Week 8 Weekly Meal Plan

Welcome to another week of BBB’s weekly meal plans! This week we are incorporating a few family favorites as well as some simple throw them together quickly dinners. I love any kind of dump and go dinner, or meals with little prep. The shopping list is also shorter this week, and I’m hoping you will already have some of the spices at home, since I use them frequently! Check out the menu graphic below!

This week’s meals include:

1. Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken with Rice

2. Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Pierogi with Sauerkraut

3. Roasted Garlic Steak Bites with Asparagus

4. Pepperoni Pizza Bubble Bake with Salad

5. Taco Pasta with Mexicorn

6. Smothered Hamburgers with Green Beans

7. Philly Cheesesteak Pasta with Salad

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken

This recipe is super simple for days when you know you’re going to be busy. It’s a dump and go slow cooker meal. It can be enjoyed as is, or you can play with the recipe by choosing one of these fun alternatives:

Hawaiian Chicken Tacos: Shred the cooked chicken and serve it in warm tortillas with your favorite taco toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and a drizzle of ranch or sour cream.

1. Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches: Pile the shredded chicken onto sandwich rolls and top with sliced pineapple rings, crispy bacon, and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Toast the sandwiches in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

2. Hawaiian Chicken Rice Bowls: Serve the Hawaiian chicken over a bed of cooked rice or quinoa. Add steamed vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas for a nutritious and satisfying meal.

3. Hawaiian Chicken Pizza: Spread a thin layer of Hawaiian BBQ sauce over a pre-made pizza crust. Top with the cooked Hawaiian chicken, sliced red onions, diced bell peppers, and mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted.

4. Hawaiian Chicken Salad: Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, and diced pineapple. Drizzle with a tangy vinaigrette dressing for a refreshing salad option.

This week, my family is planning on eating it as is on top of a bed of rice.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Recipe

2 lbs chicken breast

1 (18 oz) bottle Hawaiian BBQ sauce

1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple

Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Pierogi

I love pierogi, but my husband does not. However, this meal works well at our house because I’m not a huge fan of Kielbasa and he is! So I get his pierogi and he gets my Kielbasa. The kids are surprisingly more willing to eat both than us adults.

This version of the recipe is being made in the slow cooker. I love using the slow cooker because I enjoy not having to come home after work and start cooking. I LOVE having the ability to walk in and smell dinner is ready to be served. However, I’ve also done this recipe on the stovetop, so feel free to change it up if you would like!

I’ll be using my Ninja PossibleCooker, so I’m going to give the meat and pierogi a nice sear before I add the broth and cheese and follow the recipe as written. Check out the recipe below!

Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Pierogi Recipe

1 (14 oz) Kielbasa

1 (48 oz) package pierogi

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4 cups beef broth

Roasted Garlic Steak Bites

Roasted Garlic Steak Bites – a symphony of savory flavors that tantalize the taste buds and leave you craving more. Picture tender chunks of sirloin steak infused with rich garlic, nestled alongside perfectly roasted potatoes. It's a culinary masterpiece that's sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

For my husband, steak and potatoes are the epitome of a satisfying meal. Knowing this, I knew Roasted Garlic Steak Bites would be a hit in our household. It's a dish that combines his love for hearty potatoes with the indulgence of succulent steak.

The preparation is surprisingly simple yet incredibly rewarding. Softening the diced yellow potatoes in the microwave saves time without sacrificing flavor. Then, onto the stovetop, where the magic truly happens.

The sizzle of olive oil and butter in the skillet sets the stage, infusing the potatoes with a golden hue and irresistible richness. Seasoned with Kinders The Blend seasoning, the sirloin steak is seared to perfection, each bite bursting with robust flavor.

But the real star of the show? Garlic. Its pungent aroma fills the kitchen as it mingles with the steak, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate with every bite.

Finally, we bring it all together, combining the steak and potatoes in a tantalizing medley of textures and tastes. The result? A dish that's not just a meal but an experience – one that tantalizes the senses and leaves you yearning for just one more bite.

Roasted Garlic Steak Bites Recipe

1 1/2 lbs yellow potatoes

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter, divided

1 1/2 Tbsp Kinders The Blend seasoning, divided

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 1/4 lbs sirloin steak, cut into bite sized pieces

Pepperoni Pizza Bubble Bake

As most kids, my kids love pizza. I don’t always want it to feel like we’re eating the same thing week after week incorporating it into our diets. So this is a fun casserole style way to enjoy all the flavors of pizza and give you a great alternative to the meal that is sure to please the whole family.

This recipe starts with refrigerated biscuits, cut into quarters. Top with the pizza sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni with a dash of seasoning and throw it in the oven! I love that this meal is simple and comes together quickly. It was also one of the first meals that got the kids excited about helping in the kitchen. This meal is so easy for the kids to help with. Refrigerated biscuits can but cut with a butter knife, or even just torn apart depending on the age of your kids. They can dump on the sauce and the cheese. Plus they’ll have fun arranging the pepperonis to make a cute design. Littler kids may even be impressed with a simple smiley face!

