The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (2024)

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By Tablespoon Kitchens

Created December 19, 2017

Be a weekend warrior of the meal-prep variety. Shop on Saturday, do a power hour (or two) of ingredient prep on Sunday, and literally throw together these easy dinners all week long. We’ve even made your grocery list!

Your Weekend Meal Prep Plan

  • Dinner #1: Microwave Mexican
  • Dinner #2: Cheesy Italian
  • Dinner #3: Sheet-Pan Magic
  • Dinner #4: A Killer Copycat
  • Dinner #5: One-Pan Tex-Mex
  • Grocery List
  • Even More Meal Prep Ideas

Dinner #1: Microwave Mexican

Give yourself a break on Monday with the easiest, cheesiest, fastest enchiladas you’ve ever had. Let your microwave save you some time in the kitchen without trading off anything on taste. It’s a true win-win. Get Recipe: Easy Microwave Chicken Enchiladas

Sunday Prep Plan:

  • Portion 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • Measure and store 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (3)

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Dinner #2: Cheesy Italian

Next, a simple meatless dinner that still packs a protein punch, thanks to everyone’s favorite superfood, quinoa. Sub in vegetable broth for chicken broth if desired for a fully vegetarian meal. Cheesy, tomato-y goodness for the win! Get Recipe: Caprese Quinoa Bake

Sunday Prep Plan:

  • Cook quinoa; portion and store 4 cups in the fridge
  • Wash and dry cherry tomatoes

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (5)

Dinner #3: Sheet-Pan Magic

Yet another reason to love your sheet pan. This healthy, colorful, veggie-packed dinner gives new meaning to “taste the rainbow.” If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, they make an awesome lunch (and taste even better the next day). Get Recipe: Sheet-Pan Chicken Shawarma

Sunday Prep Plan:

  • Wash and slice bell peppers and onion, and refrigerate them together in a food storage bag or sealed container
  • Measure and store together salt, pepper, pepper flakes, cumin and allspice
  • Slice cucumber and refrigerate

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (7)

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (8)

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Dinner #4: A Killer Copycat

The only thing better than your favorite restaurant recipes are the DIY versions you can make in the comfort of your own home. Get all your chopping out of the way ahead of time, and it comes together even faster. This soup tastes legit—and it makes so much, it might as well be “unlimited.” Maybe serve it with some breadsticks? Get Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden™ Pasta e fa*gioli

Sunday Prep Plan:

  • Dice the onion, celery and carrot, mince the garlic, and store them all together in a sealed container in the fridge

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (10)

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Dinner #5: One-Pan Tex-Mex

Did we bookend this week of dinners with cheese? You know it. Ease into the weekend with this simple (not to mention cheesy) one-pan dinner. If you follow all the prep instructions below, you can have dinner on the table in 10-15 minutes. Get Recipe: Tex-Mex Beef and Rice Skillet

Sunday Prep Plan:

  • Cook rice; portion and store 3 cups in the fridge
  • Cook and drain the ground beef; refrigerate
  • Dice onion and bell pepper, measure out corn kernels, and refrigerate them together in a food storage bag or sealed container

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (12)

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Grocery List

Ready to be a weekend meal-prep warrior? Here’s what you’ll need to make each recipe. (Note: we’re assuming you already have salt, pepper, olive oil, vegetable oil and cooking spray in your pantry.)

Easy Microwave Chicken Enchiladas

  • 2 cups shredded deli rotisserie chicken
  • Shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • Sour cream
  • Fresh cilantro
  • 1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild enchilada sauce
  • Old El Paso™ chicken taco seasoning mix
  • 8 corn tortillas (6 inch)

Caprese Quinoa Bake

  • Quinoa (uncooked, or 4 cups cooked)
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 container (32 oz) Progresso™ Chicken Broth
  • 1 container (8 oz) mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh basil
  • Garlic salt (or 2 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped)

Sheet-Pan Chicken Shawarma

  • 1 package (20 oz) boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 container (32 oz) Yoplait® All Natural Fat Free plain yogurt
  • 1 red bell pepper •1 yellow bell pepper
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 1 English (hothouse) cucumber
  • 2-3 fresh lemons, for juicing
  • Fresh garlic
  • Fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Ground cumin
  • Ground allspice
  • 6 rounds pita bread

Copycat Olive Garden™ Pasta e fa*gioli

  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage
  • Grated fresh Parmesan cheese
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • 1 onion (white or yellow)
  • Fresh garlic
  • Fresh parsley
  • 2 boxes (32 oz) Progresso™ Chicken Broth, regular or low sodium
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz each) Muir Glen™ Organic Diced Tomatoes Fire Roasted
  • 1 can (15 oz) great Northern beans, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, drained
  • Ditalini pasta

Tex-Mex Beef and Rice Skillet

  • 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
  • Shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 medium red bell pepper
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Fresh or frozen corn kernels
  • Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
  • Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
  • White rice

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Even More Meal Prep Ideas

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Knowledge is power! Let Tablespoon teach you how to cook anything.

The Ultimate Weekend Meal-Prep Plan: Prep a Week of Dinners in One Day (2024)

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