sheet of cooked food | batch cooking recipes
Read time: 8 min

Rate this article and enter to win

Are you new to batch cooking and don’t know where to begin? (If so, check out our recent article on batching that breaks it down step-by-step.) While the internet is a valuable resource for recipes, it’s also a Wild West of information that can lead to decision fatigue. To simplify things, we rounded up five easy batch cooking recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to help you stay fueled all week long.

batch cooking recipes1. Basic overnight oats

Many people think of oatmeal as boring, but really it’s a blank canvas just waiting for you to work your culinary magic on it. Love apple pie? Simply add cinnamon or apple pie spice, chopped apples and walnuts, and maybe a sprinkle of granola for a little crunch. Want to eat peanut butter cups for breakfast? Take the healthier route and add a scoop of nut butter, cocoa powder, and maple syrup or other sweetener to your oats. Plus, if you find yourself skipping breakfast because you can’t seem to wake up early enough, you can make your oatmeal the night before—no cooking required.

The following recipe makes a single serving of overnight oats. Double or quadruple the ingredients to make a big batch of oats you can eat over the next few days:

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup milk or milk substitute of choice (you can use more or less depending on how thick you like your oatmeal)
  • 1 tablespoon or more chia seeds (more chia seeds will give you a firmer, more gelatinized texture the next day)
  • Optional add-ins: sprinkle of cinnamon, cloves, apple pie spice, or pumpkin pie spice; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, vanilla bean pods, or vanilla powder; 1 tablespoon yogurt; 1 scoop protein powder; up to 1 tablespoon maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice; 1 tablespoon nut or seed butter

Directions

  1. Combine the above ingredients in a mason jar or sealed container. Mix well. Store in refrigerator overnight, ideally for eight hours.
  2. After your oatmeal is ready to eat, you can top with any of the following:
    • Fresh or dried fruit (e.g., strawberries, bananas, raisins)
    • Shredded coconut
    • Nuts or seeds
    • Nut or seed butter (if you didn’t add it already)
    • Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice (if you didn’t add it already)
    • Chocolate chips
    • More milk or milk substitute 

Adapted from Wholeistic Living

batch cooking recipes2. Mac and cheese

Everybody loves mac and cheese. OK, maybe not everybody, but many omnivores and herbivores alike share this ooey-gooey affinity. Mac and cheese freezes well and lends itself to being made in big, mouthwatering batches.

You can use dairy cheese if that’s your thing, but we like this vegan version that uses sweet potatoes and butternut squash to make its ultimate creamy, nutritious sauce.

batch cooking recipes3. Veggie burgers

Homemade veggie burgers tick off every box, as they are typically packed with beans, grains, and (of course) vegetables, and can be easily customized based on what you have on hand. They freeze well and are easy to make too: Just mash all your ingredients together, shape into patties, and cook.

This beans and greens burger has plenty of satisfying protein to fuel your study session, along with brain-boosting greens, which were shown in a 2018 study in Neurology to help slow cognitive decline.

batch cooking recipes4. Slow cooker chicken cacciatore

If you’ve never used a slow cooker (or Crock-Pot®) before, prepare to have your world changed. Slow cookers are great for no-fuss meals: Throw all your ingredients in before you head to class and let it do its thing. At the end of the day, you’ll have a warm meal waiting for you when you walk in the door. You can buy a new slow cooker for $20–$30, or check out your local thrift store for a secondhand bargain. And in case you were getting tired of microwaved ramen, slow cookers are often a residence hall-friendly appliance (just check with your school that it’s OK to have one in your room).

There are thousands of slow cooker recipes out there that require very little effort. This recipe for chicken cacciatore does involve a bit of prep work and access to an oven if you want to make the spaghetti squash, but it’s a creative way to get extra veggies in your diet. However, you could easily leave out the squash and just eat the “toppings” or substitute pasta for a quicker and easier meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 small or 1 large spaghetti squash, cooked and seeds removed
  • 3 pounds chicken thighs (OR 2 pounds firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/2-inch squares, plus 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth)
  • 2 jars tomato sauce (25 to 30 ounces)
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 zucchini or summer squash, thinly sliced
  • 1 container mushrooms, thinly sliced

Directions

Spaghetti squash

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Use a fork or knife to poke a few holes in the top of the whole, uncut spaghetti squash. Place squash in the oven and bake for 45–55 minutes. Remove from oven and let it cool for 5–10 minutes before slicing down the middle. Discard the seeds, then scrape out the cooked “spaghetti”; reserve this in a bowl for later. Hint: Do this part on the weekend to save time.

