Find nutritious, easy pregnancy recipes to nourish yourself with a little more ease. These options are high in iron, high in fiber, and easy to make ahead, you can enjoy them on your own or with a toddler.
Whether you’re looking for easy recipes to make for yourself, ones that you can share with a toddler or older child, or recipes to prep ahead, this list has my top easy pregnancy recipes. With all of the challenges that arise during pregnancy including increased needs for iron, fiber, and protein, this list is a solid place to start for nutritious options.
I tried to include recipes that don’t have pungent smells, too, if that helps—plus a few that are cooling and hydrating since I know that can also be beneficial during pregnancy.
Check out my healthy pregnancy snacks and my go-to pregnancy smoothie, too.
(You may also like Chocolate Protein Shake, Lactation Cookies, Protein Banana Muffins, and Banana Oatmeal Muffins.)
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Favorite Spinach Eggs
With a heaping pile of spinach and a super simple method, you can make these bright green Spinach Eggs in less than 10 minutes as an easy pregnancy recipe. They’re packed with protein and a great source of iron. And they are just so yummy!
Packed with spinach (and iron!), these bright green eggs are fun and delicious. You can serve them as you would scrambled eggs, or use in a breakfast burrito or egg sandwich.
Favorite Spinach Eggs (Green Eggs Recipe)
Easy Sheet Pan Eggs
Cooking eggs this way—which is similar to a frittata but cooks in less time—is an easy way to make them ahead of time and reheat them as needed. Plus, you can add a variety of toppings.
Baking a whole tray of eggs on a sheet pan to use for a holiday brunch, inside breakfast sandwiches, or just as a hands-off way to make breakfast is a total game changer. Here’s my go-to method.
Easy Sheet Pan Eggs
Favorite Coconut Chia Pudding
Transform simple ingredients into nutrition-packed Coconut Chia Pudding as an easy pregnancy recipe. It’s a perfect breakfast or snack that’s rich in protein, beneficial fats, and fiber.
I like to use canned full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and creamy texture, though you can use “light” coconut milk if that’s what you can find at your store.
Favorite Coconut Chia Pudding
Favorite Pregnancy Smoothie
This simple combination was one that I used as a base, and then varied it depending on what I had on hand. It was a favorite healthy pregnancy snack, and it’s one that I still make for myself all of these years later.
Stay nourished during pregnancy with an easy Pregnancy Smoothie. This is an easy way to get a dose of veggies, protein, healthy fats, iron, and Vitamin C–all in a really yummy (and low acid) smoothie! This is best consumed right away.
Favorite Pregnancy Smoothie
Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
It’s a great make-ahead breakfast (and special enough to serve for a family brunch) that we love to top with butter and maple syrup. It’s also delicious with a big dollop of yogurt. This is naturally sweet and a great source of fiber, too.
Combine a handful of nutritious ingredients into one seriously yummy Blueberry Baked Oatmeal. This is great to feed a crowd or to make ahead to feed your family throughout the week.
Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
These muffins are super moist, super fluffy, and a great mix of nutrients and flavors. They have a full cup of zucchini, plus whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats and are a go-to easy pregnancy recipe.
Super moist and packed with zucchini, these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins are great for breakfast or snack.
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Pasta Salad with Chicken
I love relying on my best pasta salad recipes because they are easy to put together and I love being able to make a main dish ahead of time—and still have it taste great whether it’s served right after cooking or hours later. Try this as an easy pregnancy recipe for lunch or dinner.
This simple Pasta Salad with Chicken works well anytime of the year, but the flavors are particularly great in summer. Try it for dinner, a potluck, or to meal-prep lunch.
Pasta Salad with Chicken
Easy Farro Salad
This Easy Farro Salad is a perfect make-ahead lunch option that can be prepared then stashed in the fridge. Then you can pull it out as a lunch idea for work or just whenever you need a nutritious meal or easy pregnancy recipe.
You can sub brown rice for farro, too, for a healthy pregnancy recipe. Vegans can leave out the cheese.
With a delicious blend of textures, this easy Farro Salad is a favorite side dish or vegetarian lunch. It’s easy to change up this recipe to use your favorite vegetables and herbs, and it’s a satisfying lunch for work or home.
