It’s time to start thinking about your meal plan for next week. From Long Life Noodles to a life-changing Instant Pot beef stew, we’ve got five dinners that will get you through the busy week ahead (yes, even this holiday week!). So grab a pen, make your shopping list, and stock up before the weekend’s over. And if it’s easier for you to do that from your inbox, be sure to sign up for our weekly meal plan emails.
Top: Long Life Noodles at The Woks of Life | Instant Pot Beef Stew at Pinch of Yum
Related: How I prep my family’s dinners for the week in under two hours.
Monday is Christmas and I’m guessing that if you celebrate, you already have a meal plan for the day. Otherwise, I say keep it easy, fun and — since you likely have the day off and a long weekend anyway — festive too. Since we’re nearing the start of the new year, why not go for these Long Life Noodles at The Woks of Life? You’ll probably have to hit your local Asian food store for these particular noodles and dark soy sauce, but that’s the kind of thing long weekends are good for. And once in hand, this recipe comes together in a snap.
If you ask me, the day after Christmas calls for some lighter fare, so I’ll be making up for missing #MeatlessMonday with these Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro-Garlic Cashew Sauce at Spook Fork Bacon. But even if you didn’t stuff yourself silly, these make a great, filling vegetarian (vegan!) meal. If you want to add to it — and aren’t worried about keeping it meat-free — simple roasted chicken or fish is the perfect accompaniment.
By Wednesday, if you’re not traveling on a winter break vacation, the kids will be hunkering down at home in the time between the holidays and New Year’s, which calls for making a big batch of beef stew. This life-changing Instant Pot Beef Stew at Pinch of Yum caught my eye because, well, life-changing. But even if it doesn’t quite change your life dramatically, we’re talking quick and easy. Six ingredients, 10 minutes of prep, and 40 minutes in a pressure cooker. Then heavenly goodness that makes a great dinner, fantastic lunch, and delicious leftovers. Winter break perfection.
Related: 15 (truly) 30-minute meals to save dinner on your most hectic nights.
I have a feeling that between the holiday madness, the kids being home from school, trying to squeeze in work here and there, and New Year’s on the horizon, I’ll be pooped by Thursday. A quick, but super tasty dinner like these Shrimp Quesadillas at Gimme Delicious will be just what I need. Especially since the kids will eat them without complaint: because that’s what I’ll need most.
Like the beef stew, this is another homey, winter break special that has all the feels of a long-cook meal but is super low-maintenance. Once you quickly sear the chicken in this recipe for Chicken Braised in Milk at Not Without Salt, you add everything else and let the oven do it’s thing for about an hour and a half — and then it’s dinnertime. Seriously. It’s not pretty in the end, but it’s delicious. And cozy as hell.
