Week 1 Meal Plan

With the Superbowl this week, there are tons of great deals on the ingredients for traditional Superbowl snacks (tomatoes, avocados, green onions, sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, steak, etc). I made sure to incorporate these ingredients into this week's meal plan. I left an easy dinner on Sunday for all of you who may or may not have Superbowl traditions to keep up.

Wednesday
spaghetti and meatballs, garlic toast, steamed broccoli and cauliflower

Thursday
Korean beef with broccoli, brown rice, edamame

Friday- Breakfast for dinner!
cream cheese eggs, hashbrowns, fruit

Saturday-Free day!
Go out, eat leftovers, or whip up some easy hot dog bun pizzas.

Sunday- Superbowl
Superbowl snacks
or
chicken alfredo, steamed baby carrots, peas

Monday
Mexican haystacks, green salad, corn

Tuesday
baked pork chops, onion rice, green beans, peas


Click here for the Week 1 Grocery List.

Customize everything to your heart's content, or just follow my meal plan exactly.

Week 1 Time Saving Tips
Wednesday
Chop all the broccoli (save half in the fridge for Tuesday's Korean beef with broccoli).
Chop all of the green onions, separating into three separate bags in the fridge.

Thursday
Start marinating the Korean beef with broccoli whenever you get a free moment in the day; use one of the portions of green onions.

Friday
Use one portion of green onions for the Cream cheese eggs.

Saturday
If you decide to make Hot dog bun pizzas, chop up all your onion and bell peppers and save some for Monday's Mexican haystacks.

Sunday
Start the recipe in the crock pot 5-6 hours before dinner.

Monday
If you get a spare moment in the day, you can chop up all of the toppings in advance. Use up the last portion of green onions.

Baked Pork Chops, Onion Rice, Green Beans, Peas

4 boneless pork chops
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c water
3 c soft, fresh bread crumbs (about 3 pieces of bread)
1/4 c water
2 Tbsp melted butter
¼ tsp parsley

1 c rice
1 can French Onion soup
1 c water
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp curry powder

1 can green beans

frozen peas


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown the pork chops and place in a greased baking dish. Mix together cream of chicken soup and about 1/3 can of water and pour over pork chops. Make stuffing by lightly mixing together bread crumbs, 2 Tbsp melted butter, 1/4 cup water, and parsley. Place a mound of stuffing on each pork chop.

In another greased baking dish, combine rice, French onion soup, 1 cup water, 1 Tbsp butter, and curry powder.

Place both baking dishes in the oven. Bake for 1 hour, stirring rice once or twice.

Just before dinner, microwave green beans in a serving bowl.

Microwave peas in a serving bowl.

Pork chops and onion rice recipes are from my Aunt Cathy.

Mexican Haystacks, Green Salad, Corn

1 c white rice
1/2 lb ground beef
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce (8 oz?)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 - 1 pkg taco seasoning
garlic powder, cumin, chili powder to taste
toppings (green onions, bell peppers, shredded cheese, salsa, tortilla chips, chopped tomatoes, avocado, etc)

green salad

frozen corn


Cook rice according to package directions.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and taco seasonings (start with 1/2 pkg taco seasoning, slowly add more to taste). Simmer on low for 10 minutes, adding dashes of garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder to taste.

Meanwhile, prepare all the desired toppings.

Microwave the corn in a serving bowl.

Serve tomato sauce over rice and top with toppings. Serve with green salad and corn on the side.



*The Mexican haystacks idea came from some friends we met in college. I can't actually remember who it was, though! If it was you, let me know.

Chicken Alfredo, Steamed Baby Carrots, Peas

2 chicken breasts cut in thin strips
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 envelope Italian dressing mix
1 pkg cream cheese

1 pkg fettuccine noodles

2 handfuls baby carrots

frozen peas

In a crock pot, combine chicken, broth, soup, and dressing mix. Cook on low for 5 hours or until chicken is cooked through. Add cream cheese and stir vigorously. Cook 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Cook fettuccine noodles according to package directions.

Fill the bottom of a medium pan with water. Place a steamer basket inside. Fill with baby carrots. Cover with lid. Boil on medium heat until carrots are fork tender.

Meanwhile, microwave peas in a serving bowl.

Serve alfredo sauce over hot, cooked noodles with carrots and peas on the side.

Hot Dog Bun Pizzas

hot dog buns
pizza sauce (homemade or store bought are both fine)
shredded cheese
pizza toppings (pepperoni, onion, peppers)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Open hot dog buns. Spread with sauce. Top with cheese and other toppings. Bake on a cookie sheet for 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and buns reach desired brownness.

Cream Cheese Eggs, Hashbrowns, Fruit

8 eggs
2 T milk
1/2 pkg cream cheese, cut into smaller chunks
3 slices deli ham
2 green onions, thinly sliced
salt
fresh cracked pepper

frozen hashbrowns (or grate a whole potato and make homemade!)

fruit of your choice


In a medium bowl, beat eggs and milk. Heat non-stick pan to medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Add eggs and cook, stirring occasionally, until scrambled eggs are nearly all the way cooked through. Add cream cheese, ham, and green onions. Continue cooking and stirring until eggs are cooked and cream cheese is melted. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.

