Late August is a good time to keep dinner simple while everyone eases back into routines. This week’s meal plan has easy, family-friendly dinners with a mix of chicken, beef, pasta, shrimp, and a cozy apple oat treat to make ahead.
As school routines start picking back up, keep this roundup of 12 easy back-to-school dinners handy for the nights when everyone needs something simple and reliable.
Helpful Tips for This Week
- Prep the chicken for Chicken Parmesan and slice it into cutlets ahead of time. Keep it refrigerated until you are ready to bread and bake.
- Grate the Parmesan and shred the mozzarella or cheddar jack at the start of the week if you are using block cheese. You will use cheese in Chicken Parmesan, Ground Beef Enchiladas, and Artichoke and Spinach Pasta.
- Start Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli earlier in the day. Slice the beef thinly, and add the broccoli near the end so it stays bright and tender.
- Thaw the shrimp overnight in the fridge before making Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp. It cooks quickly, so have the garlic, butter, lemon, and seasonings ready first.
- Bake Apple Oat Muffins earlier in the week. Let them cool before glazing, then keep them covered for snacks, lunchboxes, or a quick breakfast.
1
Monday — Chicken Parmesan
Crispy breaded chicken cutlets baked with marinara and mozzarella. Serve it with pasta, salad, or vegetables for an easy comfort-food dinner.
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2
Tuesday — Ground Beef Enchiladas
A family-friendly beef dinner with homemade enchilada sauce, black beans, green chiles, tortillas, and plenty of cheese.
Ground Beef Enchiladas
3
Wednesday — Artichoke and Spinach Pasta
A creamy pasta dinner with chicken, artichokes, spinach, mozzarella, Parmesan, and a little lemon. It’s a good midweek meal that feels filling without being fussy.
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4
Thursday — Coconut Lime Chicken
Tender chicken in a coconut lime sauce with garlic, ginger, jalapeño, and warm spices. Serve it with rice to catch the sauce.
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5
Friday — Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
A quick shrimp dinner with lots of garlic, butter, paprika, and lemon. It cooks fast, so it’s a good Friday meal when you want something fun but easy.
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6
Bonus — Apple Oat Muffins
Soft oat muffins with applesauce, chopped apple, warm spices, and a maple glaze. Make them ahead for snacks or an easy breakfast.
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Make the Bonus Treat
Apple Oat Muffins are a cozy late-summer bake and a nice make-ahead option for busy mornings. Let them cool completely before adding the maple glaze, then store them covered so they stay soft.
Easy Serving Ideas
Keep sides simple this week: pasta, rice, salad greens, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread will cover most of the dinners without adding much extra prep. Rice is especially useful with Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli and Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp.
Shopping List
This shopping list includes everything you need to make all five dinners, plus the treat included in this week’s plan. Click the button below to print it and take it to the store.
Produce
- 3 heads garlic
- 1 yellow or white onion
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 2 lemons
- 1 (5-ounce) container fresh spinach
- 1 (12-16 ounce) bag broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
- 1 medium Granny Smith apple
Meat, Poultry and Fish
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced, or chuck roast or skirt steak
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp, deveined with shells left on
Dairy & Refrigerated Items
- 1 dozen large eggs
- 1 (16-ounce) bag shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 (16-ounce) bag shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 1 small Parmesan wedge, at least 8 ounces
- 1 quart whole milk
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) tub sour cream
- 1 stick salted butter
- 1 stick unsalted butter
Pantry & Spices
- 1 (12-ounce) box bowtie pasta or similar short pasta
- 8-10 flour tortillas or corn tortillas
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans
- 1 (4-ounce) can mild green chiles
- 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts
- 1 quart chicken stock, or chicken base to make 2 cups
- 1 small carton beef stock, or beef base to make 1 cup
- 1 small bottle dry white wine
- 1 small jar unsweetened applesauce, or 2 single-serve cups
- 1 container rolled oats
- 1 small bag light brown sugar
- 1 small bag powdered sugar
- Pure maple syrup
- Pure vanilla extract
- 1 small bag all-purpose flour
- 1 small container breadcrumbs, regular, Italian, or panko
- Vegetable or canola oil
- Olive oil
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or white vinegar
- Toasted sesame oil
- 1 small container cornstarch
- Taco seasoning, 1 packet or 2 tablespoons homemade
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Sweet paprika
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Granulated sugar
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Supplies
- Paper muffin liners
- Parchment paper, if needed
Optional Serving Ideas
- Fresh basil for Chicken Parmesan
- Fresh cilantro for enchiladas
- Fresh parsley for Artichoke and Spinach Pasta
- Cooked white or jasmine rice for Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli or Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
- Simple green salad, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread
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