Sunday, January 10, 2016

Family Menu Planning: Meal Ideas

Here I am sharing my "Master List" for meal planning in case it will give you some ideas for things to make for dinner. Email me or leave a comment if you want me to share any of my recipes.

My master list is divided into these categories:
  • Pasta
  • Soups
  • Sandwiches
  • Mexican
  • Pizza-ish Stuff
  • Traditional/Other
When I plan a menu, I usually do about three weeks at a time, because that is what my pantry and cupboards can comfortably hold.  Each week has one pasta night, one sandwich night, one mexican night, one pizza night, one soup night, one day for leftovers, and one "other" meal. That is seven days. Easy to fill it all in!


 PASTA
  • Spaghetti
    • Vegetarian (with shredded spinach, zucchini, carrots)
    • With meat
    • With meatballs
  • Pasta Alfredo
    • Chicken & broccoli
    • Ham, tomatoes, spinach or asparagus
    • Smoked sausage, spinach or kale (cajun seasoning optional)
  • Baked ziti/penne/shells/rotini
    • with vegetables/ricotta
    • with mini meatballs
    • with italian sausage and peppers
  • Lasagna
    • Vegetarian
    • With meatballs
    • With meat sauce
    • Lasagna roll-ups
  • Ravioli
  • Chicken parmesan
  • Eggplant parmesan
  • Beef Stroganoff
  • Tuna Casserole
  • Chicken or Turkey Tetrazzini
  • Homemade macaroni and cheese
  • Baked four-cheese pasta with mushrooms/asparagus

SOUPS
  • Chili
    • Vegetarian
    • With meat
  • Beef Barley
  • Chicken Noodle
  • Potato-Broccoli-Cheese
  • Wedding Soup
  • Minestrone
  • Ham & Bean soup
  • 16-bean "goulash" soup
  • Split Pea and ham
  • Clam Chowder
  • Seafood bisque
  • Tomato Soup
  • Vegetable/Alphabet
  • Lentil Soup

SANDWICHES
  • Meatball subs
  • Philly Cheesesteaks
  • Reuben sandwiches
  • Cheeseburgers
  • Patty Melts
  • Bratwurst
  • Polish Sausage
  • Hot dogs
  • Corn Dogs
  • Tuna Melts
  • Fish
    • Fried
    • Broiled
  • Chicken
    • Fried
    • Broiled
    • Chicken caesar
  • Sloppy Joes
  • Cold cuts
  • Baked subs/sandwiches
  • BBQ Beef/Brisket/Chicken

MEXICAN
  • Burritos
    • Smothered with green chile
  • Tostadas
  • Tacos
  • Soft Tacos
  • Enchiladas
  • Fajitas
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Shrimp
  • Enchilada Casserole
  • Tamale Casserole
  • Tortilla Towers
  • Nachos
  • Quesadillas
  • Chimichangas
  • Fish Tacos
    • Fried
    • Broiled
  • Huevos Rancheros
  • Breakfast Burritos
  • Puffy Tacos

PIZZA-ISH STUFF
  • Pizza
  • Stromboli
  • Calzones
  • Deep dish pizza
  • French Bread Pizza

OTHER
  • Baked fish
    • Lemon pepper
    • Lime pepper
    • Dill
  • Salmon patties with dill cream sauce
  • Fried Fish
  • Beef Stew
  • Chicken Fried Steak
  • Meat Loaf
  • Meatballs with gravy
  • Pot Roast
  • Beef Stir Fry
  • Korean Beef Wraps
  • Beef pot pie
  • Beef meat pasties
  • Fried Chicken
  • BBQ chicken
  • Chicken wings
  • Chicken noodles
  • Asian chicken wraps
  • Chicken stir fry
  • Egg roll skillet
  • BBQ Ribs
  • Pork tenderloin medalions with black pepper cream sauce
  • Marinated pork tenderloin
  • Smoked sausage/cabbage/potato roast
  • Chicken & sausage jambalaya
  • Chicken pot pie
  • Turkey pot pie
  • Roast turkey
  • Chicken & rice casserole
  • Baked chicken
  • Chicken nuggets or chicken tenders (homemade)
  • Quiche

2 comments:

  1. That's an extensive list! What about lunches? Are these meals for lunch too or just dinner?

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    Replies
    1. Like I explained in my last post, I don't do meal plans for breakfast or lunches. Breakfasts are oatmeal, cereal, or eggs and toast. I make pancakes or breakfast burritos on Saturdays. Lunches are leftovers. If there are no leftovers, then we have bean burritos/quesadillas, or PB sandwiches with fresh fruit and veggies. Simple, simple, simple. When I write out my menu, it is a list of dinners only.

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