This Easy Weeknight Meal Plan has something for everyone — from air fryer steak to buffalo chicken wraps to grilled salmon tacos — all on the table fast and under $80 for the whole week.

In a house with 8 kids a meal plan that covers the whole week with one grocery trip is the only way I stay sane on busy weeknights. This week has a little bit of everything — lighter meals, hearty comfort food, and a breakfast the kids will absolutely lose their minds over.

These Weekly Meal Plans are saving our readers a ton of money. If you missed any, you can still check out Meal Plan #13, Meal Plan #12 and Meal Plan #11.

Picture of the meals from this week's meal plan: Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Grilled Salmon Tacos, Homemade Cheeseburger Helper, Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Air Fryer Steak, and Oreo Pancakes.
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Why This Meal Plan Works

  • Five completely different dinners — low carb, seafood, pasta, wraps, and steak so nobody eats the same thing twice
  • Most dinners are on the table in 30 minutes or less
  • Oreo Pancakes make the weekend breakfast feel like a special treat without any extra effort
  • Leftover ideas included so nothing goes to waste and lunch is already handled

Printable Grocery List

Make sure to print this shopping list before you head to the store. It is categorized by the store so you can easily shop quick and easy. We even recommend shopping your pantry first as you may already have the ingredients.

Print Shopping List

Monday – Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Enjoy this low-carb Stuffed Zucchini Boats Recipe in minutes. It is stuffed with flavorful Italian sausage, marinara, and lots of cheese. Looking for a side to pair with this delicious dish? These Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are perfect!

Estimated Cost: $9.99, $2.50 per Servings

Four stuffed zucchini boats, filled with a mixture of ground meat, diced vegetables, and topped with melted cheese and chopped herbs, arranged on a baking tray. The dish appears colorful and appetizing, showcasing a blend of green, red, and brown ingredients.
Stuffed Zucchini Boats
The zucchini is loaded with the best blend of ground Italian sausage. Everything is topped with homemade marinara. It's heart, very simple to make, and tastes so much better than store-bought.
Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Tuesday – Grilled Salmon Tacos

Get dinner on the table in about 15 minutes with Grilled Salmon Tacos. This healthy and flavor-packed meal is delicious. This easy Microwave Brown Rice is the perfect to side with these tacos.

Estimated Cost: $24.95 Per Recipe, $6.24 Per Serving

Salmon Tacos on a plate topped with pico de gallo and diced avocados.
Grilled Salmon Tacos
Adding the slaw toppings takes these tacos the ultimate recipe. We make ours with pineapple, avocado, and more.
Grilled Salmon Tacos

Wednesday – Homemade Cheeseburger Helper

Homemade Cheeseburger Helper is better than anything you can buy in the store. Skip those box mixes and make this delicious hamburger helper recipe from scratch. Our Mango Salsa recipe is a simple side dish that goes great with it and only takes a few minutes to prepare.

Estimated Cost: $13.25, $2.21 per Serving

A white bowl filled with creamy macaroni and cheese, reminiscent of Homemade Cheeseburger Helper, garnished with chopped herbs. A fork is placed in the bowl, ready to scoop some of the pasta. A blue and white striped napkin is partially visible on the right side. Another bowl of plain macaroni is in the background.
Homemade Cheeseburger Helper
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this homemade hamburger helper. It's an easy skillet meal that's not difficult to make at all.
Homemade Hamburger Helper

Thursday – Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Make this delicious Buffalo Chicken Wraps Recipe in just 5 minutes! Lots of buffalo flavor and ranch make this wrap a hit. This Spinach Strawberry Salad goes perfectly with the buffalo chicken.

Estimated Cost: $6.67, $1.11 per Servings

A close-up of a Buffalo Chicken Wraps Recipe, filled with lettuce, cut in half and stacked on a white plate, served with carrot sticks, celery, chips, and a bowl of dipping sauce in the background.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
We always have leftover chicken cooked, making this wrap even easier. It saves me money and the ingredients are simple.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Friday – Air Fryer Steak

Air fryer steak is juicy and so flavorful. This is an easy way to cook steak and it turns out perfectly every time. Keep things simple and serve your steak with Homemade Mashed Potatoes.

Estimated Cost: $12.90 Per Recipe, $4.30 Per Serving

Three air fryer steaks topped with a dollop of herb butter are arranged on a rectangular white plate, with a Caesar salad, fork, and fresh parsley nearby on a rustic wooden table.
Air Fryer Steak
The steak is so tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. You will love how easy it is to make your favorite meats in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Steak

Breakfast – Oreo Pancakes

Have some fun with your pancakes and make Oreo Pancakes. These pancakes are great for a special breakfast or brunch. Mix things up and add Oreos to your pancakes.

Estimated Cost: $5.41, $0.23 per Servings

A stack of fluffy Oreo Pancakes with Oreo cookies inside, served on a white plate with sausage links, berries, and melon cubes, next to a blue patterned napkin and a milk bottle in the background.
Oreo Pancakes
Oreo Pancakes is taking a basic pancake batter and adding in whole Oreos or Crushed Oreos. They become the perfect stack of indulgence for breakfast.
Oreo Pancakes

Dessert – Lemon Blossoms

Lemon Blossoms makes the perfect bite-size dessert for any occasion. They are bright, full of lemon flavor, and topped with a delicious homemade lemon glaze.

Estimated Cost: $5.19, $0.11 per Servings

Mini Lemon Blossoms with white glaze are stacked on a rustic wooden platter. More glazed muffins and a halved lemon are in the background. A glass of milk and a colorful cloth add charm to the scene.
Lemon Blossoms
Starting with a cake mix, this delicious and lemony flavor treat is made of ingredients that combine easily in a medium bowl, baked in a mini muffin pan, and then topped with a wonderful glaze.
Lemon Blossoms
Print Shopping List

If you love getting dinner done before you leave for the day, make sure to check out our Lazy Day Cooking Club. Spend 2 minutes throwing dinner in the slow cooker so when you get home dinner is done.

Easy Side Dish Ideas

Ways to Use Leftovers

  • Stuffed Zucchini Boats – If you have leftover meat sauce, serve it over Easy Zucchini Noodles Recipe for another low carb option.
  • Grilled Salmon Tacos – Use you leftover diced salmon and make Smoked Salmon Dip for an afternoon snack with a side of crackers.
  • Buffalo Chicken Wraps – Dice up the leftover buffalo chicken and make Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas for a quick lunch the next day.
  • Air Fryer Steak – We love to cut the steak into small pieces and make Steak and Cheese Quesadillas or sheet pan nachos.

FAQs

Can I prep any of these recipes ahead of time?

Yes — the Lemon Blossoms are best made ahead and the buffalo chicken wraps come together in 5 minutes if you cook the chicken in advance on Sunday.

What is the fastest dinner on this plan?

The Buffalo Chicken Wraps take just 5 minutes — perfect for the busiest night of the week.

Can I swap any of the proteins?

Yes — ground turkey works in place of ground beef for Wednesday’s Cheeseburger Helper and chicken thighs can replace the salmon in Tuesday’s tacos.

We love hearing how these meal plans are working out for your family. Please leave us a comment or rate the recipe you make this week.

See How We Calculate Recipe Cost (cost per serving explained).

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

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