Easy Dinner Menu Ideas

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.

Capicola & Roasted Veggie Pizza

Photo Credit: www.akitchenhoorsadventures.com

Capicola & Roasted Veggie Pizza boasts bold flavors from the roasted veggies and spicy ham. Paired with delicious cheese and crispy pizza crust this is one recipe your family will love.

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

Photo Credit: www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com

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.