Like a lot of people, I try to keep us on a budget for groceries every week. I’ve created several meal plans in the past but I wanted to challenge myself to include ALL meals for 2 weeks, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner, and here’s what I came up with! If you try this plan or any of the recipes, please be sure to let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Grocery List
Before shopping, check your pantry and refrigerator for these ingredients first and only buy what you need to complete the list. Here’s the meal planner and inventory keeper that I use:
Meal Planning Journal on Amazon
- 2.5-3 lbs Chicken
- 1 lb Ham Steak
- 1 lb Sausage
- 1 gallon Milk
- 24oz Cottage Cheese
- 32oz Greek Yogurt
- 1 lb Butter
- 12oz Hot Dogs
- 14oz Polska Kielbasa
- 4 Dozen Eggs
- 10 lbs Flour
- 3 packs Instant Yeast
- Baking Powder
- 1 bag (4 lbs) Granulated Sugar
- 1 bag (32oz) Brown Sugar
- 2 lbs Spaghetti
- 3 boxes Macaroni and Cheese
- 12 Taco Shells
- 1 (12 ct) Instant Ramen
- 1 lb Green Lentils
- 6oz Slivered Almonds
- 1 lb Roasted Almonds
- 2 Boxes Cornbread Mix
- 1 (10oz) can Enchilada Sauce
- 20 Flour Tortillas
- 3 (7oz) Bags Shells
- 3 bulbs Fresh Garlic
- 1 lb Tomatoes
- 1 large Red Onion
- 2 pints Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
- 3 lbs Sweet Potatoes
- 2 lbs Dry Black Beans
- Vegetable Oil
- 1 packet Taco Seasoning
- 3 Cans Tuna
- 3 lbs White Rice
- Yellow Mustard
- Soy Sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Peanut Butter
- 2 lbs Cheddar Cheese
- 12oz Shredded Cheese
- 1 can Baked Beans
- 1 can Corn
- 2 cans Crushed Tomatoes
- 2 lbs Carrots
- 3 lbs Onions
- 2 Cucumbers
- 6 Bell Peppers
- 1 bag Spinach
- 1 bunch Green Onions
- 1 bunch Cilantro
- 1 pint Blueberries
- 3 lbs Apples
- 3 Avocados
- 2 limes
- 3 lbs Bananas
- 1 bag Frozen Broccoli
- 1 bag Mixed Vegetables
- 1 bag Frozen Peas
- 1 lb Frozen Ground Beef
- 1 large Frozen Pizza
- 1 bag Chocolate Chips/Morsels
Recipes
Let’s get cooking! Below are the recipes for this meal plan. There are quite a few for this plan, so if you need to skip to a specific recipe or set of recipes, use the links in the table of contents above.
– Breakfast –
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat a waffle maker.
- Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove top until just warmed. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, warmed milk, and melted butter. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the waffle maker in portions and cook as directed for your specific waffle maker. Serve immediately or allow to cook and freeze for later. To cook from frozen, place in a toaster and cook until heated through.
If you don’t have a waffle maker, try making these delicious pancakes in my previous meal plan: https://wholeandhappyliving.com/2023/07/09/110-meals-for-75-a-budget-friendly-meal-plan/
For a protein packed breakfast option, serve the warmed waffle topped with ¼ cup cottage cheese, slivered almonds, fresh blueberries, and 1 tablespoon of butter brown sugar syrup.
Ingredients
Method
- Warm waffles in a toaster. Place on a plate and top with cottage cheese, fresh blueberries, slivered almonds, and syrup. Serve and enjoy!
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Butter Brown Sugar Syrup
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium pot, combine brown sugar and water and stir. Heat over medium heat and continue stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add butter and stir until melted. Take off the heat and allow to stand 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
If you prefer to go without the waffle, you can simply add cottage cheese to a bowl and top it with slivered almonds, fresh blueberries, and 1 tablespoon of syrup!
8 Servings
For the english muffins, I recommend using one of the following recipes, depending on how much time you have. These recipes will make about 14-24 muffins or more, depending on which recipe you choose. I recommend making as many as possible to have for snacks and breakfasts. I was able to make 24 muffins by letting my dough rise the maximum recommended time and dividing the dough into 3 inch rounds.
English Muffin Recipes I recommend:
14-24 Muffins/Servings
https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-english-muffins/#wprm-recipe-container-27114 (don’t let this one overproof – let rise in the refrigerator or just wait until it doubles in size)
Fast Version: https://preppykitchen.com/english-muffins/
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350° F
- Grease an 8×11 baking dish lightly with butter. Add eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and whisk until combined.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until eggs are set.
