Meal Prepping Tip: Batch Cooking your Protein!
I don’t know what it is, but as my kids get older, it feels like we’re getting busier! I’m not complaining, not even a little bit! I am loving this busy stage of life! But I do rely fully on having a detailed meal plan to get through my week without losing my mind, or going out to eat every night!
For about a year now, Lori and I have been doing our weekly meal plans a little differently. We batch cook a protein at the beginning of the week and plan 2 or 3 meals around that protein. For example, I might cook 4 lbs of chicken breast on Monday, serve it that night with air fried green beans and cauliflower rice. Then use that same chicken for a Enchilada Bake on Wednesday, and again on Friday for BLT sandwiches. This way of meal planning has been game changing for us for a couple reasons. 1. Supper takes WAY less time on the busy evenings. 2. We typically have delicious leftovers for lunch that we look forward to eating. 3. Our grocery lists seem to be shorter, more manageable, and, in turn, more affordable. 4. If you’re counting calories, I have found this is a simpler way to keep track of what you’re eating.
In this post, I wanted to give a couple recipes that we use with our pulled pork recipe that we have shared on the blog previously. Click this link for our Slowcooker Pulled Pork recipe.
Here’s what my supper meal plan looks like:
MONDAY: Pulled Pork Sandwiches with “Unicorn Tears” Slaw. Throw the pork shoulder in the slow cooker before leaving for work. Shred the pork in the kitchenaid (or any mixer) on low after work.
TUESDAY: Supper Studio meal kit for the kids at home while I drive around with other kids. Check out the current meals available here!
WEDNESDAY: Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa. Using the Pulled Pork from Monday, put together a fresh pineapple salsa and serve on tortillas.
THURSDAY: Spaghetti & Meat Sauce. Sidenote: I bought a box of extra lean ground beef from Buhler Beef and am SO happy I did!
FRIDAY: Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. There is no recipe for these. Honestly, use sourdough or buns, a little BBQ sauce, harvarti or swiss, throw some peaches or sliced apples on it. Oh my. Just do it.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY: I typically always leave these days blank. Leftovers (or fridge as we like to call it), and room for plans to change during the week, allow us to have enough of a plan and groceries in the fridge to figure it out.
This outline was just to show how batch cooking our protein at the beginning of the week saves us a bunch of time throughout the rest of our busy week! It doesn’t have to be complicated, but if there’s a plan in place, it means less eating out, less trips to the grocery store, and more homemade meals!
What are your thoughts? Would you plan your week this way to make things easier? Do you already do this?
Have a great week! ~ Lori and Leah