Brooke’s Easy Family Meal Planning Recipes #5 For 7 Days

Easy Family Meal Planning Recipes #5

Hi Friends!  Today, I’m sharing my easy family meal planning recipes and a few bonus recipes that I plan on adding to my meal prep for a full week.  In addition to meal planning family recipes (if you’re looking for other meal plans click here), I’ve also been busy picking out cabinets and floors for the new house build as things are moving fast!   With every day that passes we are getting more excited about moving into our farmhouse.  I’m still planning to share all of the details as soon as I get time to write everything out and share my pictures.  I recently shared some of my inspiration for the exterior of the house including images 12 of the most beautiful modern farmhouse exteriors.

In addition to cooking and the move, we also had our first snow day with all of the kids being out of school and we went sledding at my mom’s house.  It was so much fun!

As for our meal planning recipes this week, my theme for the week continues to be quick and easy.  I tried to pull easy recipes that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes but yet are lower in calories and still family-friendly.

About my Easy Family Meal Planning Recipes:

If there’s one thing that I learned this past year, it’s the importance of family and spending time with the people you love. I believe there’s no better way to create memories and real conversation than around the dinner table.

But as a busy mom of three, I know it can sometimes be challenging and even stressful trying to plan out what you’re cooking for dinner each week and putting together recipes. For this reason, I’m going to try and help make meal planning easy for you by sharing my weekly meal plans for dinner.

I try to meal plan at the start of each week.  Usually, I put together 7 meal planning dinner recipes for my family of 5.   Sometimes, I will add dessert, breakfast, and lunch recipes as bonus meals. I will also add suggested side dishes to the dinner recipes for added meal planning Inso.

Each week’s meal plan will have the recipe links, photos, bonus recipes, and any additional notes that I include that might be helpful to your weekly meal planning.

Skinny Suppers Cookbook:

In 2016, I wrote a cookbook, “Skinny Suppers,” and shared 125 lightened-up recipes. Many of you who follow me already have this cookbook, and you will find that I reference many of the recipes in the cookbook as part of my weekly meal plans.

If you don’t have a copy of Skinny Suppers and would like to purchase it, you can order it here. It’s a great cookbook filled with easy recipes that you and your family will love!

Our Farmer House Community:

Lastly, if you’re on Facebook, join Our Farmer House Community, where I share recipes, cooking tips, and life updates. Plus, you can share recipes and photos with the group as well.

If you wish to get on our Sunday Email List, you can subscribe here, so you never miss a meal plan, recipe, or update.

Easy Family Meal Planning Recipes Details:

All of the dinner recipes are designed to serve a family of 4-6 people. Many recipes will have enough leftovers for lunch the next day (my 17-year-old loves taking leftovers to school), or you can reheat for a second night’s meal.

Feel free to switch out the dinner recipes and pick and choose your favorites. I do my best to try and come up with various family-friendly recipes, and I balance the meals out by alternating between different proteins, including beef, pork, chicken, and seafood.

My family doesn’t eat many vegetarian recipes, but I do my best to add at least one vegetarian recipe to the weekly meal plan.

As for the bonus recipes, I try to add a few breakfast, lunch, and dessert recipes to the weekly meal plan to try and have as extras to prepare for your family. The suggested sides are listed alongside the main dinner recipe title and link.

If you see a recipe that does not have a link with the words “Skinny Suppers,” this means the recipe is in my Skinny Suppers Cookbook. If you would like to purchase a copy, you can order here.

I hope these weekly meal plans inspire you and help you meal plan for dinner each week! If you have questions or recipe suggestions, please send me a message as I would love to hear from you.

XOXO,

 

 

Monday

Kicking things off on Monday with a clean eating slow cooker meal as the first day of the week is always busy and I’m usually making up for eating a little too much over the weekend. You can make this recipe your own by adding and replacing the vegetables and legumes with the ones that you and your family enjoy.  To make this dish more hearty, you can serve it with fresh bread or add 2 cups of whole wheat pasta to the soup.

Simple Cabbage Soup

Tuesday

I’m making this Easy Enchilada Noodle Casserole.  This is a hearty casserole recipe that works well as a variation for Taco Tuesday!  I like to serve this dish with refried beans on the side (I have a great restaurant copycat recipe that will share soon) and or a leafy green salad.  

Easy Enchilada Noodle Casserole

Wednesday

On the menu for tonight’s dinner, I’m serving up Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken.  I love this recipe as it’s low in calories and easy-to-make in the slow cooker.  For a side dish option, you can serve with whole grain brown rice or my recipe for Healthy Baked Crab Rangoon.

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

Thursday

We love seafood at our house and I make fish or shrimp at least one time per week.  If you’re new to adding seafood to your weekly menu, I highly suggest starting with something easy and flavorful like my recipe for Crispy Oven Baked Shrimp.  You will love that these shrimp are baked and not fried,  but yet they still taste crunchy and delicious.  I’ve also made this recipe using my new air fryer and the shrimp cook up great in just a few minutes.   I like to serve these baked shrimp with baked potatoes or sweet potato fries and green beans.

Crispy Oven Baked Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

Friday

You made it to Friday! Celebrate with the family and recreate this easy-to-make Philly Cheesesteak Pizza that doesn’t come with all the calories of ordering pizza takeout!  This recipe combines two of our family favorites together- pizza and Philly Cheesesteak.  I like to serve this recipe alongside a leafy green salad and or a fresh fruit salad.

Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

Saturday

Having friends or family over? This Healthy Turkey and Spinach Lasagna is perfect for dinner with friends. Serve with a side salad, garlic bread, and bruschetta for a complete meal that will be enough for dinner with friends and family!

Healthy Turkey and Spinach Lasagna

Sunday

I like to serve my recipe for Healthy Oven-Baked Chicken and Waffles for brunch on Sundays after church or for brinner (breakfast for dinner) during the weeknights.  The sweetness of the waffle and the savoriness of the oven-baked chicken are a perfect combination.  You can serve with mixed greens, seasoned potatoes, or fresh fruit.

Oven-Baked Chicken and Waffles

 

Bonus Recipes:

Sweet Treat: This week I’m keeping it light, healthy, and festive for the Holidays with my recipe for a Light and Easy Red Velvet Cake.

Light and Easy Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Cake 

Smoothie of the Week: Strawberry Shake with Protein Powder.  During the week, I try to meal replace one meal per day with a protein shake or smoothie.  I like to use my favorite brand of protein powder by She Activates!  You can order here and for a limited time, it’s on sale.

Strawberry Shake with Protein Powder

Pack and Go Recipe: Creamy Avocado Tuna Salad.  This is a great clean eating recipe that’s low-carb and loaded with healthy fats and fiber.

Creamy Avocado Tuna Salad