25 Delicious Yet Simple Dinners for the Next Month”

Hey you, yes you Mama! Do you know what you’re having for dinner tonight? If you don’t, I’m going to guess you have no idea what you’re going to make for dinners for the next month.

I don’t know about you but figuring out what to make for dinner every night I absolutely dreaded. Having the same thing every week, ordering pizza or take-out because we either couldn’t decide on anything, we didn’t have ingredients to put together a meal or we just didn’t feel like cooking. Busy schedules also make preparing and cooking difficult as well when you’re in a pinch and want to avoid running through the fast-food line before or after work or practice.

I know we’ve all been there. Us being a family of 6, one kiddo on the spectrum who is a very picky eater, it’s hard to find something that everyone enjoys.

So, I started doing a monthly dinner planning menu. I come up with 25 meals, for the next 5 weeks, including 2 leftover nights a week, so I never have to guess what to make.

Time to start planning your dinner menu for the next month.

I’ll plan out on a calendar what we’re going to have each night after going through our busy night time schedule. So I know nights we have games or practices we have to run to, I’ll be able to make it a crock pot night, a simple throw together meal I can prepare for during the day or make it a leftover night (which by leftovers my teenagers eat cereal because they just feel like it). Which is okay in our house because hey, who doesn’t like cereal for dinner. I know I enjoy a bowl every now and then when I just don’t feel like warming something up.

After planning out the Calander, I go through the cupboards, figure out what I already have and make a shopping list.

Make sure you plan your Calander out first, that way you know if you need to wait to buy certain things like buns, lettuce and produce, or lunch meat. You don’t want to buy those things and have the meals at the end of the month when they’ll have gone bad. You’ll find yourself having to throw it away and buy more, wasting money.

Check your local stores for sales, bulk buying and utilize those store apps where you can get even more discounts by clipping coupons.

If it works for your budget, definitely buy your meat in bulk. It will save you so much money in the long run. We are fortunate to be able to get 10lbs of burger for around $30 a month. Which works out perfect for us because when I plan out my meals, we need roughly 10lbs of burger, sometimes needing a pound extra.

Also don’t forget those freezer bag, you’ll be separating and freezing if you buy in bulk! So, all you have to do in the morning is look at your Calander, pull out whatever meat you need from the freezer and you’ll be ready to make a delicious meal for your family tonight!

Dinners I have Planned for the Next Month

Coming up with 25 different meals every month can be daunting. I mean I don’t know if I even know that many recipes. Thanks to Pinterest though I can incorporate a variety of new meals, repeat meals and fun easy meals every month.

Yes, there are dinners we eat on repeat. One because they’re simple, cheap and easy to make. Two, they’re things I know my family loves and everyone eats!

Here’s what my 25 dinners look like for the next 5 weeks, making my nights just a little simpler with busy sports schedules and picky eaters.

1. Spagetti
2. Meatloaf, Potatoes, Corn
3. Nachos
4. Popcorn Chicken Bowls
5. Breakfast
6. Pork Chops, Buttered Noodles, Veggie
7. Homemade Hameburger Helper
8. Chicken and Waffles
9. Chicken, Rice and Veggie
10. Garlic Butter Sausage with Spinach Parm Pasta
11. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
12. Lazanga Rollups
13. Strombolis and Homemade Pizza
14. Chicken Thights, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Brocoli
15. Honey BBQ Chicekn, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans
16. Taco Pasta
17. Meatball Subs and Fries
18. Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Brocoli Salad, Macaroni Salad, Chips
19. Wings, Homemade Mozzarella Sticks, Tater Tots
20. Chickem Bacon Ranch Casserole with Potatoes
21. Griller Chicken Thighs, Fried Potatoes, Veggie
22. Sausages and Fries
23. Breakfast Mess
24. Cheesy Garlic Chicken Wraps
25. Lunch Meat Sandwhichs and Chips

There it is, 5 weeks of dinners, that I don’t have to think about what I’m going to make, worry about if I have everything to make it or have to run through the drive through on our way to practices.

We’re a family of 6 and I spend around $400 for everything I would need for all the meals. Adjust to your family’s needs. Break it in half to start if it’s overwhelming, because it can be until you get going and figure out a plan that works for you.

If I know we have a late night or running to do at night where we won’t get home till 8:00, I’ll try to get it made before we leave so I can take it along for my older kids to eat in the car before practices or games.

I hope this helps you plan your menu for the next 5 weeks to take a little stress off your back and make your family’s bellies full!

I know it does mine!

Enjoy!