Meal Planning Archives - stirringlouisiana.com

March 30, 2023March 28, 2023

Let’s Cook Some Pork Shoulder This Week!

Pork Shoulder is one of the cheapest cuts of pork…and I would say the tastiest!

When it goes on sale, rarely, there is no reason not to take advantage of that.

This article will discuss how I cook pork shoulder for the whole week without eating the same thing every day and without boring my family.

Sometimes pork shoulder is called a picnic roast, picnic shoulder or Boston roast. Some people get it confused with a pork butt…but it is not the same.

How to Cook Pork Shoulder

The best way to cook pork shoulder is low and slow. We have heard this over and over…we all know this already…right?

The crock-pot is your best friend here.

You can get a pork shoulder roast with the bone in or get it boneless. Usually, you can find a boneless pork shoulder roast that is 4 to 4 ½ pounds while a bone in roast can be as much as 12 pounds.

So, if you have a very large family, you may want to get the bone-in roast, keep in mind that you will have to cut the bone out if you don’t plan on putting the entire roast in the crock-pot all at once.

The recipes for this week use a total of about 13 pounds of pork shoulder roast. You can buy 2 large bone-in roasts at 6 or 7 pounds each or buy several boneless shoulder roasts which may be easier to work with.

Most of the recipes we are using this week are for 8 servings, if you don’t have the need for that many servings, adjust as needed.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

One of the easiest pulled pork recipes out there is Southern Living’s pulled pork recipe. You can find that here. Use one of the smaller boneless pork shoulders for this or half of one of the bone-in shoulders.

The recipe asks for a 5–6-pound shoulder roast but you can use a 4 ½ pound roast. The recipe only takes 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes to get going.

And it does not include bar-b-que sauce at this stage which means you can use the pork in more ways.

Prepping for the Week

Saturday or Sunday you can get your shopping done. You can also get all your chopping done and package the separate ingredients in meal prep containers or Ziploc bags and mark them for each recipe.

When I use Ziplocs for smaller amounts of ingredients for the week, I mark them all for the recipe they go with and then put them all in a plastic bin in the refrigerator together.

After chopping and packaging all the ingredients, you can start prepping all the recipes and sides for the week.

Finish Prepping for Monday

First let’s prep the Mexican rice that goes with the pulled pork for Monday. I use this recipe from A Couple Cooks. It is extremely easy and quick, 20 minutes total…and tastes good!

Prep anything else you normally have with pulled pork this day as well.

Tuesday Prepping

Next, take about 3 pounds of pork shoulder and prep it for the Pork Carnitas Nachos for Tuesday. This is a good recipe from Southern Living for that.

You are going to cook this in the crock-pot as well. Cook the brown rice on Sunday for the Mexican rice or if you have a rice cooker, you can wait until Monday evening when you get home.

Save the liquid from one of the cans of chipotle chilies because you are going to use that later in the week.

You can serve street corn salad with the nachos on Tuesday using this recipe from Delish. Instead of using ears of corn you can use 3 cups of frozen corn and pan fry it to get that smoky flavor.

Wednesday Barbeque

Wednesday is for Chinese Barbeque Pork using 3 pounds of the shoulder. You can get this marinating now and marinate it for at least 4 hours…which will increase the flavor. Allrecipes has a great recipe for that.

Cook the Chinese Barbeque Pork for an hour now and let cool. You are going to want to cook it another hour Wednesday when you get home.

Serve some easy fried rice with the Chinese pork, using this recipe from Allrecipes as well. You can cook that now or just cook the rice and mix it together on Wednesday when you get home.

Still Prepping

The next main dish to prep is the Grilled Pork Skewers called Mtsvadi. You can serve this on Friday or Saturday; however, you need to cube about 2 pounds of uncooked pork for that. Go ahead and marinate that now according to the recipe.

Oven roasted vegetables are great with this. I don’t have a recipe for this one but any recipe you normally use for roasted vegetables should be fine.

The rest of the week is a matter of putting everything together, since you will use whatever cooked pork you have, when you get home since you already prepped all the ingredients.

Getting It Done on Monday

Monday morning put the pork shoulder in the crock-pot before leaving for work and you are done for Monday.

When you get home, pull out the Mexican rice and heat it up in the oven or microwave…if you put it in the microwave put a cover on it to keep it moist. If you didn’t complete the Mexican rice on Sunday, it won’t take long to put it together now.

