Knowing what you’re going to make for dinner each week, even if it’s just a few nights, can help you save time and money and avoid decision fatigue. This week’s plan includes a fun twist on pizza, grilled pork tenderloin, and an easy pasta dish.
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This is a new feature on Good Cheap Eats this year – free 3-day meal plans to help take some of the load off and help you enjoy meals you love all year long!
Be inspired with easy meals every week! Our free weekly meal plans include three main dish recipes, a few easy side dishes, a bread item, a breakfast idea, and a dessert.
Why not a full week? So much goes into crafting meals for the week: social events, leftovers, groceries that need using up, and your mood!
Yep, it’s okay to make what sounds good even if it’s not on the plan.
Our 3-day meal plans allow you some flexibility at the same time as adding structure and reducing decision fatigue. Not to mention they’ll save you a bundle of cash!
Be sure to read our strategies for saving money on groceries, tips for quick meal prep, swapping in ingredients, and what to do with leftovers. These strategies will serve you even if you don’t cook up these exact recipes.
This Week’s Recipes
This week’s meal plan includes 3 main dishes, 3-4 sides, a breakfast idea, and a sweet treat. This allows you freedom in the week to enjoy leftovers, go out to eat, or be spontaneous with the evening’s plan. Feel free to mix and match the recipes as they suit you best.
You can click their names to read the full posts and grab the recipes.
- Dinner 1: Burrito Pizza Recipe, Easy Vegetable Tray, Creamy Garlic Dressing with Buttermilk & Herbs
- Dinner 2: Easy Pasta with Lemon, Grated Carrot Salad
- Dinner 3: Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Peppers, Chimichurri Rice
- Breakfast: Overnight Oats with Water
- Dessert: Sorbet & Ice Cream Pie with Chocolate Ganache
Save Money on This Week’s Meals
- Shop the kitchen. Compare the shopping list with what you already have on hand. Avoid buying duplicates wherever possible. Consult our list of ingredient swaps so that you can use what you have.
- Plan frugal meals. We’ve taken care of this for you! All these recipes are budget-friendly, using typically affordable ingredients. Build the rest of your meals based on frugal ingredients and you will stretch your dollar further.
- Make a plan for leftovers. This is leftover ingredients as well as leftover prepped food. Scroll down for specific tips on what to do with the leftovers from this week.
- Shop the store with the best prices. What store you choose will make a difference in what you pay. Compare prices so you know what’s the best fit for you this week.
- Scan the sales and clearance. You can save a bundle buying a few extras of the items you regularly use when you see them on sale.
- Cook from scratch. Not only does homemade taste better, but it’s usually cheaper, too. I’ve developed recipes that make it easy to make homemade so you can save yourself more money.
- Freeze extra for later. Anytime you can freeze extra prepped food or ingredients for another time, you’re saving yourself effort as well as cash and avoiding food waste. See below for what meals can be frozen.
Here’s this week’s 3-day meal plan:
Meal Prep Tips
Many recipes in this meal plan can be made in advance. Some can even be made ahead and frozen. If you like to meal prep, know that you can prepare each of the recipes to serve later.
- Shred the cheeses for the pasta and pizza all at one time if you don’t buy them already shredded.
- Prep the dressings and spice mixes at the same time and use them throughout the week to season vegetables, meats, and other dinner recipes.
- Cook the chicken ahead of time to incorporate into your meals. If you make extra of both you can work those proteins into other dishes or freeze them for later.
- You can save more money if you cook dry beans instead of buying canned. If you do so, make a big batch and freeze them in 2-cup portions which is the equivalent of a can.
- The veggies for the salad and for dipping can be prepped up to 4 days in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge, separate from dressings.
- The following recipes can be made in advance and frozen: the pizza dough, the chicken and beans for the pizza (consider making pizza kits!), the overnight oats, and the ice cream pie. Consider making double batches of these items to freeze for a future time.
Ingredient Swaps
It happens that sometimes you don’t like an ingredient or don’t have one that’s called for in a recipe. Here are some suggestions to swaps you can consider for this week’s meals. Be sure to adjust the grocery list accordingly.
* If you don’t want chicken on your pizza or don’t have any on hand, you can use ground turkey, pork, or a plant-based grind instead.
* Use whatever beans you have on hand for the burrito pizza.
* Top the pizza with your favorite toppings if you’re not in the mood for a burrito pizza.
* If you don’t have lemons, you can use a different type of citrus in the pasta.
* Not a fan of pork? Use the same seasoning on chicken or beef.
* Can’t find a good price on peppers? Grill other veggies that are on sale.
* An ice cream pie is super versatile and can include whatever flavors of sorbet and ice cream you prefer. Use your imagination and mix and match the ones you love.
What to Do with Leftovers
Be sure to refrigerate leftovers promptly and consume them within 4 days of preparation.
- Leftover rice is delicious in soups or burrito bowls.
- Leftover veggies should be good for a few days in the fridge. Include them in salads and snacks.
- Many of the basic ingredients like cooked chicken, beans, pork, shredded cheese, and pizza dough can be frozen for another time. You can even freeze leftover pizza.
A Month of Quick & Easy Meals is a full month’s worth of meals that will help you save time and money. Skip the drive-thru and enjoy fresh and flavorful dinners for weeks.
This meal plan includes delicious salads, casseroles, crockpot meals, and grilled dinners. You’ll never be stuck for what’s for dinner!
Which recipes do you love?
Be sure to leave starred reviews on the recipes so we know what you love. This helps us build better meal plans for you! Click on the recipe name and choose the number of stars you want to award the recipe.
Show us your meals!
Be sure to snap a photo of your meals this week and share on social media with the hashtag #goodcheapeats. We love it when you share your creations with friends and family!
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