Out of her four brothers, this bond right here is Out of her four brothers, this bond right here is the strongest. The closest. They’re truly inseparable.

Watching her fall asleep in his arms—feeling that safe, that loved—was such a beautiful moment 🥹

Don’t let a big age gap scare you. So often, it’s the siblings farthest apart in age who grow the closest in heart ❤️ #siblings #boymom #girlmom #toddlermom #motherhood #momlife #momof5
I don’t know about yall, but I never had the tim I don’t know about yall, but I never had the time (or budget) to sit in a salon for hours getting lash extensions. As a busy mom, I wanted an easy way to wake up feeling put together without the hassle of strips or expensive fills. That’s why I started doing my own lashes and created my own brand. Can’t believe @leisurelash is one week away from grand opening 🎉 Drop a ❤️ if you’re excited!! #lashes #lashtips #lashlife #momlife #mompreneur
Nothing like a little chaos to set the mood for da Nothing like a little chaos to set the mood for date night 😮‍💨😂 #marriage #marriedlife #husbandandwife #datenight #momanddad
Never thought I’d be unboxing my own red carpet Never thought I’d be unboxing my own red carpet backdrop 😭💕 Planning this party has been a labor of love and it’s almost time! The countdown to the @leisurelash launch party has officially begun 🎉 Happy Friday yall!! #LashAtYourLeisure #LaunchParty #SipAndSee #Mompreneur #SmallBiz
Coffee at home will always be the vibe ✨☕️ # Coffee at home will always be the vibe ✨☕️ #GiantEaglePartner #icedcoffee #butfirstcoffee #momlife #sahm
Passenger Princess since 2012 👑🫶🏽 #marrie Passenger Princess since 2012 👑🫶🏽 #marriedlife #momlife #happywife #husbandandwife #highschoolsweethearts
saturday 📸🫶🏽🌮 saturday 📸🫶🏽🌮
This is the easiest slow cooker meal I’ve ever m This is the easiest slow cooker meal I’ve ever made. Only 3 ingredients!!!#GiantEaglePartner I’m a huge fan of Briannas salad dressings so I was excited to try this Sriracha Honey Ginger marinade, and it did not disappoint. It has the right amount of heat and a ton of flavor. RUN, don’t walk to @marketdistrict and save this recipe for later 🔥😋🙌🏽 #recipes #dinner #momlife #kidfriendly
I’ve been on the hunt for new snacks to introduc I’ve been on the hunt for new snacks to introduce to Savannah and these Once Upon A Farm breakfast bars are absolutely perfect! #GiantEaglePartner They’re soft-baked and easy for her to eat, so I’ll be stocking up on more from @marketdistrict ❤️
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Danielle Skeaton

In The Kitchen: Making Dinner Simple

By: Danielle Skeaton

Sick of Taco Tuesday? Here Are 30 Theme Dinner Ideas You Need To Know About

Before I started getting serious about meal planning, I was already making tacos on Tuesdays. It gave us something to look forward to for dinner every week. 

But what comes after Tuesday?

This is where I’d always get stuck because I didn’t have any other dinner ideas. Then, I researched and found more themed meal planning days that I could add to our meal plan that goes beyond Taco Tuesday! 

The idea of using a themed dinner menu is simple.

You are assigning a food theme for each night of the week. 

In fact, using themed meal planning days makes it really easy to plan a month’s worth of meals in advance, which will save you more time and stress throughout the week. Once you’ve selected your themes, then it’s time to find recipes to match your menu!

At the end of each month, you can keep with the same theme or change it up a bit so you can try new recipes by adding different themes to your menu.

Here are 30 themed menu ideas you need to know about:

1. Pasta Night

This is our favorite because pasta goes a long way and there are so many options.

  • One Pan Creamy Sausage And Mushroom Bake
  • Simple, Cheesy Ranch Chicken Alfredo To Make This Week
  • The Baked Ziti Recipe That My Picky Kids Approved
  • Easy Lasagna

2. Meatless Night

You can make your grocery budget stretch further by incorporating a meatless meal or two on your menu.

  • Veggie fried rice
  • Black Bean Burgers

3. Stir-fry Night

Meat is optional when it comes to stir-fry, and most recipes are really easy to make!

  • Easy Shrimp And Veggie Stir-fry Dinner Idea
  • Chicken Stir-Fry
  • Quick Beef Stir-Fry

4. Soup Night

Hearty and great for those cold winter nights.