Tuesday is an Easy Day

Tuesday, put the Pork Carnitas in the crock pot. Heat up the Street Corn salad when you get home from work. You are done for Tuesday.

Wednesday is not a Hump Day this Week

Wednesday when you get home from work, put the Chinese Barbeque Pork in the oven. I know the recipe says to grill it, but if you don’t want to get the grill going, you can cook it in the oven for another hour to finish it.

When the pork is nearly finished cooking put the fried rice together. That will take about 15 minutes. You are done for Wednesday.

Smoky Thursday

Thursday is for Smoky Pork Taco Soup from Betty Crocker. It only takes about 30 minutes to put together. Mexican Cornbread goes great with taco soup.

Southern Plate has a great recipe. It only takes an hour to cook so start it before you get the taco soup going. I would not make it ahead of time…cornbread is always better hot out of the oven.

Friday is Cuban Celebration Day

Friday, when you get home let’s make some Cast Iron Cuban Casserole. Use this recipe from Grilling 24×7. It only takes about 30 minutes to do.

At the same time, start the Creamy Cucumber and Grilled Potato Salad to serve with the casserole. There is a great recipe from Food and Wine here. The extra 15 minutes the potatoes take will let the casserole cool a bit so you can eat it!

Yay for the Weekend!

Saturday, lets make Pulled Pork Enchiladas with Salsa Roja. The recipe from Hispanic Kitchen is a good one. This one takes about 3 hours to get right…why we are doing it on a Saturday.

You can serve all the left over sides from the week along with a salad and your favorite dressing.

You are done for the week and nobody had to eat the same thing twice all week…unless you had enough for lunches the next day. I love leftovers for lunches.

Don’t forget, you can cut down any of these recipes if you are single or have a small family. You can also double them if you have a very large family…all of them are adjustment friendly.

Mostly, you did not have to spend more than an hour any night of the week to get a great meal on the table and you did not have to order out once!

Don’t forget, one day a week if for you to be taken out to eat. No prepping, no cleaning after and good wine. Don’t forget the wine!

If you do make any of these recipes, let me know in the comments below.

If you want a shopping list for the entire week, let me know and I will work that up for you.

February 3, 2023February 1, 2023

PORK FOR DINNER TONIGHT – EASY AND CHEAP MEALS FOR YOUR BUSY FAMILY

Pork for dinner is so versatile and quick to cook! Dinner can be on the table usually within an hour without standing over a hot stove all day.

Ingredient prepping earlier in the week or over the weekend will help make the cooking process even shorter.

If you have been here before, you know that I love to prep on the weekend and eat all week. BUT, I do not like to eat the same thing all week…which is what used to happen when I meal prepped on the weekends.

I don’t do that type of meal prepping anymore. You don’t have to.

Just pick a protein, cook a meal with that protein…add the sides. Then, use that starter protein or one of the meals, add to it… make some changes…and eat something different every night of the week.

First, do like most people do…find a recipe. Look on Pinterest or Google and find a recipe using your protein. But, don’t look for just any recipe, look for one that you can add to or make slight changes to throughout the week to make other things as well.

This blog post has all the information you need to make delicious pork meals for dinner tonight and every night this week. Whether you’re a busy family or just looking for a quick and easy meal, this is the perfect post for you.

We’ve included a variety of pork dishes that will be sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Keep reading to find some top pork meals for dinner tonight!

PORK FOR DINNER TONIGHT, Pork Tenderloin

START THE WEEK WITH PORK.

This week, pork tenderloin was on sale, so let’s start the week with a pork loin or two.

Pork tenderloin is one of the nicest cuts of pork. It’s very lean and tender and can be seasoned in any number of ways. They are long and slender and weigh around ¾lb to 1 ½lbs each and they frequently come in a 2-pack.

Similar Pork Products

You might find other similar pork products called pork loin, pork loin filet and pork roast which are NOT pork tenderloin and require different cooking steps.

If pork tenderloin is not on sale in your area, you can use any pork that is on sale…or a pork roast you have in your freezer.

