4 Dinners I’m Making This Week (With a Full Grocery List)

If weeknight dinners feel overwhelming lately, this is your sign to simplify.This 4-day meal plan is built around easy, comforting recipes that don’t require complicated ingredients or hours in the kitchen — just solid, reliable dinners you’ll actually want to make.

These are the meals I’m making this week, complete with a full grocery list and step-by-step instructions so you can save, shop once, and cook with less stress.

The 4-Day Meal Plan

Monday: 🍝 Baked Rigatoni

Tuesday: 🌮 Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Wednesday: 🥗 Mediterranean Chicken Bowl

Thursday: 🥦 Chinese Beef & Broccoli

This lineup balances cozy comfort food with lighter, fresher options — perfect for busy weeknights.

🛒 Full Grocery List

Meat & Protein

• Ground beef — 1 lb

• Italian sausage — 1 lb

• Flank steak — 1 lb

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts — 2½–3 lb total

Grains & Pasta

• Rigatoni pasta — 1 lb

• Rice (for bowls + beef & broccoli) — 2 cups uncooked

Canned & Jarred

• Marinara sauce — 24 oz

• Crushed tomatoes — 24 oz

• Salsa — 16 oz

• Chickpeas — 1 cup

• Kalamata olives

Dairy

• Mozzarella cheese

• Butter

• Sour cream

• Cheddar cheese

• Feta cheese

Produce

• Yellow onion — 1

• Garlic — 1 bulb

• Broccoli — 1 large head

• Ginger — 1 small piece

• Cherry tomatoes — 1 pint

• Cucumber — 1

• Red onion — 1

• Lemons — 1–2

• Fresh parsley — optional

• Red bell pepper — 1

Oils & Condiments

• Olive oil

• Peanut oil (or neutral oil)

• Soy sauce

• Dark soy sauce (optional)

• Dry sherry wine

• Chicken or beef broth

Spices & Pantry

• Italian seasoning

• Cornstarch

• Brown sugar

• Salt & black pepper

• Chili powder

• Cumin

• Garlic powder

• Onion powder

• Oregano

• Paprika

• Cayenne pepper

Toppings & Extras

• Avocado

• Lettuce

• Tomato

• Guacamole

• Tzatziki sauce

🍝 Monday: Baked Rigatoni

A cozy, classic baked pasta that’s perfect for the start of the week. This recipe makes plenty, so leftovers are almost guaranteed — and honestly, it’s even better the next day.

Ingredients

• 1 lb rigatoni pasta

• 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 24 oz marinara sauce

• 24 oz crushed tomatoes

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• ¼ tsp kosher salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• 4 Tbsp butter

• 3 cups shredded mozzarella

Instructions

1. Cook rigatoni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large pot, sauté sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic until browned (about 8–10 minutes).

3. Stir in marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add 2 Tbsp butter and stir until melted.

4. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and mix well.

5. Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish and top with mozzarella.

6. Cover and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.

7. Stir in remaining butter and let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.

🌮 Tuesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

This is a true dump-and-go dinner. The slow cooker does all the work, making taco night effortless and customizable for everyone at the table.

Ingredients

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 16 oz salsa

• ¼ cup water

• 2 tsp chili powder

• 1½ tsp cumin

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ⅛ tsp cayenne (optional)

• 8 corn tortillas

• Optional toppings: avocado, cilantro, lime, cheese

Instructions

1. Add chicken breasts, salsa, water, and all spices to the slow cooker.

2. Cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.

3. Shred chicken directly in the sauce using two forks.

4. Serve in warm tortillas and top as desired.

🥗 Wednesday: Mediterranean Chicken Bowl

This bowl is fresh, filling, and great for meal prep. Bright flavors, simple ingredients, and easy customization make it a midweek favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast

• 2 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp paprika

• Salt & pepper, to taste

• 1 cup uncooked rice

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cucumber, diced

• ½ red onion, finely chopped

• 1 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained

• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

• ½ cup Kalamata olives, sliced

• ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped

• Juice of 1 lemon

• ½ cup tzatziki sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Toss chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Marinate for 10–15 minutes.

2. Cook rice according to package instructions.

3. Heat a skillet with oil and cook chicken 5–6 minutes per side until cooked through. Let rest, then slice.

4. Assemble bowls with rice, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, chickpeas, feta, olives, and parsley.

5. Drizzle with tzatziki if using.

🥦 Thursday: Chinese Beef & Broccoli

This quick stir-fry tastes like takeout but comes together fast at home. It’s perfect for ending the week strong.

Ingredients

• 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain

• 3 cups broccoli florets

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced

• 2 Tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp dark soy sauce (optional)

• 2 Tbsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry

• ½ cup beef or chicken stock

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• 1 Tbsp cornstarch (for marinade)

• 1 Tbsp cornstarch (for sauce)

• 2 Tbsp peanut or neutral oil

• 1 cup uncooked rice

Instructions

1. Toss beef with 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp cornstarch; set aside for 10 minutes.

2. Steam broccoli with ¼ cup water for 1–2 minutes until just tender. Remove and set aside.

3. Heat oil in a skillet over high heat and sear beef in a single layer for 1–2 minutes.

4. Add garlic and ginger and stir briefly.

5. Whisk stock, remaining soy sauces, wine, brown sugar, and cornstarch.

6. Add broccoli and sauce to pan; cook until thickened. Serve over rice.

Final Thoughts

This is the kind of meal plan that actually works in real life — simple ingredients, familiar flavors, and minimal prep. Save this post, use the grocery list, and take the stress out of weeknight dinners.

If you want more weekly meal plans like this, let me know — this might be a new series 🤍