Dinner doesn’t need to be complicated or costly. This free 7-day meal plan is designed for busy families who want to save money, reduce time spent in the kitchen, and enjoy wholesome meals the whole family will actually eat. The plan includes a shopping list, budget-friendly tips, and simple meal-prep ideas to make weeknight cooking easier.
This week’s lineup features some family favorites along with a new steak recipe tailored for summer — perfect timing for Father’s Day week and backyard dinners.
Meal Plan 113
This meal plan follows the same practical format as my weekly plans: seven satisfying dinners plus ideas for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Each plan includes straightforward meal-prep suggestions and a clear shopping list so you can spend less time deciding what to cook and more time enjoying meals with family.
Download the full plan, which includes tips and a printable shopping list, by clicking the PDF link or the image above. Below you’ll find the nightly menu and helpful suggestions you can use right away.
Dinner Recipes
- Sunday: Instant Pot Ribs served with Bacon Ranch Potato Salad and Homemade Peach Cobbler
- Monday: Grilled Flank Steak with Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
- Tuesday: Vegetarian Fajitas with Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Wednesday: Buffalo Chicken Casserole
- Thursday: Shrimp Stir-Fry using leftover rice (see meal-prep tips)
- Friday: Margherita-style Tomato Pizza with a simple tossed salad and homemade ranch dressing
- Saturday: Shake-and-Bake Chicken with Oven-Roasted Red Potatoes
Breakfast Ideas
- Dutch Oven or Whole Wheat Dutch Baby Pancake for a quick family-style breakfast
- Overnight Oats prepared the night before for an easy grab-and-go option
- Sausage Gravy served over homemade biscuits for a comforting weekend meal
Lunch Ideas
- Turkey Club Wraps — portable and kid-friendly
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad — hearty and vegetarian
- Rice Bowls made with leftover steak or fajita vegetables for a fast midday meal
Snack & Treats
- Homemade No-Churn Ice Cream — simple and customizable
- Peach Crisp — a seasonal dessert that uses fresh or frozen fruit
- Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread — a great way to use summer zucchini and make a snack that lasts
Tips for this Week’s Meal Plan
- Sunday: Cook the full package of bacon and reserve half for the buffalo chicken casserole later in the week.
- Monday morning: Place the steak and vegetables in the marinade early so they’re ready to grill after work.
- Tuesday: Make a double batch of rice. Take out half before adding cilantro and lime; save that plain portion for Thursday’s shrimp stir-fry.
- Wednesday: Whip up a batch of ranch dressing to use on the salad and to drizzle over the casserole for extra flavor.
- Money-saving tips:
- Choose red potatoes — they work across multiple recipes like roasted potatoes, potato salad, and the casserole to avoid waste.
- Buy bell peppers in bulk and use them for fajitas, kabobs, and stir-fry to stretch ingredients across meals.
- Swap vegetables where it makes sense: if you have extra kabob veggies, use zucchini or yellow squash in the shrimp stir-fry instead of broccoli.
Printable Meal Plan
Click HERE to access a printable version of the meal plan, complete with a shopping list and time- and money-saving tips to help you simplify the week.