The most popular pork loin roast in the supermarket is the boneless pork loin roast, which can be seasoned in any number of ways. Pork loin roast comes in sizes of about 2-5 pounds, is usually lean, and has a fat cap that can be trimmed to give you the exact amount of flavor needed. this is the most common size you’ll find, and they are usually around 2-3″ in height and around 12″ in length.

Pork tenderloin is a much leaner and narrower cut of meat than pork loin roast. When searching for recipes for the week, specify what type of pork you will use.

Sunday is Prep Day.

Sunday; complete your shopping and ingredient prep for the week. Calculate how much pork you will need for your family for all the recipes this week.

If you want the most tender results, you must remove the tough silver skin that exists on a pork tenderloin. To remove the silver skin, insert the tip of your knife between the silver skin and meat and cut with the skin still attached while pulling the silver skin and fat away.

MONDAY IS ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN.

Monday when you get home from work, have dinner ready in less than an hour!

Let’s start with something easy, put your favorite rub on one of the pork loins and cook in the oven or on the grill. If cooking in the oven, Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Trim pork loin, if you did not do it on Sunday, and pat dry. Rub oil over the loin and coat with rub.

Bake for 25-30 minutes and let sit for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with potatoes or rice and gravy or pasta in the sauce.

Add a salad or other vegetables and you have Monday night dinner done! If you need a recipe, Taste of Home has multiple recipes you can use.

To prepare for Tuesday, take a pound or two of pork loin and cut it into cubes for kabobs. Place the pork into a zip-top bag and pour in a marinade.

Make your own marinade or use a bottle, whichever you prefer. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

TUESDAY; DINNER ON THE TABLE IN UNDER AN HOUR!

Grilled Pork Shish Kabobs (Shashlik)

Kabobs are fun and easy for dinner. You can add your favorite vegetables and use a marinade your family loves. Here is a simple, excellent recipe for Grilled Pork Shish Kabobs from Taste of Home.

Pork tenderloin kebabs can be prepped ahead for an easy dinner or entertaining.

If you did not marinate the pork last night and you have a vacuum sealer, you can place the meat in a vacuum sealer bag with the marinade and remove the air. The pork will be done marinating in an hour.

Cut your vegetables into similar-sized cubes. Put your pork and vegetables on skewers and either roast in the oven or cook them on the grill.

You can serve kabobs with roast potatoes and carrots or substitute the carrots for Brussels sprouts or green beans. Green beans are so tasty when roasted!

WEDNESDAY: DINNER ON THE TABLE IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO CHANGE INTO YOUR COMFY CLOTHES!

Let’s make some pork fajitas! If you need a recipe, try this one from SpendWithPennies.

Take a pound of pork loin and slice it into chops then slice those into strips. Cut a red, yellow and green bell pepper into strips as well. Cut an onion in half and cut it into strips.

Cook the meat and vegetables on the stove with fajita seasoning. While cooking the pork and peppers, warm some tortillas in the oven or dry fry them in a skillet.

Add a salad and you’re done for Wednesday.

THURSDAY: PORK AND BROCCOLI, QUICKER THAN YOU THINK!

Beef and Broccoli is what you usually hear about; however, pork is so versatile and more tender than beef in general and is wonderful in stir fry. A really good recipe is one from Taste of Home.

Cut ½ pound of pork into bite-size pieces, trim broccoli and cut into bite-size pieces. Steam broccoli but don’t let it get mushy!

Julien ½ red bell pepper and ½ a green pepper, add 1 cup sliced mushrooms and ½ onion. Stir fry the pork with any seasoning you choose and remove it from the pan.

PORK FOR DINNER TONIGHT, Pork and Broccoli

Add the broccoli, peppers, mushrooms and onion, and stir fry until it reaches the level of tenderness you like. Add three cloves of minced garlic, if you like garlic. You can always add other vegetables that you like.

Mix 4 teaspoons soy sauce, 1 cup chicken broth and 4 teaspoons cornstarch until smooth. Add to stir fry and stir until sauce thickens. Add pork back and heat back up. Serve over rice.

Done for Thursday!

FRIDAY WILL BE QUICK AND EASY!

This pork stroganoff is creamy and delicious. It’s the best comfort food you can get! With mushrooms and onions, tender pork is cooked in a creamy sauce. You can try this recipe from Taste of Home.

With only 15 minutes to prepare, it’s delicious, filling, and made with fresh ingredients! It is amazing how this pork stroganoff looks and tastes with buttered noodles.

