On deck this week are some hearty meal planning dishes perfect for the impending snow! We’ve got savory sweet potato, creamy gnocchi, healthy kale soup and pizza sliders. Everything was easy and so affordable this week, especially the soup! If you haven’t ever had gnocchi (pronounced kinda like “know-key” in your best Italian accent) you are missing out big time.
I hope you enjoy these as much as my family does and feel free to give me some feedback on the recipes that you try. If you have any questions, comment below! If you have a recipe you want to submit for me to try, leave that below as well and you could be featured in one of my blog posts!
This is my weekly meal plan on $60 or less! (my average prices do not include common spices, butter, oil, etc)
Monday
Chicken & Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner (@$10)
- Chicken Breast $3.24 ($2.99lb, Fresh Market)
- Onion $0.59
- Sweet Potato $2.16
- Broccoli $1.99
- Pecans $0.40
- Dried Cranberries $0.50 (¼ package)
- Pretzel Bread $0.99
(recipe) A great mix of flavors and colors in this one that will warm up and plate. The only thing I did differently was to add the pecans and cranberries during the last 5 minutes of cooking so they had that warm and toasty taste to them, but they weren’t cooked through. All my vegetarian friends can omit the chicken and enjoy it too!
Tuesday
Cheeseburger Gnocchi (@$9.25)
- Ground Beef $3.48 ($2.99lb, Fresh Market)
- Gnocchi $2.19
- Onion $0.59
- Rotel $1.00
- Heavy Cream $0.65
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese $1.20
(recipe) I love gnocchi, so I am always looking for a different way to prepare it and this is definitely a new favorite in my house. It comes out super creamy and decadent and cooks up quick! Your kiddos will love this, it’s like mac n cheese on steroids.
Wednesday
Turkey Sausage & Kale Soup (@$10.75)
- Turkey Sausage $2.99
- Kale $0.98
- Sweet Potato $2.16
- Onion $0.59
- Chicken Broth $3.58 ($1.79 x2)
- Red Kidney Beans $0.40
(recipe) I love a crockpot meal, and when you are meal planning it keeps things simple. Soups are so easy to toss together, let it simmer and make the house smell fantastic all day. Turkey sausage and fresh kale help make this soup super healthy and packed with vitamins. With all the colds and flus going around, this one will really up the ante on your usual chicken noodle soup.
Friday
Pizza Sliders (@$9.50)
- Dinner Rolls $3.00
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese $2.39
- Pepperoni $1.50 (½ package)
- Marinara Sauce $0.26
- Caesar Salad $2.29
(recipe) Friday is pizza night in our house, but it doesn’t have to mean fast food delivery. This version is super flavorful, cheaper and healthier! Plus, using smaller dinner rolls allows us to all have better portion control so we can stick to those New Year diets a little easier while still allowing a splurge. It’s all about balance and portion control.
Saturday
Spaghetti (@$5.25)
- Ground Beef $3.03 ($2.99lb, Fresh Market)
- Spaghetti Noodles $0.29
- Marinara Sauce $1.33
- Zucchini $0.56
Sometimes we need a super easy and quick meal on a busy night and this is one of my go to’s. I add diced zucchini to give it some texture, color and flavor that typical noodles and meat sauce doesn’t deliver. Plus, we need more veggies in our lives. Remember those resolutions to be healthier? There ya go.
5 meals for under $45
**Bonus**
The best addition to the hearty winter soups and stews is CORNBREAD!!! Yum Yum. You can do so much with cornbread to suit your dish. Add diced jalapenos, chopped bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, or olives. Use your imagination!
