💫 Before you scroll—don’t forget to grab my free download of favorite batch cooking shortcut recipes at the bottom of this post. These are the exact recipes I return to again and again when I need quick wins that still feel nourishing.
Batch cooking is going to change your life!
If you’re a busy mom constantly juggling the ever evolving to-do list, batch cooking might just be the energy hack you’ve been missing. As someone obsessed with all things efficiency, alignment, and energy mastery, I can tell you—nothing has freed up more brain space, time, and actual energy in my week than learning how to prep meals in bulk.
Whether you’re deep into motherhood, building a business, or just trying to get dinner on the table without losing your mind, batch cooking for moms is the ultimate shortcut. And don’t worry—this isn’t about spending your whole Sunday in the kitchen.
I’ve learned how to make this work in a way that supports my values of ease, flow, and feeling good in your body and your home.
After a month of eating out on vacation in Costa Rica one summer, we decided to challenge ourselves to batch cooking and eating the majority of our meals at home.
It cuts down on waste, saves money, better for our health and saves us SO much time in cooking, prepping, driving to get takeout, money/wasted groceries etc.
We love restaurants but we didn’t want to be getting takeout just because it was 5pm and we had no idea what to eat. Now, eating out is back to being an appreciated treat!
What do I Mean by Batch Cooking?
Batch cooking is making large meals like a big casserole or a big batch of granola so it’s eaten throughout the week.
I batch prep the produce as well:
Washing all the berries, grapes etc and placing in airtight containers so they’re ready to pack for lunches or added to meals.
Salad components like tomatoes and cucumbers are chopped up and ready to make a salad for a lunch or dinner.
PS. Blanched green beans are a great example of prepping veggies that keep well and go great with entrees or in salads. I just put green beans in boiling water for 3 minutes and dump them in an ice bath. Drain after they are cool and store in an airtight container!
I’m going to show you a simple way to plan the week:
Batch cooking Sample Menu
BREAKFAST
Granola over yogurt (printable recipe below)
I cannot do packaged granola. It tastes sickeningly sweet to me! This uses maple syrup and tastes divine!
Breakfast Casserole (print my recipe below)
Overnight Oats (printable recipe below)
Make these in a single large container for self serving and preparation ease.
LUNCH
Same things as dinner or sandwiches
Plus a big salad or cut up veggies plus hummus
DINNER
Casserole (This enchilada casserole is a hit here. I make mods all the time. Recently I do quinoa instead of rice).
My Turkey Meat Loafies (printable recipe below)
My Mom’s Super Simple and delicious Korean Style Stir Fry (printable recipe below)
Meatballs keep well in the fridge. We liked these recently.
Cook a bunch of chicken in the instant pot and shred to tacos and casseroles. Mix it with some mayo and it’s a great sandwich or salad item!
Batch Cooking Best Practices!
- Do plan out your recipes and grocery list together.
- Pantry management:
-Start your recipe picks by seeing what you have.
-Once you’re done with the grocery list, head to the pantry and cross off what you have.
- Don’t shop and cook it all in one day…I did this and it burnt me out! 😉
- Keep a list on the fridge to make note of when you run out of regulars ie. Coffee Creamer or condiments that get emptied. Add this to your master list each week.
- Eat a great meal before you head out shopping. Keeps you on track with your list. Sticking to the list will keep you healthier and save the most dollah bills!
- You can do the major cooking/prep a few days a week, spread out. This allows for overlap of meals and variety!
How I Got Started and How it's Going
At first, our fridge was empty when we got home from our month long trip. I did a big Costco trip for things like nuts & maple syrup (for granola), organic chicken and meats for the freezer and great organic produce in large quantities.
For the first 2 weeks, I did all the cooking on Sundays and it was A LOT. I cracked and wanted to give up! Ha! Then I discovered a way to do a couple meals at a time throughout the week and it’s working out great!
The key is to cook more than one thing whenever you are in the kitchen.
Evenings run smoother and our days are SO much more relaxing and efficient. I’m not stressing all day, wondering what to make for dinner. This is going to CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
PS now there is breakfast so if I sleep in then my husband, who’s a total morning person, reheats the kids’ faves instead of running to the beloved Starbies! 🙂 Huge money and time, mom guilt and health saver!
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