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If you are trying to get dinner on the table without the nightly scramble, 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.
These are recipes I actually cook and trust, and I have been putting these plans 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.
Looking to get ahead or need more ideas? Browse all my weekly meal plans or come say hi on my about page.
To see EACH RECIPE post, CLICK ON the PHOTO BELOW
This Week’s Tips for Success
Monday: Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Skillet
Meal Prep Tip: Grate your parmesan and chop the basil ahead of time. This one really does come together in twenty minutes. You can also brown the sausage a day early and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
Customization: Swap the mild Italian sausage for spicy if your family likes more heat, or use spinach and cheese tortellini for a little extra green.
Tuesday: Chicken Burrito Bowls
Meal Prep Tip: Season the chicken and let it marinate in the fridge overnight. It only takes a few minutes to do but it makes a big difference in flavor by the time you cook it.
Customization: Build the bowls however your family likes them best. Swap the rice for cauliflower rice, add extra black beans, or leave off the toppings nobody in your house eats anyway.
Wednesday: Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole
Meal Prep Tip: You can assemble the chicken, broccoli, and cheese sauce the night before and keep it covered in the fridge. Just wait to add the crushed crackers and butter until right before it goes in the oven so the topping stays crisp instead of going soft.
Customization: Try a Colby Jack or Monterey Jack blend instead of cheddar, or swap in cauliflower for the broccoli if that is what you have on hand.
Thursday: Oven Fried Panko Crusted Chicken Drumsticks
Meal Prep Tip: Bread the drumsticks the night before and keep them covered in the fridge, so all you have to do the next day is pop them in the oven.
Customization: Add a little cayenne or hot sauce to the egg wash for a spicier version, or use chicken thighs instead of drumsticks if that is what your family prefers.
Friday: Pasta Fagioli Soup
Meal Prep Tip: Make the soup base ahead of time, but keep the pasta separate and cook it fresh right before serving. Adding it straight to each bowl instead of the whole pot keeps it from getting soft and soaking up all the broth.
Customization: Swap the ground beef for Italian sausage for a different flavor, or throw in extra veggies like spinach or zucchini if you want to stretch it further.
Dessert: Harry Potter Butterbeer Cookies
Meal Prep Tip: Scoop the cookie dough into balls and freeze them ahead of time. Bake straight from frozen and add the frosting and caramel drizzle once the cookies have cooled completely.
Customization: Skip the caramel drizzle for a simpler cookie, or add extra butterscotch chips into the dough for even more flavor in every bite.
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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Learn More About How To…
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