- Top with shredded cheese and then bake for an additional 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve on English muffins or as is. Enjoy!
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Quick and Easy Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease with butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until combined.
- In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vegetable oil. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the blueberries carefully so they don’t break.
- In the prepared muffin tin, fill the muffin cups about ¾ full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Allow to rest 5 minutes before servings.
Notes
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 casserole dish with butter or oil.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and seasonings, until combined.
- In a large saute pan, heat oil and saute onions and tomatoes until soft. Add spinach and cook while stirring, until spinach is wilted. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
- Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes or until eggs are set and cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!
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These sausage biscuit puffs are a great breakfast to make ahead and freeze for a quick grab and go option later! Simply reheat in the microwave when you’re ready to eat.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until combined. Add cheese and stir.
- Add sausage and mix together until completely combined.
- Roll into small balls, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-25 minutes or until sausage is completely cooked through. Baking time will vary depending on the size of the puffs.
- Serve immediately or cool and freeze for later. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to heat, reheat from frozen in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
– Lunch –
Butter Crackers
75-100 Crackers
I used this recipe to make crackers for the entire 2 weeks to be used in snacks and lunches. However, it was so delicious that these crackers were gone within the first week and we had other snacks and lunches the following week. Here’s the recipe I recommend:
https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/buttery-homemade-ritz-crackers/#wprm-recipe-container-48390
This is a fast way to meal prep a lot of chicken at once. In this meal plan, you’ll cook this chicken in advance and create lunches from the chopped cooked chicken, so I recommend starting this recipe while you prep some of the other recipes.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Place in a slow cooker and add water. Slow cook on low for 1 ½ – 3 hours or until chicken is cooked to 165 degrees F. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Chop and chill in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Ingredients
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, onion, mayo, salt and pepper.
- Serve inside tortillas with fresh spinach or on crackers.
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With the amount of ramen, eggs, and spinach, this recipe can be stretched for several lunches and dinners during the 2 weeks, if needed.
Egg and Spinach Ramen
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium pot, bring the 4 cups of water to a boil. Add dried noodles and stir. Cook for 3 minutes or for as long as directed on the packaging. Add seasoning packets and stir. For less sodium, use only 1 packet.
- While slowing stirring in one direction continuously, pour in eggs. Then add spinach and gently stir in until wilted.
- Serve and enjoy!
A recipe card isnt necessary for this lunch idea. Just prepare the macaroni and cheese as directed on the packaging (use 2 boxes) and then add 1 can of drained tuna, stir, and serve!
If you don’t care for canned tuna this way, you can substitute canned chicken instead.
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Tuna on Brioche Buns
4 Servings
Brioche Buns
12 Buns
This recipe calls for 8 but they’re huge so instead, make 12 and they’ll be just right. I recommend making these in advance so you have them ready for lunches and dinners. You’ll need about 2 ½ hours to complete this recipe, but most of that time is for the dough to proof.
Recipe (Separate dough into 12 instead of 8):
https://simplyhomecooked.com/brioche-bun-recipe/#recipe
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium bowl, mix together tuna, onions, mayo, and seasonings until completely combined. Add more mayo and seasonings, if needed.
- Serve on brioche buns and top with spinach, sliced tomatoes, and sliced cucumber, if desired.
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Ingredients
Method
- Cook rice in advance and preferably chill overnight. If that’s not possible, try to chill the cooked rice for at least 2 hours before starting the rest of this recipe.
- In a large pan, heat 2 Tbsp oil over medium heat. Add veggies and saute until heated through. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
- In the same pan, heat 2 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter until butter is melted. Add the chilled rice and saute, stirring frequently, under rice begins to brown. Add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Move rice to the edges of the pan to create a well in the center or remove the rice to a bowl and set aside.
- Add 1 Tbsp oil to the pan and crack the eggs into the pan. Stir the eggs while cooking until eggs are cooked through. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the rice and vegetables to the eggs and stir until combined. Add remaining tablespoon of butter and season with salt and pepper. Turn off the heat and serve.
- Top with sliced green onions, hot sauce, and more soy sauce, if desired.
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– Snacks –
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large pan or skillet on medium heat. Place tortilla in pan and top one half of the tortilla with cheese. Carefully use a fork or spatula to fold the other half of the tortilla over the cheese. Cook until golden brown on that side, about 2-3 minutes, and then flip to brown the other side, about 1-2 minutes more.
