This week we’re keeping our recipes close to home with familiar meals. Sometimes we strive to make new things so often that we forget the old favorites like roast chicken, cheese burgers, Chinese take out and pierogies. They’re all here in this week’s planner. You may not have made all these recipes before, but when you taste them they will feel familiar. Familiar can be as good as new.
Don’t forget to “Grab Your Shopping List” by clicking the button above. I’ve listed everything so that you can be sure you have all you need. Just cross off what you already have and watch the list shrink.
If you like planning your meals for week, you might also like to check out other weekly menu planners. You’ll can check out Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3, and stay tuned for more weeks to come. You’ll be able to find all the Weekly Menu Planners here.
(The planned menu and grocery list has quantities for a family of four. You can alter the recipe quantities by clicking on the plus or minus buttons next to the serving size on the recipe card.)
Monday: General Tso’s Cauliflower
Air-fried General Tso’s Cauliflower is a great way to get your Chinese food fix right at home and keep it vegetarian. Cut the cauliflower florets into bite-sized pieces – especially if you intend to eat this with chopsticks! If you want to make this with chicken instead, go for it! Just drop the cooking time down to 10 minutes, turning the pieces over or shaking the basket halfway through.
Tuesday: Creamy Tarragon Chicken with Egg Noodles
This is a rich, creamy one-pot chicken pasta dish that can be made on the stovetop or in the pressure cooker. The noodles cook right in the sauce, which is a great time saver. Tarragon and sherry pair so nicely together, but if you need to swap them out, try dry vermouth or white wine instead of the sherry and try basil or parsley instead of the tarragon. If you’re looking for a warm, comforting pasta, this might be your dish.
Wednesday: Pierogies, Kielbasa & Sauerkraut Bake
This recipe combines pierogies (or pierogi) with crispy fried Polish Kielbasa sausage, sautéed onions and tangy sauerkraut baked together with cheese on top. It’s over the top, but an indulgent treat for anyone who loves traditional eastern European foods. You can buy frozen pierogies or make your own if you have the time.
Thursday: Chicken Paillard with Burrata & Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
You can pan fry or air fry this panko crusted chicken paillard recipe. It takes a few minutes to prepare, but once the chicken is coated, it cooks extremely quickly. Then, it’s topped with Burrata cheese and quick roasted cherry tomatoes. If you can’t find burrata, try a little ripe avocado instead.
Friday: Inside Out Burgers
If you’re looking for a fun way to kick off the weekend, turn your burgers inside out! This burger has all the usual toppings, but they are neatly tucked inside the burger patty. Nothing falls off your burger this way AND you can customize what you put inside – did someone say cooked bacon?! Try some Homemade French Fries on the side. Happy Friday!
Saturday: Sheet Pan Fish & Chips
Regardless of whether you make this recipe in the oven or the air fryer, this version of fish and chips is much better for you and a lot less messy to prepare than the deep fried version. No tartar sauce in your fridge? Make your own with ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons finely chopped sweet pickles, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Sunday: Roast Chicken and Mashed Potatoes
Roast chicken is a classic Sunday night dinner and I always find it satisfying and comforting. Accompany it with some mashed potatoes and gravy and you’ll be in everyone’s comfort zone! It’s one of the easiest and fastest comfort meals to make too. It’s a perfect meal for four people. If you only have two to feed, you can look forward to the chicken salad you can make with the leftovers.