Easy Farro Salad
Baked Sheet Pan Nachos
These Baked Sheet Pan Nachos have a tender potato base and are topped with black beans, cheese, salsa, and (optional!) spinach. They’re a total family dinner hit—and are so easy to prep ahead of time to make getting dinner on the table possible even on busy days.
These Baked Sheet Pan Nachos have a tender potato base and are topped with black beans, cheese, salsa and veggies. They’re a total family dinner hit. (You can add some of the ingredients to some of the areas—leaving the spinach off, adding more salsa or spice—to customize for everyone at the table.)
Baked Sheet Pan Nachos
Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
Learn how to make a big batch of quesadillas for the family all at the same time with these easy oven-baked Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas. They’re flavorful, straight-forward, and so delish! And they are an easy pregnancy recipe to prep ahead and eat throughout the week.
These easy quesadillas can be made with pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree, or butternut squash puree. You can also skip it and just go with beans and cheese! I make these as half moon shapes since it helps contain the mess a little when feeding these to kids.
Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
Cheeseburger Pasta
I love a one-pan dinner, and much like my Homemade Hamburger Helper, this Cheeseburger Pasta checks all the boxes for easy, satisfying, and delicious. It’s made with accessible ingredients you can easily find at the store, has a veggie right in the mix, and boasts iron and the creamiest texture.
This one-pot Cheeseburger Pasta is nutritious, delicious, and so easy to make. It’s a 30-minute way to make quick work of dinner!
Cheeseburger Pasta
Chicken and Stars Soup
I think of this as a variation on my favorite Pastina Soup and my family loves the chicken in this one. But the beauty is that it’s got such a straightforward method and fast cooking time, this is a brilliant family dinner any day of the week.
With a quick cooking time, a veggie-loaded base, and most comforting texture and flavor, this Chicken and Stars Soup is an all-time favorite family meal. It’s soothing when illness strikes and just makes for a fast and yummy meal when you need it.
Chicken and Stars Soup
Easy Baked Salmon Cakes
Learning how to make Salmon Cakes is easy—and it’s a convenient and affordable way to enjoy low-mercury fish. They can be made with pantry ingredients that are easy to keep on hand for an easy pregnancy recipe rich in calcium and omega-3 fatty acids.
These tender fish cakes make a quick and easy pantry meal when you haven’t planned ahead for dinner. Recipe updated slightly to ensure moistness in June 2021.
Easy Baked Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties)
30-Minute Vegetarian Black Bean Soup
With a load of veggies and a quick cooking method that makes it possible to make on a weeknight, this Vegetarian Black Bean Soup is healthy comfort food at its best.
You can serve this soup chunky or pureed smooth, according to what your family might prefer. There’s also a slow cooker option if that’s more your speed! Try it as a dip for little kids if they’re not into a full bowl.
30-Minute Vegetarian Black Bean Soup
Favorite Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
This Strawberry Frozen Yogurt is super easy to make, filled with nutritious ingredients, and is so darn creamy. Bonus: You don’t even need an ice cream maker to make it!
This Strawberry Frozen Yogurt is so fresh and so creamy. It does freeze firm, so plan to let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before serving.
Favorite Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
Fruit Ice Pops Recipe
We are super fans of all frozen treats over here, and it seemed high time to make one entirely from fruit. This whole fruit Ice Pops recipe is the delicious result. The ice pops take about 10 minutes to prepare and are so versatile that you can make them with almost any fruit you have. Plus, they are super refreshing!
This whole fruit Ice Pops recipe takes about 10 minutes to make and are so versatile that you can make them with almost any fruit you have. Use apple juice or coconut milk (for a little creaminess) if desired. I used the plastic ice pop sleeves and made 3. Smaller popsicle molds may result in more.
Fruit Ice Pops Recipe
How to Store Pregnancy Recipes
See the Notes under each individual recipe for specific storage information. Generally, you can store most leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days or about 6 months in the freezer.
Best Tips for Success
- Remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Try these hydrating foods for more ideas.
- If you’re having issues with nausea, small regular meals may help.
- Use dairy-free cheese, Greek yogurt, and milk as needed.
- Try more seafood for easy pregnancy meals including Salmon Nuggets and Fish Sticks.
- Top dishes with avocado, chopped tomatoes, diced cucumber, sesame seeds for crunch, or other lean proteins like chicken breast as desired.