I don’t want you to have to spend all weekend in the kitchen prepping food…but I also don’t want you stressing about what to cook every weeknight.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by just prepping 2-3 proteins ahead of time. You can get fancy and plan out a full meal you’ll use this proteins with all week, or you can be like me and just make them ahead of time and see what sounds good when the time comes.

Here are 5 easy proteins I like to rotate between.

1. Slow cooker shredded chicken

This is easily my #1 because I literally just dump it all into a slow cooker and forget about it. Plus, basic shredded chicken is soooo versatile.

Super Simple Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 c chicken broth (or water in a pinch)
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.
3. Shred.

Need some ideas for what to make with the chicken? Check out 5 ideas here.

2. Ground Beef

I know this one probably seems so obvious, but…that’s the point! Think of all the things you can make with ground beef. You just eliminated one step and one pan to clean during the week. Boom.

Some of my fave ground beef recipes: tacos, spaghetti and meat sauce, comine the two and make Beef Taco Pasta, Ground Beef Stir-Fry, and quick burrito bowls.

3. Chicken Sausage

Slice chicken sausage into coins, add it to a baking sheet with veggies and potatoes, and roast for 30 minutes for an easy sheet-pan dinner​.

You can prep everything for this ahead of time, or just do the chicken sausage and deal with the veggies later.

Some of my favorite things to put on a sheet pan with chicken sausage: broccoli, baby potatoes, diced sweet poatoes, bell peppers, green beans, Brussels sprouts. The possibilities are endless with this one.

4. Shrimp

My favorite way to prep shrimp is just pan-frying in a little butter and garlic, then adding a squeeze of lemon.

I love making shrimp tacos or wraps. Honestly, they’re so good I also just like to eat them as-is as the main course. Add a carb like roasted potatoes or a cajun rice, and a veggie like a salad or steamed green beans.

Or if you have a liiiittle more time, make my Easy Thai Shrimp Soup. This was a staple recipe for me for years.

5. Protein Pancakes

I know this one always sounds a little weird to prep, but reheated pancakes are actually SO GOOD. You can microwave them, but they’re also great if you pop them in the toaster!

You can use a high-protein pancake mix like Kodiak to keep it simple, or make my 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes or Cottage Cheese Pancakes (TRUST ME on these).

OR for a little change, make our classic Kodiak Cake Pancake Bread.

These are perfect for quick breakfasts or a “breakfast for dinner” party.

That’s it! 5 easy proteins you can pick from to make ahead this week. Which will you try first?