My free meal plans help you save time and money while enjoying wholesome, satisfying meals without the stress. This week’s plan focuses on simple, crowd-pleasing recipes in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and smart ideas for using leftovers after the big meal.
Meal Plan 83
As with all of my weekly meal plans, this free plan includes seven dinners plus breakfast, lunch, and snack ideas, simple meal-prep suggestions, and a shopping list. The goal is to make home-cooked meals easier and more enjoyable for busy families.
Download the complete plan with tips and a printable shopping list from the included PDF or use the ideas below for quick inspiration.
Dinner Recipes
- Sunday: Crockpot Chicken Chili or Instant Pot Chicken Chili served with Homemade Cornbread
- Monday: Blackened Chicken with Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Tuesday: Black Bean Tacos with a Pina Colada Smoothie
- Wednesday: Leftover chili and cornbread for an easy midweek meal
- Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving — use simple, stress-free recipes if you still need ideas
- Friday: Leftover Thanksgiving Pizza using turkey and other leftovers
- Saturday: Southwest Turkey Soup to use up remaining turkey and vegetables
Breakfast Ideas
- Baked Oatmeal Cups — great for make-ahead breakfasts
- Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole — a hearty, family-friendly option
- Sweet Potato Waffles — a seasonal twist packed with flavor and nutrients
Lunch Ideas
- Turkey Apple Sandwiches — a bright, crunchy lunch using roasted turkey
- Thanksgiving Club Wraps — a portable way to enjoy classic flavors
- Sweet Potato Burritos — satisfying and easy to customize
Snack & Treats
- Thanksgiving Egg Rolls — a fun appetizer or snack that uses holiday ingredients
- Pumpkin Cake — a seasonal treat that’s simple to bake
- Sweet Potato Smoothie — a nutritious beverage that works for snacks or breakfast
Tips for this Week’s Meal Plan
- Make a large batch of cornbread and chicken chili on Sunday so you can enjoy easy leftovers on Wednesday.
- Prepare extra Instant Pot sweet potatoes on Monday; reserve some to make a sweet potato casserole later in the week.
- Use canned pineapple tidbits in 100% juice to make pina colada smoothies and serve pineapple alongside the chili for a bright contrast.
- Thursday and Friday both rely on leftover turkey; Friday’s recipe also includes cranberry sauce. Feel free to substitute any preferred leftover-reinvention recipe as needed.
Printable Meal Plan
Click the PDF to print the meal plan complete with a shopping list and helpful time- and money-saving tips.