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Home » Japanese-Style Meal Prep

Japanese Meal Prep Recipes

Skip the repetitive daily prep and welcome Tsukurioki (作り置き) and Jobisai (常備菜)—Japanese way to prep ahead!

In Japan, jobisai refers to staple side dishes kept on hand, while tsukurioki means dishes prepared in advance.

The goal isn’t packing identical full meals into five separate containers—it’s about making a variety of versatile, make-ahead side dishes and proteins over the weekend so you can easily mix and match family dinners or fresh bento boxes all week long.

Batch cook on Sunday, eat effortlessly all week! Try staples like easy niku miso, tamagoyaki , teriyaki salmon, and easy carrot salad.

A ceramic dish containing Hijiki Seaweed Salad. A ceramic dish containing Hijiki Seaweed Salad.
Try this!
Hijiki Seaweed Salad (Video)ひじきの煮物

Reader Favorites

All Japanese-Style Meal Prep Recipes

  • A white oval ceramic plate containing stir fry miso eggplant garnished with scallion.
    Easy
    Miso Eggplant Stir-Fryナスの味噌炒め
    65
    20 minutes
  • A plate of sautéed bean sprouts, prepared as a flavorful Bean Sprout Salad and garnished with chopped green onions, is served with wooden chopsticks on a white plate, set atop a green cloth.
    Bean Sprout Salad もやしのナムル
    56
    7 minutes
  • a large bowl containing shrimp and wonton soup along with the condiments.
    Wonton Soup (Video) ワンタンスープ
    95
    40 minutes
  • Asian Coleslaw with Sesame Dressing—colorful slaw with shredded red and green cabbage, carrots, and cilantro on a white plate with blue designs, served with gold utensils on the side.
    Asian Coleslaw with Sesame Dressing
    178
    30 minutes
  • Thin slices of pickled daikon radish garnished with red chili peppers, arranged neatly in a blue-striped bowl set on a dark cloth napkin, make a vibrant and flavorful side dish.
    Pickled Daikon 大根の漬物
    117
    10 minutes
  • A bowl of steamed white rice topped with sliced miso chicken, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions. Another similar bowl and a pair of chopsticks are nearby on a light-colored surface.
    Miso Chicken 鶏肉の甘辛味噌焼き
    126
    25 minutes
  • A white plate filled with pan-fried dumplings from a classic gyoza recipe, some with crispy golden bottoms, sits next to a small bowl of dipping sauce and a pair of wooden chopsticks.
    Gyoza (Video) 餃子
    505
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • A loaf of Brown Butter Banana Bread with chocolate chips, topped with sliced bananas, sits on parchment paper. Three slices are cut, and a knife rests nearby. A cup of coffee and stacked plates are in the background.
    Brown Butter Banana Bread
    8
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Build-Your-Own Japanese Meal Prep Bowls with rice and varied toppings including salmon, crispy tofu, karaage chicken, and vegetables, served on a marble surface.
    Build-Your-Own Japanese Meal Prep Bowls
    17
    3 hours
  • A bowl of Simmered Potato and Chicken with savory sauce, garnished with fresh snap peas, sits on a wooden tray next to chopsticks and a glass of iced tea.
    Simmered Potato and Chicken
    6
    35 minutes
  • Five slices of Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese Dashi Rolled Omelette) are neatly arranged on a white oval plate, accompanied by a small mound of grated daikon radish. Chopsticks rest beside the plate on a wooden table.
    Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese Dashi Rolled Omelette) だし巻き玉子
    287
    15 minutes
  • A bowl of bok choy and tofu stir-fry with assorted mushrooms in a light brown sauce, served in a decorative dish on a wooden tray, accompanied by chopsticks and a cup of tea.
    Easy
    Bok Choy and Tofu Stir-Fry (Video)
    2
    20 minutes
  • Glass containers filled with chopped napa cabbage, some with lids on and some open, are arranged on a white surface—ideal for Japanese hot pot meal prep. A metal pot with a glass lid is partially visible in the upper right corner.
    Japanese Hot Pot Meal Prep (Video)
    40 minutes
  • Four ramen eggs, halved to reveal their soft, orange yolks, are arranged on a white scalloped plate atop a patterned napkin, with chopsticks nearby—perfectly showcasing these classic ramen eggs.
    Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago) (Video) 味付け玉子
    557
    15 minutes
  • A baked casserole dish filled with cheesy, golden-brown lasagna inspired by Yaki Keema Curry, topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with chopped fresh parsley, set on a rustic wooden table.
    Yaki Keema Curry (Japanese Baked Curry with Egg & Cheese) (Video)
    5
    30 minutes
  • A bowl of soboro don (ground chicken bowl) with scrambled eggs, green peas, and pickled ginger arranged in sections, served on a wooden table with a bowl of miso soup and chopsticks beside it.
    Soboro Don (Ground Chicken Bowl) そぼろ丼
    161
    30 minutes
  • A plate of Beef and Gobo Stir Fry garnished with sesame seeds sits on a wooden table, accompanied by a bowl of white rice, a cup of tea, chopsticks, and a small salad.