While the eggs are cooking, fry up the hashbrowns according to the package instructions. (If making homemade hashbrowns, I suggest starting those before the eggs as they take a little longer.)

Cut up a large platter of fruit to serve at the table.

Korean Beef with Broccoli, Brown Rice, Edamame

1 lb steak
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 green onions, chopped
5 T sugar
1/4 c sesame seeds
1/2 c low-sodium soy sauce
1 T sesame oil
2 T canola oil, divided
1 T rice vinegar
1/4 t mashed kiwi
1/2 bunch broccoli
cornstarch

1 c brown rice

1 pkg frozen edamame



Start the night before or at least an hour before dinner. Slice beef into very thin slices. Mix together garlic, green onions, sugar, sesame seeds, soy sauce, sesame oil, 1 T canola oil, and rice vinegar. Reserve half the soy sauce mixture as sauce. Combine remaining half of the soy sauce mixture with kiwi and sliced beef. Refrigerate and marinate 1 to 24 hours.

When beef is done marinating, cook rice according to package directions.

In a pan, heat remaining 1 T oil on medium heat. Stirfry broccoli for 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp tender. Remove to a plate. Stirfry meat on a little higher heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until done. Add reserved sauce and broccoli. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix together a tablespoon or two of cornstarch with a splash of water; add into pan. Boil for one minute.

Microwave edamame in a serving bowl. Season with salt.

*The Korean Beef with Broccoli recipe is an adaptation of many recipes from Allrecipes.

Spaghetti with Meatballs, Garlic Toast, Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower

1 pkg spaghetti
1 bag frozen meatballs
1 can pasta sauce

4 slices bread
butter
garlic powder
Parmesan cheese

1/2 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
2-3 cauliflower crowns, cut into bite-sized pieces


I feel like everyone has their own way of eating spaghetti and meatballs. For me, it's my lazy recipe for a busy day, so I do the least amount of work possible. Feel free to add onion or bell pepper, or do whatever you like to do on your own spaghetti night.

Bake meatballs according to package directions.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

Fill the bottom of a medium saucepan with water. Place a steamer basket inside and fill with cauliflower and broccoli. Bring to a boil over medium to medium-high heat. Cook until broccoli is bright green, and broccoli and cauliflower are fork tender.

Toast pieces of bread. Spread with butter and sprinkle lightly with garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.

Heat pasta sauce in a microwavable serving bowl.

Serve spaghetti with sauce and meatballs. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese. Serve toast, broccoli and cauliflower on the side.

Week 1 Grocery List

spaghetti and meatballs, garlic toast, steamed broccoli and cauliflower
1 pkg spaghetti
1 bag frozen meatballs
1 can pasta sauce
Parmesan cheese
bread
1/2 bunch broccoli
2-3 cauliflower crowns

Korean beef with broccoli, brown rice, edamame
1 lb steak
1 head garlic
4 green onions
sesame seeds
low-sodium soy sauce
sesame oil
canola oil
rice vinegar
1 kiwi
1/2 bunch broccoli
cornstarch
brown rice
1 pkg frozen edamame


cream cheese eggs, hashbrowns, fruit
8 eggs
milk
1/2 pkg cream cheese
sliced deli ham
green onions
frozen hashbrowns (or 1 potato)
fruit of your choice

hot dog bun pizzas (if you do them)
hot dog buns
pizza sauce (homemade or store bought)
shredded cheese
pizza toppings (pepperoni, onion, peppers)


chicken alfredo, steamed baby carrots, peas
2 chicken breasts
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 envelope Italian dressing mix
1 pkg cream cheese
1 pkg fettuccine noodles
baby carrots
frozen peas


Mexican haystacks, green salad, corn
white rice
1/2 lb ground beef
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce (8 oz?)
1 can black beans
1 pkg taco seasoning
desired toppings (green onions, bell peppers, shredded cheese, salsa, tortilla chips, chopped tomatoes, avocado, etc)
green salad
frozen corn


baked pork chops, onion rice,green beans, peas
4 boneless pork chops
1 can cream of chicken soup
bread
butter
white rice
1 can French Onion soup
1 can green beans
frozen peas

All Together, This Week's Shopping List Is...
bread
hot dog buns
1 bunch broccoli
2-3 cauliflower crowns
1 head garlic
1 bunch green onions
1 kiwi
1 bell pepper
1 onion
baby carrots
1 tomato
1 avocado
fruit of your choice
1 lb steak
2 chicken breasts
1/2 lb ground beef
4 boneless pork chops
Parmesan cheese
eggs
milk
2 pkgs cream cheese
deli ham
shredded cheese
pepperoni
sesame seeds
sesame oil
canola oil
soy sauce
rice vinegar
corn starch
1 envelope Italian dressing mix
1 envelope taco seasoning
tortilla chips
1 pkg spaghetti
1 pkg fettucine
white rice
brown rice
pasta sauce
pizza sauce
1 can chicken broth
2 cans cream of chicken
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can black beans
1 can French onion soup
1 can green beans
frozen meatballs
frozen hashbrowns
frozen edamame
frozen peas
frozen corn

You probably have many of these items in your pantry already! Check to see what you already have on hand, then head to the store!