Because we love cozy meals—but not spending all Sunday cooking.
Let’s be honest: if your weekends are for laundry, Target runs, and refereeing small humans, then standing in the kitchen for hours batch-cooking is not happening.
But you can make fall dinners feel cozy and stress-free without turning your Sunday into a cooking marathon. The secret? Three base recipes.
These are simple, flexible foods you can cook once, stash in the fridge, and remix all week long into fast, nourishing meals. Add a few prepped fruits for easy grab-and-go snacking, and you’ve got yourself a system that actually works.
Base #1: Shredded Chicken
This is your meal prep MVP. Make it once, and it becomes tacos, soup, wraps, bowls—you name it.
How to make it:
- Toss 2–3 pounds of chicken breast (or thighs) in your Instant Pot or slow cooker.
- Add ½ cup broth, a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Cook 20 minutes (Instant Pot) or 4 hours (slow cooker), then shred with two forks.
Storage tip: Keep half plain and season the rest with taco or BBQ seasoning to save yourself time later in the week.
Base #2: Roasted Veggies
Fall is the season of roasted everything, and for good reason—roasted veggies make every meal feel warm and fancy (without effort).
How to make it:
- Chop up whatever’s in your fridge—sweet potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli.
- Toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and your favorite seasoning blend (everything bagel, Italian, or even cinnamon and paprika for a fall twist).
- Roast at 425°F for 25–30 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Storage tip: Store in glass containers so you can reheat quickly or eat cold in salads or bowls.
???? Base #3: Cooked Grains (or Grain Swaps)
This is your “fill you up” factor. You can use quinoa, brown rice, jasmine rice, or even cauliflower rice if you’re keeping carbs lower.
How to make it:
- Cook 2–3 cups at once.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt when storing—it helps keep it from drying out.
Storage tip: Freeze half in a flat layer in a zip-top bag. It thaws in minutes and saves you midweek.
Mix + Match: 9 Lazy Mama Dinners
Here’s where the magic happens. Combine one protein, one veggie, and one grain—and you’ve got dinner in under 10 minutes.
- Southwest Chicken Bowl – Shredded chicken + roasted peppers + rice + salsa + avocado
- Harvest Salad – Chicken + roasted sweet potatoes + mixed greens + honey mustard drizzle
- BBQ Chicken Wraps – BBQ chicken + roasted veggies + quinoa inside a wrap
- Quick Stir-Fry – Chicken + roasted broccoli + rice + soy sauce + sesame oil
- Turkey Skillet Swap – Use leftover roasted veggies with cooked ground turkey and rice for a cozy skillet
- Veggie Fried Rice – Roasted veggies + rice + scrambled egg + coconut aminos
- Taco Night – Chicken + roasted peppers + rice or cauliflower rice + cheese + hot sauce
- Cozy Grain Bowl – Quinoa + roasted carrots and Brussels + chicken + tahini drizzle
- Soup Shortcut – Add shredded chicken + roasted veggies to a pot of broth with rice or noodles—instant soup!
See? You’re basically a meal prep genius now.
Bonus: Fruit Prep for Snack-Sanity
Because kids (and let’s be honest, you) are always hungry. A little fruit prep goes a long way.
My go-to fruit hacks:
- Apple slices in lemon water—no browning.
- Berries in glass jars lined with paper towels—stay fresh longer.
- Clementines & grapes washed and portioned into small containers for grab-and-go.
- Frozen bananas for smoothies or “nice cream.”
Keep a “snack zone” in the fridge where the good stuff is easy to grab before anyone raids the pantry for goldfish.
Final Thoughts
Meal prep doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. It just has to make your life easier.
Three base recipes, a little fruit prep, and a few containers are all you need to feed your family (and your sanity) through the week.
Want a little extra help?
Download the free Base Recipe Planner to create your own mix-and-match meals and keep fall dinners easy all season long.
You’ve got this, mama. Keep it simple, keep it cozy, and skip the stress.