- Serve with optional toppings and enjoy!
Cheese and Crackers
5 Servings
Cheese and crackers is a quick and easy snack! Simply slice some cheese and serve it with a few crackers.
Almonds
16 Servings
Almonds are one of my favorite easy, filling snacks to pack for on the go or for school snack time. Only two tablespoons of roasted almonds makes for a great snack with no work required (¼ cup is a good serving size for adults).
An Apple
8 Servings
Apples are an excellent way to get a quick, refreshing sugar fix, without the guilt. I love to pack apples for an easy snack on to go!
Crackers or Apples and Peanut Butter
4 Servings
Peanut butter is a great dip for crackers or apple slices. Simply serve it on the side and dip away! Any nut butter can be used for this snack.
Greek Yogurt and Apple Slices
4 Servings
Greek yogurt is packed with protein and is the perfect dip for apple slices!
Peanut Butter English Muffins and Bananas
6 Servings
Peanut butter pairs perfectly with a toasted English Muffin and a sliced banana!
Veggies and Ranch Dip
12 Servings
This quick ranch recipe might change your mind about buying ranch from the store again! For this snack idea, serve sliced cucumber and carrots with 2 tablespoons of the ranch dip.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix all ingredients together until combined. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
Apple “Donuts”
Ingredients
Method
- Core and slice the apples into rounds. Cut out the center with a spoon or paring knife.
- Place apples in a bowl and cover with water. Squeeze the lime into the water and allow to soak for 15 minutes. Remove and dry completely with paper towels or clean kitchen towels. Set aside.
- Add the chocolate to a microwave safe bowl and top with oil. Melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals until completely melted. Don’t overheat. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler on the stove.
- Dip the apples in the chocolate, one at a time, and turn until covered. Remove and set on a plate covered in wax paper. Once all apples are coated in chocolate, place the plate in the refrigerator to set for about 10 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
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– Dinner –
Easy Black Beans
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pot or bowl, add dry beans and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Allow to soak overnight or at least 6 hours. Strain.
- Add soaked and drained beans to a large pot and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Add garlic, red onions, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 60-90 minutes or until beans can easily be smashed with a fork.
- Once beans are cooked, smash garlic with a fork and stir. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or separate into 2 cup portions and freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
This is one of my absolute favorite dinners! Sweet potatoes are so filling and delicious! For this meal plan, you’ll be making this recipe twice.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425° F
- Peel the sweet potatoes, slice them into fries (slice them to the thickness you prefer), and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Coat the fries with oil and then season with salt, pepper, and chili powder, tossing in between seasonings.
- Place in the oven at 425° F and bake for about 30-45 minutes, tossing halfway through (baking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fries). Once golden brown and crispy, sprinkle cheese on top and cook for an additional one minute or until cheese is melty. Remove from oven and set aside.
- In the meantime, heat the black beans on the stove in a pot or in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine yogurt, garlic, lime, and salt, stir until combined and set aside.
- Place the fries on a plate and top with beans, yogurt sauce, and any additional toppings desired. Enjoy!
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This soup is very filling and delicious! It’s perfect as leftovers too! This recipe will feed 6-8 people.
Ingredients
Method
- Add all ingredients to a pressure cooker, close, seal, and cook pressure cook for 15 minutes. Allow to natural release.
- Serve with any toppings and enjoy
Notes
Brioche Buns
Again, this recipe calls for 8 but they’re huge so instead, make 12 and they’ll be just right.
Recipe I used for the buns (Separate dough into 12 instead of 8):
https://simplyhomecooked.com/brioche-bun-recipe/#recipe
Black Bean and Lentil Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add bell peppers and continue to cook for about 3-4 minutes more. Add garlic and sauté unlit fragrant, about 30 more seconds.
- Stir in black beans, lentils, crushed tomatoes, water, brown sugar, and yellow mustard. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until lentils are cooked through (this may take a bit longer due to cooking in tomato, so continue to cook until soft and cooked through)
- Uncover and continue to cook until reduced to desired consistency, about 10-15 minutes more.
- Serve on buns, topped with cheese, onions, or any toppings you like! Enjoy!
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Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
- Place bell peppers, onions, and any other veggies on the baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and season with salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, to taste. Toss to coat and then bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove from oven, add Kielbasa, toss, and bake for 20 minutes more or until veggies are cooked through.
- Meanwhile, cook rice in a pot according to the packaging.
- Serve rice, Kielbasa, and veggies together and enjoy!
