January Meal Plan Week 2
This January meal plan week 2 fulfills the goal of meal planning which is to ease the stress of the what to make for dinner dilemma. Meal planning eases stress and also saves on the grocery budget.
Anytime you go into the grocery store without a plan, it will cost more money. We all tend to pick up things we don’t need. The price of groceries right now demands that we plan our meals better to keep the grocery budget as low as possible. Y’all I just paid $5.77 for one dozen of eggs! Let’s combat these high prices together.
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About the meal plan
- This meal plan will serve 4. Some recipes will serve more than four depending on your portion sizes.
- It’s a meal plan for one week of dinner ideas.
- Some recipes are intended to create premeditated leftovers, like casseroles or large pots of soup. This saves on the budget.
- It is understood that you have common ingredients in your pantry such as salt and pepper so those are not included in the ingredient lists.
- Some recipes will call for ingredients that can be used in multiple recipes for the week. Such as a head of lettuce can be used to make side salads with a small amount also portioned for tacos. A bag of carrots can be used for multiple dishes in one week to avoid waste.
- There are 7 dinner ideas each week, in no particular order.
- Scroll down for the recipe links.
- Subscribe to my Newsletter to have these meal plans delivered to your inbox.
- Follow my Facebook page for lots of recipes shared daily.
Weeknight Dinner Ideas
There are three chicken recipes this week. You can spread those out throughout the week. I like to boil a large hen for Chicken and Dumplings one day and save enough meat to make Chicken Pot Pie the next. You might like to wait until the weekend to make Chicken Noodle Soup for a quick and easy meal.
Also, see the January Week 1 Meal Plan
1. Chicken and Dumplings easy recipe
This is one of my Cook Once Eat Twice recipes. I usually boil one hen and make this Chicken & Dumpling recipe one day and my Homemade Chicken Pot Pie the next. My food tastes better when I know it’s good for the budget.
Side Dishes
Chicken and Dumplings is a filling meal without side dishes. However, a side of cornbread or green beans is always good.
Grocery List
- 1 large hen
- 1 can cream of celery soup
- 1 Tbsp. Sage
- 1 pkg. Mary Hill frozen dumplings
2. Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
Homemade chicken pot pie is simply delicious and comforting. The flaky crust, the creamy gravy, and the hearty blend of chicken and vegetables are stick-to-the-ribs good eating.
Side Dishes
No side dishes are needed with Chicken Pot Pie. It’s loaded with vegetables inside of a bread crust. Enjoy!
Grocery List
I always cook a large hen for chicken and dumplings and save enough to make Chicken Pot Pie the next day.
- Whole hen (about 2 lbs.)
- 1 (16 oz.) bag of mixed frozen vegetables
- 1 can cream of potato soup
- 1 can cream of celery soup
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Refrigerated pie shell, the one with 2 per box near biscuits at the grocery store
- 1 tbsp. sage or poultry seasoning
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
Also, see How To Make Chicken Broth
3. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
My soup recipe is a double noodle made from scratch with carrots, celery, and chicken broth. This recipe is so easy, even the kids can help make it. Dinner is ready to eat in about 30 minutes.
Side Dishes
Let’s enjoy a good salad with our Chicken Noodle Soup. Make dinner easy and enjoy fresh vegetables by picking up a bagged salad from the produce section to go with your soup.
Grocery List
NOTE
You will be using fresh carrots in the Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe also. One bag of carrots will be sufficient for both recipes.
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1 tsp. Olive Oil
- 4 cups Chicken broth
- 2 cups dry spaghetti noodles broken into pieces
- Bagged salad from the produce section (optional)
4. Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
This Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe is a one-pot meal with only 6 ingredients. It’s an easy Crockpot recipe that makes a hearty weeknight dinner.
Side Dishes
You are in luck because this dish features potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. No other side dish is really needed. I do recommend some dinner rolls of your choice.
Grocery List
- 1 corned beef brisket (about 4 pounds)
- 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut
- 4 carrots, sliced into bite-size pieces
- 1 head cabbage, chopped or cut into wedges
- Dinner rolls (optional)
5. Sloppy Joes and French Fries
Sloppy Joes for dinner is a quick and easy meal with easy cleanup. While homemade sloppy joes might be good (yes, they are) I buy canned ones because it is still very cheap. $1.39 for a can of Manwich at my local Publix.
Side Dishes
Oven Baked Homestyle Fries or potato chips.
Grocery List
- 1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 can Manwich
- 1 pkg. burger buns
- 2-3 large Russet or White potatoes (optional)
- Olive oil
6. Baked Lemon Pepper Tilapia (low carb)
Baked Lemon Pepper Tilapia isn’t only a delicious weeknight meal idea but it’s also a Low Carb entree ready to eat in about 20 minutes!
Side Dish
Serve your favorite quick and easy vegetables. I like to cook frozen California vegetables as a side. Buy the ‘steamer’ frozen vegetables to keep this meal quick.
Grocery List
- About 4 frozen Tilapia (1 per person)
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 bag of frozen California vegetables (optional)
7. Cheese Sausage Pasta Casserole
This Cheesy Sausage Pasta Casserole is two layers of meaty cheesy goodness with Penne Pasta mixed in. This recipe is delicious leftover the next day.
Side Dish
Serve a side salad and bread with this nice Italian meal. Grab my copycat recipe for Homemade Italian Butter to go with your bread. I recommend a loaf of French bread from the bakery at your grocery store. Heat, slice and eat.
Grocery List
- 3/4 lb. Penne Pasta
- 1 lb. Sage Pork Sausage browned and drained
- 1 24 oz. Jar of Spaghetti Sauce
- 1 tsp. dried Basil
- 1 tsp. dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
- 1 (15 oz.) container of Ricotta Cheese
- 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
- Bagged salad (optional)
Italian Butter Ingredients (Optional)
- ½ tsp. oregano
- ½ tsp. basil
- ½ tsp. rosemary
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1 large clove of garlic, crushed
- OPTIONAL: Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
- 3-4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, preferably Robust
This week’s meal plan contains seven weeknight dinner ideas with recipes. You will find meals with premeditated leftovers and meals with ingredients you can use the next night also.
Use this simple menu plan to make dinner easier at your house. Scroll down for all of this week’s recipe links.
- Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
- Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
- Double Noodle Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
- Baked Lemon Pepper Tilapia Recipe
- Cheesy Sausage Pasta Casserole Recipe
- Sloppy Joes and Oven Baked French Fries
Your thoughts?
Got tips others can use? Questions? I love hearing from you. Please scroll down and leave a comment.
Breakfast Recipes
Slow Cooker Southwestern Breakfast Casserole Recipe is a good meal to make not only for breakfast but also when you want breakfast for supper.
Pumpkin Banana Bread Easy Recipe. Pumpkin Banana Bread is the answer when you crave the pumpkin flavor with just a hint of pumpkin.
Use your leftover bananas and apples to make these Apple Banana Oat Muffins Easy Recipe. Good for an out-the-door breakfast or snack.
Baked Egg & Veggie Muffin Omelets are another easy breakfast finger food. Use any leftover veggies you prefer and bake this breakfast treat in the oven while you get ready to go.
Dutch Baby Pancake Easy Recipe. An easy recipe for an old classic breakfast or brunch treat, a big fluffy flavor-filled Dutch Baby baked pancake you can top with fresh fruit and syrup. Share, it’s too big for one person.
