Weeknight recipes

Recipe · Food

A 5-night dinner plan you can actually keep

Five dinners decided before the week starts, so Tuesday night is not a negotiation. The same list fits a weekly meal planner.

5 nights Serves 4 Meal plan
Kung pao shrimp with peanuts, zucchini, red pepper, and scallions in a glossy sauce Lemon herb skillet chicken breasts with asparagus, parsley, and a lemon butter sauce Ground beef tacos in flour tortillas with lettuce, tomato, cheddar, and sour cream Sheet-pan sausage coins with roasted broccoli, red and green peppers, and red onion Spaghetti topped with a chunky ground beef and tomato sauce and grated Parmesan

The five nights

Tuesday through Friday serve 4. Monday's shrimp serves 3. Eat the extra, or scale a night down.

  1. Step 1

    Monday — 25-Minute Kung Pao Shrimp Stir-Fry. About 25 minutes, serves 3. Start the rice first. Skip this night if anyone avoids shellfish or peanuts.

  2. Step 2

    Tuesday — 30-Minute Lemon Herb Skillet Chicken with Asparagus. About 30 minutes, serves 4. Keep the extra for lunch, or cook two breasts.

  3. Step 3

    Wednesday — 25-Minute Ground Beef Tacos. About 25 minutes, serves 4. Warm the tortillas while the beef simmers.

  4. Step 4

    Thursday — 35-Minute Sheet-Pan Sausage and Roasted Vegetables. About 35 minutes, serves 4. Broccoli, peppers, and red onion. Read the sausage label if anyone avoids gluten.

  5. Step 5

    Friday — 50-Minute Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. About 50 minutes, serves 4 with leftovers. Start the sauce when you walk in.

Shop once

Buy for the nights you are actually cooking.

  • Mondayshrimp, zucchini, red pepper, peanuts, scallions
  • Tuesdaychicken breasts, asparagus, lemon
  • Wednesdayground beef, flour tortillas, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, sour cream
  • Thursdaysmoked sausage, broccoli, bell peppers, red onion
  • Fridayground beef, spaghetti, crushed tomatoes, Parmesan
  • staplessoy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic, onion

How to keep it

Write the five names where you will see them on Sunday — a note on the fridge, or the weekly meal planner in What's 4 Dinner. Tuesday already has an answer.

If a night falls apart, swap two days. Do not redesign the week. If the sausage is sold out, cook the spaghetti early and move the sheet pan to Friday.

Want a different idea tonight? What's 4 Dinner spins a recipe by diet, cook time, and allergies.

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Kung pao shrimp with peanuts, zucchini, red pepper, and scallions in a glossy sauce

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