  • 30-minute Checkin Noodle Soup
  • Taco Soup
  • Classic Chili
30 Themed Menu Planning Days for Every Night of The Week

5. New Recipe Night

If you’re only planning meals that you’re familiar with, add a day each week when you get to try a new recipe!

6. Breakfast for Dinner Night

If you ask my kids, they would live off of pancakes for the rest of their lives! So breakfast is always an easy dinner option.

  • Easy Shredded Hash Brown & Ham Casserole
  • Easy Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
  • Homemade Old Fashioned Pancakes

7. Homemade Takeout

You can recreate dishes from your favorite restaurants and eat takeout in your kitchen.

  • Copycat Chipotle Chicken
  • Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli
  • Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme

8. Sandwich Night

I love pairing sandwiches with french fries! Burgers are a favorite in our house.

  • Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
  • Ultimate Sloppy Joes
  • Easy Meatball Subs

9. Slow Cooker Night

If you have a slow cooker that you’re not using, add this theme to your menu. You will LOVE how much time you’ll save on dinner because you get to just throw ingredients inside, set it, and forget about it!

10. Leftovers Night

I recommend everyone set a day aside later in the week on their menu where they plan to eat leftovers—either from dinner the night before or from dinner all week long. You’ll cut down on food waste and it’ll give you a much-needed break from the kitchen!

11. Takeout Night

I know this one may surprise you since we’re talking about meal planning here. But the thing is, just because you’re meal planning doesn’t mean you can’t PLAN to eat takeout meals.

You’ll save more money if you plan to eat takeout 1-2 nights a week than you would if you plan an extravagant menu, buy a ton of groceries for it, but eat out anyway because you don’t feel like cooking.

So if eating takeout is important to you, choose one night where you get to order pizza, Chinese food, or have a sit-down meal at your favorite restaurant!

12. Kids Choice Night

If your kids are old enough, ask them what meals they’d like to see on the menu! You’ll only need four ideas if you’re planning meals for the entire month.

13. Mexican Night

Yup, that means you don’t have to eat tacos only on Tuesdays, and you can try other Mexican dishes too!

  • Chicken Quesadillas
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Easy Chicken Fajitas

14. Chicken Night

I cook with chicken A LOT because it’s one of the cheapest cuts of meats you can buy to save money on groceries.

  • Garlic Butter Roast Chicken
  • Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
  • Oven-Fried Chicken

15. Pizza Night

Skip delivery and learn how to make your own pizza at home! Plus, it’s a fun way to get the whole family involved.

  • BBQ Chicken Pizza
  • Veggie Pizza
  • Oven-ready Pizza

16. Sheet Pan Dinner Night

Sheet pan dinners are easy to make and even easier to clean up!

  • Sheet Pan Chicken and Waffles
  • Sheet Pan Mac-and-Cheese
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Pot Pie

17. Fish Night

You can’t go wrong with salmon, shrimp, or fried whiting (yum!).

  • Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
  • Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi

18. Salad Night

You could even make extra to pack for lunch the next day.

  • Easy Pasta Salad
  • Taco Salad
  • Chicken Salad

19. Asian Night

  • Easy Chow Mein
  • Easy General Tso’s Chicken
  • Easy Chicken Fried Rice

20. Casserole Night

I talk a lot about making Stretch Meals that stretch your budget and give you a break from cooking. Adding casserole nights to your menu will help you do just that because it makes planning to eat leftovers easy!

  • Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
  • Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole

21. Game Food Night

Why wait for the Super Bowl when you can enjoy yummy finger food all football season?

  • Seriously Good Cheeseburger Sliders
  • Baked Potato Skins

22. Grill Night

When the weather heats up, it’s time to take the cooking outside!

  • BBQ & Grilled Chicken
  • Grilled Hot dogs and Hamburgers
  • BBQ Ribs

23. Throwback Night

Bring back a meal that your family loves! Every time you try a new recipe and it’s a hit, write it down so you can cook again on nights like this.

24. Freezer Meal Night

Freezer cooking is a great way to cut your cooking time in HALF since you’re doing a lot of it ahead. You can dump your freezer meals in your slow cooker or in your oven.

  • Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake
  • Make-Ahead Beef Enchiladas
  • Homemade Frozen Pizzas

25. BBQ Night

Any dish that’s smothered in barbeque sauce! From pulled pork to BBQ chicken pizza.

26. Comfort Food Night

  • Loaded Nachos
  • Mini Italian Club Sandwiches
  • Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

27. All-American Night

American classics that everyone knows and loves!

