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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: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Meal Prep Tip: Form and brown the patties up to a day ahead and keep them in the fridge, or whisk the gravy mixture the night before so all that’s left is layering the slow cooker in the morning.
Customization: Swap in ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version, or stir a splash of heavy cream into the finished gravy for a rich, stroganoff style twist.
Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Meal Prep Tip: Chop the veggies and shred the chicken a day ahead so the soup comes together fast. This one is best enjoyed fresh or within a few days in the fridge, since the cream base can separate if frozen.
Customization: Swap in turkey or diced ham for the chicken, or make it gluten free by using cornstarch and water in place of the flour.
Wednesday: Instant Pot Goulash
Meal Prep Tip: Brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic ahead of time and store in the fridge. Everything else, including the elbow noodles, goes into the pot uncooked, so dinner is truly dump and go.
Customization: Top with parmesan and fresh parsley before serving, or use a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles for a little kick.
Thursday: Skillet Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
Meal Prep Tip: Let the chicken marinate in the lemon vinaigrette overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor before you toss it in the skillet.
Customization: Swap in baby red or Yukon gold potatoes if that’s what you have on hand, or finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon for extra brightness.
Friday: Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy
Meal Prep Tip: This one comes together in about ten minutes flat, so there’s no need to prep ahead. You could chop up the chipped beef ahead of time. Just have your toast, biscuits, or grits ready when the gravy is.
Customization: Serve it over fried grits or creamy grits, hash browns, scrambled eggs or biscuits instead of toast, or add a little extra black pepper for more kick.
Dessert: Peanut Butter S’mores Cookies
Meal Prep Tip: Scoop the dough into balls and freeze ahead of time. Bake straight from the freezer, adding an extra minute or two to the bake time.
Customization: Swap the Reese’s minis for regular chocolate chips or peanut butter chips, and tuck the marshmallows toward the center of each dough ball so they stay put instead of spreading at the edges.
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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