Finding inspiration to create new menu ideas can be challenging for a lot of us. We know creating a meal plan will help us save time, money and stress.
But it can be overwhelming to come up with ideas for new meals that our family will enjoy and eat! Read on to learn more about creative meal planning ideas and 7 recipes that your family is sure to enjoy!
Check out the Weekly Meal Plans available to help you get dinner on the table for your family!
Deciding what to make for dinner every night doesn't have to be a chore. A good approach is to plan ahead and create a meal plan for the week or month in advance.
Knowing exactly what you have on hand and in your pantry by using our FREE printable pantry list guide will give you an idea of what you can make for dinner. That way when you come home from work or school, you're already prepared.
Additionally, take advantage of leftovers, mix and match recipes, and explore new cuisines—it can all add up to delicious meals with minimal effort.
Make sure you check out my popular Make Ahead Freezer Meal Plan to help you put together meals your family is going to love. Along with the Pantry List Printable, don't forget to grab the Freezer Inventory Printable.
Table of Contents
Menu Ideas
📌Assign each day of the week a different category and then plan a meal according to that category.
Whether you're cooking for two or feeding a large family, there are plenty of tasty yet budget meal planning recipes that everyone will love.
With some thoughtful planning and creativity, you can easily find meals that your family will love!
This is just an example of how I like to meal plan. You could also incorporate a "leftover meal" or even "clean out the refrigerator" night. This is something we do at least once a week or every 10 days.
- Monday - Meatless, Vegetarian or even Leftovers from the weekend.
- Tuesday - Taco Tuesday
- Wednesday - Chicken, Beef or Fish
- Thursday - Pasta or Italian Night
- Friday - Sandwiches and Soup
- Saturday - Pizza or Eat Out, Order In
- Sunday - Comfort Food Meal
How to make a Dinner Menu for Home
So how does this easy menu planning ideas printable work? How do you figure out what to make for dinner every night?
To begin with you need to choose a meal that goes along with each category listed above. Look through the recipes available here on the site for you in the Main Meal Index. Once you've selected the recipe, write out the ingredients you need to make that recipe.
Now, pick a side dish to serve with the recipe. Side dishes should include one or two veggies or maybe a tossed salad with homemade ranch salad dressing.
Don't forget to add a starch such as mashed potatoes, rice or mac and cheese to the menu! Again, check out the side dish recipes available for you here that are my family's favorites.
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
Non-Stick Baking SheetPan and Cookie Baking Tray, Heavy DutyGlass Mixing Bowl with Lids Set of 36-cup (cooked) One Touch Rice CookerExtra Thin Flexible Cutting Boards
🙋Become a Member - 50% Off Meal Plans!
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If this sounds like you, I can take you from struggling to striving with my NEW Meal Plan Membership!
This unique membership has been carefully curated to give you a new meal plan every week. Here’s what’s included:
- 7 mouthwatering dinner recipes
- 7 printable recipe cards
- 1 weekly dessert recipe with recipe card
- A complete shopping list
Just imagine…Waking up on a Monday morning knowing exactly what’s on the menu for the entire week! No more last-minute scrambles to find a recipe or resorting to takeout...again.
Sign up now and get access to the monthly plan at a discounted rate of $5.99 for the life that you are a member. That’s a 50% savings over the life of the plan!
🍽 Weekly Meal Plan Collection
Before You Begin!
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Easy Menu Ideas
Try out this amazing Crescent Roll Pizza Braid recipe! It's stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, chopped green peppers, and a generous amount of marinara sauce. Whip up this delicious crescent roll dish on those busy nights when you think you don't have time to prepare dinner.
How about enjoying some delicious Stuffed Zucchini with Beef and Mozzarella Cheese? These zucchinis are filled with savory ground beef and tomato sauce, generously topped with two types of cheeses, and then baked until perfectly bubbly. It's a mouthwatering delight!
This dish features a delightful marinade made from orange, honey, and ginger, resulting in a mouthwatering flavor. Plus, it only takes 45 minutes or less to make! The chicken and broccoli are roasted together, making it a breeze to prepare with minimal cleanup.
This 20 Minute Chicken Stir Fry is a go-to for busy weeknights, packed with tasty chicken, nutritious veggies, and a delectable sauce!
You and your family will absolutely love this delicious cheeseburger casserole recipe! It's super easy to make and will only take you 40 minutes. This mouthwatering dish is guaranteed to become a perennial favorite in your household.
Chicken Alfredo is a timeless Italian-American dish that brings pure love and comfort to dinner. Each mouthful is bursting with homemade Alfredo sauce, baked Parmesan chicken, and fettuccine pasta, all rich and creamy. This recipe is made entirely from scratch, but fear not, it's unbelievably simple and ready in just 30 minutes. Once you taste it, you'll never look back at store-bought sauces.
Enjoy a classic comfort food favorite for dinner with our delicious sloppy joes. Made with seasoned ground beef, tangy tomato sauce, and served on a toasted bun, these sloppy joes are the perfect savory meal option. Try our mouthwatering recipe tonight and indulge in a nostalgic taste sensation!
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2020 with new photos and information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
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Scarlet says
Thanks for the free printable with menu planning ideas. It will make things so much easier and cuter:)