Meal planning doesn’t have to be a drag. Welcome to Easy Dinner Menu Ideas Week 1. This starts the first week of the series to help you make a dinner menu, easily, each week. The recipes will include a variety of cuisines, from main dishes to desserts with a couple of bonus recipes thrown in.
I’ve teamed up with my friends Christie, from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures, and Heather, from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, to bring you these weekly easy dinner menu ideas.
What are the bonus recipes, you ask? Anything that’s not dinner, a side dish, or dessert. Things like an appetizer, cocktail, mocktail, or just something special because there’s a holiday.
Bonus recipes could also include seasonal ideas. This week I’ve included a cute, and easy, cookie pop.
How to Menu Plan for the Week
If you can get into a routine where you menu plan one day a week, it will be easier to stick with it. Set time aside. Use the ideas in this and my future posts, along with your weekly grocery store ad and plan your dinners.
7 Steps to Meal Planning Success
Step 1: Take stock of your pantry and fridge for staples you have on hand. and like as well as items that need to be used.
Step 2: Plan your meals. Use your weekly grocery store ad to see what’s on sale. Organize groceries by meal and prep what you can in advance.
Step 3: Focus on fresh. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a healthy addition to every meal.
Step 4: Don’t forget protein. Meatless Monday is great but you still need protein.
Step 5: Love leftovers. Reheat them or look for ways to reinvent them.
Step 6: Use a weekly planner. What’s that? You don’t have a weekly planner. Well, lucky for you, there’s a printable below. Look for the Click Here to Print the Weekly Meal Planner Graphic.
Step 7: Stock up on storage containers. The will not only store leftovers but can help with storing what you prep for meals.
Easy Dinner Menu Ideas Week 1
This menu will get you through chilly winter days and nights. This week's recipes include comfort food that will warm you up but is also easy to get on the table when you get home from work.
Beef Short Ribs with Vegetables
Hearty comfort food is easy when you break out your slow cooker! Prep your veggies in advance, throw everything into the slow cooker before work, and dinner is done when you get home.
Chicken Diane
Quick, easy, and delicious, chicken Diane is perfect for busy nights. The flavorful sauce makes the dish. A little advanced prep work gets it on the table in no time.
Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
Enjoy this easy Philly cheesesteak recipe for a weekend lunch or quick weeknight dinner. Do your prep work in advance and save this dish for a day you get home late from work or kid's activities.
Twice Baked Potatoes
Twice-baked potatoes are no more difficult to make than mashed potatoes or regular baked potatoes. They just take a little more planning and prep work. Perfect as a side to any entree, especially this week's Chicken Diane.
Pear and Pecan Winter Salad
Mixed greens tossed with pomegranate arils, crumbled blue cheese, thin pears slices, and pecan halves make this salad a great side to any main dish. Pair it with this weeks Philly cheesesteak.
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Don't forget to fill the cookie jar this week! Hot Chocolate Cookies are sure to become a family favorite.
Blood Orange Date Filled Wontons
Blood Orange Date Filled Wontons are deliciously sweet and crunchy. They’re the perfect end to a delicious Asian meal; or any meal for that matter.
Bonus Recipes
Just a little something extra. This week's bonus ideas are for Valentine's Day!
Valentine Cookie Pops
Valentine cookie pops make a great after school treat but are also perfect for that class party.
Red Velvet Hot Cocoa
A rich and creamy hot cocoa made with chocolate chips, brown sugar, vanilla, and red food coloring. A delicious way to warm up.

Helpful Tools - Week 1
Here are some products you will find useful for meal prep and this week's recipes.

16" Pizza Cutter by Kitchenstar
Best Pizza Cutter: Unlike an ordinary pie slicer or wheel roller cutter, this rocking pizza cutter slices smoothly through your pizza crust without pushing aside your pizza toppings.

6 Quart Crock-Pot
6-quart Cook & Carry Oval Slow Cooker is perfect for most of your slow-cooking needs. Easily transport dishes to pot luck parties.

Rubbermaid Easy Find Vented Lids Food Storage Containers, Set of 21 (42 Pieces Total)
You're going through the trouble to menu plan so stick it by doing advance prep work. These containers help you get your menu organized in advance.

OXO Good Grips Jelly Roll 10 x 15 Inch
Ideal for jelly rolls, bars, and cookies, this baking sheet is perfect for everything from cookies to sheet pan dinners.
Radha
Monday 1st of February 2021
Love the tips! Great for planning ahead so the week is smooth. Thanks.