Can you believe we've made it to Weekly Meal Plan #20?! That's a whole lot of dinners planned, grocery lists made, and hopefully a few less "what am I going to make tonight?" moments along the way!
With October in full swing, this week is all about simple dinners that hit the spot on a busy night. We've got creamy chicken and wild rice soup, better-than-takeout fried rice, a crispy tater tot casserole, chicken and zucchini casserole, and cheesy beef enchiladas to finish out the week.
If you missed last week's lineup, be sure to check out Weekly Meal Plan #19 for five more family-friendly dinner ideas.
Here's What We're Cooking
Monday: Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
We're easing into the week with a big pot of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. Tender chicken, wild rice, vegetables, and a creamy broth come together for a filling dinner that's especially tasty with crusty bread on the side.
This one takes a little longer than some of our other meals this week, so Monday is a good night to get dinner started before everyone suddenly announces they're starving!
Tuesday: Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice
Put the takeout menu away tonight! Chicken Fried Rice is loaded with chicken, rice, vegetables, eggs, and plenty of flavor, all made right at home.
Even better, it comes together quickly on the stovetop, Blackstone, or in a wok. If you have leftover cooked rice in the refrigerator, tonight's dinner just got even easier.
Wednesday: Ultimate Tater Tot Casserole
Halfway through the week calls for comfort food! Ultimate Tater Tot Casserole combines seasoned ground beef, corn, creamy mushroom sauce, cheddar cheese, and a layer of crispy tater tots on top.
It's simple, filling, and exactly the kind of dinner that disappears quickly when everyone comes to the table hungry.
Thursday: Chicken and Zucchini Casserole
Tonight's dinner puts that zucchini to good use! Chicken and Zucchini Casserole combines tender chicken and zucchini with a buttery stuffing mixture for an easy baked dinner.
Using rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut here and can save even more time on a busy Thursday night.
Friday: Easy Beef Enchiladas
Friday night = enchilada night! Easy Beef Enchiladas are filled with seasoned ground beef, topped with enchilada sauce and plenty of cheese, then baked until hot and bubbly.
Add Mexican rice, beans, chips and salsa, or your favorite toppings and you've got a fun Friday dinner without needing to head out to a restaurant.
This Week's Game Plan
Want to make the week run even smoother? Here are a few things you can knock out ahead of time.
Cook extra rice earlier in the week and refrigerate it for Tuesday's fried rice. Cold leftover rice actually works great for fried rice and saves you a step at dinnertime.
Grab a rotisserie chicken while grocery shopping. You can use it for Thursday's Chicken and Zucchini Casserole and save yourself from having to cook and shred chicken separately.
Wednesday's Tater Tot Casserole and Friday's Beef Enchiladas are also good meals to keep in mind if you like doing some prep earlier in the day.
And don’t forget the sides! Bread for Monday, egg rolls or veggies for Tuesday, a simple salad for Wednesday or Thursday, and chips and salsa for Friday will round out the week without adding much extra work.
Five More Dinners, Handled!
Twenty meal plans in and we're still answering that never-ending question: What's for dinner? Hopefully this week's lineup gives you five answers without having to stand in front of the refrigerator waiting for inspiration to strike. 😂
Use the meals in whatever order works best for your schedule, swap out the sides for your family's favorites, and come back next week when we'll do it all over again with five more dinner ideas!
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