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Here is the deal. Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away and your brain is already doing turkey math. So let me handle next week before the big cooking starts: five easy dinners, one treat for the weekend, and a one page shopping list you can print and carry into the store. This is week seven. Five different proteins, two slow cooker nights, one sheet pan, and one bottle of Marsala that pulls double duty. Print the list, shop over the weekend, and dinner is handled Monday through Friday.
Why This Week Works
- Five different proteins. Chicken Monday, beef Tuesday, Italian sausage Wednesday, shrimp Thursday, salmon Friday. Nobody is staring at the same plate twice.
- Two nights cook themselves. The chicken marsala and the Mississippi meatloaf both go in the slow cooker, which is exactly what you want when the holiday to do list is growing.
- One bottle does two jobs. The Marsala you open for Monday’s chicken goes right back to work in Wednesday’s sausage and peppers.
- Tuesday covers lunch too. The meatloaf makes eight servings, so the leftovers turn into sandwiches.
- Friday is one pan. Salmon, peppers and green beans all roast together in about 30 minutes.
- The treat is a practice run. Mini pumpkin pies in a muffin tin, so you can try them out before Thanksgiving.
Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala
Slow cooker chicken marsala turns seared chicken thighs, baby bella mushrooms, and marsala wine into a rich, cozy dinner with only 10 minutes of prep. Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala (Chicken Thighs)
Serving note: Start this after lunch. Prep takes ten minutes, then it cooks two hours on high or four to six on low. Spoon it over mashed potatoes with the asparagus on the side, and do not skip the sauce.
Tuesday: Mississippi Crockpot Meatloaf
This Mississippi Crockpot Meatloaf simmers low and slow in ranch and au jus gravy with tangy pepperoncini for the most tender slow cooker meatloaf ever. Mississippi Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe (Slow Cooker)
Serving note: This one needs an 8 quart slow cooker and five to six hours on low, so get it going by midday. It makes eight servings, which means meatloaf sandwiches for lunch on Wednesday.
Wednesday: Sausage and Peppers
This easy sausage and peppers recipe simmers browned Italian sausages with bell peppers and onions in a rich Marsala tomato sauce. Pure cozy comfort food! Easy Sausage and Peppers Recipe (with Marsala Wine)
Serving note: The card makes ten, so the shopping list cuts it in half for a family. Pile it on hoagie rolls, and use the same bottle of Marsala you opened on Monday.
Thursday: Bang Bang Shrimp
Crispy Bang Bang Shrimp tossed in a creamy, sweet, and smoky chipotle sauce. This easy dinner is ready in just 25 minutes! Easy Bang Bang Shrimp (Chipotle)
Serving note: Stir the sauce together first, because the shrimp only need two or three minutes a side. Fry in batches, toss in half the sauce, and serve over rice with the rest on the side for dipping.
Friday: Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
This Baked Salmon sheet pan dinner roasts salmon filets with peppers and green beans in a zesty lime garlic honey glaze. An easy, healthy 30 minute meal! Baked Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
Serving note: One pan and about 30 minutes, so the kitchen is clean before the weekend starts. Serve it over rice if you made extra on Thursday.
The Treat: Mini Pumpkin Pies
These Mini Pumpkin Pies bake classic spiced pumpkin custard in frozen pie crust rounds in a muffin tin, a handheld Thanksgiving dessert with zero pie plate stress. Mini Pumpkin Pies in a Muffin Tin (Easy Recipe)
Serving note: Bake these over the weekend. Handheld pumpkin pies in a muffin tin, and a good practice run before the big day.
The Shopping List
One page, grouped the way the store is laid out, with a box next to every line so you can check things off as they land in the cart. Print it Saturday morning and go.
Get These Plans in Your Inbox
A new plan goes up every Friday morning. If you would rather have it land in your inbox than remember to come looking for it, grab one of the free recipe packs and you are on the list.
