Happy New Year!
If you’re knee-deep in dinner planning for the year ahead, here’s a curated list of my go-to weeknight dinners. These are the recipes we keep on regular rotation—flavors I rely on when plain salad and chicken feel uninspired. These meals are lighter without being joyless: a little cheese, whole grains, and an occasional bit of bacon show up now and then. Swap ingredients as needed to match your preferences or dietary needs, or use this collection as inspiration for fresh weekly menus.
Lately I’ve been planning meals in advance and building lots of variety into our rotation. That variety is what keeps weeknight dinners exciting and prevents me from relying on hastily prepared photo-ready meals. If you have favorite dinners, share them in the comments—I’m always looking for new ideas.
Week 1
1. autumn veg burgers with apple cider slaw
2. mushroom and chicken noodle soup with poached eggs
3. roasted tomato caprese panzanella
4. grilled corn, mushroom + roasted poblano tacos
5. bbq salmon + crispy chickpea salads
6. crockpot turkey quinoa meatballs
7. stuffed peppers in tomato basil sauce
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Week 2
1. asiago portobello burgers
2. toasted coconut tilapia with pomegranate salsa
3. chipotle lime chicken skewers with avocado cream
4. thai butternut squash soup
5. lightened up beef enchiladas
6. grilled watermelon caprese salads
7. whole goat cheese roasted chicken
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Week 3
1. pineapple cashew fried rice
2. pistachio pesto chicken with whole wheat spaghetti
3. roasted tomato, tuna and white bean cups
4. white chicken quinoa chili
5. sweet potato quinoa cakes with blackberry salsa
6. tilapia burgers with watermelon salsa and avocado
7. zucchini breakfast skillet with poached eggs
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Week 4
1. toasted sesame ginger salmon
2. roasted red pepper bean burgers
3. caramelized shallot, spinach and goat cheese pasta
4. springtime veggie skillet lasagna
5. thai beef tacos
6. mini chicken meatball soup
7. cauliflower pizza crust
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Week 5
1. autumn arugula salad
2. whole wheat pasta with crockpot tomato sauce
3. black bean + sweet potato tacos
4. apple bacon stuffed sweet potatoes
5. creamy tomato soup with garlic brown butter croutons
6. bbq salmon burgers
7. thai curry pomegranate chicken
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Week 6
1. chickpea chicken soup
2. bbq portobello sliders
3. mushroom melts with homemade dijon
4. summertime chopped salad
5. spicy parmesan shrimp skillet
6. red wine risotto with caramelized mushrooms
7. coconut crusted baked chicken fingers with peach honey mustard
Week 7
1. spicy brown sugar salmon
2. grilled Greek chicken salad
3. whole roasted chipotle lime chicken
4. creamy verde pasta
5. crockpot springtime minestrone soup
6. thai turkey burgers
7. bbq chicken enchiladas
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Week 8
1. grilled blueberry chicken skewers with coconut rice
2. whole wheat fontina portobello pizza
3. smoky white bean chicken chili
4. roasted grape stuffed sweet potatoes
5. thai butternut squash lettuce wraps
6. grilled blueberry bbq salmon
7. skillet chicken with peppers and peanuts
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Week 9
1. one pot chicken tortilla soup
2. roasted garlic + veggie tostadas
3. red wine marinated flank steak with caprese salad
4. double bean quesadillas with avocado cream
5. portobello gouda burgers
6. creamy tomato chicken pasta
7. homemade fish sticks
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Week 10
1. brown butter tilapia with toasted basil breadcrumbs
2. spinach and artichoke linguine
3. crispy kale salad
4. shrimp burgers with chipotle cream + coconut peach salsa
5. cheesy chicken and rice bake
6. brussels sprouts breakfast hash for dinner
7. black bean + cornbread panzanella salad
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Week 11
1. jerk shrimp tacos with spicy melon salsa
2. buttermilk almond crusted chicken fingers
3. coconut lime tilapia tacos with kiwi salsa
4. thai steak salad with roasted chili mango vinaigrette
5. sweet potato + crispy kale pasta
6. roasted chicken noodle soup
7. buffalo-style quinoa sliders with sweet corn + scallions
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Week 12
1. honey ginger chicken tostadas with pomegranate-lime salsa
2. crispy shrimp tacos
3. honey roasted vegetable pasta with smoked gouda
4. double bean burgers with avocado cream
5. brown sugar whole roasted chicken
6. mother lovett’s bean soup
7. chickpea curry with coconut rice
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Week 13
1. chicken salad with corn and Greek yogurt
2. roasted red pepper penne
3. macaroon-crusted tilapia
4. pan-toasted brown butter gnocchi with sweet corn and grilled scallions
5. toasted sesame chicken quinoa
6. 3-bean chili pot pies
7. 20-minute turkey taco nachos
Week 14
1. sweet potato burgers with roasted garlic cream and avocado
2. layered autumn quinoa salad
3. skillet lasagna
4. smoky chicken tacos with goat cheese queso
5. light crab cakes
6. warm winter chickpeas
7. roasted corn caesar salads with Greek yogurt dressing
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Week 15
1. citrus-crusted tilapia with blood orange salsa
2. crunchy honey chicken
3. creamy cauliflower soup
4. crispy quinoa sliders
5. tequila lime chicken + black bean burritos
6. whole wheat shrimp flatbreads
7. thai chicken enchiladas
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Week 16
1. triple berry kale salad
2. whole wheat roasted red pepper pizza
3. summer bean burgers with grilled corn pesto
4. lightened up chicken enchiladas
5. pan-crisped salmon with light dijon cream
6. roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers
7. whole wheat chicken and parmesan lasagna
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Week 17
1. Greek chicken tostadas
2. brown butter garden vegetable pasta
3. salmon BLT sliders
4. Asian turkey burgers with spicy lime mayo
5. sticky pomegranate chicken
6. thai crunch chicken salad
7. broiled shrimp with tomatoes, basil and brie
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Week 18
1. crab cake sliders with pineapple kiwi salsa
2. cashew chicken
3. thai chicken quinoa bowl
4. chicken enchilada stuffed peppers
5. light sesame chicken skillet
6. bbq salmon burgers
7. white bean chicken soup
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Week 19
1. enchilada spaghetti
2. crispy salmon + basil noodles
3. coconut baked shrimp with pineapple peach salsa
4. autumn panzanella salad
5. harvest chicken soup
6. sweet potato chili cheese rounds
7. thai chicken quesadillas
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Week 20
1. blt salad with corn, feta + avocado
2. bbq chicken burgers
3. crispy honey lime tilapia with blueberry salsa
4. portobello fajitas with fontina queso
5. cheesy black bean stuffed sweet potatoes with poached eggs
6. pecan crusted chicken wraps with strawberry honey mustard
7. bourbon glazed salmon