Cut up a pound of pork into small strips. A quick overview of the recipe; fry onions and mushrooms in butter. You can infuse the butter yourself or buy seasoned butter. Stir fry the pork until just cooked then simmer it all in sour cream. Add a bit of lemon juice and some pepper and dinner is done!

Add ½ stick of butter, and a teaspoon of oil to a frying pan. Add a tablespoon of paprika and smoked paprika if you have it. Add chopped onion and cook onion until translucent. Add a 10 oz package of sliced mushrooms and cook over low heat.

Remove all from the pan and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and fry cut-up pork for about a minute. Put everything back into the pan and stir well. Add 1 ¼ cups sour cream and salt to taste.

Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Add pepper to taste. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Serve over buttered noodles.

PORK FOR DINNER TONIGHT, Pork Stroganoff

Noodle Time!

Cook the noodles while cooking the pork. I cook all my noodles the same way, even the box kind! I boil salted water, add the noodles and bring it to a boil.

Once the pot boils, I shut off the burner and move the pot off the burner…if electric. I put on the lid and set a timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, I drain the noodles. Perfect every time!

In this case, put the noodles back in the pot and add ½ stick of butter and ½ teaspoon of salt. Put the lid back on and let the butter melt. Toss with tongs.

You can have dinner ready in the time it takes to cook noodles! And you’re done for Friday!

SATURDAY IS FOR RELAXED COOKING!

Today is pork cutlet day! Don’t worry, cutlets are easy. Take the rest of the pork loin and slice it into the number of chops you need. Season pork with salt and pepper.

Place pork chops between plastic wrap or wax paper and pound to ⅛ inch thickness. If you want a recipe, check this one out from AllRecipes.

Now the fun part!

Dust chops with 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and dip chops one at a time in 2 beaten eggs. Put chops in bread crumbs until each one is coated.

You can use seasoned bread crumbs or panko bread crumbs. Or you can use plain bread crumbs seasoned the way your family likes them.

Fry chops in any oil other than olive oil and place them on paper towels to drain.

Make gravy, from a jar or pouch if you like, or from drippings and flour. Cook a vegetable or serve a salad. Add rice or potatoes with gravy. And you are done!

CONCLUSION

You just finished another week without spending an hour or more of time in the kitchen each night. And many nights you’ve completed the task within 30 minutes. Congratulations on being the winner!

January 27, 2023January 20, 2023

Chicken for Dinner Tonight: What to Cook

Chicken for dinner tonight? Sounds like a great idea!

Whether you’re in the mood for a classic comfort dish or something new and exciting, there are so many delicious options to choose from when it comes to chicken for dinner. From hearty soups and salads to quick and easy one-pan dinners, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Let’s explore some of the best recipes for chicken for dinner tonight.

Get the Week Started

This week you’re going to cook some chicken, once and you will have dinner for the rest of the week…and not eat the same thing every night.

Sunday, bake or grill a spatchcock chicken. If you don’t know how to spatchcock a chicken, don’t worry, it is easy. Watch how to do it here.

Once you have the chicken cut and flattened, bake it for 18-20 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Check the temperature of the chicken breasts with a meat thermometer to ensure they’ve reached 165°F (74°C). Add additional cooking time if needed. Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes.

Once you have your chicken cooked, all the real work is done for the week. You are just putting things together the rest of the week. But, don’t worry, your family will not be bored or disappointed!

With a bit of creativity, you can come up with ideas that are delicious and interesting without breaking your budget. Here are some easy meal prep options that can help get you through the week without spending too much money.

Start by looking in your pantry to see what ingredients you already have on hand; these items can form the basis of your meal plan. Get creative with different combinations of spices and seasonings to give each dish its own unique flavor.

Now You Have Your Flat Chicken

Monday after work, take your chicken out of the fridge and reheat in the oven. Serve with roasted vegetables and roasted sweet or yellow potatoes.

The combination of roasted veggies and a small serving of potatoes will give you all the nutrition you need without breaking the bank.

Budget meal planning can also include frozen options that are nutritious and affordable. Stock up on frozen fruits, vegetables for easy meal prep throughout the week.

