What's for Dinner? Here is a Full Week Meal Plan Including Sides

I hate to make dinner, not as much as I hate to pump gas but it's a close second. I wish I was that mom who loves to have a home cooked meal on the table every night but by the time I get home from work dinner is just one more decision I do not want to make. Meal planning has been a huge help but it is still decision making. I decided to see if I can outsource this dreaded task to AI. This week I input the directions into Chat: Make a meal plan for 7 days, keep prep time under 45 minutes, include directions to make the meal, an idea for a side and a grocery list. I also asked for a vegan option. I could have broken it down further by asking for a price point to keep the meal under, targeted nutrients, the number of people I wanted to feed, if I want to have enough for leftovers etc. but kept it simple for the first try! If you need ideas for dinner this week, look no further! Here is my weekly meal plan along with the shopping list! 

Monday: Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken

• Main Dish:
  • Chicken breasts
  • Lemon
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme)
• Side:
  • Quinoa
  • Roasted vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers)
• Vegan Option:
  • Marinated and grilled tofu instead of chicken

Directions:

1. Marinate chicken with lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and chopped herbs.
2. Grill the chicken until cooked through.
3. Serve over a bed of quinoa with roasted vegetables on the side.

Tuesday: Spicy Black Bean Burrito Bowls

• Main Dish:
  • Canned black beans
  • Rice
  • Salsa
  • Avocado
  • Corn
  • Lettuce
• Side:
  • Tortilla chips
• Vegan Option:
  • Omit cheese and sour cream

Directions:

1. Cook rice and black beans separately.
2. Assemble burrito bowls with rice, black beans, salsa, sliced avocado, corn, and lettuce.
3. Serve with tortilla chips on the side.

Wednesday: Teriyaki Salmon with Stir-Fried Vegetables

• Main Dish:
  • Salmon fillets
  • Teriyaki sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Broccoli
  • Bell peppers
  • Carrots
• Side:
  • Jasmine rice
• Vegan Option:
  • Teriyaki tofu instead of salmon

Directions:

1. Marinate salmon in a mixture of teriyaki sauce and soy sauce.
2. Grill or bake the salmon until cooked.
3. Stir-fry vegetables and serve with jasmine rice.

Thursday: Chickpea and Vegetable Curry

• Main Dish:
  • Chickpeas
  • Coconut milk
  • Curry powder
  • Mixed vegetables (spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes)
• Side:
  • Basmati rice
• Vegan Option:
  • Vegan curry with coconut milk and chickpeas

Directions:

1. Cook chickpeas and vegetables in coconut milk with curry powder.
2. Serve over basmati rice.

Friday: Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella

• Main Dish:
  • Pasta
  • Pesto sauce
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh mozzarella
• Side:
  • Garlic bread
• Vegan Option:
  • Vegan pesto and omit mozzarella

Directions:

1. Cook pasta and toss with pesto sauce.
2. Add halved cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.
3. Serve with garlic bread on the side.

Saturday: BBQ Cauliflower Tacos

• Main Dish:
  • Cauliflower florets
  • BBQ sauce
  • Corn tortillas
  • Cabbage slaw
• Side:
  • Mexican street corn (elote)
• Vegan Option:
  • Vegan BBQ cauliflower tacos

Directions:

1. Roast cauliflower with BBQ sauce.
2. Fill corn tortillas with BBQ cauliflower and top with cabbage slaw.
3. Serve with Mexican street corn on the side.

Sunday: Margherita Flatbread Pizza

• Main Dish:
  • Flatbread
  • Tomato sauce
  • Fresh mozzarella
  • Basil
• Side:
  • Mixed green salad
• Vegan Option:
  • Vegan flatbread pizza with plant-based cheese

Directions:

1. Top flatbread with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil.
2. Bake until cheese is melted.
3. Serve with a mixed green salad on the side.

Shopping List:

• Chicken breasts
• Lemon
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme)
• Quinoa
• Zucchini
• Bell peppers
• Canned black beans
• Rice
• Salsa
• Avocado
• Corn
• Lettuce
• Tortilla chips
• Salmon fillets
• Teriyaki sauce
• Soy sauce
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Jasmine rice
• Chickpeas
• Coconut milk
• Curry powder
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Pasta
• Pesto sauce
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh mozzarella
• Garlic bread
• Cauliflower florets
• BBQ sauce
• Corn tortillas
• Cabbage
• Mexican street corn (elote)
• Flatbread
• Basil
• Mixed green salad
• Plant-based cheese (for vegan options)