This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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 #66
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
Quiche is a really great meal to make ahead. It can be made up to three days in advance and also freezes really well. Gluten Free Option: Bake this meal crustless + sub all-purpose flour with almond flour. Spray the pan, add the liquid ingredients and bake! Pro-tip: Don’t overfill! The egg filling will rise when baking so give it some room to do so.
Quiches are great for any meal of the day! Some of our favorite quiche recipes are Broccoli Quiche, Ham and Cheese Quiche, Spinach Quiche and Bacon and Cheese Quiche.
All of them are filling, delicious, and easy to make!
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
Salsa Verde Chicken
Juicy salsa verde chicken is moist and delicious. It is simple with the perfect level of spice, for a quick and tasty dinner option!
We like to eat this chicken on top of rice. We love it with white or brown rice, Cilantro Lime Rice, Spanish Rice or Sour Cream Rice. They all go great with this chicken!
Tuesday
Crock Pot Spaghetti
We make this yummy crock pot spaghetti all the time! Buttery noodles topped with a flavorful meaty sauce—DELISH!
Arugula Salad, one of our sides of the week, pairs wonderfully with this pasta dish! We also love to serve it with Italian Bread, Cheesy Garlic Bread or Olive Garden Breadsticks. Mmmm!
wednesday
Asparagus Quiche
This simple asparagus quiche is loaded up with eggs, asparagus, and cheese. It’s terrific for a brunch spread or weeknight meal.
This dish is so fun to eat with Fall Fruit Salad or any of our Fall Salad Recipes. If you want some heartier sides, try pairing this quiche with Breakfast Potatoes or blueberry scones. Any of those options make for a delicious meal!
Thursday
Wendy’s Chili
Perfectly spiced Wendy’s Chili is famously delicious. Now you can create this popular, hearty bowl-full at home!!
And for the perfect side, try our Cornbread Casserole. It’s one of our featured sides this week and is great for Fall. One of our other favorite ways to eat this chili is in a homemade bread bowl. Either way, it’s mouth-watering good!
Weekend
French Onion Chicken Casserole
Just 10 minutes of prep time and you have a delicious creamy concoction of chicken, celery, and cheese topped with crispy fried onions!
Wondering what to serve on the side? Try our Parmesan Crusted Zucchini, Brussel Sprouts with Bacon or Roasted Green Beans. They’re all great sides for this delicious dish!
Sides of the week
Our Top Two Choices
Fresh Arugula Salad is loaded with healthy greens, juicy tomatoes, and parmesan shavings with pine nuts and creamy avocado on top!
If you’re not a fan of arugula, we have so many other great salads to choose from! Check out our Kale Salad, Strawberry Harvest Salad, 7 Layer Salad and Favorite Broccoli Salad–all of which are great for Fall!
Cornbread Casserole is sweet & gooey. It’s an elevated take on a classic boxed cornbread that will have you coming back for more!
We love all variations of cornbread this time of year! Some of our other favorite cornbread recipes are Sweet Cornbread, Buttermilk Cornbread, Cornbread Muffins, Jalapeño Cornbread and our traditional Homemade Cornbread. They all go great with chili, soups and any meat or protein.
Dessert of the WEek
Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are not just a seasonal treat. These tasty morsels are perfect for enjoying all year long!
For more PUMPKIN DESSERTS, try:
- Pumpkin Brownies
- Pumpkin Delight Dessert
- Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars
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!
