Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 97)
This is the Skinnytaste Dinner Plan for Week 97. I’m hoping for cooler weather next week because I’m craving comforting, warming meals. Below you’ll find a straightforward weekly dinner schedule followed by a consolidated shopping list organized by recipe. Meal planning helps streamline grocery trips, reduce food waste, and ensures evening meals feel calm and manageable—especially with a busy family schedule.
How I Plan
I use a meal planner to map out dinners for the week, but any notebook or planning app works just as well. My breakfasts are simple and quick—eggs with fruit, a smoothie, or avocado toast—so I focus the planning on dinners. We’re a family of four; if a recipe makes more than we can eat in one sitting, leftovers become lunches or an easy dinner the next day. The plan below lists each night’s main dish and basic serving ideas so it’s simple to shop and prepare.
Weekly Menu
- Monday: Dad’s Creamy Cauliflower Soup, served with garlic bread and a simple green salad
- Tuesday: Breaded Chicken Cutlets with Deconstructed Guacamole
- Wednesday: One-Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce (stove-top)
- Thursday: Chicken Shiitake and Wild Rice Soup
- Friday: Leftovers
- Saturday: Dinner out
- Sunday: Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken served with brown rice
Notes and Serving Suggestions
For soups, I like to serve crusty garlic bread on the side and a crisp green salad to add freshness. The breaded chicken cutlets pair nicely with the deconstructed guacamole for a lighter, fresher take on a classic. One-pot spaghetti keeps weeknights simple—minimal clean-up but full flavor. The Chicken Shiitake and Wild Rice Soup is a hearty option for chilly evenings, and the slow-cooker Santa Fe chicken is an easy, hands-off way to finish the week with Tex-Mex flavors over brown rice.
Shopping List
Below is a consolidated shopping list organized by recipe to make grocery shopping efficient. Quantities are not specified here—adjust based on your household size and how many meals you plan to prepare.
Dad’s Creamy Cauliflower Soup
- Butter
- Unbleached flour (all-purpose works)
- Cauliflower
- Onions
- Fat-free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version)
- Garlic bread
- Salad greens and salad toppings
Breaded Chicken Cutlets with Deconstructed Guacamole
- Boneless chicken breasts
- Seasoned salt (such as adobo)
- Large egg whites
- Sazon seasoning (homemade or packaged)
- Seasoned breadcrumbs
- Olive oil
- Avocado
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Red onion
- Fresh cilantro
- Cumin
- Lime (for juice and wedges)
Homemade Sazon Seasoning
- Ground coriander
- Ground cumin
- Ground annatto seeds (achiote) or turmeric
- Garlic powder
- Oregano
One-Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce (Stove-Top)
- Lean ground beef (90% lean suggested)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Crushed tomatoes
- Fresh basil
- Wheat or gluten-free spaghetti (your preference)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional for serving)
Chicken Shiitake and Wild Rice Soup
- Butter
- Onion
- Flour (for thickening)
- Less-sodium chicken broth
- Carrots
- Garlic
- Celery
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Long grain and wild rice blend
- Brown rice (for serving with other meals)
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Light sour cream (optional to finish the soup)
Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken
- Chicken breast
- Can of diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
- Can of black beans
- Frozen corn
- Fresh cilantro
- Fat-free chicken broth
- Scallions
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)
- Brown rice (to serve)
Use this list as a guide to shop efficiently. If you prefer to batch-cook or freeze extra portions, many of these recipes freeze well—soups and slow-cooker dishes are particularly freezer-friendly. Enjoy the week of comforting, family-friendly dinners!