Weekly Meal Plan #2: 6 Easy Family Dinner Recipes + Shopping List

Looking for easy dinner ideas for the week? Our Weekly Meal Plan features six delicious dinners that combine comforting mains with fresh salads and sides. From takeout-inspired Orange Chicken to restaurant-quality Shrimp Scampi Pasta, this meal plan offers a variety of flavors while keeping grocery shopping simple and budget-friendly.

We’ve put these recipes to the test in our kitchen, and our community members love them—they’re a go-to choice for anyone looking for tasty, wholesome meals that turn out right every time.

Designed for a family of four, these meals are easy to prepare on busy weeknights and make excellent leftovers for lunch the next day. This plan is designed for a six-day cycle, leaving one day open each week for dining out or enjoying a meal of your choosing.

To streamline your week, you’ll find direct recipe links and a curated Week 2 Shopping List (see below) to make your grocery run quick and hassle-free.

Weekly Meal Plan 👇

Day 1: Orange Chicken + Coleslaw

Bring your favorite takeout flavors home with crispy, sweet, and tangy Orange Chicken paired with a refreshing coleslaw. The crunchy slaw balances the rich citrus glaze, making this a satisfying dinner the whole family will love.

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Menu:

• Orange Chicken (served with a cup of cooked rice) – 750 calories – 70 minutes
• Coleslaw – 200 calories – 10 minutes

Total: Approximately 950 calories per serving

Tips: I suggest cooking about 1.5 cups of jasmine rice or white rice (which yields about 5 cups when cooked) to serve with Orange Chicken.

Simple and Easy Homemade Orange Chicken | How to Make Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken is the best and easy chicken side dish or appetizer for any dinner party. Crispy fried chicken thighs are tossed in flavorful and finger-licking homemade orange sauce. The dish can be prepared in about 60 minutes. When served with a cup of cooked rice, this meal comes to around 750 kcal per serving.

Best Orange Chicken Recipe

The Best Coleslaw Recipe | Cabbage Salad

Coleslaw is a crunchy and creamy salad or side dish with tons of flavor prepared in less than 10 minutes. Each serving is about 200 kcal. Coleslaw is one of the best make-ahead recipes that can be served as topping for sliders, sandwiches, or tacos, as a side with wings, or even along with french fries.

Coleslaw Recipe

Day 2: Grilled Tandoori Chicken + Chickpea Potato Salad

This protein-packed dinner pairs smoky grilled tandoori chicken with a hearty chickpea potato salad. Packed with bold flavors and wholesome ingredients, it's perfect for a healthy weeknight meal.

Menu:

• Grilled Tandoori Chicken – 500 calories – 35 minutes
• Chickpea Potato Salad – 175 calories – 25 minutes

Total: Approximately 675 calories per serving

Grilled Tandoori Chicken - Summer Grilling Recipe

Grilled tandoori chicken is an easy-to-make, juicy, and delicious chicken dish packed full of flavors. Serve it with naan bread, any flavored rice, or your favorite salad. It is the best option for summer backyard barbecues. Each serving is about 250 kcal and takes about 30-35 mins to prepare.

Grilled Tandoori Chicken Recipe

Aloo Chana Chaat | Vegan Chickpea Potato Salad | Chatpata Aloo Chat

Potato Chickpea Salad is a sweet, spicy and tangy - all in one Indian sald recipe that can be served as a side alongside any protein. It takes about 25 mins prepare and each serving is about 175 kcal.

Potato Salad Recipe

Day 3: Shrimp Scampi Pasta + Caesar Salad

Enjoy restaurant-quality Italian flavors at home with garlicky shrimp tossed in pasta and served alongside a crisp Caesar salad. This elegant yet easy dinner comes together quickly and feels like a special occasion meal.

Menu:

• Shrimp Scampi Pasta – 875 calories – 30 minutes
• Caesar Salad – 175 calories – 10 minutes

Total: Approximately 1,050 calories per serving

Classic Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe

This garlicky, creamy and buttery, rich and classic shrimp scampi pasta will be a super hit at your dinner table. This is a perfect dish for all seafood and pasta lovers. It takes about 30 mins to prepare and is about 875 kcal per serving.

Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Best Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

Best Caesar Salad Recipe: Classic and easy-to-make salad with lettuce, crispy croutons, parmesan, and simple homemade dressing. Takes 10 minutes to prepare and is about 175 kcal per serving.

Caesar Salad Recipe

Day 4: Red Curry Chicken + Garden Salad

Creamy and aromatic Red Curry Chicken brings Thai-inspired flavors to your dinner table. Pair it with a fresh garden salad for a balanced meal that's both comforting and refreshing.

