When the weather dips below freezing, a $14 desk salad just won’t cut it. Instead, we’re reaching for cozy soups and warm bowls to tide us over until winter thaws, including meals like firecracker chicken, make-ahead aloo gobi and loaded baked potato soup with a twist. Read on for 25 warm, filling winter lunch recipes that you can meal prep ahead of time.
25 Cozy Meal-Prep Recipes for Winter Lunches
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Published Jan 12, 2023
1. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, slow cooker recipe, make ahead
Warm yourself up from the inside out with this tried-and-true soul-soother. It's as easy as plopping all the ingredients in the Crockpot and pressing a button.
2. Make-Ahead Aloo Gobi
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, beginner-friendly
We found the secret to making your coworkers jealous: cauliflower, potatoes and tons of aromatic spices. Bring on the cumin, coriander, garam masala and turmeric.
3. Kung Pao Chicken
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, high protein
What’s cozier than takeout? This dish, of course. Don't let the prep time discourage you: Most of it is hands-off marinating time.
4. White Turkey Chili with Avocado
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, high protein
Chili is a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal, but this version is lighter than the old-school beef-and-kidney-beans combo. Think ground turkey, corn, white beans and avocado.
5. Dijon-Maple Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, sheet pan recipe, high protein
Dare we say this sheet pan meal is elegant enough to serve at a dinner party? Plate the chicken and veggies with white rice or risotto to make it even more satiating.
6. Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, high protein
Meatballs are our favorite food group, but they don't always need to be doused in marinara to be tasty. This Indian-inspired spin on them proves it.
7. Firecracker Chicken with Rice
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein
If the spicy-sweet sauce doesn’t convince you, the 35-minute cook time will. Go easy on the sriracha if you're serving picky kids who are sensitive to spice.
8. Harissa Chickpea Stew with Eggplant and Millet
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, high protein
This warming bowl is totally customizable. Use whatever in-season produce you have on hand, and feel free to swap millet out for quinoa, farro or brown rice.
9. One-Pot Yellow Chickpea Cauliflower Curry
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, make ahead, one pot
This dish will keep in the fridge for up to five days; all you need to do if it dries out is add a bit more coconut milk. Pair it with a big batch of grains and warm naan.
10. Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, dairy free
Comforting and healthy, it’s the best of both worlds. Fiber-rich red lentils, starchy sweet potatoes and basmati rice make it filling to boot.
11. Cheater’s Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, special occasion-worthy
You're a regular Julia Child, aren't you? (FYI, the beef is tasty on its own, but it's woefully incomplete without a side of mashed potatoes.)
12. Loaded Baked Potato Cauliflower Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Your kids will drool over the bacon, cheese and sour cream that crown this potato soup. The hidden cauliflower will be our little secret.
13. Bacon and Bean Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pot
Prepare this smoky pot of comfort on a Sunday and you'll have lunch for the week. Did we mention it contains a whopping 37 grams of protein per serving?
14. Turkey Chili
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Chilly days call for…chili. (Sorry, we had to.) Prepare a batch and keep it in the freezer for up to three months, in case you need a last-minute lunch.
15. Spicy Maple Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, gluten free
Who said salads are just for summer? (Thanks, Monique Volz.) Be sure to toast the pecans until fragrant for maximum deliciousness.
16. Meal Prep Moroccan Chickpea, Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Bowls
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, make ahead
It's prepared almost entirely on a single sheet pan, so you'll have minimal dirty dishes to clean once you're done. Go heavy on the spices—you won't regret it.
17. Make-Ahead Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burritos
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, high protein, beginner-friendly, one pot
Assemble up to 15 burritos per batch and stash them in the freezer until you need one. You can use the oven to reheat them, but we like the combo of microwaving and pan-warming for a crispy exterior in less time.
18. Sheet Pan Maple Apricot Chicken
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, make ahead, high protein
We're suckers for a sweet and tangy glaze that works on almost any protein or veggie your heart desires. Pack the chicken atop rice or quinoa for lunch.
19. Sheet Pan Peri Peri Chicken with Portuguese Red Pepper Sauce
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, sheet pan recipe
Who can resist crispy chicken skin (or golden brown potatoes)? Not us. Substitute harissa or jalapeño if you can't find Fresco chiles near you.
20. Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein
This just might be the easiest way to dress up store-bought tortellini that we've ever seen. Miso paste gives the soup a major boost of savory umami.
21. Slow Cooker Meal-Prep Burrito Bowls
- Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, high protein, slow cooker recipe
Chipotle has nothing on this drool-worthy combo of juicy pork shoulder, buttery avocado, tender black beans and veggies. Be sure to pack a generous side of the Greek yogurt-lime crema for drizzling.
22. Make-Ahead Spicy Chicken and Rice Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein
This colorful meal is tasty served warm or cold, but in the winter we'd definitely opt for the former. Use store-bought rotisserie chicken so you don't need to cook your own.
23. Quick and Easy Spicy Coconut Black Bean Soup
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, dairy free, beginner-friendly
In case you needed another reason to treat yourself to an immersion blender, this silky smooth soup is it. Finish your bowl with a swirl of coconut milk and a few jalapeño slices.
24. Meal-Prep Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Trade traditional pasta and beef for zoodles and turkey for a lighter, low-carb twist on spaghetti and meatballs. Start with pre-spiralized zucchini to save yourself some time.
25. Meal-Prep Honey Sesame Chicken with Broccolini
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, make ahead, beginner-friendly
The sticky-sweet glaze is spiced up with fresh ginger and garlic cloves. Keep it in your back pocket to use on salmon, pork or crispy tofu.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
