Weekly Dinners for 4 under $100 – Menu 8 will give you ideas or the exact menu and grocery list for this weeks dinners. Substitute different vegetables if you don’t like the ones I’ve selected. Also, if you don’t like some of the spices found in the recipes substitute them for ones you do like.
All recipes are suggestions. I can’t remember the last time I followed a recipe exactly to how it was written. I use what I have to keep cost down. If I don’t have the pasta it calls for I just make one I do have. If I don’t have the type of beans it suggests I use ones I do have.
I enjoy cooking with wine, lemon, and fresh herbs in the spring and summer. There is something about the tartness that illuminates the dishes. The Lemon Chicken Pasta dish is a great spring dish because it shows off fresh herbs.
Dinners for the week About $88.88
Sunday
- Spinach Chicken Penne Salad
- Side:
- Apples
Monday
- Lemon Vinaigrette Pork Chops
- Side:
- Grilled mixed vegetables
- Potatoes
Tuesday
- Leftover:
- Spinach Chicken Penne Salad
- Side:
- Apples
Wednesday
Thursday
- Mostaccioli with Beef and Turkey
- Side:
- Green Beans
Friday
- Turkey and Beef Meat Loaf
- Side:
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
Saturday
- Leftover:
- Mostaccioli with Beef and Turkey
- Side:
- Green Beans
Grocery List - Store brand (Metro Detroit)
Prep the week!
I like to gather my storage containers before I start my prep. I love the look of the table with all of the containers and as I make progress the containers disappear leaving me with a sense of accomplishment and encouragement to keep going. This picture is an example of one of my prep weeks.
Storage containers needed:
I like to use a sticky note or paper with a piece of tape to label my prep containers with the name of the meals.
- ¼ cup; 10 garlic cloves
- 1 cups; 1 onion (Mostaccioli with Beef and Turkey)
- 3 cups; 1 onion and green pepper (Turkey and Beef Meat Loaf)
- 3 cups; onion and green pepper (Pizza)
- 4 cups; zucchini and onion (Side)
- 1 cup; green onions (Spinach Chicken Penne Salad)
- 4 cup; green beans (Side)
- 6 cup; broccoli (Side)
Let’s start prepping!
I like to use a vegetable chopper to speed up this process.
Multiple Meals
- Peel 10 garlic cloves. Place in ¼ cup container; refrigerate.
Side
- Trim the ends off the green beans and cut in half; do not wash. Place in a 4 cup container; refrigerate.
- Cut 1 pound of broccoli into bite size pieces; do not wash. Place in a 6 cup container; refrigerate.
- Slice 1 large onion (1.5 cups). Place in a 4 cup container; set aside.
- Dice zucchini into 1 inch pieces. Place in the 4 cup container with sliced onion; refrigerate.
Turkey and Beef Meat Loaf
- Dice 1 large onion (1.5 cups). Place in 3 cup container; set aside.
- Dice 1 green pepper and place in the same container as diced onion; refrigerate.
Pizza
- Slice 1 medium onion (1 cup). Place in 3 cup container; set aside.
- Slice 1 green pepper and place in the same container as the sliced onion; refrigerate.
Spinach Chicken Penne Salad
- Chop all the green onion and place in 1 cup container; refrigerate.
Mostaccioli with Beef and Turkey
- Dice 1 medium onion (1 cup). Place in 1 cup container; refrigerate.
Tips and Tricks for the weekly meals to go flawlessly!
Always start by reading the recipe all the way through then read my tips. Doing this before you start will help prevent “surprises” along the way.
If I’ve posted it then I have eaten it and called it good. Also, I know that the portions should work because I have done it. No guess work here.
Measuring out your portion might be new for you and still leave you hungry after the meal. This is normal and it will take your body time to adjust. Try these tips:
- Don’t miss your afternoon snack because being ravenous at dinner time will lead to over eating.
- Drink 8 ounces of water before you begin your meal and after you end your meal.
- Eat a salad or raw vegetables with your meal.
- Eat a piece of fruit after a meal like an apple, pear, orange, etc. This will subside the hunger and it’s good for you.
- Wait 1 hour after your meal and if you are still hungry make some pop corn.
Spinach Chicken Penne Salad
This recipe is very refreshing and finishing it with an apple takes away my sweet tooth so I don’t crave dessert. Follow the recipe as directed and enjoy!
**Be sure to set aside 4 servings of chicken, pasta and salad for Tuesday night’s dinner.
Lemon Vinaigrette Pork Chops
- Start by marinading the pork by following the recipe then follow the steps below.
- Start the grill
- Wrap 4 potatoes in tin foil and place on the grill when hot.
- In a large bowl add:
- zucchini and onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper; mix well
- After potatoes have been cooking for 15 minutes add the zucchini and onion on a grill pan. Cook for 10 minutes then stir and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. Vegetables will be done when they are crisp tender.
- Check to see if the potatoes are done. If a fork can easily be inserted into the center then they are done.
- Remove the vegetables and potatoes then cook the pork. Enjoy!
Assemble the salad and grab an apple. Enjoy!
Mushroom, Green Pepper, Onion and Black Olive Pizza
- Assemble the salad
- Follow the recipe as directed. Enjoy!
Mostaccioli with Beef and Turkey
- Follow the recipe as directed.
- When the Mostaccioli is 15 minutes from being done cook the green beans by adding them to a pot of cold water along with 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 smashed garlic clove.
- Bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
- The beans will be cooked when they are fork tender.
**Be sure to set aside 4 servings of pasta and 1 cup of green beans for Saturday night’s dinner.
Turkey and Beef Meat Loaf
- Follow the recipe as directed. Once the meat loaf is in the oven follow the steps below.
- Wash and quarter 4 potatoes and place them in a steamer pot or large pot. Do not turn on.
- Make sure the pot is large enough to add the broccoli later.
- When the meat loaf has 25 minutes remaining to bake start the steamer pot.
- Cook the potatoes until they are mostly soft (about 15 – 20 minutes), rinse and add the broccoli to the steamer pot for 4-6 minutes depending how soft you like it.
- If you have leftover green onions from the penne salad I like to add them on top of my meat loaf. Enjoy!
There will be leftover meatloaf and I recommend it as a sandwich for lunch. Yum!
**Be sure to save 1 cup of broccoli for Saturday night’s dinner.
Warm the Mostaccioli, green beans, and broccoli. Enjoy!
