40 Easy and Delicious Postpartum Meals to Meal Prep Before Baby Arrives
After you have a baby, the last thing you want to do is cook a gourmet meal. You’re exhausted, you’re adjusting to having a new human being in your life, and the thought of cooking anything more complicated than mac and cheese is enough to make you want to take a nap.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of easy and delicious postpartum meals to meal prep that will help you get through those first few weeks (or months) with your new baby. From one-pot wonders to slow cooker meals, these recipes will help you get dinner on the table without any fuss.
Plus they make great meals that you can meal prep ahead to always have a freezer meal on hand!
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When Should I Start Meal Prepping for Postpartum?
The best time to start meal prepping for postpartum is during your pregnancy. If you can, start stocking your freezer with easy-to-reheat meals that you can just pop in the oven or microwave when you’re ready to eat. This will make those first few weeks after baby arrives a lot easier.
Meal Prepping Essentials for Postpartum
There are a few things you’ll need for meal prepping, whether you’re doing it during pregnancy or after baby arrives.
First, you’ll need some good storage containers. I like to use glass storage containers (Amazon affiliate link) because they’re microwave and oven-safe. This makes reheating food a breeze.
For freezing food, I really like the FoodSaver vacuum. It can vacuum seal meals so they stay fresh in the freezer and don’t take up a lot of room.
To keep everything organized, I love to use labels. These food labels have a spot to write the date and what’s inside so you can keep track of everything. They also peel off really easily when you’re done with them!
One Pot Meals
One-pot meals are a lifesaver when you’re trying to juggle a newborn and everything else that’s going on in your life. These recipes only dirty one pot, so you can spend less time cleaning up and more time snuggling your little one.
This shrimp and vegetable pad Thai is easy, healthy and delicious. Using a stir fry veggie mix and precooked shrimp it comes together quickly in just 20 minutes
This creamy butternut squash is delicious and satisfying. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is way to make.
This is a quick and easy healthy sheet pan dinner recipe! In less than 30 minutes you'll have the tastiest moist meatloaf with a side of roasted potatoes and asparagus. This is an easy healthy meal the entire family will enjoy.
A warming, hearty bowl of creamy Alfredo soup, with tender shredded chicken, umami mushrooms, nourishing spinach and your favourite variety of store-bought tortellini.
This Easy No-Boil Pasta Bake is the perfect weeknight dinner the whole family will love. It is a one-pan meal that requires just 5 minutes of prep time.
If you’re looking for a quick weeknight salmon recipe, try this healthy salmon stir fry that's all done in just 20 minutes. Made with lots of veggies for a lighter stir fry with subtle flavors and a fresh touch from lime juice & fresh cilantro. A complete meal on its own, or serve with a side of rice or noodles.
Roasted Chicken Thighs and Vegetables are so easy to make in less than an hour! You'll love this delicious, one-pan meal.
This crispy pan fried gnocchi is a simple and quick recipe to make only 20 minutes for an easy weeknight meal. Crispy gnocchi coated in a light sauce made with garlic, herbs, butter and parmesan.
Butternut Squash and Potato Chili is a hearty comfort food that's perfect for a chilly night. It's a perfectly balanced dish that's so easy to make! Serve with a side of rice, tortilla chips, cheese or sour cream for the ultimate dinner!
Skillet chicken fajitas are an easy weeknight one-pan meal. This Tex-Mex favorite has healthy protein and fresh veggies all in one amazing yet simple dish that you can make and freeze ahead of time!
Take a step back in time and enjoy this childhood favorite. Old fashioned sloppy joes are a quick and easy to make meal that your family will love!
Related Post: Our Favorite Easy Meal Train Recipes
Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Meals
There’s nothing better than coming home to a hot meal after a long day with baby. These crockpot and Instant Pot recipes will do the work for you while you’re out and about, so all you have to do is come home, ladle out some food, and enjoy.
Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls are an easy to make lunch or dinner! Top it with cheese, guacamole, or tortillas (or your favorite toppings) for the ultimate dish!
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken is a quick and easy dish that's incredibly flavorful. It's a perfect dish to make for a healthy lunch or dinner and is low in calories and packed with protein!