Menu:

• Red Curry Chicken (serve with ¾ cup of cooked Jasmine rice)– 650 calories – 30 minutes
• Garden Salad – 200 calories – 15 minutes

Total: Approximately 900 calories per serving

Tips: I suggest cooking about 1 cup of jasmine rice or white rice (which yields about 3 cups when cooked) to serve with Thai Red Curry Chicken.

Thai Red Curry Chicken

This Thai red curry chicken recipe tastes just like your favorite Thai restaurant’s version, and you can make it in just 30 minutes! Each serving is about 650 calories when served with ¾ cup of cooked jasmine rice.

Thai Red Curry Chicken Recipe

Garden Salad

Crisp, light and delicious, this garden salad recipe is packed with fresh and colourful veggies. It comes together in 15 minutes and pairs wonderfully with red curry chicken. Each serving is no more than 200 kcal.

Garden Salad Recipe

Day 5: Black Bean Burger + Avocado Egg Salad

This vegetarian-friendly meal is packed with protein, fiber, and flavor. A hearty black bean burger pairs beautifully with creamy avocado egg salad for a satisfying dinner.

Menu:

• Black Bean Burger – 400 calories – 40 minutes
• Avocado Egg Salad – 250 calories – 20 minutes

Total: Approximately 650 calories per serving

Best Black Bean Burger Recipe | Veggie Burger

These are the best black bean burgers. The patties are thick and hearty, not mushy, and they come together in under 30 minutes. These burgers are a fantastic vegetarian alternative to traditional meat burgers. Each serving is about 400 kcal.

Black Beam Burger Recipe

Avocado Egg Salad

Avocado Egg Salad is a quick (under 20 minutes), easy-to-make, delicious twist on a classic egg salad recipe. Packed with flavor, it is perfect for sandwiches, wraps, toasts, or even as a side with burgers. Each serving is about 250 kcal.

Avocado Egg Salad Recipe

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Day 6: Southwest Salad + Garlic Cheese Bread

Finish the week with a colorful Southwest Salad loaded with fresh vegetables and bold flavors. Warm, cheesy garlic bread makes the perfect accompaniment for a comforting and crowd-pleasing meal.

Menu:

• Southwest Salad – 575 calories – 25 minutes
• Garlic Cheese Bread – 550 calories – 30 minutes (assuming dough is ready)

Total: Approximately 1,125 calories per serving

Southwest Salad

A tasty and super easy summer dish, this Southwest Salad has all the flavors of a nice Tex-Mex mixture. Each serving is around 575 kcal and is ready in about 25 mins.

Southwest Salad Recipe

Cheese Garlic Bread | How To Make Cheesy Garlic Crack Bread Or Pull Apart Bread?

Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread is a simple, delicious, cheesy, and garlicky pull-apart bread or crack bread. This bread can be served on its own or as an accompaniment with pasta, soup, or salad. If the dough is ready, then the recipe will be ready in under 30 mins, and each serving will be about 550 kcal.

Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Weekly Meal Plan

• Includes chicken, seafood, vegetarian, and salad-based meals
• Family-friendly recipes with simple ingredients
• Great variety of flavors from Asian, Indian, Italian, and Southwestern cuisines
• Many recipes can be prepped ahead for busy weeknights
• Designed to keep grocery costs manageable while maximizing flavor

Meal Prep Tips

• Marinate the tandoori chicken a day in advance for deeper flavor.
• Chop vegetables for salads at the beginning of the week and store them in airtight containers.
• Prepare black bean burger patties ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze until needed.
• Make extra salad components for easy lunches during the week.
• Garlic cheese bread can be frozen and reheated whenever needed.

Shopping List

To make your grocery run as quick and hassle-free as possible, we have organized the week’s ingredients into a categorized Week 2 Grocery Shopping List, divided into produce, frozen, dairy, meat and seafood, condiments, baking, etc. Follow the link to access, download and print your Week 2 Grocery Shopping List.

Note: The shopping list is designed for a serving size of four. Please adjust ingredient quantities on the individual recipe pages and in the shopping list if you need to scale recipes up or down for your family.

We estimate the total cost of ingredients used in this week’s meals to be approximately $170 in the 47906 area, assuming you already have pantry staples such as oils, spices, condiments, flour, and seasonings on hand.

Share Your Kitchen Magic 👇

We are always on the hunt for new favorites, and we’d love to feature your go-to dishes in our future roundups. Do you have a wholesome, family-friendly recipe that your household loves? We’d be thrilled if you shared it! Share your best recipes through our recipe submission page—we can’t wait to see what you’re cooking and hopefully showcase your masterpiece in an upcoming meal plan.

More Weekly Meal Plans

Love this week's menu? Be sure to check out our previous week's meal plan for more easy dinner ideas, family-friendly recipes, and organized shopping lists to simplify your meal prep routine.

Happy cooking!