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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 #48
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
Fruit Kabobs are such a fun side + are SO versatile!
Switch up the fruit you use based on what is in season and what you prefer. Get creative with the shape of the fruit by using cookie cutters or a melon baller. Some of the fruit will need to be treated to keep it fresh.
Pro-tip: Soak in lemon water! Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per 1 cup of water soak for 5-10 minutes. And ta-da! Fresh as can be.
Try dipping the fruit in one of our yummy dips like our Cream Cheese Fruit Dip or our Yogurt Fruit Dip. Enjoy!
BENEFITS OF MEAL PLANNING
Thereโs nothing worse than the dread every time a family members asks, โWhatโs for dinner??โ And your answer is โI have no clue.โ 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 familyโs palates to all kinds of meals.
- No Indecision: Did you know thereโs such thing as โindecision fatigueโ? The idea is that when you canโt 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, youโre 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
Chicken Taco Salad
Crunchy and fresh chicken taco salad is a weeknight dinner dream! Easy, flavorful, and a recipe that everyone will enjoy.
One of my favorite ways to serve taco salad is on top of a warm piece of Fry Bread! Top it off with Homemade Ranch or Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch.
Tuesday
Pizza Casserole
Quick and delicious Easy Pizza Casserole โ prepped in 5 minutes and only requires 5 ingredients. We call that a dinner win!
This is a great Italian style dish to serve Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad (a side of the week!) with.
wednesday
Bacon and Cheese Quiche
Bacon and cheese quiche makes the perfect hot breakfast to share with a crowd. It’s filling, savory, and full of delicious flavors.
The Fruit Kabobsโanother side of the weekโpair perfectly with this hearty quiche. If you don’t have time to make kabobs, a Fruit Salad is another great option.
Thursday
Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese
Turn one of your favorite appetizers into lunch or dinner with these Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!!
For more grilled cheese variations, try Ultimate Grilled Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese!
Weekend
chicken Divan
Easy Chicken Divan is loaded with chunks of tender chicken and broccoli and smothered in a cream sauce. It is perfect to freeze for later!
This is a whole meal on its own! But either side of the week is a great option to pair with this dish, especially the Fruit Kabobs!
Sides of the week
Our Top Two Choices
Colorful Fruit Kabobs are the best appetizer or side for any occasion! Load up your favorite fruits and get snacking.
Be sure to check out the tip of the week for ideas on serving these fruit kabobs. My favorite tip: Try dipping the fruit in one of our yummy dips like our Cream Cheese Fruit Dip or our Yogurt Fruit Dip.
Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad is light, delicious and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a new favorite!!
Dessert of the WEek
Butterscotch Brownies
Chewy butterscotch brownies have a brown sugar base and are filled with butterscotch chips. They are rich and absolutely yummy!
For more Blondies and Brownies, try:
Download the Meal Plan!
Click the link below to download this weekโs FREE Meal Plan!
And remember โ 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!