I thought it would be fun to start a new series where I share what meals I’m planning each week! I love asking other people what they’re having for dinner because I always need new ideas. We have our tried-and-true favorites, but I’m not someone who can eat the same meals over and over again. I’m always looking to improve — especially when it comes to cooking and coming up with healthy, delicious meals for my family.
When I meal plan, I mainly focus on breakfast and dinner. For lunch, we usually rely on leftovers or something simple like PB&J or deli sandwiches. I also like to keep a few frozen meals or pre-made salads on hand for myself. Most of our breakfasts and dinners are homemade or from scratch, but I definitely keep some easy options stocked for those unpredictable days (especially when my chronic pain flares up). Frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, fries — you name it.
How I Plan My Meals
I don’t assign specific meals to specific days — I’ve learned that just doesn’t work for me. Instead, I make a list of meals for a week or two and then pick what to cook based on how I’m feeling, what sounds good, and what fits with that day’s activities.
Here’s the general process I follow each week:
- Check for leftovers.
I always start by seeing what’s in the fridge that could be repurposed. Leftover chicken might become quesadillas, or leftover mashed potatoes could top a shepherd’s pie. - Take stock of what we have.
I check the pantry, fridge, and deep freezer. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes life so much easier — I always keep staples like noodles, beans, broth, flour, and sugar on hand for quick or last-minute meals. - Browse my meal list.
I keep a running list of go-to meal ideas in my phone notes. Every so often, I’ll flip through my cookbooks or scroll Pinterest for new ideas. I also subscribe to a few food blogs that send great recipe inspiration straight to my inbox. - Make the grocery list.
Once I decide on meals, I write down what ingredients I need, start a grocery pickup order, and then do my main shopping at Aldi.
Take a Look at What I’m Cookin’
Breakfasts
- Blueberry oatmeal muffins — a recipe I’ve perfected over the years (check out the recipe here!)
- Brioche French toast
- Mini egg quiches — I usually make a full pie, but mini anything is just better, right? This is my quiche recipe here!
- Homemade cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting — I’ll be using leftover frosting I froze from baking cookies. But this will be my first time making cinnamon rolls from scratch. I found this bread machine recipe that looks so yummy and simple!
- Overnight steel-cut oats
Dinners
- Southern white beans and rice soup with cornbread — using tony chachere’s creole seasoning, this is a staple in the colder months.
- Homemade pizza
- Birria tacos with rice and sweet corn — Aldi had a marinated birria taco brisket that we tried and loved! I stocked up and froze a few for later.
- Copycat Mongolian BBQ with sirloin steak strips — this will be my first time attempting this! I’m using grass-fed strips from Costco that I think will be perfect for this recipe and I have lots of leftover cabbage and bell peppers in my freezer I can use up. This blog has so many great tips for making mongolian bbq. I’ll be using this recipe and this recipe to pull from!
- Chicken with smashed sweet potatoes and veggies — I’d love to try making this sous vide since my new Crockpot has a sous vide function. We love the smashed sweet potatoes recipe from Nesting With Grace!
- Spaghetti with garlic bread and salad — because a quick, easy meal in the rotation is always good for my sanity.
💬 I hope this new series gives you some meal ideas or inspiration to try something new in your kitchen! If you have a favorite recipe or weekly staple that your family loves, I’d love to hear it in the comments.
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