30-Day Challenge: A Month of Prep-Ahead Quick Dinners!

Yes, you can make quick dinners even easier by prepping for the week ahead! With a complete month of meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists, the work is almost entirely done for you. Just shop, prep, and enjoy homemade dinners — even on busy weeknights!

Hey, friends! I’m so excited to share this 30-Day Challenge because I know that it’s going to be totally life changing for some of you! If you have a busy schedule of kids’ activities during the week, fussy babies who need your attention in the evenings, or long work days that leave you feeling exhausted, then this plan is the KEY to getting quick dinners on the table most nights. It’s how I cook for my own family each week, and now I’m sharing all of the details (and all of the organization tools) with YOU!

I have included the recipes below, but the full PDF of printable prep-ahead instructions and shopping lists for each week is available only to my email subscribers. Are you on my list? If not, you can sign up here and I’ll send the booklet straight to your inbox for free!

Before we get to the quick dinners, just a few quick notes:

• For this particular Challenge, I opted for 3 easy homemade meals each week. Depending on your family size, some of the recipes will create enough food for you to enjoy as leftovers on other evenings. Three meals per week also allows for plenty of flexibility in the schedule (which we all need). On the nights where there is no specific recipe listed, you can have fun dining out, grab pizza and a movie to go, or whip up any of your family’s other favorite quick dinners!
• I aim for variety in our diet, so you will find a nice combination of ingredients and cuisines throughout the month (including vegetarian dishes, seafood dishes, pork, beef, and chicken). If you have questions about ingredient substitutes or other adaptations, feel free to send me an email or leave a comment at the bottom of the post. I’m happy to help!
• I have also included suggestions for side dishes, but you can obviously choose your own favorites where necessary. I love steam-in-the-bag frozen veggies that can be microwaved just before serving; and I almost always opt for wholegrain pasta, brown rice, or wholegrain tortillas and bread when possible. Again, do what works best for you and your family!

With that, here’s a glimpse at your Month of Prep-Ahead Quick Dinners!

WEEK 1 MEALS:

Sheet Pan Honey Apricot Chicken and Asparagus with Quinoa or Couscous.

Grilled Garlic and Herb Salmon Marinade with Dinner Rolls and Salad.

Cheesy Turkey, Tomato and Zucchini Casserole

WEEK 2 MEALS:

Aunt Bee’s Shrimp and Pasta Salad with Green Salad on the side.

Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Potatoes

Slow Cooker Beef Barbecue on Sandwich Rolls with Coleslaw and Potato Chips.

Don’t forget that you can download a complete printable packet with these meal plans, prep-ahead instructions, and weekly shopping lists here:

WEEK 3 MEALS:

Baked Ham and Cheese Omelet with Toasted English Muffins and Fresh Fruit

Fast and Fresh Creamy Pasta Primavera

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros with Pita Bread, Tzatziki Sauce, and Optional Toppings.

WEEK 4 MEALS:

Dump-and-Bake Healthy Chicken Parmesan with Pasta and Salad.

10-Minute Beef Teriyaki Skillet with Lettuce Wraps or Tortillas and Steamed Broccoli.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala with Rice and Peas.

If you’re ready to take the Challenge and start prepping ahead each week for easy and QUICK dinners, then be sure to get the free printable PDF weekly meal plans, prep-ahead instructions, and shopping lists here:

I hope that this process takes the stress out of mealtime and makes family dinners easier and more enjoyable! Let me know if you’re joining in!