This is one of the quick and easy meals that can be thrown together in under 30 minutes. It’s great for busy nights!
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pan, saute hot dogs, stirring occasionally until golden and heated through. Add baked beans, brown sugar, and mustard and stir. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then turn off the heat. Serve and enjoy!
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Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place a large cast iron skillet or oven safe pan on the middle rack. Once warmed, place butter in the pan and allow to melt
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, and Greek yogurt until combined. Stir in the cornbread mix until combined.
- Fold in the broccoli, ham, and cheese until incorporated. Remove the pan with melted butter and carefully pour cornbread and ham mixture into the pan. Bake in the oven until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes, serve and enjoy!
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium pot, cook pasta according to the package. When the pasta has 2 minutes left to cook, add the frozen peas and cook an additional 2-4 minutes or until peas are heated and pasta is cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in a large pan, sauté ham on medium heat until heated through. Use tongs to remove the ham and set aside, leaving the juices in the pan.
- Melt the butter on low heat in the same pan and then stir in flour. Cook, stirring frequently, until flour is golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the milk until completely combined. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and stir.
- Turn off the heat then add shredded cheese. Stir until melted.
- Once pasta and peas are cooked, add to cheese sauce. Add ham and stir. Season to taste with more salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!
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Spaghetti and Tomatoes with Focaccia
4 Servings
I used this focaccia bread recipe! I made the dough in the morning and finished proofing the dough a couple hours before dinner.
https://alexandracooks.com/2018/03/02/overnight-refrigerator-focaccia-best-focaccia/
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pot, cook spaghetti as directed on the packaging but remove from the pasta water about 3 minutes before it’s finished cooking. Reserve the pasta water.
- Meanwhile, in a large pan, heat the oil on medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add tomatoes and sauté until soft. Add 1 cup pasta water and bring to a boil.
- Remove the pasta from the water about 3 minutes before it’s done cooking (very Al dente) and add to the sauce in the pan.
- Add ½ cup more pasta water and continue to cook until pasta is cooked to desired doneness. Add more pasta water if desired.
- Serve with Parmesan, if desired. Enjoy!
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Ingredients
Method
- Bake the taco shells as directed on the packaging.
- In a large pan, cook the ground beef breaking apart, until cooked through. Add Taco Seasoning and water and stir until combined. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the mixture reaches desired consistency.
- Serve in taco shells, topped with tomato, onions, cheese, greek yogurt or sour cream, and hot sauce, if desired. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Method
- In a small pot, cook lentils according to the packaging. Strain and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a large bowl, mix together the black beans, cooked lentils, minced garlic, and seasonings until combined.
- In a 9×13 casserole dish, pour half of the enchilada sauce and spread to cover the entire bottom of the dish.
- Place 3 tortillas on the bottom of the pan, overlapping them as needed. Pour half the bean mixture over the tortillas and spread evenly. Top with the remaining 3 tortillas, overlapping as needed. Pour remaining bean mixture over the top and spread evenly. Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce on top and sprinkle with cheese to cover.
- Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melty and filling is bubbly.
- Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with optional toppings and enjoy!
This rice pairs well with enchiladas or in a tortilla with black beans and toppings for a quick, delicious lunch or dinner option.
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add rice and cook while stirring until rice turns golden brown. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds more.
- Stir in water, salt, and lime zest. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer on low for 15-20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Turn off the heat and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork. Stir in lime juice and cilantro. Serve and enjoy!
Pizza
This one is probably the easiest dinner of the entire meal plan! Simply follow the instructions on the frozen pizza and enjoy an easy dinner on a busy night!
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Additional Notes
While shopping, I recommend picking up an additional stick or pound of butter, if possible, in case you need the extra tablespoon or two. You’ll likely have the following ingredients left over: sugar, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, garlic, onions, oil, black beans, rice, spaghetti, a box of Macaroni and Cheese, and shells.
Some suggestions to make with these leftover ingredients:
- Tortillas
- Black bean and rice burritos
- Muffins
- Pasta in garlic oil sauce
- Flatbread
- No Yeast Bread
The possibilities are endless! You can also enter all your ingredients into http://www.supercook.com to find recipe inspiration.
If you found this meal plan helpful, or if you have any questions, be sure to comment below! Thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: This post is the opinion of the author. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise plan or changes to your lifestyle. The information provided in this post is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal, or other professional advice. Read and/or use any of the information from this post at your own risk. Some or all of the links displayed on this site may be affiliate links.
