Meal Planning Woes? Here’s Some Epic Dinner Inspiration!

What’s for dinner this week? I’m so burnt out on meal planning! Sound familiar? It’s a very common question in our Mid-Michigan Moms Community + Conversations Facebook group. And with nearly 2K members (and counting!) the question always generates dozens of new comments, whether members are sharing insight, looking for answers, or admitting a similar fate.

We decided to put all the best suggestions into one giant master list of scrollable dinner inspiration! Fun, right? Some meals include recipe links, some don’t—but that’s what Pinterest is for! If you’re in a rut or looking to switch it up, you’ve come to the right place.  

Bookmark this page now! We also invite you to share the love by adding your own meal ideas (breakfast, lunch, or dinner!) in the comments. That way there’s always something new for you or other bleary-eyed parents to discover—solidarity!

Before we get started, here are a few helpful tips:

• Theme nights are fun and help narrow down decision overwhelm.
• Kitchen gadgets and time-saving appliances are your friends.
• A healthy balance is ideal but relax if convenience or comfort foods win your family over.
• Food prep helps! If you can set time aside to get a head start, you’ll be grateful later.
• Keep staples on hand. Every meal doesn’t need to be a carefully crafted recipe.
• Check the weather! Let mother nature help inspire your cravings.
• Create a menu board to get your family involved and excited about dinner.

Explore the digital recipe box below by clicking on each tab to reveal our curated, family-friendly recipes and ideas. Even more tips, tricks, and suggestions follow! What would you add? Tell us and we’ll keep adding to our list!

Happy Meal Planning!

Simple and Delicious

Don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best thing you can do is keep it simple.  

• Add Grilled Chicken to a Bagged Salad Kit
  • Put the mixture in a tortilla to make fresh wraps
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
  • Make your sandwich with pesto, mozzarella, and sliced tomatoes
  • Add croutons and a sprinkle of parmesan to a tomato bisque
  • Add turkey and avocado to your grilled cheese

• Embrace Pizza Night
  • Make your own, ex: BBQ chicken or Italian sausage
  • Make a calzone with the dough instead
  • Let your kids make mini pizzas out of English muffins
  • Try pizza sliders in the oven using a package of Hawaiian rolls
• Egg Salad Sandwiches, Chips, and Fruit
• Roll-ups- put anything you’d make into a sandwich in a tortilla!
• Pick 3! Choose a meat/veggie/carb combo like steak, tenderloin, or chicken paired with a veggie option and a rice/potato/pasta side dish.

Taco Tuesday Reboot

Mexican is always a popular choice, even with the kids. Try switching it up!

• Black Bean and Cheese Quesadillas with Homemade Guacamole
• Sheet Pan Fajitas or Baked Nachos 
• Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Tacos
• Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
• Chicken Quesadillas with Refried Beans and a Cowboy Salad
• Crustless Taco Pie

• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Taco Salad

Fire Up the Grill

Something magical happens with grilled food and we’re here for it!

• Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, or Brats (Summer picnic vibes!)
  • Try ground turkey or veggie burger options
  • Grill zucchini or squash for a side
• Chicken and Veggie Kabobs, Rice, and Hummus
  • Leftovers make great rice/quinoa bowls, wraps, or salad toppers

• Try Fruit! Slice up a pineapple or watermelon and taste the magic.

• Salmon with Asparagus and Campfire Potatoes
• Skirt Steak
  • Thin slices mixed with bell peppers and onion in a foil wrap
  • When done, top with fresh tomatoes, cheese, and salsa
• Grilled chicken or steak, thinly sliced once cooked through, served with foil-wrapped and cooked on the grill bell peppers and onions. Serve with warmed tortillas, cheese, and sour cream for a fajita night!

Breakfast for Dinner

This is a staple in many households! What’s not to love?

• Made to Order Omelets
• Quiche and a Fruit Salad
• Cheesy Scrambled Eggs with Prosciutto and Hashbrowns
• Eggs in a Basket (Wow your family!)
• Biscuits and Gravy
• Pancakes and Bacon (Give pancake art a try!)
• Kodiak Cakes Protein Waffles
• Breakfast Burritos

• Fancy, filled French toast with fresh fruit and eggs
• Make-ahead egg bake or French toast casserole

Comfort Classics

There’s nothing quite like cozy, comfort food for dinner.

• Chicken Pot Pie (store-bought pie crusts work just fine)
• Hearty Chili and Cornbread
• Create a chili bar with sour cream, cheese, chives, tortilla chips, etc.
• Oven-Baked Chicken Parmesan
• • • Mom hack: Use frozen breaded chicken patties
    • Pair with a veggie/side salad or mashed potatoes/buttered noodles

• Sloppy Joes (the messier, the better!)
• Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Meatloaf, Collard Greens, and Potatoes
• Tater Tot Casserole
• Stuffed Peppers
• Salisbury Steak
• Chicken Drumsticks
• Refrigerated (or thawed frozen) pizza crust made into custom mini pizzas, calzones, or a stromboli
• Sauteed chicken breasts, steamed broccoli, and white rice. Combine and top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Crockpot or Instant Pot

Let your cool gadgets do all the heavy lifting!

