Go-To Meals

Posted at April 15, 2011

Working full time and keeping up on cooking healthy, wholesome dinner every night (not to mention lunch so your husband doesn’t eat McDonald’s) is hard. I give major props to anyone who has figured it out, because I have not. I have good weeks and bad weeks (mostly bad weeks).

One area of struggle for me is the meal plan. I’ll be better off for the week if I can plan things out and grocery shop accordingly. A tip I heard somewhere along the way is to create a list of go-to meals, pick five or six each week and keep rotating them. Sounds like a really good idea to me.

15 Go-To Meals

Easy Weeknight Meals

  1. Peanut Chicken with Brown Rice and Broccoli
  2. Rosemary Chicken Kebabs and Lemony Couscous (Every Day with Rachel Ray Magazine)
  3. Pork Chops on Top of Stuffing and Carrots
  4. Grilled Cheese and Kale Sandwiches with Tomato Soup (I often make this without the kale)
  5. Breakfast for Dinner – Eggs, Bacon, Fried (in olive oil) Potatoes
  6. Spaghetti, Side Salad and Garlic Bread
  7. Lemon Honey Chicken (from Some Enchanted Eating)
  8. Peas-and Carrots Soup with Dumplings (Every Day with Rachel Ray Magazine)
  9. Ham and Cheese Panini
  10. Stir Fry (using what’s handy-pork or chicken, lots of veggies)

Weekend (Take More Time)

  1. Chicken Enchiladas (made with a rotisserie chicken instead of grilled chicken in the winter)
  2. Homemade Pizza
  3. Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  4. Seafood Nachos
  5. Chili

What are your go-to meals? I might add yours to my list.

Like this post? Maybe you'll like these, too:

  1. What We Eat
  2. Quick and Easy Peanut Chicken Recipe
  3. Grilled Chicken Enchiladas
From the Kitchen

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  • http://www.facebook.com/paige.jewett Paige Foster Jewett

    Oh, I have another quick/easy mexi dish! Super easy enchiladas – Mix cooked ground turkey, (or whatever protein you like), with spicy refried beans or spicy bean dip, roll in tortilla, then top with green chili or salsa verde and shredded cheese, and bake.

    And one more tip – my friend cooks a ton of one type of meat on sunday, then preps all meals for the week using that one type of meat. I think I’m going to try it this week. You could use ground turkey (since it’s my fave), and make chili, tacos, lasagna (freeze unbaked if not cooking in a day or 2), poor man’s gravy (also my fave! cook onions/garlic/grnd meat of your choice, then simmer with cream of mushroom soup (or whatever flavor you like), and ladle over rice or pasta. SOOOOOO good! sometimes i get fancy and make meatballs instead of just crumbled meat.)

    I’m also starting to make enough of everything to feed a family of 27. That way there’s extra to freeze and plenty to bring leftovers for lunch.

    Can you tell this has been a big topic at my house too? Haha!

  • http://www.facebook.com/paige.jewett Paige Foster Jewett

    Love this list! I’ve been in a meal-time rut myself. One of my new fave go-to week night meals is turkey tacos. Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef (healthier, and tastes better if you ask me! I use it for EVERYTHING that calls for ground beef) Before cooking the turkey, I cook onions, diced carrots, and garlic. Then just throw the meat in with it and cook through before adding regular ol’ taco seasoning. I added the carrots on a whim one night and it is SO good. This meat combo also makes for a great nacho topping or burrito filling. I just add a little rice, refried or black beans, and corn (yes, corn), roll it up in tortillas, then bake for a crisp shell, sort of like a non-fried chimichanga, or top with salsa/taco sauce and cheese if you like it smothered.