    Easy
    Beef and Gobo Stir-Fry
    3
    15 minutes
  • A blue and white patterned bowl filled with simmered kabocha squash pieces, topped with thinly sliced fresh ginger, sits on a dark textured surface with chopsticks and a ceramic container nearby.
    Japanese Simmered Kabocha かぼちゃの煮物
    137
    45 minutes
  • A white ceramic plate containing Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese cabbage pancake topped with okonomi sauce, Kewpie mayo, and bonito flakes.
    Okonomiyaki Recipe (Video) お好み焼き
    726
    40 minutes
  • A white plate containing Baked Chicken Katsu (Japanese Chicken Cutlets) and shredded cabbage salad.
    Baked Chicken Katsu 揚げないチキンカツ
    225
    1 hour
  • A white plate containing Honey Gochujang Chicken sprinkled with sesame chicken served on green salad.
    Easy
    Honey Gochujang Chicken (Video)
    17
    20 minutes
  • A large shallow bowl containing multi-grain rice and Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry.
    Easy
    Chicken Bok Choy Stir-Fry (Video)
    20
    20 minutes
  • A round red bowl containing Simmered Shiitake Mushrooms (Fukumeni) garnished with green leaves.
    Simmered Shiitake Mushrooms (Fukumeni) 椎茸の含め煮
    4
    25 minutes
  • A bowl containing Chicken Teriyaki glazed with homemade teriyaki sauce on the bed of steamed rice.
    Easy
    Chicken Teriyaki (Video) チキン照り焼き
    394
    20 minutes
  • A round bowl containing Niku Miso, a savory Japanese ground pork dish seasoned with miso, mirin, and aromatics.
    Easy
    Easy Niku Miso (Video)
    11
    15 minutes
  • White scalloped plates containing negiyaki, a savory Japanese scallion pancake.
    Negiyaki (Japanese Scallion Pancake) (Video) ねぎ焼き
    7
    25 minutes
  • Shio Koji Chicken on a oval plate.
    Shio Koji Chicken 塩麹チキン
    54
    1 hour
  • A glass picking jar containing my favorite and go-to Japanese pickles made with colorful vegetables seasoned with salt, kombu, and sugar.
    Asazuke (Japanese Lightly Pickled Vegetables) 浅漬け
    14
    15 minutes
  • An oval Japanese plate containing Japanese rolled omelette, Tamagoyaki, placed over a bamboo leaf.
    Classic Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)(Video) 卵焼き
    12
    15 minutes
  • A black bowl containing Namasu (Japanese Daikon and Carrot Salad).
    Namasu (Daikon and Carrot Salad) 紅白なます
    49
    15 minutes
  • A Japanese ceramic bowl containing simmered chicken and vegetables.
    Chikuzenni (Nishime) – Simmered Chicken and Vegetables 筑前煮
    52
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • A white ceramic bowl containing Instant Pot Short Ribs with daikon and carrots pressure cooked in a savory sauce.
    Instant Pot Short Ribs (Video) 牛バラ肉と大根煮
    120
    1 hour 10 minutes
  • Japanese spinach salad dressed in sesame sauce served in a bowl
    Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing (Gomaae) (Video) 胡麻和え
    254
    15 minutes
  • A white bowl containing Easy Chrysanthemum Salad.
    Chrysanthemum Greens Salad 春菊のナムル
    9
    10 minutes
  • A rice bowl containing steamed rice sprinkled with furikake rice seasoning.
    Furikake (Japanese Rice Seasoning) ふりかけ
    228
    15 minutes
  • A white square plate containing Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Noodles)
    Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Noodles) (Video)
    70
    45 minutes
  • A blue and white Japanese plate containing Bulgogi (Korean grilled beef).
    Bulgogi (Korean Grilled Beef) プルコギ
    96
    50 minutes
  • A taquoise bowl containing teriyaki tofu and broccoli over steamed rice.
    Pan-Fried Teriyaki Tofu Bowl 照り焼き豆腐丼
    20
    1 hour
  • A white ceramic containing Kabocha Pork Stir Fry.
    Kabocha Pork Stir-Fry (Video) かぼちゃのそぼろ炒め
    93
    30 minutes
  • A white plate containing Spicy Japanese Pickled Cucumbers sprinkled with white sesame seeds.
    Spicy Japanese Pickled Cucumbers ピリ辛きゅうりの浅漬け
    35
    15 minutes
  • A bizenware containing kinpira gobo, a classic Japanese side dish.
    Kinpira Gobo (Braised Burdock Root) (Video) きんぴらごぼう
    112
    30 minutes
  • A white oval plate containing Nikujaga (Japanese Meat and Potato Stew).
    Nikujaga (Japanese Meat and Potato Stew) (Video) 肉じゃが
    195
    30 minutes
  • An oval plate containing Japanese sweet rolled omelet.
    Sweet Tamagoyaki (Midnight Diner) 厚焼き玉子
    107
    30 minutes
  • Blue and white Japanese bowls containing Green bean Gomaae.
    Green Bean Gomaae (Sesame Dressing) インゲンの胡麻和え
    68
    15 minutes
  • A weck jar containing homemade salmon flakes.
    Salmon Flakes 鮭フレーク
    53
    20 minutes
  • A flower shaped ceramic containing Pickled Cucumbers and Myoga.
    Pickled Cucumbers and Myoga きゅうりとミョウガの浅漬け
    5
    10 minutes
  • A dressing is pour over Mizuna Myoga Salad in a blue Japanese bowl.
    Mizuna Myoga Salad with Ponzu Sesame Dressing 水菜とミョウガのサラダ
    15
    10 minutes
  • A ceramic bowl containing Japanese potato salad and cherry tomatoes.
    Instant Pot Potato Salad ポテトサラダ (圧力鍋)
    22
    1 hour
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