Weekly Dinners for 4 under $100 – Menu 2 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.
The very best way to save money is to make a larger batch of something you are already cooking and eat it two or three times in a week. Andrew and I really enjoy leftovers and as a bonus we don’t need to cook that night.
I love to stretch my grocery budget by cooking a large piece of meat and making multiple meals. Sunday is my slow cooking day. I don’t mind making meals that will take longer especially if they provide meals for the rest of the week.
Dinners for the Week - About $99.63
Monday
- One Pot Lasagna
- Side:
- Salad
- Garlic Bread
Tuesday
Wednesday
- Leftover:
- One Pot Lasagna
- Side:
- Salad
- Garlic Bread
Friday
- Chili Vegetables over Sweet Potatoes
- 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 for meals Sunday - Wednesday:
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.
- Container with lid or plastic bag to store 1 pound halved carrots (Side)
- 2 cups; 2 onions (Favorite Skillet Lasagna & Shepherds Pie)
- 1 cup; zucchini (Favorite Skillet Lasagna)
- 1 cup; ricotta cheese mixture (Favorite Skillet Lasagna)
- 1/4 cup; 6 cloves peeled garlic
Let’s start prepping for Sunday - Wednesday meals!
I like to use a vegetable chopper to speed up this process.
Multiple Meals
- Peel carrots then chop in half and place in container or plastic bag.
- Peel 6 garlic cloves put in storage container
Favorite Skillet Lasagna
- Chop 1 cup onion and store in a container; set aside.
- Chop 1 zucchini and store in a container
- Mix 1 cup ricotta cheese, 4 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes. Store in a container in the refrigerator.
Shepherds Pie
- Chop 1 cup onion and store in a container; Place in the same container with the other onions.
Stop until Wednesday!
Storage containers needed for meals Thursday - Saturday:
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.
- 3 cups; 3 onions (Spanish Rice & Chili)
- 2 cups; 1 onion & 1 chopped red pepper (Pork Tacos)
- 3 cups; 3 chopped green peppers (Spanish Rice & Chili)
- ¼ cup; chopped dried apricots (Pork Tacos)
- 1 pint chopped cherry tomato (Pork Tacos)
- 1 cup; green onions (Pork Tacos)
Let’s start prepping for Thursday - Saturday meals!
I like to use a vegetable chopper to speed up this process.
Slow Cooked Pork Tacos
- Chop 1 onion and store in a 2 cup container; set aside.
- Chop 1 red pepper and store in the container with 1 onion.
- Chop cherry tomatoes into bite size (I just usually half them) place in storage container
- Chop green onions and put in storage container
- Chop apricots put in storage container but leave at room temp
Chili Vegetables over Sweet Potatoes
- Chop 1 onion and store in a 3 cup container; set aside.
- Chop 1 green peppers and store in a 3 cup container; set aside.
Speedy Spanish Rice
- Chop 2 onion and store in a container then place in the onion container; refrigerate
- Chop 2 green peppers and store the container with the green peppers; refrigerate.
Tips and Tricks for the weekly meals to go flawlessly!
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.
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.
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.
Crock-pot Beef Roast with Gravy
- Wash potatoes, cut in half, and place in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Add carrots to the cock pot.
- Follow recipe as directed in link above. Enjoy!
**Be sure to save and refrigerate 2 cups of cooking liquid in a container and 2 cups of roast beef in a separate container for the Shepherd’s pie on Tuesday.
One Pot Lasagna
- If you don’t have exactly a cup of zucchini then use whatever you have chopped; set aside
- Follow recipe as directed.
- After you reduce your heat in step 3 preheat your oven for the garlic bread. Enjoy!
Shepherds Pie
- Follow recipe as directed. Enjoy!
- Make garlic bread
- Warm up lasagna. Enjoy!
Chop ingredients for the rest of the weeks meals.
Slow-Cooked Pork Tacos
- Pork Tacos:
- I like to cook this on low for 10 hours instead of 4-5 hours on high.
- Gather all the ingredients. A medium onion is equal to 1 cup.
- Follow the recipe as directed.
Speedy Spanish Rice
- Follow the rice recipe as directed.
- While the rice is resting shred pork with two forks.
- Gather toppings: cherry tomato, green onions, sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa verde, and chop 1 avocado. Enjoy!
Chili Vegetables over Sweet Potatoes
- After the chili vegetables are simmering start your green beans using any of the cooking methods below. Enjoy!
- Boil:
- Add green beans to water and simmer until fork tender – about 15-20 minutes.
- Steam:
- Add green beans to steamer basket until fork tender – about 15 – 20 minutes.
- Roast:
- Place green beans on a sheet pan and add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add to the oven with the potatoes and stir after 6 minutes.
- Place them back in the oven for additional 6 minutes.
- Boil:
Speedy Spanish Rice Recipe_ How to Make It
- Follow the rice recipe as directed.
- While the rice is resting gather toppings: cherry tomato, green onions, sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa verde and chop 1 avocado
- Warm up pork and enjoy!
