Welcome to Week 25 of my weekly dinner planning. This week I have a short work trip on Thursday, so I’ve planned a slow cooker favorite that Tommy loves for two nights while I’m away. The rest of the week features quick, family-friendly dinners that are easy to prepare on busy evenings.
The photo above shows my meal planner where I map out dinners for the week. Meal planning saves time and reduces stress when shopping and cooking. My breakfasts are usually simple — eggs with fruit, a smoothie, or avocado toast — and dinner planning helps keep lunches and snacks organized, too. We are a family of four, so when a recipe makes more than we need, extras become packed lunches or convenient leftovers.
If you follow along regularly, you’ll recognize many of these recipes from previous weeks. Consistent planning helps with budgeting, minimizing food waste, and making weekday dinnertime smoother.
Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 25)
Monday: Grilled Veggie Towers with salad — a colorful, layered dish that showcases eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, red onion and fresh mozzarella. A drizzle of white balsamic and a sprinkle of basil elevate the flavors.
Tuesday: Skillet Chicken in Tomato-Chipotle Sauce with brown rice — a quick pan-seared chicken with a smoky chipotle tomato sauce, finished with a bright avocado crema to balance the heat.
Wednesday: Chicken Spiralized Zucchini Noodle Caprese — a lighter, low-carb twist on a Caprese salad served with tender chicken and zucchini “noodles,” cherry tomatoes and mini mozzarella balls tossed with fresh basil.
Thursday: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches — a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker roast beef with caramelized onions, perfect for easy assembly into sandwiches with warm au jus for dipping.
Friday: Away — leftovers for the family to enjoy, which makes Friday effortless and prevents unnecessary food waste.
Saturday: Away
Sunday: Cheese Baked Penne with Eggplant — a comforting, cheesy baked pasta from the Skinnytaste cookbook featuring roasted eggplant, ricotta, mozzarella and Pecorino Romano.
Tips for the week: Prep vegetables in advance to save time on weeknights. If you plan to be away, pack leftovers in labeled containers so family members can reheat meals without guessing. Slow cooker recipes are especially useful for travel days because they require minimal hands-on time and yield generous portions for lunches or second dinners.
Shopping List for Week 25
GRILLED VEGGIE TOWERS WITH MOZZARELLA
- Eggplant
- Red onion
- Zucchini
- Yellow squash
- Red bell peppers
- Fresh mozzarella cheese
- Basil leaves
- White balsamic vinegar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Dijon mustard
- Kosher coarse salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
SKILLET CHICKEN IN TOMATO-CHIPOTLE SAUCE WITH AVOCADO CREMA
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 pound total, 2 breasts)
- Kosher salt
- Cumin
- Ground black pepper
- Olive oil spray
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Low sodium chicken broth
- Chipotle pepper in adobo
- Lime
- Cilantro
- Low fat sour cream
- Avocado
- Jalapeño pepper
- Brown rice
CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI NOODLE CAPRESE
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast (1/2 lb)
- Kosher salt
- Dried oregano
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Grape tomatoes
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil
- Zucchini
- Fresh mini mozzarella balls
SLOW COOKER FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS
- Roast beef (3-4 lbs)
- Garlic
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh thyme
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Low sodium beef broth
- Worcestershire sauce
- Whole peppercorns
- Bay leaf
- Onions
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Whole wheat baguettes
CHEESY BAKED PENNE WITH EGGPLANT
- Olive oil spray or oil mister
- Fat free ricotta cheese
- Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- Pecorino Romano cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Eggplant
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Fresh basil
- Penne pasta (wheat or gluten free)
Meal-planning suggestions: organize your shopping list by department — produce, dairy, pantry, meats — to speed up your trip to the store. Consider buying a little extra of versatile staples like onion, garlic, and canned tomatoes since they appear across multiple recipes. When reheating leftovers, add a splash of broth or water to pasta or skillet dishes to prevent drying, and reheat gently to preserve texture.
Enjoy this week’s menu — simple, flavorful dinners designed to fit a busy family schedule while keeping mealtime satisfying and manageable.