Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 63)
This week’s menu features simple, family-friendly dinners that are quick to prepare, budget conscious, and big on flavor. Highlights include Eggs Pizzaiola — a cozy one‑pot meal that’s ready in minutes — and Mini Bell Pepper Loaded Turkey “Nachos,” a fun and lighter take on nachos using stuffed mini peppers. If you haven’t tried the Un‑Stuffed Cabbage Bowls yet, they come highly recommended by readers for being hearty and comforting. Other favorites this week are healthy baked fish sticks with a lemon‑caper sauce and a crowd‑pleasing orecchiette pasta with chicken sausage and broccoli, perfect for entertaining.
Pictured below is my meal planner where I arrange dinners for the week; you can use any planner that works for you. Meal planning helps you shop with purpose, reduces food waste, and makes weeknight cooking far easier. For breakfasts I usually keep it simple — eggs with fruit, a smoothie, or avocado toast. We are a family of four, so when a recipe yields extra servings it’s either packed for lunch or enjoyed as leftovers the next day. If you’d like to explore earlier weekly plans, there’s a collection of past menus available.
This Week’s Dinner Lineup
- Monday: Eggs Pizzaiola with whole wheat Italian bread
- Tuesday: Mini Bell Pepper Loaded Turkey “Nachos”
- Wednesday: Un‑Stuffed Cabbage Bowls (Instant Pot or stovetop)
- Thursday: Asian Turkey Meatballs with Gochujang Glaze over brown rice
- Friday: Healthy Baked Fish Sticks with Lemon Caper Sauce
- Saturday: Dinner out
- Sunday: Orecchiette Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli
Meal Planning Tips
When planning your week, aim for balance and reuse ingredients across meals to save time and money. For example, garlic, onions, and canned tomato products appear in several recipes this week — buying slightly larger quantities reduces extra shopping trips. Cook grains like brown rice or pasta in batches to speed up dinner on busy nights. Store cooked components in airtight containers and label them with the date. If you’re feeding a family, scaling recipes up or saving portions for lunches helps stretch ingredients further.
Leftovers can be transformed: extra meatballs work well in sandwiches or salads, and leftover roasted broccoli can be tossed into a frittata or grain bowl. For picky eaters, offer components separately — allow them to pick toppings or sauces. When entertaining, choose an easy centerpiece like the orecchiette with chicken sausage and broccoli so you can spend more time with guests.
Shopping List
Below is a consolidated shopping list organized by recipe. Check your pantry first to avoid duplicates, and adjust quantities for your household size.
Eggs Pizzaiola
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Kosher salt
- Crushed red pepper
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley
- Reduced‑sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- Crushed tomatoes (such as San Marzano or similar)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Large eggs
- Shredded Parmigiano‑Reggiano
- Grated Pecorino Romano
- Whole wheat Italian bread
Mini Bell Pepper Loaded Turkey “Nachos”
- Olive oil spray
- 93% lean ground turkey
- Garlic
- Onion
- Fresh cilantro or parsley
- Garlic powder
- Cumin powder
- Kosher salt
- Tomato sauce
- Chicken broth
- Mini rainbow peppers
- Sharp shredded Cheddar cheese
- Light sour cream
- Sliced black olives
- Jalapeño (optional)
- Cilantro, for garnish
Un‑Stuffed Cabbage Bowls (Instant Pot or Stovetop)
- Cooking spray
- 93% lean ground beef
- Kosher salt (for seasoning)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Dried marjoram
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Tomato sauce
- Hungarian paprika
- Reduced‑sodium beef broth
- Raisins
- Cooked brown rice
- Head of cabbage
Asian Turkey Meatballs with Gochujang Glaze
- Gochujang
- Unseasoned rice vinegar
- Reduced‑sodium soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Toasted sesame oil
- Garlic
- Fresh minced ginger
- 93% lean ground turkey
- Panko bread crumbs (or gluten‑free panko)
- Large egg
- Scallions, chopped
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Brown rice
Healthy Baked Fish Sticks with Lemon Caper Sauce
- Fat‑free plain Greek yogurt
- Light mayonnaise
- Capers
- Chives
- Fresh lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Cooking spray or mister
- Alaskan skinless cod fillets (or another firm white fish)
- Egg whites
- Dijon mustard
- Lemon
- Paprika
- Plain panko crumbs
- Old Bay seasoning
- Dried parsley flakes
Orecchiette Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli
- Italian chicken sausage, casing removed
- Uncooked orecchiette pasta (or brown rice/quinoa pasta for GF)
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Garlic
- Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Final Notes
Adjust seasoning and portion sizes to suit your household. If you need to swap ingredients for dietary preferences — for example, choosing gluten‑free breadcrumbs or a plant‑based substitute — those swaps are straightforward for most recipes listed. Enjoy a week of simple, flavorful meals that make cooking less of a chore and more of a pleasure.