Sometimes, due to our fast-paced lives and hectic schedules, it can be challenging to find the time to cook a healthy and nourishing meal. Fortunately, meal planning is an effective way of overcoming this challenge. It provides us with the perfect opportunity to plan ahead and ensure that we can enjoy nutritious meals even when our schedule is full. However, it can be time consuming. Luckily, Nana taught me that the perfect method for meal planning is slow cooking, and I couldn’t agree more. She’s been meal planning since I was still a little kid and she has plenty of great recipes to make slow cooked oven meals for meal planning.

Why Slow-Cooked Oven Meals Perfect for Meal Planning

Slow cooking in the oven is an excellent option for meal planning, as it enables my Nana to prepare meals ahead of time with minimal effort. This cooking method allows her to multitask, freeing up her valuable time and energy for other tasks or activities. The slow cooking process also ensures that the food is cooked thoroughly and evenly, resulting in delicious meals every time.

Additionally, slow-cooked oven meals are more affordable than those cooked faster. They often use cheaper cuts of meat or less expensive ingredients that benefit from the low-and-slow cooking process. Nana recommends that utilizing everyday items found in the kitchen while slow cooking can be a great way to save even more money.

Slow-cooked oven meals are ideal for meal planning as they offer an easy way to prepare healthy, delicious meals. Not only does slow cooking require minimal effort, but it also ensures that all the flavors of the ingredients mingle together, resulting in a more flavorful dish.

Additionally, slow-cooked meals are often a healthier alternative due to the complete breakdown of food during the cooking process. This allows for all the nutrients to be released and fully absorbed by your body, making it more nutritious than other methods of cooking.

Best Slow-Cooked Oven Meals for Meal Planning

Slow cooking is an incredibly convenient and easy way for busy families to prepare delicious meals. My Nana was a master at creating scrumptious slow-cooked oven dishes, so I’m always happy to share some of her favorite recipes when it comes to meal prepping ahead of time.

Slow Cooked Oven Chicken

You can get incredibly imaginative when prepping a meal of chicken under low heat in an oven. Why not draw inspiration from some of my Nana’s well-known slow-cooked oven recipes? She makes delicious chicken noodle soup, Salsa Chicken that is full of flavor, Creamy chicken and rice with a comforting creamy sauce, teriyaki that packs a punch, and fajitas that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Her slow-cooked chicken noodle soup is absolutely mouth-watering and truly remarkable. The best part is that the initial preparation is quite simple, as you just have to put all the ingredients together and leave them in the oven to cook for 8 hours. After that, you can just sit back and relax while it slowly simmers, producing an exquisite aroma of comforting goodness.

Chicken Salsa and Chicken Fajitas

You can make delicious slow-cooked chicken salsa and fajitas in an oven for meal prepping. This is a great way to enjoy flavorful and nutritious meals throughout the week, as all you need to do is prepare your ingredients, place them in an oven-safe dish, and let it cook until the chicken is tender.

Slow Cooked Oven Turkey Chili

Consider making a batch of delicious turkey chili loaded with fresh vegetables for a healthy and nutritious meal that will surely last you through the hectic week ahead. This hearty dish is both nourishing and satisfying, providing all the essential nutrients your body needs. 

Slow Cooked Lasagna

Slow-cooked oven Lasagna is an incredibly convenient meal that requires minimal effort. With no need for constant stirring or monitoring, you can leave it to cook all day without any hassle. Assembling the dish is a breeze; simply layer your desired ingredients and let the oven do its job! Not only is this a delicious dinner option, but it also stores well in the freezer, making it perfect for quick meals on busy nights!

Baked Potatoes

Slow-cooked, baked potatoes are often the simplest way to have a great and nutritious meal for the entire week. You can prepare them in advance, place them in the oven, set them at a low temperature, and let them bake for several hours until they are tender and delicious. Once ready, you can top them with bacon, cheese, sour cream, and chives for an amazing meal that will satisfy everyone’s hunger.

Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole is an incredibly easy, delicious dish that my Nana loves to make for both meal prep and large family gatherings. All she does is take some frozen hash browns, bacon, eggs, and your favorite fresh vegetables, combine them in an oven, and set it on low. You can prepare the casserole the night before so that all you have to do in the morning is reheat the dish. This tasty breakfast option will definitely be a hit with everyone.

Delicious Swedish Meatballs

Meatballs are a versatile dish that can be served in many different ways; from the classic Italian style to slow-cooked teriyaki meatballs for meal planning, there is no shortage of delicious options. They can be made with a variety of different ingredients, such as ground beef, pork, or turkey, and they can also be served as appetizers or main dishes. Meatballs are an excellent choice for busy weeknight meals and make great leftovers too.

Vegetarian Lentil Chili

For those who are following specific dietary requirements, a vegetarian lentil chili is an ideal option to slow cook in the oven for meal prepping. This nutritious dish can be easily tailored to suit individual needs, and it allows you to plan ahead with your meals. Preparing ahead of time will save both time and money in the long run. The slow cooking process ensures that all the flavors of this delicious chili are fully developed, creating a flavorful and healthy dish that can be enjoyed throughout the week.

Meal planning is a task that requires much thought and forethought. However, by using the slow cooking method, it can be much simpler and more economical. This approach to meal preparation allows you to save time, money, and energy since you can just place all the ingredients into one pot. Additionally, slow cooking yields delicious results while also freeing up your schedule so that you can enjoy other activities.