Frozen foods are often cheaper than fresh and provide similar nutritional benefits when cooked properly. Meal prepping on a budget doesn’t mean skimping on protein; look for larger cuts of meat such as whole chicken instead of pre-cut chicken breasts since they tend to be cheaper in bulk.

Doesn’t Everyone Love Chicken Spaghetti?

Tuesday, take some of your chicken and let’s make chicken spaghetti. You can serve with a tomato salad, in summer, or a bag salad in winter. You can also roast some vegetables, like carrots, green beans, brussel sprouts, zucchini sticks or blanched broccoli.

Cook the spaghetti per the package directions, except, cook it until it is just underdone. It will cook more in the oven.

Make the sauce by sauteing onion, celery and bell pepper in butter. Add flour. Mix in chicken broth and cheeses. Stir the whole time to make sure it is smooth. If your in a hurry, this recipe from Spend With Pennies has a shortcut sauce using cream of mushroom soup, Velveeta and Rotel.

Mix noodles and sauce, spread into a 9 x 13 baking pan. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees until bubbly.

You can save time by prepping some of these vegetables in advance. A great way to do this is by prepping. Ingredient prepping involves slicing or chopping the fruit and vegetables you need then storing them in the refrigerator or freezer so you have healthy options ready-to-go throughout the week.

There are plenty of easy options available that will make sure you never have to go without a delicious and nutritious dinner again.

How About Some Chicken Enchiladas?

Wednesday, take some chicken and make chicken enchiladas. Serve with grilled corn salad and pinto beans. This is a great option for a cheap and healthy meal that is also easy and fast to prepare.

Pillsbury always has good recipes, try their enchilada recipe. Just make a rue with flour and butter, add the cream cheese for a sauce. Place a bit of sauce in the bottom of an 8×8 baking pan or iron skillet.

Put some chicken in a tortilla, add cheese and diced chilies if you like or green onions if that is your favorite…whatever you like.

Roll up the tortillas and place them in the pan. Cover with the sauce. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

You can take a can of corn and saute it in a pan until you get some browning, add some lime chili seasoning or whatever seasoning you want. Then take a can of pinto beans and do the same. If you like your beans creamier, add some butter and mash a few while heating them up.

With a few ingredients from the grocery store, you can whip up a delicious and nutritious meal in no time. Meal prepping is a great way to plan ahead and make sure that you’re getting a balanced diet while sticking to a budget.

Stuffed Peppers are Easy

Thursday, take some chicken to make Caprese Chicken Stuffed Peppers. Serve with cucumber and chopped red onion salad.

Buy as many red, yellow or orange bell peppers as you need. Slice the top off and clean out the peppers.

Saute a chopped onion and a teaspoon of minced garlic in butter. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth and balsamic vinegar…use the cooking balsamic, it should say on the bottle…you don’t want it too sweet. Cook down for a few minutes.

Buy some cherry tomatoes and cut into quarters. Add the chicken and mozzarella pearls…small balls of mozzarella. Cut both into smaller pieces as needed. Mix the tomatoes, chicken and mozzarella in a bowl with the sauce and either fresh or dry basil.

Stuff the peppers, top with shredded mozzarella and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Chop the cucumber and onions and top with your favorite Italian salad dressing.

Again, dinner is done!

Friday is Pizza Day!

Friday, take some chicken, chop it up and let’s make BBQ pizza. Add the toppings you like, such as peppers, mushrooms, green onions, red onions. Or you can use the rest of the roasted vegetables from Monday. Serve the rest of the salad tonight.

This pizza will be easy. Either buy pre-made pizza dough and roll it out or you can buy a pre-cooked pizza crust. If you have the time or just want to try Bobby Flays’ pizza dough recipe, you can do that.

Get a can of pizza sauce and spread over the crust. Mix your chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce and spread over the crust. Add whatever vegetables you want to use and bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes. If you do not want to go it alone, try this recipe.

Toss the salad, adding whatever extra vegetables you like. Dinner is done.

Chicken Gumbo for Every Week

Saturday morning, take the rest of the chicken and add smoked sausage to make gumbo. I like to serve mine with potato salad.

Saute sausage and drain. Leave the drippings in the pan. Saute the chicken and drain and again leave the drippings in the pan.

Always start a gumbo with a roux.

Add enough oil to the remaining drippings to get 1/2 cup. Add 3/4 flour, and cook over medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring constantly. You want the roux to be the color of light chocolate.

