While I’ve shared in the past that sticking with a meal plan isn’t one of my virtues, I’m going to give it an honest go for October. We’ve got a busy month coming up with three weekend soccer tournaments and a business trip for me mid-month, so hopefully having a plan in place will help alleviate some of the stress!
Two things before we get to my plan… Weekends are almost always up in the air for us until the last minute, so I’m only going to plan out our weeknights. Also, we rotate through a number of different side dishes, so I’ll just list a specific side when it makes sense and share some of our other faves apart from the main dishes after the plan.
:: Week One (9/29-10/3)
Snacks
chocolate chip coffee muffins
freezer smoothies
Dinners
grilled honey lime chicken, coconut milk rice
dinner out
one pot cilantro lime chicken w/ corn & blackbeans, leftover coconut milk rice
grilled lemon basil pork chops, lemony basil orzo pasta salad
homemade pizza night
:: Week Two (10/6-10/10)
Snacks
crunchy homemade granola bars
apple muffins
Dinners
cilantro chipotle barbecue grilled chicken thighs
Italian wedding soup, bread machine sourdough bread
leftovers (business trip)
pizza carryout (business trip)
dinner out (soccer tournament)
:: Week Three (10/13-10/17)
Snacks
no bake peanut butter bars
banana bread
Dinners
beef barbacoa burrito bowls, coconut milk rice, Mexican sweet corn cake (if I’m feeling ambitious)
leftovers
creamy tomato basil soup, grilled cheese sandwiches
4-ingredient mini chicken pot pies
dinner out (soccer tournament)
:: Week Four (10/20-10/24)
Snacks
mango bread
pumpkin bread
Dinners
homemade chicken and dumplings
zuppa toscana soup, homemade breadsticks
leftovers
walking tacos
homemade pizza night
:: Week Five (10/27-10/31)
Snacks
apples with homemade caramel sauce
chocolate-covered pumpkin pretzels
Dinners
slow cooker chili
leftovers
slow cooker cola pulled pork sliders
leftovers (Trick-or-Treat night)
dinner out (soccer tournament)
As I mentioned, we’re pretty laid back when it comes to side dishes. Usually I can throw together at least one of the sides below with whatever comes in our weekly produce box and/or what’s in my pantry — and my family is fine with that!
- 15-minute homemade biscuits
- bread machine sourdough bread
- spicy sweet potato fries
- roasted parsley and garlic potatoes
- grilled veggies in foil packets
- roasted sesame asparagus
- coconut milk rice
- rice cooker quinoa
Now it’s your turn to share… What’s on your menu this week or month? Share in the comments or leave a link to your menu plan post and you could win a Cottonelle prize package valued at $50!
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This post is brought to you by Kimberly-Clark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Tamah Collier
I have home made chicken noodle soup, chili, grilled cheese and tomato soup, pizza, chicken sandwiches and spaghetti.
Marcie
Love to use my slow cooker
MB
Definitely lots of chicken and prep ahead meals
Lisa Brown
I have burritos, quiches, chicken on the menu
Mary Beth Elderton
I made chicken broth/stock today, so this week will be chicken chili, chicken salad for sandwiches, and if the expected cool front comes through, chicken noodle soup.
Lynn R
Ground turkey, black bean and butternut squash – delish! Also corn muffins as a side.
Later in the week I am going to make lentils and then some rice stuffed peppers. I also plan to make muffins with some muffin mixes that I picked up at a great price last week – something different for breakfast when everyone is in a big hurry. Muffin and yogurt or muffin and fruit.
Amanda Sakovitz
ill be making chicken soup
Mike
Tacos, pasta with salad, hamburgers, tomato soup and sandwiches & pizza.
Lisa
I made your one-pot chicken with black beans and corn last week, with the coconut milk rice! Everyone loved the chicken but my husband stays away from corn and beans as they give him indigestion, so I froze most of the leftovers and plan to mix in some cooked ground turkey in a few weeks and try again with the newly made “chili”!
Tara Kuczykowski
Glad you liked it, Lisa! The leftover corn and beans is fantastic over scrambled eggs. A turkey chili with it sounds awesome, too!
Serena S.
tacos, spaghetti, grilled cheese sandwiches, pigs in a blanket,chili dogs
Dawn Ganey
I make spaghetti sauce in double or triple batches ahead of time & freeze it.
Carol W
Taco Soup.
jennifer
tacos, chicken parmesan and spaghetti, loaded salad, chicken and veggies!
Jamie Feldman
soups,chile,stew
Bill
Tacos is our go to meal
Janice Dukes
Lots of slow cooker meals including lasagna and chili
Jenny
This week We’re having potato soup and cheddar corn bread, breakfast for dinner, baked spaghetti, swiss steak in the crockpot, and baked chicken.
Kris I.
I am making chicken meatballs with pasta, chicken with red potatoes and sweet potatoes, and enchiladas this week!
Jessie C.
Lasagna, chicken and rice soup are on the menu this week.
Wendy
Lots and lots of stir fry.
Brittany L
Monday Crockpot cheddar broccoli soup
Tuesday Pioneer Woman Lasagna
Wednesday Tuna Casserole
Thursday Black Bean Chili
Friday Eat Out
Saturday Pioneer Woman meatloaf (his favorite!)
Sunday Leftovers
Snacks
Homemade trail mix
His favorite zucchini bread
Stephanie K
Homemade pizza, fajitas, chicken legs
Kati R
Lots of soups
Vickie Couturier
ususally corn chowder since the garden has come in good,,and steak and baked potatoes,,meatloaf and mashed potatoes,,Mexican cornbread and fried potatoes,,,green bean casserole just to name a few
Liz
chicken casserole, wild rice soup, turkey and quinoa casserole, leftovers, chili, breakfast night, tacos
JoAnna
Crock pot chicken and dumplings, pot pie, chicken wild rice soup
theresa
The last of our spaghetti squash for the season is on our menu!
Tara Kuczykowski
What’s your favorite spaghetti squash recipe, Theresa? I have one sitting on my counter, and I have no idea what to do with it. I’ve never found a recipe that I loved…
D Schmidt
My meal plan this week involves pot roast, chili and beef stew.
luda
soup,potatoes,salads
shelleyb
My menu plan doesn’t go too far out, day one boneless country style pork ribs in crock pot with bottled bbq sauce served with egg noodles, day two pizza: local grocery has good dough and it’s bogo this week