Weekly Meal Plan #3: Fresh and Easy Dinners
This week’s meal plan is all about fresh summer flavors, easy prep, and dinners that do not feel too heavy when it’s hot outside.
You’ll find a mix of cold pasta salad, grilled chicken, fish tacos, slow cooker ribs, and a simple steak dinner for the end of the week. I also added a few bonus recipes to round things out, including two fresh summer sides and an easy strawberry dessert.
As always, you can follow the plan exactly or move the meals around to fit your week. Don’t forget to check out my Week #2 meal plan if you missed it.
The Daily Dinner Line-Up
1
Monday: Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Salad
The best pasta salad! Add fresh tomatoes and basil for an amazing summer side dish packed with protein.
GET THE RECIPE
2
Tuesday: Maple Dijon Grilled Chicken
Maple syrup and Dijon mustard are a match made in heaven and taste delicious on a grilled chicken breast.
GET THE RECIPE
3
Wednesday: Fish Tacos
This easy and delicious family recipe makes the perfect weeknight dinner. Fresh white fish is seasoned with fajita spices and grilled, then added to a warm corn tortilla and topped with a creamy coleslaw and your favorite toppings. So flavorful to eat and ready in minutes!
GET THE RECIPE
4
Thursday: Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs
Get ready to savor the best of summer with these tender and flavorful Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs. With a delightful blend of sweet peach preserves, honey, and tangy BBQ sauce, this easy-to-make dish will leave you amazed and craving more.
GET THE RECIPE
5
Friday: Grilled Flank Steak
Grilled to perfection, this marinated flank steak is the epitome of a delicious dinner. Its tender and juicy texture, combined with its melt-in-your-mouth flavor, make it the best ever, delivering a quick and flavorful meal that will leave you craving for more.
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6
Bonus Recipe: Cucumber Salad
Fresh, easy and so delicious! Each bite of this summer side dish is bursting with flavor of cucumbers, onions and a yummy vinegar dressing.
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7
Bonus Recipe: Watermelon and Feta Salad
A summer salad staple! It's filled with juicy watermelon, salty feta, red onion, avocado and pumpkin seeds in a tangy dressing with a little kick of spice.
GET THE RECIPE
8
Bonus Recipe: Strawberry Cream Pie
A simple summer dessert that's super fresh and fruity. Made with just six ingredients and no baking!
GET THE RECIPE
Meal Prep & Money-Saving Tips
- Extra chicken: Cook extra chicken on Monday or Tuesday for easy leftovers for lunch. Slice it up for salads, wraps, rice bowls, or even extra taco filling later in the week.
- Taco topping prep: Prep your taco toppings ahead of time so Wednesday dinner comes together quickly. Shredded lettuce, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and lime wedges can all be washed and chopped in advance. You can also make your own Pico de Gallo.
- Fridge check: Check your fridge before shopping for toppings and sides. You may already have sour cream, salsa, lettuce, cucumbers, or tortillas to use up.
- Leftover steak: Use leftover steak for an easy lunch the next day. Slice it thinly and add it to wraps, salads, sandwiches, or quesadillas.
- Steak swap: If flank steak is too pricey, swap in another grilling cut that is on sale. The meal plan is meant to be flexible, so use what works for your budget.
- Budget-friendly ribs: Country-style ribs are a good slow cooker option because they are often less expensive than other cuts of meat and still cook up tender and flavorful.
The Week 3 Swap-Out Guide
- Chicken tacos: Use chicken instead of fish if your family prefers it.
- Rib swap: Use boneless pork chops or chicken thighs instead of country-style ribs, but adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Different pasta: Use rotini, penne, bowties, or whatever short pasta you already have in the pantry for the Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Salad.
- No fresh basil: If you do not have fresh basil, use a little prepared pesto in the pasta salad for a similar flavor.
- Grilled chicken backup: If the weather does not cooperate, cook the Maple Dijon Grilled Chicken on a grill pan, in a skillet, or in the air fryer.
- Tortilla options: Use flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or lettuce wraps for the fish tacos.
- BBQ sauce shortcut: Use your favorite bottled BBQ sauce for the slow cooker ribs to keep things easy.
- No-grill steak: Cook the flank steak in a cast-iron skillet or under the broiler if you do not want to grill.
- Leftover dinner switch: Turn leftover steak, chicken, or ribs into wraps, salads, rice bowls, or quesadillas for an easy next-day meal.
Master Grocery List: Week 3 Dinners
Note: This shopping list covers all 5 main dinners. If you plan on making our weekly dessert bonuses, be sure to check those recipe links and add those baking staples to your list!
Meat and Seafood
- 8 chicken breasts (2 for Monday and 6 for Tuesday)
- 1 lb fresh white fish fillets (for Wednesday)
- 3 lbs boneless country-style ribs (for Thursday)
- 1 to 2lbs flank steak (for Friday)
Produce
- 6 tomatoes (for Monday)
- Head of garlic (for Monday, Tuesday and Friday)
- 1 bunch of fresh basil (for Monday)
- 1 package of fresh thyme (for Tuesday)
- 1 lime (for Wednesday)
- 1 package tri-color coleslaw (for Wednesday)
- 1 to 2 avocados (for Wednesday) optional
- 1 bunch of cilantro (for Wednesday) optional
- 1 onion (for Wednesday) optional
- Pico de gallo (for Wednesday) optional
Dairy
- Queso fresco (for Wednesday) optional
Pantry
- 1 package of rotini or other short pasta (for Monday)
- 1 bottle of extra virgin olive oil (for Monday)
- 1 bottle of balsamic vinegar (for Monday)
- 1 bottle of maple syrup (for Tuesday)
- 1 bottle of Dijon mustard (for Tuesday)
- 1 bottle of soy sauce (for Tuesday)
- 1 bottle of avocado oil (for Wednesday)
- 1 bottle of cilantro lime sauce (for Wednesday)
- 1 jar of peach preserves (for Thursday)
- 1 jar of honey (for Thursday)
- 1 bottle of BBQ sauce (for Thursday)
- 1 bottle of Italian dressing (for Friday)
Bakery
- 12 corn tortillas (for Wednesday)
Spices & Baking
- 1 packet fajita seasoning mix (for Wednesday)
- 1 package of brown sugar (for Thursday)
- 1 package of onion powder (for Thursday)
- 1 package of garlic salt (for Thursday)
- 1 package of paprika (for Thursday)
- Salt and pepper
Grab Your Free Printable Shopping List & Meal Plan
To make your week even easier, I’ve put together a printable PDF pack of this exact meal plan and the complete master grocery list.
Let’s chat! I want to know which of these recipes you’re most excited to try this week? Drop a comment down below and let me know how your meal prep goes! Happy cooking!
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