Weekly Meal Plan 5: Easy and Delicious Dinners + Shopping List

Let’s be honest: deciding what to cook every single night can easily become the most exhausting part of your day. But dinner doesn't have to be a puzzle you solve at 6:00 PM on an empty stomach. With this weekly meal plan, you can trade the daily kitchen stress for meals you actually look forward to sharing.

For this week’s lineup, we’ve put together a fresh collection of wholesome, protein-rich dinners designed to make your weeknights feel effortless. Whether you're craving the rich, comforting flavors of Creamy Tuscan Chicken or planning a fun, homemade pizza night for the weekend, every recipe on this list is a tried-and-tested absolute crowd-pleaser.

Tailored with families in mind, these six-day meal plans keep things simple, fast, and versatile—meaning extra portions often double seamlessly as next-day lunches. Leaving Sunday open gives you the freedom to enjoy a night out, leftovers, or whatever spontaneous craving strikes.

To save you time and hassle, direct links to every recipe (including favorites from my own kitchen and wonderful fellow creators) are mapped out below, right alongside your ready-to-use shopping list for Week 5. Let’s get cooking!

Weekly Meal Plan 👇

Day 1: Creamy Tuscan Chicken & Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Day 2: Teriyaki Chicken Bowl & Asian Cucumber Salad

Day 3: Cajun Shrimp Pasta & Garden Salad

Day 4: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites & Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Add a side of rice or quinoa to make it a complete meal.

Day 5: Chicken Parmesan & Corn Salad

Day 6: BBQ Chicken Pizza & Kale Chickpea Salad

Why You Will Love This Meal Plan

Takes the "What’s for Dinner?" Stress Away: No more staring blankly into the refrigerator at the end of a long day—your entire week is mapped out and ready to execute.

A Balance of Ease and Indulgence: You get ultra-fast weeknight heroes (like 15-minute Cajun shrimp pasta) alongside rewarding weekend favorites like homemade BBQ chicken pizza.

Naturally Balanced Plates: Every main dish is paired with a bright, crisp side or salad to keep your meals colorful, nutritious, and satisfying.

Family-Tested Favorites: These recipes lean into comforting, universally loved flavors that both kids and adults will genuinely get excited about.

Built-in Flexibility: Designed around a six-day schedule, leaving you completely free on the seventh night to enjoy leftovers, dine out, or cook on a whim.

Maximizes Your Grocery Budget: A cohesive ingredient list means you can buy smart, use what you purchase, and cut down significantly on food waste.

Meal Prep Tips

Double Up on the Good Stuff: Whenever a recipe calls for rice, extra grains, or a versatile sauce, make a double batch. You'll thank yourself when lunch or dinner the next day comes together in minutes.

Let Your Proteins Soak Up Flavor: Take advantage of downtime by tossing your chicken or shrimp in marinades or seasonings the night before. It supercharges the flavor and speeds up your active cooking time. Get creative and proactive.

Play Inspector with Your Fridge: Before you start cooking for the week, do a quick inventory and group your older ingredients front-and-center so nothing goes to waste.

Shopping List

To streamline your grocery run and minimize trips to the store, we have included a curated Week 5 Shopping List that categorizes items into Produce, Dairy, Bakery, Pantry Essentials, etc. Follow the link to download and print your Week 5 Shopping List.

Note: This list is optimized for a family of four. If your household size differs, please adjust the ingredient quantities directly on the individual recipe pages or update the list accordingly.

The approximate cost of purchasing the bulk of the items on this list at Walmart, ALDI, or other grocery stores in the 47906 (West Lafayette, IN) area is approximately $160-$190. Note that we have excluded the cost of items in the Check Pantry category, as these may already be available in your kitchen.

Share Your Favorite Recipes 👇

We are always looking for new inspiration and would love to feature your go-to dishes in upcoming roundups. If you have a wholesome, family-friendly recipe your household loves, we’d be thrilled to see it! Please submit your best work 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.

Explore Previous Weekly Meal Plans

If you enjoyed this week’s menu, be sure to browse our full meal plan collections. You can also revisit our Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4 plans for more dinner inspiration, family-friendly recipes, and organized shopping lists.

Happy Cooking!