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    Home » Meal Planning » Weekly Meal Plans

    Updated: Mar 14, 2023 · Published: Mar 14, 2023 by Cassie Waltman · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Make Ahead Meal Plan Recipes

    Sample weekly meal plans are here to show you the way when it comes to planning dinners for your family that will accommodate the craziest of weeks. This collection of make ahead meal plan recipes uses the meal planning by category framework outlined in my Family Meal Planning Strategies post.

    A green graphic depicting a large lidded pot overlaid with the words, "make ahead meal plan" in black letters.

    When you know the week ahead is going to be a hectic one, putting some time in on the weekend is a great strategy. Stock the freezer with a few meals that can be thawed overnight and reheated. Chop some veggies so that they are ready for simple sides. Have Monday night's dinner in the fridge waiting to start the week off right.

    Three categories of meals that are perfect for a make ahead meal plan are soups, no-cook dinners, and casseroles. They can be prepared in the evening or frozen ahead of time and still taste great after reheating.

    Soups Are Great Make Ahead Meals

    The first category of meals I turn to for a make ahead meal plan is soups. You can make a batch big enough for both dinner and leftover lunches and most thaw well.

    This Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup is hearty and packed with veggies my kids love. Add some crusty bread and warm up the thawed soup and dinner is ready in 15 minutes from the time you walk in the door.

    Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup
    This creamy classic is lightened up a bit but still delivers the cheesy goodness you want.
    Click here for recipe

    Farro, Sausage, Kale, and Bean Soup is another delicious soup that freezes well. It's a complete meal in a bowl, so simply reheat it and serve for a quick meal after a busy day.

    Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Soup with Farro
    A sausage, kale, and white bean soup with nutty farro is a hearty and cozy meal that can easily be prepared in the Instant Pot or stovetop.
    Click here for recipe
    The overhead view of three bowls of soup on a wood table with bread and butter.

    No-cook Dinners for Quick Prep

    These meals are perfect for chopping up the night before and storing in the fridge for the next day.

    A salad is great for families with picky eaters. This Chicken and Cabbage Salad has lots of variety so everyone can pick and choose what goes in their salad. Make the dressing and store it in a jar and place the chopped veggies on a platter. Leave any crunchy bits to add last-minute.

    Chicken and Cabbage Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette
    This simple recipe for Chicken and Cabbage Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette balances textures and flavors for a simple and satisfying dinner.
    Click here for recipe

    Prepare a big batch of Pecan Chicken Salad and you can easily make sandwiches or open-faced cheddar melts when everyone tumbles in the door hungry later. Add some chips and veggie sticks and your meal is ready in a flash.

    Easy Chicken Pecan Salad (With 5 Variations!)
    Make a classic chicken pecan salad with toasted pecans and crunchy celery or step up your chicken salad game with 4 additional variations.
    Click here for recipe
    Easy Chicken Pecan Salad piled in a wooden bowl with chunks of pecans and celery.

    Casseroles Are Make Ahead Wonders

    Casseroles are popular with families for a good reason. They are hearty and delicious and fare well to preparing ahead. They often freeze well too!

    This Broccoli and Chicken Divan can be put together with rotisserie chicken or canned chickpeas as the main protein. Its delicious served with rice or over a baked potato!

    Baked Broccoli and Chicken Divan with Curry
    An old-school favorite with broccoli, chicken, curry sauce, and a breadcrumb topping, this bakes up into a warm and comforting casserole everyone cheers for.
    Click here for recipe
    A vibrant yellow casserole with broccoli, chicken, and cheese next to a pile of white rice on a black plate.

    Chiles Rellenos Casserole actually tastes better and cooks up tender after spending some time in the fridge before baking. I like to serve this with refried beans or a spiced up rice.

    Chiles Rellenos Casserole
    Cheesy layers of tortillas, eggs, enchilada sauce, and green chiles make this simple casserole a tasty stand in for the favorite Mexican restaurant dish.
    Click here for recipe

    Reach Out!

    I'd love to hear what dinners from this make ahead meal plan make the cut in your home. Leave your favorite casserole recipe in the comments, or tag me on Instagram or Facebook @planeatpostrepeat the next time you manage to get dinner on the table in 15 minutes or less!

    More Weekly Meal Plans

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      Busy Weeknight Meal Plan Recipes
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      Back to School Meal Plan Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cassie @ Plan. Eat. Post. Repeat. says

      August 22, 2023 at 8:23 am

      What are your favorite speedy meals for busy weeknights?

      Reply

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