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Meal Plan 101 is all about making dinner easier with simple, affordable meals that work for real life. This week’s plan includes slow cooker favorites, cozy comfort food, and quick skillet dinners so you can spend less time figuring out what to cook.
These meals make great leftovers you can use for lunches the next day or for quick dinners. Scroll to the bottom to see how we turned our leftovers into another meal to stretch your grocery budget.
These Weekly Meal Plans save our readers time and money. Let us help you plan your next week’s meals with this simple plan. If you missed any meal plans, you can still grab Meal Plan 100 – Stretch Your Grocery Budget!, Meal Plan 99, Meal Plan 97, and Meal Plan 96!
This meal plan is only $72 in groceries which is about $15 per meal. See how we calculate recipe cost.
Why You’ll Love This Meal Plan
- Easy dinners already planned for you. This week’s meals take the guesswork out of what to cook so busy weeknights feel a little less stressful.
- A mix of slow cooker and quick meals. Some recipes cook while you go about your day, while others come together fast when you need dinner on the table quickly.
- Family-friendly favorites. These recipes are simple, comforting meals that both kids and adults enjoy.
- Great for leftovers. Several of these dinners make extra portions that are perfect for easy lunches the next day.
- Uses simple, affordable ingredients. Most of the recipes rely on pantry staples and budget-friendly ingredients you can easily find at the store.
Print Shopping List
Use the shopping list for this week’s meal plan to make your grocery trip quick and simple. Be sure to check your pantry first since many of these recipes use common staples you may already have on hand.
Monday – Crock Pot Sesame Beef
Crock Pot Sesame Beef lets the slow cooker do the work while you end up with tender beef coated in a rich sesame sauce that tastes better than takeout.
Estimated Cost: $21.67, $3.61 per Servings
Tuesday – Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
Skip the takeout tonight and let Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken simmer away until the sauce is perfectly tangy and sweet. A scoop of Instant Pot white rice makes it even better.
Estimated Cost: $16.41, $2.74 per Servings
Wednesday – Corn Chowder
Corn Chowder comes together rich, creamy, and packed with sweet corn flavor, making it a bowl you’ll want to savor. Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread is the perfect pair for dipping.
Estimated Cost: $9.47, $1.58 per Serving
Thursday – Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
When you’re craving something cozy and satisfying, Skillet Chicken Pot Pie always hits the spot. Dig in on that perfectly golden crust and take a bite, you’ll see why it’s such a favorite.
Estimated Cost: $9.21, $1.15 per Serving
Friday – Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi is one of those dinners that feels special but cooks faster than takeout, thanks to juicy shrimp and that irresistible lemon-garlic sauce.
Estimated Cost: $14.55, $3.64 per Servings
Breakfast – Strawberry Pancakes
Weekend mornings feel a little sweeter when Strawberry Pancakes are on the menu, especially with that dreamy cream cheese glaze drizzled on top.
Estimated Cost: $4.36, $0.55 per Servings
Dessert – Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake
If dessert dreams had a VIP pass, it would be Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake — crunchy cookies, creamy layers, and zero fuss.
Estimated Cost: $10.00, $0.83 per servings
Take the stress out of weeknight dinners with our Lazy Day Cooking Club. With quick morning prep and your slow cooker doing the work, you’ll have a hot meal ready by the end of the day.
Leftover Ideas
- Sesame Beef – Use leftover sesame beef for rice bowls or quick lettuce wraps for lunch.
- Sweet and Sour Chicken – With our leftovers we love making Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe for an easy dinner the next day.
- Corn Chowder – If you have leftovers, add in dice potatoes and make Potato Corn Chowder.
- Shrimp Scampi – Take your leftover shrimp and make these Fish Tacos Recipe for a quick lunch the next day.
Meal Plan FAQ
Start with 4–5 simple dinners that use similar ingredients and include at least one slow cooker meal.
Meal planning helps reduce food waste and prevents last-minute takeout spending.
Most families plan 4–5 dinners, leaving room for leftovers or simple meals.
Easy Side Dish Recipes
Easy Salad
Broccoli Salad Recipe
Easy Asian Dinner
Fried Wonton Recipe
Easy Side Dishes
Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
I hope this week’s meal plan helps make dinner a little easier for your family. If you try any of these recipes, come back and let us know how they turned out. We love hearing which meals become favorites in your home!
