Accidental Meal Prep
Crispy chicken, make-ahead lunches, and kitchen favorites worth keeping on hand
Welcome back to Accidental Meal Prep, a series of recipes that weren’t exactly made for meal prep but somehow taste even better by day three.
If you’re anything like me and don’t have a full day to spend prepping in the kitchen, this series is all about simple recipes that make it easier to keep things on track through the week without making lunch feel like a chore.
This week’s theme is chicken lunches. We’re making crispy chicken fries, chicken cutlet pasta salad, and chicken power wraps—three easy recipes that work together to keep lunches and quick dinners covered all week long.
The chicken fries are perfect for dipping, snacking, or adding to wraps. The pasta salad is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, and the chicken power wraps come together in minutes when you need something filling on the go. They’re protein-forward, family-friendly, and the kind of recipes you’ll actually look forward to pulling out of the fridge all week.
Favorite Tools for Meal Prep
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Weck Tulip Jars: These are my favorite jars for storing soups, salads, overnight oats, and meal-prepped ingredients. They’re functional, beautiful, and make opening the fridge feel a little more organized.
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer: I’ve been using this nonstop to reheat leftovers, crisp up chicken cutlets, and cook quick meals. The glass cooking container is a feature I especially love.
All-Clad Nonstick Fry Pan Set: These are the pans I reach for almost every day. They heat evenly, clean up easily, and are perfect for everything from eggs to sautéed vegetables and chicken.
USA Pan Nonstick Half Sheet Pan: A true kitchen workhorse. It’s perfect for sheet pan dinners, roasting vegetables, baking cookies, and meal prepping proteins for the week.
Stainless Steel Cooling & Baking Rack Set: These racks are great for baking crispy chicken, cooling cookies, or elevating roasted foods so air circulates evenly. Plus, they’re oven safe and dishwasher safe.
KitchenAid Stainless Steel Utility Tongs: One of those simple kitchen tools you end up using every single day. They’re sturdy, easy to grip, and perfect for flipping, tossing, serving, and everything in between.