October has arrived—time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, and cozy kitchen nights. This month also marks the release of Skinnytaste Fast & Slow (on shelves Oct 11), and I couldn’t be more excited. Fall is the season for comforting, simple recipes that make weeknight dinners feel special. If you’re craving autumn flavors, some favorites to try include Slow Cooker Apple Butter, Slow Cooker Applesauce, and Pumpkin Butter—perfect for breakfast toast, stirred into yogurt, or gifted in jars to friends.
The photo above shows The Skinnytaste Meal Planner, which I use to map out dinners for the week. Meal planning is one of the easiest ways to stay organized, save time, and reduce food waste. My breakfasts are usually quick and simple—eggs with fruit, a smoothie, or avocado toast—so I focus my planning on dinners that are family-friendly, nutritious, and freezable when possible. We’re a family of four, so when a recipe yields extra servings, it either becomes lunch the next day or goes into the fridge for leftovers.
If you like the structure of weekly plans, you can browse past dinner plans for inspiration. A little planning before you shop keeps the grocery list concise and helps avoid last-minute takeout decisions.
Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 44)
Monday: Slow Cooker Blissful Butternut Squash Soup
Tuesday: Shrimp Scampi Tacos with Caesar Salad Slaw
Wednesday: Mongolian Beef & Broccoli (from The Skinnytaste Cookbook) with Cauliflower “Fried Rice”
Thursday: Beef, Tomato and Acini di Pepe Soup (Instant Pot, Slow Cooker and Stove Top)
Friday: Leftover Soup
Saturday: Dinner Out
Sunday: Noodle-less Butternut Sausage Lasagna
These dinners were chosen to balance comfort and convenience. The slow cooker soups are ideal for busy days, shrimp tacos add a lighter, bright midweek meal, and Mongolian beef paired with a cauliflower rice keeps things family-pleasing without piling on carbs. When you cook a little extra on one night, you cover lunches or quick dinners later in the week.
Shopping List
Below is a consolidated shopping list organized by recipe to streamline your grocery trip. If you already have staples like olive oil, salt, or pepper, cross them off. For any ingredients marked optional, feel free to skip or substitute based on preference.
SLOW COOKER BLISSFUL BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
- 16 oz (about 1/2 small) butternut squash
- 16 oz (about 1/2) buttercup or kabocha squash
- 1 shallot
- chicken or vegetable broth
- light coconut milk
- ground nutmeg
- optional garnish: chives, pepitas
SHRIMP SCAMPI TACOS WITH CAESAR SALAD SLAW
- unsalted butter
- extra-virgin olive oil
- garlic cloves
- 1 pound peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- lemon
- chopped fresh Italian parsley
- corn tortillas
- romaine lettuce leaves
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- scallions
- Dijon mustard
- anchovy filets
- 0% fat Greek yogurt (for a lighter Caesar-style dressing)
MONGOLIAN BEEF AND BROCCOLI
- cornstarch
- reduced sodium soy sauce (or Tamari for gluten free)
- rice wine (or rice vinegar)
- sesame oil
- 1 pound sirloin steak
- kosher salt
- broccoli florets
- scallions
- minced garlic
- minced fresh ginger
- dark brown sugar
- oyster sauce
CAULIFLOWER “FRIED RICE”
- cauliflower (head or pre-riced)
- sesame oil
- egg whites
- whole egg
- salt
- cooking spray
- onion
- frozen peas and carrots
- garlic cloves
- scallions
- soy sauce (Tamari for gluten free)
BEEF, TOMATO AND ACINI DI PEPE SOUP
- 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
- kosher salt
- onion
- celery
- carrot
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- beef stock or broth
- bay leaves
- small pasta such as Acini di pepe
- grated Parmesan cheese
NOODLE-LESS BUTTERNUT SAUSAGE LASAGNA
- Italian chicken sausage
- olive oil
- onion
- garlic cloves
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- fresh basil
- black pepper
- 1 large butternut squash
- part-skim ricotta
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- parsley
- egg
- shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Meal planning like this helps you make a single, efficient grocery run while ensuring varied, flavorful dinners all week. Prep what you can in advance—wash and chop produce, measure spices, or partially cook proteins—and store ingredients in clear containers so evenings feel effortless. Enjoy a cozy, flavor-filled October!