• Pulled Pork Sandwiches
  • Add coleslaw and use brioche buns to jazz things up
  • Leftovers make great pulled pork tacos (it freezes well too)
• Chicken and Dumplings
• Salsa Chicken (great for tacos, nachos, salads, enchiladas etc.)
• Hamburger Soup
  • Mom Hack: Stocked from the food pantry? Use canned goods!
• Mississippi Rot Roast

• Creamy Ranch Chicken Roast
  • Place thinly-sliced red skin potatoes and baby carrots on the bottom of slow cooker.
  • Lay 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts on top (seasoned to your liking).
  • In a bowl, mix 2 cans cream of chicken soup, 1 ranch seasoning packet, and ½ cup milk. Pour over chicken.
  • Cook on high for 5 to 6 hours.
• IP Jasmine Rice (for a quick stir fry)
  • Mom hack: Use a bag of stir fry veggies, a bottle of General Tso’s sauce from Aldi, and popcorn chicken
• Sausage and Sauerkraut
• IP Macaroni and Cheese
• Corned Beef and Cabbage
• IP Jambalaya

Savory Soups

You can’t go wrong with a bowl of goodness. Great for lunch leftovers too!

• Stuffed Pepper Soup
• Chicken Vegetable Soup
• Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Try this twist: Pho-Style Chicken Noodle Soup
• Cheesy Potato Soup and Crusty Bread
• Chicken & Gnocchi Soup
• French Onion

• Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Rice/Pasta

Mmmm, carbs. Try a protein-rich pasta or cauliflower rice swap if you’re cutting back.

• Spaghetti Night (always a popular choice)
  • Add a side salad and garlic toast
  • Try this twist: Million Dollar Spaghetti
  • Swap out the pasta for zoodles
  • Add meatballs to your sauce
• Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
• Spaghetti with Sautéed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes
• Chrissy Teigen’s Red Curry Chicken
• Beef and Broccoli Alfredo
• Andouille Sausage and Bell Pepper Pasta
  • Try it with a creamy pesto sauce                             
• Lasagna (use oven-ready noodles to save time)
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Frozen meatballs (we like Farm Rich) served with marinara sauce and any type of pasta
• Italian-seasoned grilled chicken, sliced thin, or shrimp with fettuccini alfredo
• 15-Minute Chicken Stir Fry Noodles

Easy Stovetop/Oven

Let it simmer while you enjoy a glass of wine or some dinnertime tunes!

• Smothered Chicken
• Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Creamy Garlic Chicken
• Quick Beef Stroganoff
  • 1lb ground beef with about 3 beef bouillon cubes
  • Add mushrooms (if you like)
  • Add two cans of beef gravy
  • Mix in a large scoop of sour cream when done
  • Serve with egg noodles
• Caesar Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
• Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken (so easy, so creamy!)
• Cheesy Spinach and Sausage Gnocchi
• Low-carb Jalapeno Popper Chicken

Get Creative

These think outside the box ideas had us drooling! Go ahead, try something new.

• Dinner Cupcakes
  • It’s a cornbread muffin with redskin mashed potatoes with gravy topped with a chicken tender, paired with fresh green beans with garlic and almond slices.

• Muffin Tray Fridays
  • The kids get to pick their muffins, paired with fruit and other finger foods
  • The adults get takeout the kids wouldn’t normally eat, like spicy Thai
• Salmon Bowls with Homemade Coleslaw and Grilled Pineapple
• Greek Chicken Meatloaf (served with Tzatziki Sauce)
• Charcuterie Board Dinner 

If you’re still running low on motivation, there is no shame in quick grab options, like a round of Happy Meals or a Hot ‘N Ready. Some nights are just too busy and sometimes you’re just too tired. This is a judgment-free zone! But, here are a few more ideas for you:

• Visit your local farmer’s market to utilize seasonal options. It’s fun to shop the rainbow and strike up conversations with vendors to get new ideas (and maybe even a recipe!). Visit your local farmers’ market or set up a weekly delivery from Market Wagon.
• Reserve fresh, locally prepared meals from services like Feedme Michigan to support local foodies who do all the work for you.
• Try a meal-kit delivery service, such as HelloFresh, Blue Apron, or Sunbasket to regain your sanity and find some recipes worth trying again. 
• Use eMeals to take the stress out of meal planning entirely. They do it for you! 
• If your kids are interested and old enough to be trusted in the kitchen, have them choose a meal to plan, prepare, and serve. They’ll learn a valuable life skill and their confidence will get a major boost. You’re doing a great job raising these little humans momma!

Finally, remember that leftovers are your friend! Make enough to transform them into an entirely different meal for round two—think pulled pork one night, BBQ pork tacos the next, or extra roast beef reimagined as shredded beef stir fry later in the week. The possibilities are endless (and cost-effective too).

BONUS TIP:
This local mom gets creative to hide the veggies!

“Grate vegetables using a cheese grater. Zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, peppers, you name it, I grate it and put the vegetables in whatever I cook. Pizza, pasta sauce, meatloaf, homemade mac & cheese, etc. My husband and toddler both eat it all without complaints. I also use kitchen scissors to chop fresh spinach into tiny pieces, so it looks like seasoning!”