30 Minute Meal Prep
30 Minute Meal Prep is a easy American recipe that serves 5. 450 calories per serving. Recipe by Chef Jack Ovens on YouTube.
Prep: 40 min | Cook: 9 min | Total: 1 hr 4 min
Cost: $40.39 total, $8.08 per serving
Ingredients
- 1.5 heads Baby Romaine Lettuce (washed, chiffonade into thin strips)
- 200 g Cherry Tomatoes (halved or quartered)
- 3 cloves Garlic Cloves (2 for pesto, 1 grated for sauce)
- 1 tsp Capers (rinsed, roughly chopped)
- 5 g Pine Nuts (for pesto)
- 30 g Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated, for pesto)
- 2 cups Fresh Basil Leaves (loosely packed, about one bunch)
- 1 whole Lemon (juice only, seeded; use 1/2 for pesto and 1/4 for sauce)
- 5 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for pesto, chicken seasoning, and cooking)
- 0.75 cup Mayonnaise (for sauce)
- 20 g Parmesan Cheese (grated, for sauce)
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Italian Herbs (optional)
- 0.25 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional for heat)
- 1 kg Chicken Breast (boneless, skinless; butterflied and sliced into two fillets)
- 5 pieces Large Flour Tortillas (burrito‑size, for wrapping)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Cracked Black Pepper (about 10 cracks for pesto, 20 for chicken)
Instructions
Prepare Lettuce
Rinse the baby romaine heads, pat dry, then stack and chiffonade into thin strips.
Time: PT5M
Slice Tomatoes
Halve (or quarter) the cherry tomatoes according to size preference.
Time: PT3M
Make Garlic Paste for Pesto
Run two garlic cloves over a microplane to create a fine paste.
Time: PT2M
Rough‑Chop Capers
Rinse capers briefly, then roughly chop them so they blend evenly.
Time: PT1M
Blend Basil Pesto
In the blender combine pine nuts, 30 g Parmesan, garlic paste, basil leaves, juice of ½ lemon, 5 tbsp olive oil, salt and 10 cracks of black pepper. Blend on high until smooth but still thick enough to coat a spoon; scrape sides as needed and add a splash more oil if too dry.
Time: PT5M
Prepare Mayo‑Capers Sauce
In a mixing bowl combine ¾ cup mayonnaise, the grated garlic clove, 20 g grated Parmesan, chopped capers, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, juice of ¼ lemon, salt and 20 cracks of black pepper. Mix until uniform.
Time: PT4M
Season Chicken
Place the butterflied chicken breasts in a bowl. Add 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried Italian herbs, optional ¼ tsp red‑pepper flakes, 2 tsp olive oil, salt and 10 cracks black pepper. Toss until every piece is coated.
Time: PT3M
Sear Chicken
Heat a large skillet over high heat, add 2 tsp olive oil, then place the chicken fillets. Sear 3½–4 minutes per side until the interior reaches 165°F (74°C).
Time: PT9M
Temperature: high heat
Rest Chicken
Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes so juices redistribute.
Time: PT5M
Slice Chicken
Cut the rested chicken into bite‑size strips or dice, according to preference.
Time: PT3M
Dress Lettuce & Tomatoes
Place the shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes in a bowl, add about 2/3 of the mayo‑capers sauce, and toss gently with tongs or a spoon.
Time: PT2M
Combine Chicken with Pesto
Add the sliced chicken to a separate bowl, pour the basil pesto over it, and toss until every piece is lightly coated.
Time: PT3M
Assemble Wraps
Lay a tortilla flat, spread a layer of the lettuce‑tomato mixture, top with a generous portion of pesto‑chicken, then fold the sides and roll tightly.
Time: PT5M
Wrap for Storage
Wrap each completed tortilla in food‑safe paper or place in an airtight bag. Store in the refrigerator.
Time: PT2M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 450
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbohydrates
- 35 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
Dietary info: High protein, Contains nuts, Contains dairy, Contains gluten
Allergens: Dairy, Tree nuts, Gluten
Last updated: April 6, 2026






