As a habits-expert, batch-prepping a protein or two at the start of the week is one of the simplest ways I make dinner easier. These 10 recipes are real-life staples in my kitchen: easy to prep in bulk, endlessly versatile, and perfect for building quick, satisfying dinners all week long. If you’re looking to simplify without sacrificing flavor, this list is for you!

Overhead shot of shredded chicken breast garnished with lemon slices, parsley and yogurt sauce in a slow cooker.
4.83 stars (28 ratings)

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

Slow cooker greek chicken made with just 4 ingredients for a healthy, high-protein dinner. Perfect for meal prep, gyros, or rice bowls all week long.
Ingredients: Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, chicken.
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Metal tongs picking up a portion of cooked shredded chicken breast from a slow cooker.
5 stars (7 ratings)

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast (Juicy, Shredded)

The easiest slow cooker chicken breast, just salt and garlic powder, no added liquid needed. Comes out juicy every time and shreds perfectly for tacos, salads, meal prep, and more.
Ingredients: chicken breasts, salt, garlic powder
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Overhead shot of a white bowl with a serving fork and sliced, grilled pork tenderloin topped with fresh parsley. Bowl is surrounded by lemon wedges, blue towel, and a jar of red sauce.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Pork Tenderloin Marinade (with Brown Sugar)

A sweet and savory pork tenderloin marinade with brown sugar, soy sauce, Dijon, and garlic. Just 5 ingredients and perfect for grilling or baking.
Ingredients: oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pork tenderloin.
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Overhead shot of a plate of sliced grilled chicken topped with parsley and lemon wedges on an oval plate.
5 stars (13 ratings)

Lemon Chicken Marinade (for Grilling)

This simple lemon chicken marinade uses fresh lemon, garlic, Dijon, and parsley for juicy grilled chicken. Only 30 minutes of marinating time needed.
Ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, garlic, chicken.
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shredded meat on corn tortillas and wooden cutting board with toppings on the side
5 stars (9 ratings)

Slow Cooker Shredded Beef (Easy Tacos + More!)

Perfectly spiced and incredibly easy to prepare, my slow cooker Mexican-inspired shredded beef is made with 7 simple ingredients. You'll love how it saves you time (no searing required), so just dump-and-go for the most succulent, fork tender shredded beef for tacos and more.
Ingredients: boneless beef chuck-eye roast, onion, tomato paste, cumin, mild chili powder, smoked paprika, lime juice and salt.
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Close-up of person holding a slow cooker with shredded meat topped with lemon slices and fresh herbs.
5 stars (4 ratings)

Greek Pork Tenderloin (Slow Cooker)

Greek pork tenderloin made with 4 simple ingredients for tender, juicy pulled pork. Slow cooked and ready for pitas, rice bowls, or souvlaki wraps.
Ingredients: Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pork tenderloin.
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Overhead shot of a serving bowl with a serving fork and cooked chicken thighs covered in red sauce and chopped fresh herbs. Bowl is surrounded by a towel; a jar of red sauce; and small bowls of coleslaw, potato chips, and chopped herbs.
5 stars (11 ratings)

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (BBQ)

Tender, juicy slow cooker chicken thighs with a simple BBQ glaze — 5 ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, fall-apart results every time.
Ingredients: chicken thighs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, BBQ sauce.
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A slow cooker with raw chicken thighs covered in a brown sauce, chopped garlic, and red pepper flakes.
4.88 stars (8 ratings)

Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Thighs

Easy slow cooker hot honey chicken thighs with a sweet, spicy sauce. Serve whole or shredded for sandwiches, bowls, or meal prep with just 5 ingredients.
Ingredients: honey, brown sugar, white vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, chicken thighs.
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Overhead shot of slow cooker flank steak topped with fresh herbs inside of a black crockpot.
4.94 stars (45 ratings)

Slow Cooker Flank Steak

This ultra tender slow cooker flank steak recipe could not be easier to make, and yields the most delicious, tender flank steak for tacos, sandwiches and more!
Ingredients: flank steak, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, brown sugar, olive oil and salt.
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Overhead shot of raw chicken tighs covered in an orange sauce in a slow cooker.
4.95 stars (20 ratings)

Easy Slow Cooker Satay Chicken (w/ Coconut Milk)

Slow cooker satay chicken is a flavorful, versatile meal made with chicken thighs, coconut milk, and curry paste. A simplified take one Thai peanut chicken, it's a delicious and easy dinner recipe that's not only quick to prepare but also a great meal prep protein option. You wont believe how flavorful the end result it!
Ingredients: chicken, salt, peanut butter, coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, brown sugar, lime juice, fish sauce.
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Slow cooker BBQ chicken in a black crockpot on a white background.
5 stars (18 ratings)

2-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken (w/ Breast Meat)

This wildly easy 2-ingredient slow cooker BBQ chicken can be prepped in no time using store-bought or homemade sauce, yielding deliciously tender and versatile pulled chicken breasts. Perfect for meal prep on busy weeks!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs) and chipotle BBQ sauce (or store bought barbecue sauce).
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Close-up overhead shot of a white oval serving plate with sliced grilled chicken breasts, fresh parsley, and lemon wedges. Plate is surrounded by small bowls of chopped parsley, lemon wedges, and yogurt.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade (with Lemon)

A simple greek yogurt chicken marinade with lemon and garlic. Tenderizes chicken in 30 minutes and works for grilling or baking with breasts or thighs.
Ingredients: Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, chicken breasts (or thighs) and salt.
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Metal tongs picking up a portion of cooked shredded chicken breast from a slow cooker.
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Batch Protein Prep Shredded Chicken Breast

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 6 servings
Cook: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours
This slow cooker shredded chicken breast will be your new meal prep hero! Plus more protein meal prep recipes I make on repeat to make dinner easy.
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Ingredients

  • 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
  • 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Place the chicken in a 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle both sides with salt and garlic powder. Cook on low for 3-6 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. Note: All slow cookers are different, so keep an eye on your chicken the first time you make this recipe. It may even be done after 2 hours, so check early to avoid overcooking.
  • Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Alternatively add to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat until shredded.
  • If desired, carefully strain the cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Add the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker and add back as much of the strained liquid as desired. Alternatively strain the liquid and reserve for another use.

Notes

  • Serving Size: I usually cook 4 pounds of chicken breast at a time, which makes about 6 1-cup servings or 12 ½-cup servings of shredded chicken.
  • Low Temp: Cook your chicken low & slow, and keep an eye on your slow cooker temperature because it can overcook quickly. Every slow cooker cooks differently, so start checking on the early side the first time you make this recipe. Yours may even be done after 2 hours, so keep on eye on it!
  • No Added Liquid: Unlike other recipes, no extra liquid is needed here! The chicken will release its own liquid, and I got about 1.5 cups of liquid just from the chicken during the cooking process. I like to drain the liquid into a container, shred the chicken, then add back in for extra juicy chicken or reserve it to use like I would chicken stock.
  • Trim the Fat: Make sure your chicken is well-trimmed – any fat will melt and congeal to the bottom of your slow cooker. It’s not a big deal though – you can mix any white fat that accumulates in the bottom of the slow cooker back and into your chicken or scrape it out before adding the chicken back in.
Course: dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 348kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 64g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 194mg, Sodium: 539mg, Potassium: 1131mg, Vitamin A: 91IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition disclaimer
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