Menu planning paralysis. Have you ever experienced it? You’re sitting down at the beginning of the week to make your grocery list and menu plan, but you just can’t decide what to make each night for dinner. I have been there! Actually, the last six months I’ve been there almost every week. I’ve grown SO tired of menu planning in general that I needed to do something different or else this chef was going to go on strike!
I decided that I needed a meal planning solution. I needed a way to quickly and easily plan meals for the week and make a grocery list. When you get down to it, it only takes 15 minutes. Why is this so hard for me? I have no idea. It’s not that I don’t like to cook; it’s that coming up with a completely new menu every week (and corresponding grocery list) was mentally exhausting to me.
So I came up with a theme for each night of the week. I took into consideration our family’s schedule and preferences, and I assigned a theme to each day of the week. 
My Meal Planning Solution
Sunday – rotisserie chicken/leftovers
On Sunday, we’ll grab a rotisserie chicken after church (as we’ve been doing for a while). We’ll eat that for lunch and/or dinner, depending on whatever other leftovers we have in the house. I serve it with salad, veggies (raw in warmer months and roasted in colder months), and sometimes baked sweet potatoes. Easy! I’ll throw the chicken bones into the Crockpot Sunday night so I have broth to use on Monday.
Monday – soup (or something else with leftover chicken)
On Monday, I will make soup with the bone broth and leftover chicken. We love White Chicken Chili. If we’re not in the mood for soup (and who is in July?), I can use the leftover chicken to make something else, like chicken salad, burrito bowls, or taquitos.
Tuesday – stir fry
On Tuesday, I’ll make one of my stir fry recipes. I change up the meat and veggies used so it’s always fresh and delicious. One week it will be beef, broccoli, and snow peas, and then another week it will be chicken, carrots, cauliflower, and peppers (I use the same go-to sauce recipe most of the time).
Wednesday – one-pot/pan
On Wednesdays, I will make something that just uses one pot or pan. Sheet pan suppers, one dish wonders, etc. I’ve really enjoyed making roasted chicken and veggies on a sheet pan, but there are lots of other options under this category! It’s simple because I don’t have to dirty a bunch of dishes creating a lot of side dishes.
Thursday – tacos
Thursday evenings we will enjoy tacos. I either make “traditional” tacos with ground turkey or beef, or I make lean chicken tacos or delicious (cheater) fish tacos. I always keep tortillas, cheese, onions, and salsa on hand, so tacos are a brainless addition to our weekly menu. I can even make the meat fillings ahead of time (by making a double or triple batch) so that I can just pull it out of the freezer on Thursday morning.
Friday – pizza
We’ve been having pizza on Fridays for a while now, so I’m sticking with this tradition. It’s a great way to use up whatever meat and veggies we have left in the fridge! I make two pizzas now so that we have enough for everyone. My homemade crust recipe is simple to make and not at all fussy. I usually do one pizza with a red sauce (and usually a bunch of veggies and a protein) and the other pizza I do without sauce (three cheese kale/spinach with bacon or sausage is amazing). We’re never sad if we have leftover pizza to enjoy on Saturdays!
Saturday – chef’s choice
I left one night without a theme – Saturday. I really do like trying new recipes, so this gives me one day where I can play around with something new. Or not… if there are leftovers to be eaten! I make salmon several times a month, so this would be a good night to slip that on the menu.
Make it Yours
Here are a few other theme ideas if you want to adapt this menu planning solution for your own family: Italian, breakfast for dinner, sandwiches, baked potatoes & toppings, international, slow cooker, and salads.
Like the menu planning printable I made? I’ll be sending it out as a special freebie this week to newsletter subscribers! If you’re on the list before Friday morning (6/3/16), you’ll get it!
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This is a great idea! I’ve thought of having themed nights like this before just to make it easier. Why is menu planning so mentally draining?! Every time I do it I’m like, this shouldn’t be this hard! There are literally millions of combinations of things I could make, just pick something! Haha!
I have that EXACT same thought process!