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Save yourself some time, money and stress by using this FREE Meal Plan that is full of amazing recipes. Each plan includes 5 dinner ideas, 2 side dishes, 1 dessert and a shopping list making meal planning easier than ever!!
WEEKLY MEAL PLAN #46
Each week, I share with you a FREE meal plan that consists of 5 dinner ideas (Monday-Thursday plus one Weekend meal), 2 side dishes, and 1 dessert!
Included is a grocery list with EVERY ingredient you need for all the items on the meal plan.
This is meant to help simplify menu planning, shopping, and cooking so you can more easily enjoy meals with your family throughout the week!
TIP OF THE WEEK
Asian Honey Garlic Chicken deserves a big thumbs up!! We recommend using chicken thighs (with or without skin) for a juicy and flavorful meal.
However, here are a few fun variations: grill the meat, cook in the crockpot, use chicken breasts cut into cubes for more of a chicken nugget dish, use chicken wings for more of an appetizer.
Also, if you love some extra sauce like me, don’t forget to double the sauce!
Memorial Day is coming up! Get a head start on your holiday spread with our Memorial Day Recipes. And don’t forget the Memorial Day Desserts too!
BENEFITS OF MEAL PLANNING
There’s nothing worse than the dread every time a family members asks, “What’s for dinner??” And your answer is “I have no clue.” Having a meal plan for the week eliminates that completely, which is the number one benefit in my book!
Besides having a game plan in place, there are several other benefits of meal planning, including:
- Cost: When you have a plan set in place, and a specific list of groceries, you eliminate cost wasted on impulse items or produce that never gets used.
- Decrease Waste: No wasted money, and no wasted food! Having a set grocery list will help to avoid both of those issues.
- Variety: Our meal plans specifically include a lot of variety, with Mexican, Italian, Breakfast for Dinner, and so much more! You can expose your family’s palates to all kinds of meals.
- No Indecision: Did you know there’s such thing as “indecision fatigue”? The idea is that when you can’t make a decision on something (like what to make for dinner) it actually makes you mentally fatigued. When dinners are already planned out, though, you avoid indecision completely!
- Health: When you plan for/anticipate making well-rounded meals, you’re much more likely to actually make them rather than defaulting to convenient boxed meals, or unhealthy fast food!
As you can see, there are so many benefits to meal planning!
And if you want to create your own menu, be sure to check out all our recipes and visit our recipe pages, including: Main Dish, Side Dishes, Desserts, Appetizers and Breakfast!
Monday
MEXICAN CHICKEN
Mexican chicken is topped with salsa and cheese for a tasty quick meal. It takes chicken to the next spice level!
We prefer to use our Homemade Salsa when making this dish! Make sure you serve it with some Tortilla Chips on the side (we prefer the homemade version of those, too).
Tuesday
SAUSAGE PENNE PASTA
Savory creamy Sausage Penne Pasta is quick, easy, and on the table in no time! It’s cheesy and sure to be a family favorite!!
If you don’t have penne on hand, this recipe is almost identical to our Italian Pasta Salad with bowtie pasta. Either go great with our Cheesy Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad.
wednesday
biscuits and gravy casserole
A casserole version of a classic breakfast dish!! This Biscuits and Gravy Casserole is simple and perfect for weekend mornings and holidays – especially if you’re feeding a crowd!
Breakfast sides are just as important as the main dish! This week on the meal plan we show you how to make Bacon in the Oven. While you’re at it, whip up a light and fresh side dish like Fruit Salad.
Thursday
Asian Honey Garlic Chicken
Asian Honey Garlic Chicken can be baked or grilled. It’s bursting with Oriental flavor, and requires just a few ingredients!
The Chinese Pasta Salad on the plan for this week is a light and refreshing side dish that pairs perfectly with this savory chicken!
Weekend
crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots
Tender, savory Crock Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots takes 15 minutes to prep and tastes absolutely amazing. It all cooks together in the crock pot for an easy and impressive dish.
I love this recipe because the main entree and sides are all cooked together! It gives me extra time to make some homemade Dinner Rolls if I want to.
Sides of the week
Our Top Two Choices
Chinese Pasta Salad is filled with lettuce, pasta noodles, chicken, fried wontons, and more, all tossed in a delicious homemade dressing.
It’s a great side for the Asian Honey Garlic Chicken on the plan this week, but it’s also filling enough to eat as a main dish on its own!
Bacon in the Oven is SO easy, leaves no mess, and is perfectly crisp every time. Once you try oven-baked bacon, you’ll never go back!
With a family of 8, this is the ONLY way we cook bacon. Whether we’re using it for breakfast or to chop up and use in a recipe, like Breakfast Tacos or Potato Bacon Soup, this is our method fo choice.
Dessert of the WEek
Strawberry Sheet Cake
Sheet cakes are one of the best ways to feed a crowd! This strawberry sheet cake is especially tasty made with fresh pureed strawberries and topped with an amazing homemade strawberry frosting!
For more sheet cake recipes, try:
Download the Meal Plan!
Click the link below to download this week’s FREE Meal Plan!
And remember – if you want to create your own menu, be sure to check out all our recipes and visit our recipe pages, including: Main Dish, Side Dishes, Desserts, Appetizers and Breakfast!
Click HEre to Download the pdf!
