The end of summer always seems to arrive a little too quickly. One minute you are enjoying long evenings and relaxed meals, and the next you are thinking about school schedules, packed lunches and getting dinner on the table after a busy day.
The good news? A little batch cooking now can make the back to school transition much easier.
Summer is the perfect time to prepare fresh, versatile foods in larger quantities. Grill extra vegetables, make a big batch of sauce or cook enough for tomorrow's lunch. Then turn those leftovers into quick meals once the school routine begins.
The Best Cookware for Batch Cooking and Meal Prep
Batch cooking is all about working smarter in the kitchen. By preparing larger quantities of versatile ingredients and storing them for later, you can create easy make ahead meals and simplify busy weeknights. From generous pots for one pot meals and big batches to sheet pans for easy sheet pan meals, the right tools can make batch cooking much more efficient. Add practical food storage containers to keep everything organized and ready for the week ahead.
Easy Make Ahead Meals for Busy Weeknights
Batch cooking and meal prep can work hand in hand, but they are not quite the same thing. Batch cooking is about preparing larger quantities at once, while meal prep is about planning and organizing those ingredients and meals for the days ahead.
If you are looking for ideas on how to build a more organized routine around seasonal ingredients, explore our guide to Seasonal Meal Prep.
For this back to school season, start by making a few versatile foods that can be used in different ways throughout the week. A little extra preparation while you are already cooking can make busy evenings much easier.
Try making:
- A big batch of tomato sauce for pasta and pizza
- Grilled vegetables for salads, sandwiches and grain bowls
- Cooked grains or rice for quick lunches
- Roasted chicken or other proteins for multiple meals
- Pesto, dips or dressings to add flavour to simple dishes
The key is to choose make ahead meals and ingredients that can be enjoyed in different ways.
A batch of grilled vegetables can become dinner tonight, tomorrow's lunch and a quick addition to pasta later in the week.
When time is especially tight, our 30 Minute Recipes are another easy way to get dinner on the table without sacrificing flavour.
Pack Better Lunches for School and Work
One of the easiest back to school meal prep wins is having lunch ready before the morning rush.
When you are putting away dinner, portion some of the leftovers straight into tomorrow's lunch container. Pasta, grain bowls, salads, roasted vegetables and soups can all become easy packed lunches.
The On The Go Collection is designed for meals on the move, with the Lunch Box suited to school days and the Insulated Food Jar made for foods such as soup, pasta and salads.
It is one less thing to think about on a busy school morning and a great way to make your batch cooking go further.
SHOP ON THE GO
Make the Most of the Last Days of Summer with Alpine
Before the school year gets fully underway, take advantage of those long summer evenings and cook outdoors.
The Alpine Collection is designed for cooking over an open flame, bringing Le Creuset cooking outdoors to the grill, fire pit or other open air cooking setup. The collection includes pieces for grilling, roasting, griddling and even outdoor pizza.
Make a little extra while you are outside. Grill vegetables for the week, cook enough protein for tomorrow's lunch or make a pizza night part of your last summer weekends.
It is a simple way to enjoy summer cooking while getting a head start on the busy weeks ahead.
SHOP ALPINEKeep Your Kitchen Organized for the Week Ahead
A tidy, well organized kitchen can make busy days feel a little easier. Keep batch cooked ingredients, leftovers and everyday essentials visible and within reach, so you can quickly see what you have and turn it into simple meals throughout the week. When everything has its place, there’s less searching, less stress and more time to enjoy cooking.
Explore Storage & Organization for practical kitchen essentials designed to keep your space organized and everyday cooking running smoothly.
Cook With the Best of Late Summer
Late summer often means an abundance of tomatoes, herbs, zucchini and other seasonal produce.
If you have more than you can use before school starts, summer batch cooking is a great opportunity to turn that produce into sauces and other recipes you can enjoy throughout the week.
For more inspiration, explore our Summer Recipes for ideas that make the most of seasonal ingredients.
And when you have more than you can eat or freeze, our guide to How to Can & Preserve the Season is a helpful next step for learning more about preserving seasonal ingredients.
A Little Prep Goes a Long Way
Back to school meal prep does not need to be complicated.
Before the school routine begins, choose a few favourite recipes, cook a little extra and think about how you can use the leftovers.
Grill tonight. Pack tomorrow. Prepare for the week.
With a little summer batch cooking, you can enjoy the best of the season now while making those first busy weeks of school feel just a little easier.
