners for Meal Prep Lunches?
Not every dinner works well the next day.
The best meal prep dinners are:
✔️ Saucy
✔️ Well-seasoned
✔️ Rice or noodle based
✔️ Made with chicken thighs or slow-cooked beef
✔️ Air fryer or slow cooker friendly
Dry foods don’t reheat well – but meals with marinades, sauces or spices hold moisture and flavour for your lunch the next day.
7 Dinner Recipes That Double As Lunch Meal Prep
These 7 easy dinner recipes are perfect for meal prep, giving you a satisfying evening meal that can be portioned up into convenient, flavourful lunches for the next day with no extra cooking required.
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
This slow cooker beef stroganoff is a proper comfort dinner that turns into an unreal lunch the next day. The creamy sauce thickens overnight in the fridge which makes it even better when reheated the next day.
Meal prep tip: Store in airtight containers with rice and you’ve got 2-3 lunches sorted instantly.
Fakeaway Chilli Beef Noodles
Skip the takeaway – this fakeaway is ideal for a quick midweek dinner and tastes amazing cold or reheated the next day for lunch. Packed with peppers, noodles and lean beef, it’s one of those meals that doesn’t dry out overnight.
Meal prep tip: Keep the sauce mixed through the noodles to stop them sticking when reheating.
Air Fryer Chicken & Veg Kebabs
This is a simple, high-protein and ideal for prepping ahead. Have them fresh for dinner with wraps or rice, then slice the leftover chicken into salads, pittas or lunchboxes the next day.
Meal prep tip: Make extra skewers – they’re perfect cold for lunches on the go.
Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
One of the best meal prep options for busy weeks. Spicy chicken, rice, peppers and beans make this a filling dinner, but it reheats perfectly for lunch without going soggy.
Meal prep tip: Store toppings like avocado separately and add fresh before eating.
Meal Prep Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Rice
This meal prep recipe is a great make-ahead dinner and the sweetness from the pineapple rice keeps everything tasting fresh the next day for lunch.
Meal prep tip: Portion into containers while still warm so the flavours soak into the rice overnight.
Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Thighs
These air fryer chicken tikka thighs are so juicy and ideal for prepping. Enjoy hot with rice for dinner, then use leftovers in wraps, naan or salads for a high-protein lunch.
Meal prep tip: Add a spoon of yoghurt when reheating to keep the chicken moist.
Slow Cooker Sticky Chilli Beef
This slow cooker recipe is the the ultimate set it and forget it recipe. It makes enough for multiple lunch portions and tastes even better the next day once the sauce has soaked in.
Meal prep tip: Serve with rice or noodles and portion straight into lunch containers.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to stay on track, save money or just avoid the daily “what’s for lunch?” panic – cooking a dinner that doubles as tomorrow’s meal prep lunch is a game changer.
All of these recipes are designed to:
- Work as a family dinner
- Reheat well for lunch
- Keep you fuller for longer
- Cut down midweek cooking time
- Cook once, eat twice!!
Happy cooking everyone 🙂
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