Instant Pot Chicken Salad is the perfect light lunch or dinner! It's an easy to make meal that's great served with pita chips, bread or lettuce wraps to keep it low carb.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Tacos are an easy and delicious way to mix up Taco night!
Instant Pot Tortilla soup is an easy and delicious dinner the whole family will love. Customize it with your favorite toppings for the perfect week night meal!
Easy Honey Garlic Teriyaki Chicken is a super simple dinner recipe that can be thrown in the crock pot in a matter of minutes! Large juicy chicken breast &/or thighs are slowly simmered in a sweet and salty sauce made with honey, garlic, fresh ginger, and soy sauce. Who needs take out when you can make meals like this at home?!?
Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup is made with a flavourful combination of chickpeas, vegetables, spices, and vegetable stock. This slow cooker vegan recipe is easy to make, budget-friendly, and bursting with mouth-watering flavours. Freezable too!
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is absolutely scrumptious one pot meal with chicken breasts or thighs, white or brown rice and veggies. It is ideal for busy weeknights and you can also make it ahead of time and freeze it!
This Instant Pot chicken stew recipe makes a rich, hearty chicken dinner. Make this healthy and delicious meal for dinner in only 25 minutes!
Easy to make crockpot green beans, potatoes and Kielbasa recipe, ready in 4 hours. Simply add everything to the slow cooker and enjoy!
Wild Rice Soup is the ultimate comfort meal that's so easy to make in the slow cooker!
Quick and Easy Breakfast and Snacks
Between feedings, diaper changes, and trying to get a few minutes of sleep, you don’t always have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. That’s why these quick and easy breakfasts and snacks are easy to prep ahead of time, so you can just grab and go.
Yogurt Parfait cups are an easy grab and go breakfast that's protein packed to keep you full all day!
The Instant Pot is the best way to make hard boiled eggs! In under 20 minutes you'll have perfectly cooked and easy peel hard boiled eggs. Once you make hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot you'll never make them any other way again!
Uncrustable Sandwiches are an easy to make lunch or snack that can be frozen!
Apple Cinnamon Muffins are the perfect breakfast or snack. They're loaded with fresh apples, cinnamon and oats to keep you full all day long.
Blueberry overnight oats is a simple breakfast that you can prepare ahead of time! It's a perfect grab and go breakfast that can be customized with so many different toppings and spices.
Greek Yogurt Overnight oats are an easy to make protein packed breakfast. Simply add everything into a jar the night before and you'll have a perfect healthy breakfast in the morning!
I make a big batch of these for all my friends after they have a baby - full of nutrients and nice and sweet for keeping you awake! Oats are great for breastfeeding too
Try making these high-protein overnight oats for a healthy, hearty, and delicious breakfast that will keep you full of energy all morning. Rolled oats, chia seeds, protein powder, maple syrup, and peanut butter blend together for the ultimate meal.
These easy and healthy breakfast cookies are made with oats, flaxseeds, and almond flour. Perfect for breakfast or snack and they freeze great!
These creamy apple pie overnight oats taste like dessert for breakfast! Infused with apple, maple, brown sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg for a comforting fall blend of flavors. Plus, they’re so easy to meal prep in advance for the week!
Loaded breakfast burritos are delicious and a great way to start the day. Make a bunch for the freezer for an easy grab and go breakfast.
Postpartum Meal Prep Tips
Now that you have a list of easy and delicious postpartum meals, it’s time to start meal prepping! Here are a few tips to make sure your meal prep goes smoothly.
1. Make a list of everything you need before you start cooking. This will help you stay organized and avoid making multiple trips to the store.
2. Consider doubling or tripling the recipe so you have leftovers. This way, you can just reheat and eat without having to cook every day.
3. When freezing meals, label them with the name of the dish and the date you made it. This will help you keep track of what you have and how long it’s been in the freezer. For the most part, we find that meals will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 6 months.
4. If you’re short on time, there are a few shortcuts you can take. For example, you can buy pre-chopped veggies or frozen ingredients. You can also use jarred sauces to save time on cooking.
5. And finally, don’t forget to give yourself a break! It’s okay if you don’t have everything perfectly prepped ahead of time.
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