Welcome back to Foodie Tuesday! Last Friday our reader friend, Sarah, had a question about my methods of deal-shopping and buying bulk at Costco (see HERE).
In my response I mentioned that I keep a big list of dinner ideas by my fridge. This is SUPER DUPER helpful in terms of coming up with a variety of meals that can be made with things I typically have on-hand. I said I'd share this list with you, so here it is! It's also a great way to come up with uses for leftovers.While I am bad at planning ahead for dinner (getting better though!), I firmly believe it's important to cook for your family rather than eating out or preparing processed meals. It's not only cheaper, but it teaches your family healthy habits and keeps you close as a family!
- Keep a meal list like this close at-hand! You can even separate them out based on main ingredient, meals that can be frozen, how they are cooked (crockpot, baked, grilled, etc.), meals good enough to serve guests, etc.
- I also have a recipe notebook where I keep my favorite recipes so they are all in one place. If the recipe comes from a cook book, I photo copy it and keep it in the binder. That way you never have to say, "Now, where was that awesome chicken recipe again?...."
Here is the list I have to help me come up with what to make for dinner:
(If any of these require recipes I will try to post them over time and will update this list with links to the recipes. Otherwise, I recommend allrecipes.com for recipes. Be sure to read the reviews!)(Click HERE for a printable list)
- Hard Tacos, Tostadas, or Huevos Rancheros
- Mac 'n Cheese (homemade)
- Chicken and rice
- Lasagna
- Paninis
- Homemade pizza
- Twice-baked potatoes
- Taco soup
- Stir fry
- Baked Ziti
- BBQ Chicken Salad
- Meatballs and rice
- Pulled BBQ chicken (sandwiches, put on a salad, etc.)
- Grilled chicken (season or marinade with whatever, and grill!)
- Beef & broccoli
- Chicken pot pie (easier than you think!)
- Fettuccine Alfredo (chicken, or shrimp)
- Pot roast (leftovers can be made into sandwiches)
- Burritos
- Fajitas
- Breakfast for dinner (eggs, pancakes/waffles, bacon...)
- Burgers and/or hotdogs
- Homemade corn dogs
- Chicken parmesan
- Chicken cordon bleu (easier than you would think, and so impressive! Great for guests.)
- Quesadillas (plain cheese, or steak, chicken)
- Pork chops
- Salmon
- Fish sticks (homemade or store-bought)
- Clam chowder
- Tomato bisque (I will try to post the recipe for this soon, I have the BEST recipe!)
- Baked italian sandwiches
- Cilantro-lime chicken
- Potato-topped casserole (like Shepherd's Pie)
- Minestrone soup
- Chicken noodle soup (homemade...serve with grilled cheese)
- Grilled-cheese sandwiches
- Creamy potato soup
- White chicken chili
- Crockpot salsa chicken (makes into great burritos or salads!)
- Italian wedding soup
- BLT's
- Beef or Pork Tenderloin
- Steak (grilled or broiled)
- Kabobs
- Breaded chicken (can bread with italian bread crumbs, graham crackers, saltines, potato chips)
- Sloppy joes
- Calzones
- Stuffed pasta shells
- Manicotti
- Spaghetti (and meatballs)
- French Bread Pizza
- Enchiladas
- Fried Chicken (baked or actually fried)
- Chicken nuggets (homemade...so easy!)
- Lemon chicken
- Chimichangas
- Fish 'n Chips
- Pesto pasta
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Taco salad
- Tostadas
- Egg rolls (homemade)
- Chicken enchilada/tortilla soup
- Cheeseburger soup
- Corn chowder (various recipes, ham & corn chowder is good too)
- Tortellini
- Tortellini soup
- Stroganoff (chicken or beef)
- Crockpot alfredo lasagna
- Rotini Bake
- Vegetable lasagna
- Lasagna rolls (baked, or in crockpot)
- Bolognese sauce and pasta
- Spinach-bacon mac n cheese
- Tomato-bacon pasta
- Mexican chicken sandwiches
- Chicken wings
- Cheesy bacon chicken
- Dijon chicken
- Pulled chicken sandwiches (multiple recipe options)
- Cafe Rio pork salads or burritos (rice recipe HERE)
- Jambalaya
- Meatloaf
- Meatball subs
- French toast (stuffed or regular)
- KFC Bowls (mashed potatoes on bottom, then corn and breaded chicken bites on top)
- Ribs (grilled, baked, crockpot, etc)
- French dip sandwiches (roast in crockpot + au jus sauce = french dip)
- Stuffed pork chops
- Ham
- Crab cakes
- Sausage & pepper pasta
- Pad Tai
- Club salad
- Bowtie pasta & vegetables
- Chicken fingers
- Chicken & broccoli casserole
- French onion soup
- Orange chicken
- Waffles or crepes
- Stuffed Green Peppers
- LEFTOVERS! Anything that is already in your fridge, EAT IT or use it in another recipe!!
Hope this helps. I will continue to add to this list and will try to post recipes to these as I go along.
What is YOUR go-to for dinner??