You can add this to a crock pot.

Saute a chopped onion, a chopped bell pepper and 2 ribs of chopped celery. Add 2 quarts of chicken stock, 3 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 bay leaves, 2 teaspoons creole seasoning…I use Tony’s. Finally, add 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme and 1 teaspoon hot sauce, if you like hot sauce. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes and add all this to the crock pot as well.

Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Make rice…I use a rice cooker to get perfect rice every time!

If you want potato salad to put on top of your gumbo, boil about 2 pounds of potatoes for potato salad. Potato salad for gumbo does not generally have eggs or pickles; however, you can include them if you like.

Once the potatoes are boiled pull some out and mash them…you want gumbo potato salad a bit creamier than regular potato salad. Add them back to the bowl.

Finely chop 1/2 an onion and 1 large rib of celery. Slice a green onion. Add 1/2 tablespoon dry parsley, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon creole mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix with potatoes.

Serve the gumbo over rice and place a scoop of potato salad on top. If you have been looking for an authentic Louisiana gumbo recipe, try this one. It takes a bit more time and does not use a crock pot, but it is good!

This meal is a bit more complicated and hands-on than the other recipes this week; however, you will thank yourself for making it.

Conclusion

You are done!

If you don’t think one chicken will feed your family for the week, cook two or three…you can cook them all at once and the rest of the week, use your time to put the meals together.

I love cooking a lot once and putting things together the rest of the week. It makes life much easier.

Let me know if you try any of the recipes I recommended or if you cooked the whole week’s recipes.

January 20, 2023January 18, 2023

GET YOUR BEEF FIX FOR DINNER TONIGHT!

Are you in the mood for beef for dinner tonight, but don’t want to eat the same thing every night? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we’ll explore some delicious and easy beef recipes that you can try, so that you can enjoy the flavor of beef without eating the same dish over and over.

Whether you are a beginner in the kitchen or an experienced chef, you will find something here that you can make for dinner tonight. So, let’s get cooking!

Meal Prepping Can Be Repetitive

So many people love to meal prep on the weekend and eat all week. BUT few like to eat the same thing all week…which is what usually happens when meal prepping.

When meal prepping, you likely would buy protein, starch and vegetables in bulk to save money. Hunt a recipe that you liked and made it. You generally always had several meals and packed some up for lunches and dinners and froze the rest.

It works for a while…until you get tired of eating the same thing for lunch and dinner…and lunch and dinner.

Don’t do that type of meal prepping anymore. You don’t have to. Each recipe below has its list of ingredients; however, remember that your meat selections are coming from the meatloaf you have cooked.

This gives you some more options than just beef burgers. Any of these dinner ideas will be sure to hit the spot tonight!

A New Way to Meal Prep

Pick a protein, cook a meal with that protein…add the sides. Then, use that meal, adding to it…making some changes…and eat something different every night of the week.

First, do like most people do…find a recipe. Look on Pinterest or Google a recipe using your protein.

But, don’t look for just any recipe, look for one that you can add to or make slight changes to throughout the week to make other things as well.

With a little bit of creativity and planning ahead, you can have delicious meals without eating the same thing every night!

Start The Week Right with Meatloaf

Sunday, cook meatloaf with mashed potatoes for Monday’s dinner. Cook some green peas Monday when you get in from work and done!

While not all that exciting, very tasty, and who doesn’t love meatloaf! Meatloaf gets better over time. So, cooking it and putting it in the refrigerator will be perfect!

Actually, make two meatloaves and twice as much mashed potatoes as you need…since you’re cooking anyway. You might like to try this meatloaf recipe from Simply Recipes.

Besides the taste and ease of making meatloaf, you also have something for Tuesday night.

Make sure to save leftovers of your dinner ideas for tonight because they can be transformed into a whole new dish. There are a lot of things you can do with meatloaf.

If you want something light, why not consider a beef salad? Take your leftover slices of meatloaf and mix them into a large salad bowl with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, etc., and top it off with your favorite dressing.

Another great suggestion is to make a beef quesadilla or burrito. All you need to do is take your leftovers and add it to a tortilla along with cheese, beans, sour cream, etc., then fold it up and heat it in a pan or oven until golden brown.

