With Super Bowl Sunday approaching, check out the Superbowl section for appetizer and dinner ideas that work well for game day gatherings. I also wanted to share a small household game changer: my husband gave me an Alexa Echo Dot for Christmas, and we started using the shared shopping list feature. Anyone in the house can tell Alexa to add items to the list, and everything appears in the phone app. It’s eliminated forgotten lists and last-minute trips to the store.
Pictured below is The Skinnytaste Meal Planner where I map out dinners for the week. Meal planning is one of the easiest ways to streamline grocery shopping, reduce food waste, and make weeknight cooking less stressful. My breakfasts are usually quick—eggs with fruit, a smoothie, or avocado toast. We’re a family of four, so larger recipes are often packed for lunches or become next-day leftovers. If you’d like to review past weekly dinner plans, the meal plans archive has previous weeks for reference.
Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 60)
Monday: Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup served with garlic toast and a side salad.
Tuesday: Zoodles and Meatballs (zucchini noodles with slow-cooker turkey meatballs). For Madison, I’ll prepare pasta instead of zoodles.
Wednesday: Heading to Charleston—leftovers for everyone else.
Thursday: Away.
Friday: Cheeseburger Casserole for a hearty, family-friendly dinner.
Saturday: Chicken, Shiitake and Wild Rice Soup—perfect for a cooler evening.
Sunday: Sun-Dried Tomato and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Rollatini with my house salad (recipe from The Skinnytaste Cookbook).
Shopping List
Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup
- Olive oil
- Unsalted butter
- Celery
- Carrot
- Onion
- All-purpose or gluten-free flour
- Reduced-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
- Reduced-fat (2%) milk
- 28 oz can San Marzano whole plum tomatoes
- Sprig of fresh thyme
- Fresh basil
- Bay leaves
- Parmesan or Romano cheese rind (optional)
- Grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Zoodles and Meatballs
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Red onion
- Garlic
- Zucchini
Crock-Pot Italian Turkey Meatballs (for Zoodles recipe)
- 20 oz (1.3 lb) ground turkey breast (93% lean)
- Whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs
- Parmigiano Reggiano (or grated Reggiano/Parmesan)
- Fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
- Olive oil (for browning)
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- Bay leaf
- Fresh basil or additional parsley
Cheeseburger Casserole
- Rotini pasta (use brown rice pasta for gluten-free)
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- 1 lb lean ground beef (95% lean)
- Salt and black pepper
- Tomato paste
- Diced tomatoes
- Dijon mustard
- Reduced-fat grated cheddar cheese
- Chopped dill pickles
Chicken, Shiitake and Wild Rice Soup
- Butter
- Onion
- All-purpose flour
- Less-sodium chicken broth
- Chopped carrots
- Garlic
- Celery stalks
- 14 oz boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Long-grain and wild rice blend (or preferred wild rice mix)
- Sliced shiitake mushrooms
- Light sour cream
- Salt and fresh ground pepper
Sun-Dried Tomato and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Rollatini
- 8 thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken cutlets (about 3 oz each)
- Sun-dried tomato bruschetta
- Part-skim shredded mozzarella
- Baby spinach
- Red onion
- Seasoned breadcrumbs
- Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan
- 1 lemon
- Olive oil
- Olive oil non-stick spray
My House Salad, Made with Love
- Red onion
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Tomato
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Cucumber
- Hass avocado
- Romaine lettuce
Notes: Consolidate common pantry items—olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper—so you don’t buy duplicates. If you prefer gluten-free options, choose gluten-free pasta and flour alternatives. For lighter versions, swap full-fat dairy with reduced-fat options where suggested. Meal planning ahead helps with efficient grocery shopping, portion control, and healthier weeknight dinners.