2 Easy Lentil Recipes for Meal Prep (Southwest + Asian-Inspired Bowls)

Lentils are one of those foods I always come back to.

They’re cheap.
They’re filling.
They’re incredibly versatile.
And when seasoned well — they are actually delicious.

In this post, I’m sharing two easy lentil flavor options that start with one simple base recipe:

A Southwest-style lentil burrito bowl
An Asian-inspired lentil bowl

Both are perfect for meal prep, freezer-friendly, and budget-friendly.

The Simple Lentil Base (Start Here)

Both recipes begin the same way.

Ingredients for the Base:

2 cups dried lentils
6 cups water

Instructions:

Rinse your lentils very well.
Add lentils and water to a pot.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce to medium and simmer.
Cook for about 20 minutes, until tender.
Drain excess water.

That’s it.

From here, we divide the lentils and season them two different ways.

Flavor Option #1: Southwest Lentil Burrito Bowl

This one feels like a hearty burrito bowl — fresh, filling, and satisfying.

After draining, return half the lentils to the stove over medium heat and season with:

Salt
Garlic (powder or fresh)
Onion powder
Cumin
Chili powder
Paprika

There’s no need to overthink measurements – this is very forgiving. Taste and adjust. Or better yet, just use a taco seasoning 😉

Build Your Southwest Bowl

For each serving (about ½ cup lentils):

Top with:

Lettuce
Cheese
Corn (fresh, frozen, canned, or fire-roasted)
Avocado
Sour cream
Taco sauce

The corn really brings this together — it adds freshness, sweetness, and little bursts of texture.

This makes an easy lunch, quick dinner, or prep-ahead meal. If you need a little “more”, put this on some tortillas for lentil tacos!!

Make-Ahead Tip

If meal prepping:

Store lentils, corn, and cheese together
Keep lettuce, avocado, and sour cream separate
Add fresh toppings when ready to eat

You can also freeze the seasoned lentils flat in freezer bags.
Once frozen, you can break off exactly what you need.

Flavor Option #2: Asian-Inspired Lentil Bowl

For the second half of the lentils, return them to the stove over medium heat.

Add:

1 tablespoon soy sauce
Garlic (fresh or powdered)
Ground ginger (or fresh)
A drizzle of sesame oil

Stir to combine and let everything warm together.

The sesame oil is key — even if you only use it occasionally, it adds so much flavor.

Build Your Asian-Inspired Bowl

For each serving (½ cup lentils):

Top with:

Shredded cabbage
Shredded carrots
Green onions
Sliced cucumber (I didn’t have any on hand 😢)

Optional:

Extra soy sauce
Serve over rice to make it a complete dinner

If you’re meal prepping, you can portion everything into containers and microwave together. The heat softens the cabbage and carrots just enough to make everything blend beautifully.

To make this a dinner, just put over a portion of rice!

Why Lentils?

Lentils are:

High in protein (10 g)*
High in fiber (9 g)*
High in iron (10-15% daily requirement)*
Very affordable
Extremely versatile
Freezer friendly

And once you learn to season them well, they’re something you’ll keep coming back to.

They’re one of the easiest pantry staples to keep on hand.

You don’t need:

Soaking
Complicated prep
Expensive ingredients

Just rinse, simmer, season, and build your bowl.

If you’re trying to:

Stretch your grocery budget
Eat more plant-based meals
Add protein without high cost
Simplify lunch prep

Lentils are such a practical solution.

*estimation for 1/2 cup of cooked brown lentils

2 Easy Lentil Recipes for Meal Prep (Southwest + Asian-Inspired Bowls)