Lastly, don’t forget about tacos! Take some ground beef (or leftovers) along with taco seasoning and make it into tacos or nachos. Top it off with your favorite condiments such as salsa or guacamole and enjoy your supper ideas for tonight.

OR you could keep reading and see what else you can make with the rest of your meatloaf!

Take Half the Meatloaf

Take half of one of the meatloaves and make shepherd’s pie, try this recipe from Spruce Eats, with the rest of the mashed potatoes and peas…adding some chopped carrots and some cheese on top of the potatoes.

The great thing about using leftovers for dinner ideas is that they can be easily modified to your tastes. Surely you created your meatloaf based on your family’s taste to start with. Now you can add whatever seasonings or vegetables that your family loves to each of these meals.

Take Another Half of the Meatloaf

Wednesday night, take the other half of a meatloaf and make spaghetti, with this recipe from Taste of Home, add a salad and you’re halfway through the week!

Enjoy your beef fix without eating the same thing every night! Don’t forget to add your favorite shredded cheese and even sour cream if you like it.

Dinner will be ready in less than 30 minutes! There are endless options when it comes to what’s for dinner tonight.

Take the Rest of the Meatloaf, But You’re Not Done!

Thursday night, take the rest of the meatloaf, add sloppy joe mix from a jar, try this recipe from Taste of Home, add buns and roast some potatoes and carrots…done again! The sloppy joe recipe is for 36 sloppy joes, you will likely need to cut the recipe in 1/2 or even 1/4 of what it calls for…unless you need 36!

Recipes from Tast of Home are great! I am not sure why anyone would need 36 sloppy joes unless they were for a kid’s party! If you do make the whole recipe, have a party!

This recipe can be made in no time at all. There are so many great dinner ideas that don’t have to be boring – get creative and have fun with it! Add sliced or shredded cheese, some chopped olives, shredded cooked purple cabbage, bacon bits…we could go on forever!

Back Up and Take the Rest of the Shephard’s Pie

Friday, take whatever is left of the shepherd’s pie, add some gravy mix from a jar or packet, some more chopped vegetables and a can of biscuits. No recipe for this one, it is too easy! Press the biscuits into a muffin tin, fill with meat mixture, top with cheese and bake. Add a platter of celery and carrot sticks with salad dressing. Another quick meal on the table for dinner!

If you don’t want biscuit cups, roll the meat mixture in a tortilla, add cheese and bake for 20 minutes. Or heat the meat mixture up and put it into pita bread with lettuce, tomato and cheese.

Don’t forget to add a delicious dessert, maybe a quick berry cobbler or something chocolatey (ice cream anyone?) for those with a sweet tooth.

Take Another Step Back, You’re Nearly Done!

Saturday, take the rest of the sloppy joe mix, add more chopped bell pepper and onion, spread it in an 8 x 8 pan, top with cornbread mix and bake. Here is a recipe for that from I Wash You Dry. Add the rest of the salad and another meal done.

But wait, you don’t have to eat your beefy dinner with just salad. You can dress it up with some other ideas too. How about some roasted potatoes with olive oil and rosemary? You can also serve it with a side of roasted vegetables. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not make some homemade french fries? With a little bit of creativity, you can create a delicious and healthy meal.

Rest and Do It Again!

Sunday, rest a bit…you did good! No slaving over the stove for an hour or more in the evening after work, no wasted food and no trips to the grocery store on the way home! What a win!

You should have some leftovers for lunches…not as much as you normally do but enough. If you want more leftovers or want to fill your freezer, cook an extra or two meat loaves on Sunday.

Next week we will do it again with chicken. There is a lot that can be done with chicken, but we only need 6 dinners to get through the week. Why six? Because, one night you deserve to go out to dinner! OR at the very least, you deserve to have someone else cook for YOU!

Get Creative for Dinner!

One thing cooking like this does is it lets you be more creative. You could add some rolls Monday, a pickle and olive plate for Tuesday’s dinner, make a special salad on Wednesday or make deviled eggs for Thursday. Even make cupcakes or that berry cobbler for dessert one night, maybe on Monday when all you have to do is boil peas and your baking rolls anyway right?!

The possibilities are endless and can keep you from getting bored with your meals. So, if you’re looking for creative dinner ideas for tonight, don’t forget to include some beef!

If you like to cook like this, let us know what you do.