I’ve gathered a selection of simple, delicious meals you can make at home this week to keep things varied and satisfying.
To start, I previously put together an extensive pantry recipe list filled with pantry-friendly ideas: pasta, beans, potatoes and more. If you want a streamlined weekly plan, below are a handful of meals to try this week that use simple ingredients, are great for leftovers, and are easy to adapt.
Green goddess falafel is a fantastic project if you have extra time. They take a bit more effort because they’re pan-fried, but they’re worth it — crisp on the outside, tender inside, and perfect for packing into lunches, topping salads, or stuffing into wraps.
Korean beef bowls are a fast, flavorful weeknight option. Cook a double batch of jasmine rice so you’ll have rice ready to use later in the week; the leftovers are especially tasty and reheat well.
Veggie fajita stuffed sweet potatoes make a comforting, nutrient-packed meal. Roast the sweet potatoes earlier in the week to save time, and if you like, add shredded chicken for extra protein. These are easy to customize with whatever toppings you have on hand.
Sticky sheet pan chicken with pineapple salsa is another easy, satisfying choice. Canned pineapple works perfectly here, and pairing it with the extra jasmine rice from the Korean beef bowls uses ingredients efficiently and minimizes waste.
Spicy parmesan shrimp skillet is a great pantry-and-freezer-friendly dinner—use thawed frozen shrimp and pasta for a quick meal that still feels special. It’s simple to prepare and keeps well as leftovers.
For an extra cozy option, curried tomato tortellini soup brings warming flavors and comforting texture. If you plan to have leftovers, store the soup and tortellini separately so the pasta doesn’t absorb all the broth and become soggy.
For breakfast, make a few jars of vanilla bean chia pudding ahead of time for an easy grab-and-go start to the day. For lunches, chicken salad stuffed avocados are fresh, satisfying, and quick to assemble.
These recipes are meant to be flexible: double batches when useful, swap proteins, and use pantry staples to stretch meals further. What’s on your menu this week? Share your favorite go-to dinners or any tweaks you make to these ideas.