Welp, as of this week, we’ll have made it to December. Wow. That’s 48 weeks of family dinners under your belt, most likely at home, all during an extremely stressful and uh, unusual 2020. If you are human, which I can presume you are, the burnout is getting real.
Let’s just say I stared at my blank shopping list for way too long before putting together this menu plan for the coming week.
I need to keep things simple this week, as I start to prep for the holiday season. (I’ll be doing all my shopping from small businesses online, from the comfort of my kitchen table this year, by the way.) So all of these dinner ideas are easy on prep and designed please even the pickiest of eaters in your clan. And hey, if you need to order takeout a few times, no shame in that. Local restaurants can use a little extra support right now as well.
So grab your pen and paper, or open up that AnyList app and let’s do this.
Related: What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers? 28 delicious recipes and ideas
Breakfast for dinner is always a crowd pleaser around here. Rather than just pancakes and eggs this week, I am going to whip up this Savory Herb Butter Dutch Baby from Half Baked Harvest. If you aren’t familiar with the dutch baby, it’s a super easy, delicious popover type pancake and it’s irresistible!
While I typically make a sweet, fruitier version for breakfast, the savory version is brilliant for dinner. You can top it with just veggies for a Meatless Monday meal, or use up any leftovers you may have in the fridge. Be sure to follow her advice to not open the oven and peek at your baby in the first 15 minutes! Like a soufflé’, it will fall.
Related: 6 Easy Breakfast for Dinner Recipes
My entire family adores this Skillet Chiptole Chicken Enchilada Bake from What’sGabyCooking. I love it because it is so incredibly easy to make, and is basically a one-dish meal. I suggest whipping up this three ingredient guacamole to dollop on top.
One of my kids’ favorite family meals is when we have deli sandwich night. I just set out a spread of deli meat and cheese and serve it buffet style. But this week, I was inspired by A Pinch of Healthy, and am going to make a big platter of Club Sandwiches. I’m even going to use fancy toothpicks just to blow everyone’s mind.
Sheet pan dinners are so wonderful, and since I bought way too many sweet potatoes and cranberries last week, I’m so glad I had bookmarked this recipe for Sheet Pan Chicken with Cranberries and Sweet Potatoes by A Classic Twist. I plan to use the bone-in chicken thighs I have stocked in my freezer rather than Cornish Game Hens. I really don’t think you need to serve any additional sides with this one pan meal, but if you have salad eaters at your table a little green salad will round it out nicely.
Related: 7 easy sheet pan dinners: Less time, less clean-up
Alright, so I may have also bought way more russet potatoes than I needed last week. No problem! This delicious, foolproof Ham and Potato Soup from All Recipes is coming to my rescue. This is one of those easy family dinner recipes that you will come back to over and over; it’s simple to prep, and comes together in less than an hour. It turns out amazing every single time I make it — and take my tip, adding or deleting ingredients depending on what’s in your pantry or crisper.
So yeah, another week, another meal plan. I hear you. But you can do this one. Promise.
Follow our Weekly Meal Plan Ideas for Families board on @coolmomeats on Pinterest for even more ideas!
I put these weekly meals plans together based on recipes I am actually cooking for my family, and with you in mind. If you have suggestions, tips or recommendations for recipes or other food bloggers I should check out please comment here, or shoot me a message in our Recipe Rescue group on Facebook. – Lisa