Chicken

Cook chicken thighs in Crock-Pot® on low for 6 hours. Remove bones after chicken has been cooked. Add remaining ingredients and cook on low for 1 additional hour.

Tofu

Cook tofu and vegetable broth in Crock-Pot® on low for 3–4 hours total. Add remaining ingredients during the last hour.

You can mix the spaghetti squash in, or serve the mixture over the squash—it’s up to you!

Adapted from Wholeistic Living

batch cooking recipes5. Energy bites

Energy bites are a simple no-bake snack, typically made with some combination of oats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds and nut/seed butters. They are perfect to grab for a quick boost of energy when you’re on the go or need some study fuel.

Here’s a basic recipe to get you started. Feel free to customize to your liking:

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons seeds (e.g., sunflower, chia, pumpkin)
  • 1/2 cup nut or seed butter
  • 1/3 cup liquid sweetener (e.g., date syrup, maple syrup, honey)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup mix-ins (e.g., shredded coconut, finely chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chips)

Directions

Stir all ingredients together in a bowl. The mixture should hold together when squeezed. If it’s too dry, add more nut or seed butter. If it’s too wet, add more oats. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to set. Remove from the fridge, and form 1-inch balls with the dough by rolling between your hands. Refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze in an airtight container. Frozen energy bites will keep for a few months.

Adapted from Well Plated by Erin

GET HELP OR FIND OUT MORE

Batch cook like a pro: CampusWell

Create recipes with ingredients you already have: SuperCook

Batch cooking recipes and tips: BuzzFeed

Microwave-only dorm meal prep (video): Mind Over Munch



What was the most interesting thing you read in this article?

Have you seen at least one thing on that you will apply to everyday life?
Have you seen at least one thing on that caused you to get involved, ask for help, utilize campus resources, or help a friend?
If you could change one thing about , what would it be?
Are there any other topics or angles you would like to see in , that we haven't covered?
First name: ?

Last name:

E-mail:

I do not reside in Nevada Or Hawaii:

Want to increase your chances to win?

Refer up to 3 of your friends and when each visits , you will receive an additional entry into the weekly drawing.

Please note: Unless your friend chooses to opt-in, they will never receive another email from after the initial referral email.

Email 1:

Email 2:

Email 3:


What was the most interesting thing you read in this article?

Have you seen at least one thing on that you will apply to everyday life?
Have you seen at least one thing on that caused you to get involved, ask for help, utilize campus resources, or help a friend?
If you could change one thing about , what would it be?
Are there any other topics or angles you would like to see in , that we haven't covered?
First name: ?

Last name:

E-mail:

I do not reside in Nevada Or Hawaii:

Want to increase your chances to win?

Refer up to 3 of your friends and when each visits , you will receive an additional entry into the weekly drawing.

Please note: Unless your friend chooses to opt-in, they will never receive another email from after the initial referral email.

Email 1:

Email 2:

Email 3:


Have you seen at least one thing on that you will apply to everyday life?
Have you seen at least one thing on that caused you to get involved, ask for help, utilize campus resources, or help a friend?
Are there any other topics or angles you would like to see in , that we haven't covered?
First name: ?

Last name:

E-mail:

I do not reside in Nevada Or Hawaii:

Want to increase your chances to win?

Refer up to 3 of your friends and when each visits , you will receive an additional entry into the weekly drawing.

Please note: Unless your friend chooses to opt-in, they will never receive another email from after the initial referral email.

Email 1:

Email 2:

Email 3:


Individuals under the age of 13 may not enter or submit information to this giveaway.
Your data will never be shared or sold to outside parties. View our Privacy Policy. TERMS & CONDITIONS


Article sources

Clarke, E. (2017, September 11). Energy balls: The ultimate recipe guide. Well Plated by Erin [blog]. Retrieved from https://www.wellplated.com/energy-balls/

Morris, M. C., Wang Y., Barnes L. L., Bennett D. A., et al. (2018, January 16). Nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables and cognitive decline: Prospective study. Neurology, 90(3), e214–e222. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004815

Student Health 101 articles, March 2013 and January 2018.

CampusWell survey, June 2019.

Volpe, J. (2018, August 27). Basic overnight oats. Wholeistic Living [blog]. Retrieved from https://wholeisticliving.com/2018/08/27/basic-overnight-oats/

Volpe, J. (2017, January 11). Crock pot chicken cacciatore. Wholeistic Living [blog]. Retrieved from https://wholeisticliving.com/2017/01/11/chickentofu-cacciatore/

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR