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If you are trying to get dinner on the table without losing your mind, you are in the right place. Every Thursday, I drop a fresh weekly meal plan with five weeknight dinners, a dessert, and tips to help you prep ahead and make each meal your own. Looking to get ahead or need more ideas? Browse all my weekly meal plans or come say hi on my about page.
These are recipes I actually cook and trust, and I have been putting this plan together every single week for years. New here or a regular, the goal is always the same. Good food, less stress, more time for everything else.
To see EACH RECIPE post, CLICK ON the PHOTO BELOW
This Week’s Tips for Success
Monday: Hamburger Steaks with Gravy
Meal Prep Tip: Shape your patties over the weekend and store them in the fridge between layers of parchment paper. The gravy comes together fast in the same pan, so dinner stays a 20-minute deal.
Customization: Swap the brown gravy mix for a mushroom gravy if you want a little more richness. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice. Or with rice pilaf or French onion rice.
Tuesday: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Meal Prep Tip: Shred a rotisserie chicken over the weekend and keep it in the fridge. When Tuesday rolls around, you are less than 10 minutes away from dinner.
Customization: Dial back the buffalo sauce and add a little ranch right into the filling if your crew prefers a milder flavor. Blue cheese crumbles on top take it up a notch for the adults.
Wednesday: Strawberry Kale Salad
Meal Prep Tip: Wash and dry the kale ahead of time and store it in a paper-towel lined container in the fridge. Slice the strawberries the morning of so they stay fresh. Keep the dressing separate until you are ready to serve.
Customization: Add grilled chicken or shrimp to turn this into a full meal. Swap the candied walnuts for praline pecans or spiced pumpkin seeds if you have those on hand.
Thursday: Easy Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
Meal Prep Tip: Dice your potatoes the night before and store them in cold water in the fridge to keep them from browning. Drain and pat dry before adding to the pan.
Customization: Throw in some bell peppers or frozen corn for extra color and flavor. A sprinkle of shredded cheddar on top right before serving makes it even better.
Friday: Alice Springs Chicken Recipe (Outback Copycat)
Meal Prep Tip: Mix up the honey mustard marinade the night before and let the chicken soak overnight in the fridge. The longer it marinates, the more flavor you get. Cook the bacon ahead of time, too, and just warm it up when you are ready to assemble.
Customization: Chicken thighs work great here if you prefer them over breasts. You can also use your favorite store-bought honey mustard to save a step on a busy Friday night.
Dessert: Berry Cheesecake Salad
Meal Prep Tip: Make this up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Pat the berries dry before folding them in so the cheesecake mixture stays thick and creamy instead of watery.
Customization: Use whatever berries look best at the store. Peaches or sliced mango are wonderful in summer, too. For an extra layer of texture, add some graham cracker crumbles right before serving.
Each meal plan includes five dinner recipes the whole family will love, with a nice variety to keep things interesting. Add a side dish or salad, and you have a complete meal!
If you are looking for extra sweets to curb that craving, head over to try some of our tasty desserts!
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Enjoy Every Bite and Happy Cooking!
