Meal prepping can be a great timesaver during busy weeks. Since many of us are working and learning remotely, a little meal planning and prepping can go a long way to reduce the stress of feeding yourself and your family around the clock. The fact is, there are lots of popular ways to meal-prep, but here, we’ll focus on individually portioned meals, as well as cooked ingredients (yes, beans!) ready to be used in recipes.

The recipes and ideas below offer you quick, protein-packed lunches, help you get meals on the table faster, and cut down on weeknight cooking time. Setting aside a couple of hours on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for chopping and cooking ingredients is the key to making meal prep really work. Sound like a plan? Let’s get started.

Individually Portioned Mason Jar Meals

Mason jar meals involve prepping and cooking ingredients, assembling them in mason jars, and storing in the fridge, so that they’re ready to go as soon as hunger pangs strike. Get our best tips, tricks and recipe ideas for how to keep them crisp, delicious and nutritious.

Easy Instant Pot Black Beans = 3 Delicious Dishes

Cooking a pot of beans, washing and chopping veggies, making a batch of grains, and baking some potatoes are all great ways to have cooked ingredients on hand for making different meals throughout the week. The Instant Pot offers set-it-and-forget it meal prep, making things even easier. Try Instant Pot Black Beans, Black Bean Quinoa Salad, Black Bean Hummus, and Black Bean-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.

How to Turn 1 Pot of Pintos into 5 Meals

With Easy Make-Ahead Pinto Beans, it’s only a few more steps to whip up Easy Refried Beans, Pinto Bean Burrito Bowls, Chipotle Pinto Bean Tortilla Soup, Cheesy Bean Quesadillas, and Bean & Bacon Breakfast Tacos.

How to Turn 1 Pot of White Beans into 5 Dishes

With simple Instant Pot White Beans, you’ll have quickly cooked white beans that are ready to be tossed into everything from hummus to pasta. Try delicious White Bean Hummus, White Bean, Basil and Sun-Dried Tomato Burgers, White Bean Pesto Pasta, Tomato & White Bean Bruschetta, and Tuna White Bean Salad.

If you haven’t gotten on the mason jar meal bandwagon yet, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Well, by following a few simple guidelines outlined below, you can end up with fun, easy, make-ahead meals for on-the-go that save time and money. They also feature great ingredients, include powerful bean protein, and offer you a delicious meal right at your desk – or anywhere else you happen to be.

Sure, making mason jar meals requires some planning and meal prep, but the jars make it fun and different. Mason jars keep all the flavor and freshness locked in, and with the right layering technique, they’ll keep your ingredients from getting soggy. Your average plastic storage container just can’t do that.

Tips for Creating, Building & Enjoying Mason Jar Meals:

1. Prep and cook ingredients that will add healthy bulk to your mason jar meals and keep well in the fridge.
   • Try protein-rich make-ahead beans and lentils.
   • Whip up batches of whole grains like brown rice, pasta, and quinoa.
   • Shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
   • Clean and pre-chop vegetables.
2. The key to keeping everything crisp in a mason jar is to add dressing first, in the bottom of the jar. Then, on top of the dressing, add layers of hearty beans, lentils, and vegetables that won’t soak up the dressing. Then, add layers of more delicate items like rice, tomatoes, and lettuce, etc., towards the top.
3. Make a week’s worth of mason jar meals at one time. With all of your pre-made ingredients ready to go, it’s easy to build them all at once. Then just grab one each day as you head out the door.
4. When you’re ready to eat, simply unscrew the mason jar, turn it upside down over a bowl, and pour out. You’ll end up with a healthy, delicious, portion-controlled meal, and the dressing will be right on top, just as it should be.

Three Easy Mason Jar Meal Ideas

Try these great combinations for a variety of flavors, ingredients, and healthy protein.

1. Southwestern-Style Black Bean Salad: Start with a delicious, homemade Avocado Cilantro dressing, and add it to the bottom of a jar. Next, add corn, black or pinto beans, brown rice, sliced grape tomatoes, avocado chunks, and lettuce.
2. Quinoa Lentil Salad: Shake up a bright, lemony dressing right inside a mason jar — made from lemon juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Top dressing with lentils, broccoli florets, chopped green onions, shredded chicken, and quinoa.
3. Spinach, Artichoke & White Bean Salad: Add your favorite Italian dressing to the bottom of a mason jar. Top with navy or great northern beans, chopped artichokes, orzo pasta, chopped tomatoes, and fresh baby spinach.

Now get creative — it’s all about mixing it up!