March Meal Plan Week 1

Hello March! The Week 1 meal plan for March will have the beginning of some lighter dinner ideas as we begin to shift away from winter comfort foods. Spring is less than three weeks away.

The Week 1 March meal plan includes seven weeknight meals with; an easy Slow cooker recipe with few ingredients, a sandwich recipe, a low-carb soup, an easy foil packet dinner, a pasta salad, and a nice change for Taco night plus the easiest Chicken and Dumplings recipe you will ever find.

Save on your grocery budget by meal planning. Want to make your own Meal Plans? Use this free printable guide, Month of Meals Planner Set!

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About the meal plan

• This weekly meal plan will serve 4. Some recipes will serve more than four depending on your portion sizes.
• 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.
• There are 7 dinner ideas each week, in no particular order.
• All recipes are linked at the bottom.
• Subscribe to my Newsletter to have these meal plans delivered to your inbox.
• Follow my Pinterest

Special days in March

• March 4 is Mardi Gras, Ways to celebrate at home
• March 5 is Ash Wednesday
• March 9, Spring Forward Time change
• March 20 is the First Day of Spring

More Meal Plans for late winter

• February Meal Plan Week 4
• February Meal Plan Week 3
• February Meal Plan Week 2
• February Meal Plan Week 1

March Meal Plan Week 1

All recipes are linked at the bottom of this article. Side dish suggestions are not required, cook your favorite family sides. The grocery list for each entree includes the necessary ingredients for that recipe.

1. Chicken and Veggie Foil Pack Dinner

Foil Packet Dinners are good any time of the year. This one is Chicken and Veggies. It’s a complete meal you can cook in aluminum foil for easy cleanup. 

Side Dishes

No side dishes are needed as this is a complete meal. Add dinner rolls if you like.

Grocery List

You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already.

• 2 chicken leg quarters
• 3/4 cup baby carrots
• 2 ears of corn on the cob (frozen is fine)
• 3/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 3 small red potatoes, quartered
• 2 Roma tomatoes
• 1 sweet onion, like Vidalia onions
• A drizzle of Olive Oil

2. Shrimp Tacos

Taco Tuesday never tasted so good. A nice change of pace from the ordinary is this Shrimp Tacos recipe. Enjoy this 30-minute meal. Veggies included; fresh avocado, lettuce, and tomato.

Side Dishes

Homemade Guacamole and your favorite Tortilla chips.

Grocery List

• 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled & deveined
• 1 pkg. (10 ct.) Soft Flour Shell Tortillas
• 2 Tbsp.Oil
• 2 cups Shredded Lettuce
• 1 large ripe tomato, cut and chopped
• 2 Medium ripe Avocados, scooped and chopped
• 1 pkg. Taco Seasoning, like this

3. Chicken And Dumplings

Don’t shy away just yet. My recipe for Chicken and Dumplings does not require making dough and rolling then cutting. I cheat just a little bit. There will be no leftovers when you make a pot of Chicken and Dumplings for dinner.

Side Dishes

Make a pan of Cornbread to go with your Chicken and Dumplings. You might also enjoy a good Broccoli salad like this one. Eat leftover Broccoli salad for lunch the next day.

Grocery List

• 1 hen
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp. Sage
• 1 pkg. Mary Hill frozen dumplings

4. Low-Carb Creamy Turkey and Mushroom Soup

Lean ground turkey with fresh vegetables and just the right seasonings make this delicious creamy turkey soup.

Side Dishes

Make a nice side salad to go with your soup. Use this list of toppings for a Chef Salad Bar at home.

Grocery List

• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• ½ Cup red onion, diced small
• 1 large celery stalk, diced small
• 1. Cup mushrooms, chopped (White or Portabella)
• 1 lb. ground turkey (85% lean)
• 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• 6 Cups low-fat chicken broth
• ½ Cup heavy cream
• 1 12-oz. bag frozen riced cauliflower
• 2 Cups Italian blend cheese, shredded, divided
• 3 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped

5. Rotisserie Chicken & Brie Sandwich

A Chicken and Brie Sandwich with a fruity spread is the sort of dinner option you would expect to find on a gourmet restaurant menu. Now you can make your own at home with no special skills, just this easy recipe.

Side Dishes

Serve a Dill pickle spear and potato chips as your side dishes on sandwich night.

Ingredients

• 4 ciabatta rolls, cut in half lengthwise
• 1 cup fresh arugula
• ½ Cup Peach compote, recipe here (or your favorite topping)
• 1 lb. Rotisserie Chicken meat, sliced
• 4 oz. Brie, rind removed and sliced thick

6. Tuna Pasta Salad

This Tuna Pasta Salad is a great weekend meal. You can make it ahead and leave it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. I like to make it Saturday morning for that evening.

Side Dish

Pear and Cherry Salad go great with a pasta salad. It is like a fruity dessert treat. Also, serve crackers with your Tuna pasta salad.

Grocery List

• 1 box (8 oz.) Macaroni noodles boiled and drained
• 1 2 oz. jar pimentos, undrained
• 2 celery stalks chopped
• 3 (5 oz.) cans Tuna, drained
• ½ Cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 4 Tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tsp. Dry mustard
• 3 Tbsp. sugar

7. Not Quite Mississippi Crockpot Roast

This easy recipe for Crockpot Roast comes out with amazing flavor, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth every time. A great Sunday dinner idea.

Side Dish

Make these Best Ever Southern Candied Yams, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, and Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese.

Grocery List

• 1 Chuck Roast about 3 lbs.
• 1 single packet of Ranch Dressing Mix
• 1 single packet of Au Jus Gravy Mix
• 1 small bag of Red Pearl Onions, skins removed

Scroll down for all of this week’s recipe links.

March Meal Plan Recipes Week 1

1. Chicken and Veggies Foil Pack Dinner Recipe
2. Shrimp Tacos Recipe
3. Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
4. Low-Carb Creamy Turkey and Mushroom Soup Recipe
5. Rotisserie Chicken and Brie Panini
6. Tuna Pasta Salad
7. Not Quite Mississippi Crockpot Roast Recipe

Your thoughts?

Got tips others can use? Questions? I love hearing from you. Please scroll down and leave a comment.

Dessert Recipes

• Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting
• Grasshopper Poke Cake Recipe
• Cherry Cheesecake No Bake Dessert
• No Bake Triple Berry Cheesecake Parfait
• No-Churn Ice Cream Chocolate Toffee Flavor
• Homemade Fudgesicles Recipe

Thank you for sharing!