Meal prepping can really divide people. Some love it (I’m in this group!), while others roll their eyes and think it means eating the same boring thing every day. But trust me, that’s so not true – if you’ve read my Meal Prep for Beginners post, you’ll already know that.

Meal prepping is basically just being ready ahead of time - which is made easy with my Meal Planner Template, Meal Prepping Hub and Meal Prep Friendly Recipes. Imagine this: it’s Wednesday, you’re tired, and instead of fighting about “What’s for dinner?” you’ve already got everything ready to whip up a tasty Cashew Chicken Stir Fry. Or picture this: it’s a crazy Tuesday at work, you’ve been stuck in Zoom meetings all day, and there’s no chance to grab takeout. Lucky for you, there’s a Turkey Couscous Salad waiting in the fridge, ready to save the day (bonus: you can eat it while hiding behind “camera off”).
And it's not just lunch and dinner. Breakfast is simple to prepare ahead of time, and can often make the most difference. Think about how good it feels to skip the morning chaos because you've prepared a Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats in advance. Instead of rushing out the door with a coffee and no food, you've got a delicious, ready-to-eat breakfast packed with all the good stuff to keep you fuelled during the morning.
The best part? You don’t need any fancy gadgets to get started. But if you want to make life easier, I’ve got a few must-haves to recommend:
Essential Tools
A Good Knife (or several)

A good knife (or a couple) is an absolute game-changer when it comes to meal prepping. You don’t need a whole set, but having a reliable chef’s knife and maybe a smaller paring knife makes all the difference. Chopping veggies, slicing meats, or even mincing garlic becomes faster, easier, and – let’s be real – way less frustrating.
And once you’re all set with a good knife, you’ll be ready to tackle recipes that load up on the good veggies like Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs with Veg, Gochujang Beef Kimchi Salad and One Pan Chicken Fajitas Wraps.
Cutting Boards

A good cutting board (or two) is just as important as a good knife when it comes to meal prepping. A sturdy, non-slip cutting board gives you a safe surface to chop, dice, and slice without the frustration of everything sliding around. Bonus points if you grab a second board to keep raw meats and veggies separate – it’s an easy way to avoid cross-contamination.
If you're prepping recipes like my Beef Pad See Ew or a Kung Pao Chicken, a large cutting board will make a big difference.
Measuring Cups and Spoons

Measuring cups and spoons might seem like small tools, but they’re essential for meal prepping. Whether you’re following a recipe or trying to portion out meals for the week, having accurate measurements is key to getting the flavours (and serving sizes) just right.
They’re a lifesaver for recipes like my Mango Overnight Oats with Passionfruit, where getting the perfect balance of oats, milk, and chia seeds makes all the difference. Or when you’re whipping up a batch of Honey Soy Chicken Marinade, using the right amount of soy sauce and honey can take your meal from “meh” to chef’s kiss.
Digital Scale

A digital kitchen scale is one of those tools you don’t think you need – until you have one. It’s a meal prep hero for accurate portioning, especially if you’re tracking calories, macros, or just trying to keep portions consistent. Measuring by weight is also faster and more precise than using cups for things like flour, rice, or proteins.
For recipes like Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Christmas Tree Brownies, or Sugar Cookies, a scale is a non-negotiable as baking can be a science and rely on gram-accurate measurements that you can't achieve with measuring cups and spoons.
Airtight Glass Containers

Airtight glass containers are an absolute must-have for meal prepping. They keep your food fresh, make portioning easy, and are perfect for storing everything from salads to soups. Plus, since they’re glass, they’re safe to use in the microwave and oven, making reheating a breeze.
If you’re making recipes like my Spaghetti Bolognese with Vegetables or a Baked Ham Asparagus Frittata, these containers are ideal for keeping your meals ready to grab and go. They’re also a game-changer for storing prepped ingredients, like chopped veggies for a Salad or Homemade Protein Bagels for your Breakfast.
Large Pot

A large pot is a meal prep essential, especially if you’re a fan of pasta dishes or big-batch cooking. It’s perfect for boiling pasta, cooking grains like rice or quinoa, or making hearty soups and stews. Having a reliable, roomy pot makes it easy to prep multiple servings at once without the dreaded overflow.
For recipes like my One-Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta or a Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Pasta a large pot is your best friend. It’s also great for meal prep classics like Turkey Bolognese.
The best part? You can use it for more than just cooking – it’s ideal for tossing together pasta and sauce or mixing up big salads, like a Mediterranean Pasta Salad or Chicken Macaroni Salad when you’re feeding a crowd or prepping for the week ahead.
Large Pan

A large pan is a basic tool that is useful for many dishes. I suggest getting a small and a large one (because if you're only pan frying small things, you don't want to clean the large one).
For recipes like my Curried Sausages or Beef Stroganoff, you'll be glad to have one (or two) of these hanging around in your cupboard.
Baking Sheet

A baking sheet is your best friend for any oven-based cooking. From cookies like Lemon Blueberry Cookies and Red Velvet, to a Sheet Pan dish like Chicken Fajitas, you'll want to keep a couple hanging around.
If it's too cold for a BBQ (or if you don't have one), a sheet pan is perfect for Lemon Mustard Chicken Thighs or a Mediterranean Vegetable Salad.
Rice Cooker

While not technically necessary, a rice cooker is an absolute game-changer when it comes to meal prep. You can pop it on and leave it to do its thing while you whip up some Honey Soy Tofu , Pork and Green Beans or a Chicken Thigh Burrito Bowl.
If it makes you a bit nervous, I have a whole post on the best type of rice to cook (with how to's including rice cooker and other methods)
Optional Extras
Slow or Multi Cooker, or Instant Pot


These versatile machines are perfect for an individual who works away from home most of the day and just needs something ready-prepared in the Slow Cooker like a Beef Goulash or Chicken Cacciatore, or you can prep food extra fast using the Instant Pot if you only have 30 minutes.
Tefal Air Fryer

One of my all-time favourite appliances is an Air Fryer. When I was cooking for one, this appliance was used way more than my oven. But, the larger models that are coming out nowadays are perfect for a Small Baked Ham, Roast Potato Salad, or even a full meal prep recipe like a Gnocchi and Mediterranean Vegetable.
Food Processor

A Food Processor is a versatile appliance and perfect for those of you who hate chopping and preparing vegetables. I use it regularly to prepare mountains of vegetables for a Spaghetti Bolognese, BBQ Chicken Hawaiian Salad or even for mixing up soups like a Pumpkin Soup without Garlic, or a Red Lentil Chorizo Soup.
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