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If I’m being honest, dinnertime looks pretty similar week to week around here (in the best possible way, of course).
This is more or less what we eat in a week. Nothing’s overly planned (and that’s by design), it’s just the same wholesome meals on repeat because they’re easy, everyone likes them, and I don’t really have to think about it.
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Monday
Simple spaghetti with meat sauce
This is a staple in our house. Not a week passes without it. It’s easy, it’s reliable, and I always have what I need on hand. If the week feels busy before it even starts, this is usually my first choice.
Tuesday
This meal feels a little fancier, but it’s still simple enough for a regular weeknight because you just need one pan. It’s one of those meals that looks like you tried way harder than you did, which I’m always okay with.
Wednesday
I make this when I want something that feels like a full meal in one pan. It’s hearty, easy to throw together, has a green veggie “built in”, and it holds up really well if there are leftovers (but there seldom are).
Thursday
Old-fashioned beef and noodles
This is one of those comfort meals that sticks around all year. It’s simple, filling, and the kind of dinner that always works. Sometimes we do a veg on the side, sometimes not, and either option is a-okay with me.
Friday
By the end of the week, I’m usually leaning toward something quick and flexible. Bowls are perfect for that. You can keep them simple or add whatever you have in the fridge or pantry, and it still feels like a complete meal. And, of course, anything teriyaki is a winner.
Saturday
This is more of a “throw it together and call it dinner” kind of night. It’s easy, it feeds everyone, and it’s the kind of meal that doesn’t require much effort, which is usually the goal by Saturday. This is great in a tortilla burrito-style, in a bowl topped with lettuce, or as a topping for loaded nachos. It’s like a dinnertime free-for-all.
Sunday
Leftovers, something simple, or we figure it out as we go. It’s the one day I don’t plan anything, unless we have some sort of social engagment. Some weeks I cook, some weeks Jay grills, and some weeks no one does anything. It just depends, haha.
A Few Things I’ve Noticed (That Make This All Work)
We repeat meals. A lot. We don’t eat a whole new menu each week, and I’ve stopped trying to. There are a handful of dinners that always work, and I just keep them on rotate.
I don’t plan every detail ahead of time either. I usually have a general idea of what we’ll eat, but I leave room to adjust depending on what sounds good or what I actually feel like cooking that day (because that’s absolutely a thing—not wanting to cook a certain thing on a certain day).
And it doesn’t hurt that most of these meals are built around ingredients I keep on hand 99% of the time, which makes everything easier without me really even having to try.
The Bottom Line
I know it’s not fancy, but this is what dinner looks like around here most of the time. Simple meals that make sense for real life, that are made (and eaten) over and over, and over again.