How to Batch Cook Proteins for the Week

Protein is typically the most time-consuming and expensive element of any meal, which makes batch cooking it the highest-leverage thing you can do for your weekly meal prep. I roast a sheet pan of chicken thighs, hard-boil a dozen eggs, cook a pound of ground beef, and simmer a pot of beans every Sunday. These proteins become the foundation for lunches and dinners throughout the week — grain bowls, salads, tacos, pasta dishes, soups, and more. Having pre-cooked protein on hand means a real meal is always thirty minutes away.