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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 #5
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
Many people love savory salsa, but have you tried sweet salsa?! Our Strawberry Salsa on the meal plan this week can be served with the Chicken Quesadillas, but also tastes amazing with homemade Cinnamon Chips!
Other ways to serve the salsa is with tacos or on top of grilled chicken or fish. Other fruity salsas you might want to try are our Mango Salsa and our Peach Salsa!
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
Chicken Quesadillas
These easy, cheesy Chicken Quesadillas are a crowd favorite. They are not only filled with cheese and chicken, but a delicious homemade sauce that makes these quesadillas so good.
If you want to switch up the cheese and chicken version, try using a different meat like our favorite sweet pork, carne asada, or carnitas!
Tuesday
Chicken and Asparagus Pasta
This cheesy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta is one the whole family will love. It’s flavorful and filled with everyone’s favorite ingredients!!
While you’re shopping for asparagus to use in this pasta, you could grab an extra bunch to make grilled asparagus later in the week to go with Dr. Pepper Ribs!
Wednesday
Favorite Eggs & Potatoes
Delicious Eggs & Potatoes are made in the skillet and finished in the oven. This delicious breakfast recipe is perfect any morning or special day.
If you want a savory side to accompany the eggs and potatoes, add bacon to your shopping list this week and make bacon in the oven! Or, for a sweet side, try some fresh fruit in an Easy Fruit Salad!
Thursday
Veggie Panini
Even without meat, this veggie panini is a delicious hot sandwich filled with cheese, tomato, avocado, spinach and more.
We love to serve these with fruit or a yummy salad.
Weekend
Dr. Pepper Ribs
Pork ribs cooked in Dr. Pepper, grilled to perfection, and smothered in BBQ Sauce. These Dr. Pepper ribs are fall off the bone delicious!
Baked Beans (one of the sides for this week) are a must with these ribs! Or, you could add an extra bunch of asparagus to your grocery list and make some delicious grilled or oven roasted asparagus.
Sides of the week
Our top two choices
You can’t go a summer without eating this sweet and spicy Strawberry Salsa! The flavors are so unique. You can even serve with fish, tacos, or any Mexican dish. It pairs perfectly with the Chicken Quesadilla on the menu for this week!
Tip: Any leftovers you have after quesadillas can be used up with some homemade cinnamon chips!
Homemade Baked Beans are a must-have at all of our BBQ’s. It’s such a simple and easy recipe, requires only FIVE ingredients, and cooks in the crock pot. Everyone who tries it agrees it’s the best baked beans recipe.
dessert of the week
Easy Strawberry Shortcake
One of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make! This easy strawberry shortcake recipe takes minutes to make and is sweet and tasty.
For more strawberry 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!