This meal can be adjusted to whatever pizza toppings you want on it. I would personally precook any sausage or chicken, but feel free to get creative with veggies, meats, and different cheeses to create a meal that suits your family!

Pepperoni Pizza Bubble Bake Recipe

1 can refrigerated biscuits

1 cup pizza sauce

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1 package of pepperoni

1 tsp Italian seasoning

Taco Pasta

This stovetop dinner is sure to be a hit with the whole family. So much flavor gets packed into the pasta dish from the seasoned beef and salsa and the gooey cheese makes it irresistible. My family never has leftovers when we make this meal. As a bonus, this meal is simple enough that even beginner cooks can master it quickly. And even better? It’s a one-pot dish!

To get started with this recipe, grab a large pot to brown your beef and season it with salt and pepper. After it’s cooked, drain the fat and stir in the taco seasoning, water and salsa. This mixture is really the heart of the recipe and where all the flavor comes from. Some simple ways to change the flavors of the dish are to change the salsa you’re using. Experiment with regular salsa, black bean and corn, or even salsa verde!

Next you add in the uncooked pasta, I like to use rotini. Bring the whole meal to a boil and then simmer about 15-17 minutes. Check that the pasta is cooked to your liking. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese. You’re now ready to serve the dish in less than 30 minutes!

Taco Pasta Recipe

2 lbs ground beef

2 oz taco seasoning

2 cups salsa

1 (16 oz) package rotini pasta

2 cups fiesta cheese blend

salt and pepper to taste

Smothered Hamburgers

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with Smothered Hamburgers – a dish that's both hearty and satisfying. Picture juicy ground beef patties, seasoned to perfection and draped in a rich mushroom gravy. It's a flavor-packed delight that promises to leave you longing for more.

Speaking of comfort, my husband's favorites include steak and potatoes. While this recipe doesn't feature potatoes, its hearty beef patties and savory gravy are sure to evoke those familiar, comforting flavors he adores.

The preparation is a labor of love, from mixing ground beef with crushed saltine crackers and spices to forming perfectly portioned patties. And let's not forget about the rich mushroom gravy – a simple blend of cream of mushroom soup and milk that elevates these hamburgers to new heights.

Once assembled, the patties are seared to golden perfection, sealing in all the delicious flavors. Then, into the oven they go until the gravy bubbles and the patties are cooked through, filling the kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

When the patties are ready, it's a moment of pure culinary bliss. Tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, these smothered hamburgers are a testament to the power of simple, comforting ingredients.

Smothered Hamburgers Recipe

1 1/4 lbs ground beef

3/4 cup saltine crackers, crushed

1 1/4 cups milk, divided

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp paprika

1/2 cup flour

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup

salt and pepper to taste

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

Get ready for a flavor-packed journey with Philly Cheesesteak Pasta – a dish that brings all the bold, savory goodness of a classic Philly cheesesteak to your dinner table in a whole new way.

Imagine tender ground beef, seasoned to perfection with garlic powder and salt, mingling with sautéed onions, green bell peppers, and minced garlic. It's a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate with every bite.

But the real star of the show? The shell pasta, cooked to al dente perfection in rich beef broth. It's the perfect canvas for all those delicious flavors to come together in perfect harmony.

And let's not forget about the creamy finish – a decadent blend of heavy whipping cream and melted provolone cheese that adds a luscious, indulgent touch to every mouthful.

So, if you're craving the iconic taste of a Philly cheesesteak but want to switch things up a bit, look no further than Philly Cheesesteak Pasta. Whether it's a cozy night in or a family gathering, this recipe is sure to please even the pickiest of palates.

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Recipe

1 lb ground beef

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp butter

1 (16 oz) package of shell pasta

4 cups beef broth

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

8 slices provolone cheese

Shopping List

These 7 dinner recipes are going to cost me $93.60 + tax here in Northern Illinois. That means this falls perfectly into my $100 grocery budget I have as a goal for my family. As always, the list assumes you have salt and pepper, but nothing else, so ensure you check what you already have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer before heading to the store. If you need everything, it would cost $108.41 at my local store. Luckily, I already had butter, beef broth, pizza sauce, flour, garlic, yellow onion and all the seasonings listed for this week. This shopping list DOES NOT include the sides which will be recommended below and are listed on the menu on the top of this blog post. These sides are simply recommendations of what I feel goes with each meal, but I like to make it easy for you to swap them out if they do not fit your needs. If your store does not have the Hawaiian barbecue sauce, do not worry! A brown sugar barbecue sauce will taste delicious also, and I would recommend the Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar.

Side Dishes

I make some recommendations for sides in the graphics below. If they require ingredients that I’m already having you buy on the shopping list, I don’t add an additional cost for them. For the sides for all 7 meals this week, it would cost $29.95 + tax. Please feel free to swap out or omit the sides as they fit both your budget, as well as your families dietary needs.

Final Thoughts

I think this week I felt like we wanted some comfort food, but also really simple meals. Hopefully you see something in this meal plan that you can add into your family dinner rotation. If prices vary, I hope these meals are still considered affordable for your area. Enjoy!