With December bustling with activities like Christmas cards, gift-giving, and cookie baking, the last thing you want is to stress over elaborate meal plans. Maintaining the magic for your family during the holiday season is a priority, and that’s why I’ve crafted a simple and budget-friendly meal plan to make your life easier in the busy week leading up to Christmas.
While my typical meal plans prioritize pantry-friendly recipes, for simplicity sake, this one does not have 3 pantry friendly recipes. However, rest assured, the emphasis remains on affordability, ensuring your budget stays intact.
For the remainder of 2023, and in January 2024, I’m providing free weekly meal plans (sign up to be e-mailed the plans weekly here!). Each plan follows the design of my “Stick to Your Budget Checklist” and includes 3 pantry friendly meal options (at least one of which is vegetarian), 3 budget conscious recipes, and assumes 1 leftovers day. There are also 2 breakfast options and a sweet treat to try!
Monday: Revitalize your Monday with this Chicken Caesar Salad recipe – a quick, under-10-minute solution that costs less than $5! Utilizing half a rotisserie chicken, priced at $4.29 (or a $5 Costco option), this budget-friendly dish extends into healthy lunches for the week. With minimal expenses like $1 croutons and $1.50 romaine lettuce, plus pantry staples like Caesar dressing and parmesan cheese, this recipe offers versatility. The recipe can be found within this blog post!
Tuesday: While taco Tuesday can just be traditional tacos, I recommend trying these Lazy Enchiladas. They have less active cooking time than traditional tacos and I think they are more delicious!
Wednesday: This is another Lazy-but-goodie! It’s time for Lazy Chicken Parmesan! This is a go-to on busy weeknights and it’s much healthier than the original! Let the oven do most of the work for you, and everyone will be raving about this dish!
Thursday: It’s breakfast for dinner day! And there’s not too much to this. Just pick one of these ideas based on what you already have in your pantry. I challenge you to buy as little as possible for this one!
- Classic Scrambled Eggs and Toast:
- Whip up some fluffy scrambled eggs and serve them with toast using whatever bread you have in your kitchen. Serve with bacon or sausage, if you have that too!
- If you have shredded hash browns or home fries in the freezer, crisp them up in a skillet for a delightful and crunchy side.
- Pancake Paradise or Wonderful Waffles:
- Keep it simple with pancakes or waffles– a versatile option that can be customized with toppings or enjoyed with a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Fruit and Yogurt Delight:
- If you have fruits and yogurt on hand, create a refreshing parfait with layers of yogurt and fresh fruits.
- Leftover Breakfast Burritos:
- Utilize tortillas to make burritos with eggs, veggies, cheese, and any meats you have on hand.
- DIY Breakfast Sandwiches: Toast some bread, cook up an egg, add bacon or sausage, and create your own delicious breakfast sandwiches.
Remember, the key is to be creative and use what you have available to make a satisfying and enjoyable breakfast-for-dinner experience for your family. It’s a flexible and fun meal that can easily adapt to your pantry and fridge contents.
Friday: Slow Cooker Sausage and Red Sauce with pasta is a recipe I got from my mother in law and the whole family loves it! Friday night is the perfect night to give this a spin. You’ll be filled with pasta and sausage goodness that took no time at all to put together!
Saturday or Sunday (choose one day for leftovers): I recommend leftovers on Saturday this week, because Sunday is Christmas Eve. As Christmas Eve arrives, you might have your cherished traditions; however, if you’re seeking fresh ideas, check out this list of 15 wonderfully simple and budget-friendly Christmas dinner ideas. These options are perfect for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, designed to be made ahead with minimal ingredients, ensuring a magical and stress-free celebration. Watch the video here for festive culinary inspiration!
For Breakfast: Eggs Benedict Casserole is worth celebrating this week! You can make it ahead and microwave it when you’re ready to eat!
These Pumpkin Pancakes made with baking mix are also a great make ahead treat for the week. You can make a big batch up on Sunday or Monday and heat them up as needed. They make a great snack too!
For a Sweet Treat: Have you tried these mini cheesecakes yet? They are a super festive treat that’s a one bite classic!
I hope you have a wonderful week!
YOU CAN WATCH ME MAKE ALL OF THESE RECIPES HERE:
FOR MORE INEXPENSIVE FAMILY RECIPES CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:
- 3 Delicious Pantry Friendly Meals
- 105 Meals for $115 – Feeding My Family For a week
- The Top 10 Secrets to saving big on food!
MORE WEEKNIGHT RECIPES TO TRY:
- Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
- Cheesy Tortellini Bake(My Kids LOVE THIS!)
- Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas! (These are SO EASY!)
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