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Meal Plan 71 mixes quick weeknight dinners and make-ahead lunches easier! These recipes are loaded with lean proteins, seasonal veggies, and budget-friendly staples that make leftovers taste amazing.

Scroll to the bottom to see how we easily turned out leftovers into another meal idea! It helps to stretch your food budget by eating at home all week.

These Weekly Meal Plans save dinnertime at my house each week! If you missed any of our meal plans, make sure to check out Meal Plan 70, Meal Plan 69 and Meal Plan 68.

A collage of six dishes—Beef Fried Rice, Instant Pot Chicken Breasts, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta, Carne Asada Burritos, Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps, and Key Lime Pie. Text overlay: "Weekly Meal Plan. Meal Plan 71 + Shopping List! Eating on a Dime.
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What's in this post: Meal Plan 71

Print Shopping List

Make sure to print the shopping list before heading to the store. I always shop my pantry first as these recipes are made with staple ingredients that you probably already have.

Print Shopping List

Monday – Beef Fried Rice

Enjoy a sizzling skillet of Beef Fried Rice for the perfect dish any night you crave take-out flavor without leaving home! You can even have it with a simple salad.

A plate of Beef Fried Rice with eggs, peas, and carrots is served with chopsticks. Sesame seeds, green onions, and a striped napkin rest nearby on a white marble surface.
Beef Fried Rice
Make Beef Fried Rice that is full of juicy flank steak, crisp veggies, soy-sesame sauce stir-fried with rice for a 20-minute one-pan dinner that everyone will love!
Beef Fried Rice

Tuesday – Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

This Instant Pot Chicken Breasts recipe is fast, fail-proof, and endlessly versatile and you can easily change the spices to the flavor you prefer for amazing taste. Serve it with Butter Rice and some Parmesan Roasted Zucchini for a complete meal.

Baked bbq chicken thighs on a white plate.
Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
It's ready in under 20 minutes for the best lunch and dinner staple. The chicken cooked tender, juicy, and shredded so easily!
Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

Wednesday – Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

All you need is a handful of simple ingredients to make this tasty Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta dish for a crowd-pleasing meal.

A skillet of Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta garnished with lemon slices and parsley, surrounded by a striped towel, grated cheese, chopped herbs, and lemon slices on a marble surface.
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta for a bright and garlicky dish that is ready in about 25 minutes!
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Thursday – Carne Asada Burritos

These Carne Asada Burritos are hearty and filling and perfect to serve for any occasion. This recipe is completely customizable and always a family favorite

A close-up of carne asada burritos cut in half, stacked on a plate, filled with grilled meat, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and shredded lettuce wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Carne Asada Burritos
Tender citrus-garlic marinated steak, melty cheese & zesty pico wrapped in a warm tortilla that cooks in about 15 minutes.
Carne Asada Burritos

Friday – Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps

Prepare Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps for a quick meal prep. This family-approved recipe is low-carb and utterly delicious. Serve with White Rice for a more filling meal.

A plate of Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps filled with seasoned meat, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, and sprinkled with sesame seeds, arranged in a circular pattern.
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Cook lean ground beef with simple veggies and a tasty sauce and spoon into crisp lettuce cups for the best meal idea.
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps

Breakfast – Breakfast Quesadillas

Enjoy a protein-packed breakfast with these delicious Breakfast Quesadillas, ready in about 15 minutes. Perfect for busy mornings!

A plate of Breakfast Quesadillas filled with scrambled eggs, melted cheese, and bits of bacon, served alongside a small bowl of red salsa.
Breakfast Quesadillas
Scrambled eggs, bacon, & melty cheese in a crisp tortilla makes the best protein-packed breakfast.
Breakfast Quesadillas

Dessert – Key Lime Pie

This no-fuss pie recipe is made with simple ingredients, which makes each bite full of delicious lime flavor. It’s the best dessert for all your summer gatherings!

A classic Key Lime Pie with a graham cracker crust, topped with whipped cream and lime slices. One slice is missing, with a lime and wedges nearby. A blue-and-white towel and plates with forks complete the scene.
Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Pie is creamy, bright, and bakes in about 25 minutes in a homemade graham cracker crust.
Key Lime Pie
Print Shopping List

If you are looking for away to get dinner started in less than 2 minutes, check out Lazy Day Cooking Club. These recipes are delicious, made with easy ingredients and are kid friendly.

Easy Side Dish Recipes

Ways to Use Leftovers

  • Beef Fried Rice – Use leftovers and make Stuffed Peppers for a tasty dish that the entire family will love.
  • Chicken Breast – Shred the chicken and make Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas for a quick lunch the next day.
  • Shrimp Pasta – Make a pasta bake with your leftovers by placing in a baking dish topped with mozzarella cheese for amazing flavor. Bake at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Carne Asada Burritos – We always have meat leftovers, so we like to make Taco Bell Steak Quesadilla.

If you make any of these recipes, please leave us a comment to let us know how the recipe turned out. We love to hear from you.

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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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