This week bridges late summer and early fall with easy dinners that still feel practical for busy evenings. There are two chicken dinners, a cozy beef pasta, a vegetarian pasta, a simple seafood night, and a pumpkin zucchini bake that is perfect for using up the last of the season’s zucchini.
For this last week of August, keep the sides easy: simple green salad, rice, pasta, store-bought or homemade crusty bread, and steamed vegetables will cover most of the meals without adding extra work.
Helpful Tips for This Week
- Use one prep session for the onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Ground Beef Stroganoff, French Onion Pasta, and Chicken Cacciatore all use them.
- One 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree should cover both Pumpkin Marry Me Chicken and Pumpkin Zucchini Bread. Measure what you need, then refrigerate or freeze any little bit left over (which is fourth a cup) to use later.
- Slice the chicken breasts into thin cutlets before cooking Pumpkin Marry Me Chicken. They cook faster and stay tender in the creamy pumpkin sauce.
- Chicken Cacciatore is a good make-ahead dinner. The sauce tastes even better the next day, and leftovers are lovely with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or bread. We’re making it on Friday to enjoy on the weekend as well.
- For Lemon Baked Cod, thaw the fish overnight if using frozen fillets, then pat it very dry before seasoning. It cooks quickly, so start your side dishes first.
- Bake the Pumpkin Zucchini Bread earlier in the week. Let it cool completely before slicing so it stays moist and neat.
This Week’s Recipes
Make the Bonus Treat
Pumpkin Zucchini Bread is just right for this week because it uses summer zucchini but tastes cozy enough for September. It is moist, warmly spiced, and dotted with chocolate chips. Make it ahead for snacks, lunchboxes, or an easy slice with coffee. This might be my favorite recipe for this time of the year! I made it twice this month already to use up all of my garden zucchini that I have left.
Easy Serving Ideas
Serve the creamy chicken and cacciatore with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread. Keep the cod simple with roasted vegetables, potatoes, rice, or a green salad. French Onion Pasta and Ground Beef Stroganoff are filling on their own, so a salad or steamed vegetable is plenty.
Shopping List
This shopping list includes everything you need to make all five dinners, plus the bonus bake included in this week’s plan. Click the button below to print it and take it to the store.
Produce
- 4 medium yellow onions, or 1 small bag yellow onions
- 3 (8-ounce) packages sliced mushrooms, or about 1 1/2 pounds whole mushrooms
- 2 bulbs garlic
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 medium zucchini
- 2 lemons
- 1 small bunch fresh parsley
- 1 small bunch fresh basil
- 1 small package fresh sage
- 1 small package fresh thyme
Meat, Poultry and Fish
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 (6-ounce) cod fillets, about 1 1/2 pounds total
Dairy & Refrigerated Items
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 1 small container sour cream, at least 8 ounces
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 small Parmesan wedge, or 1 container grated Parmesan
- 1 small block Gruyere cheese
- 2 large eggs, or 1 dozen if you need to restock
Pantry & Spices
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 (8-ounce) jar oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 small carton chicken stock
- 1 small carton beef broth
- 1 small carton vegetable stock
- 1 (12-ounce) bag or box egg noodles
- 1 (12- to 16-ounce) box rigatoni or other short pasta
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 small can or tube tomato paste
- 1 small jar pitted black olives
- Dry red wine, such as Merlot
- Dry white wine
- Olive oil
- Vegetable oil
- Worcestershire sauce
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Semisweet chocolate chips, 1 small bag
- Pumpkin spice
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Dried thyme
- Dried basil
- Red pepper flakes
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Distilled vinegar
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
Supplies
- Baking dish for the cod
- 9×5-inch loaf pan
- Parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray
Optional Serving Ideas
- Pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread for Chicken Cacciatore
- Rice, roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables, or salad for Lemon Baked Cod
- Green salad or roasted vegetables for Ground Beef Stroganoff and French Onion Pasta
- Extra grated Parmesan and fresh basil for serving Pumpkin Marry Me Chicken
- Extra chocolate chips for topping the Pumpkin Zucchini Bread, if desired
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