  • Diner Burger
  • Chicken-Fried Steak
  • Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

28. Southern Food Night

Also known as Soul Food because it doesn’t just hit your tummy. It’s comfort food that reaches down into your soul!

  • Southern Fried Chicken
  • Bacon Shrimp & Cheddar Grits
  • Smothered Pork Chops

29. 15-Minute Meal Night

When you need to save time, choose quick and easy meals for your busy weeknights so you can get dinner on the table in a flash!

  • Chicago-Style Hot Dog
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  • Bacon and Egg Spaghetti

30. Pantry Meal Night

When all else fails, cook from your pantry! Plan a backup meal that you can make for dinner using what you have.

Welp, there you have it—30 amazing themed meal planning days for every night of the week to add to your calendar that goes beyond Taco Tuesday! Plus, you’ve got simple dinner ideas to give you a quick start on your planning.

More Meal Planning Tips:

  • How to Simplify Dinner Planning With A Rotating Menu
  • How to Plan Family Meals On A Budget
  • Overcoming My Grocery Shopping Anxiety

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Comments

  1. Claire says

    November 28, 2020 at

    This is a really great post! It helped me plan a monthly meal plan that reduces our cost by almost $50 a week!
    Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Danielle Skeaton says

      November 28, 2020 at

      That’s amazing Claire! I’m so glad our cheap meal plan strategy is helping you too! 🙂

      Reply

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Out of her four brothers, this bond right here is Out of her four brothers, this bond right here is the strongest. The closest. They’re truly inseparable.

Watching her fall asleep in his arms—feeling that safe, that loved—was such a beautiful moment 🥹

Don’t let a big age gap scare you. So often, it’s the siblings farthest apart in age who grow the closest in heart ❤️ #siblings #boymom #girlmom #toddlermom #motherhood #momlife #momof5
I don’t know about yall, but I never had the tim I don’t know about yall, but I never had the time (or budget) to sit in a salon for hours getting lash extensions. As a busy mom, I wanted an easy way to wake up feeling put together without the hassle of strips or expensive fills. That’s why I started doing my own lashes and created my own brand. Can’t believe @leisurelash is one week away from grand opening 🎉 Drop a ❤️ if you’re excited!! #lashes #lashtips #lashlife #momlife #mompreneur
Nothing like a little chaos to set the mood for da Nothing like a little chaos to set the mood for date night 😮‍💨😂 #marriage #marriedlife #husbandandwife #datenight #momanddad
Never thought I’d be unboxing my own red carpet Never thought I’d be unboxing my own red carpet backdrop 😭💕 Planning this party has been a labor of love and it’s almost time! The countdown to the @leisurelash launch party has officially begun 🎉 Happy Friday yall!! #LashAtYourLeisure #LaunchParty #SipAndSee #Mompreneur #SmallBiz
Coffee at home will always be the vibe ✨☕️ # Coffee at home will always be the vibe ✨☕️ #GiantEaglePartner #icedcoffee #butfirstcoffee #momlife #sahm
Passenger Princess since 2012 👑🫶🏽 #marrie Passenger Princess since 2012 👑🫶🏽 #marriedlife #momlife #happywife #husbandandwife #highschoolsweethearts
saturday 📸🫶🏽🌮 saturday 📸🫶🏽🌮
This is the easiest slow cooker meal I’ve ever m This is the easiest slow cooker meal I’ve ever made. Only 3 ingredients!!!#GiantEaglePartner I’m a huge fan of Briannas salad dressings so I was excited to try this Sriracha Honey Ginger marinade, and it did not disappoint. It has the right amount of heat and a ton of flavor. RUN, don’t walk to @marketdistrict and save this recipe for later 🔥😋🙌🏽 #recipes #dinner #momlife #kidfriendly
I’ve been on the hunt for new snacks to introduc I’ve been on the hunt for new snacks to introduce to Savannah and these Once Upon A Farm breakfast bars are absolutely perfect! #GiantEaglePartner They’re soft-baked and easy for her to eat, so I’ll be stocking up on more from @marketdistrict ❤️
I finally gave myself the break I’ve been needin I finally gave myself the break I’ve been needing, and it was EVERYTHING 🙌🏽 I love my family, I really do. But every mom needs a night where no one touches her, asks for a snack, or wakes her up at 3am. After waiting a long time for a 24-hour momcation like this, it felt so good to take care of no one but me. 💆🏾‍♀️✨ #momlife #sahmlife #selfcare #momof5 #weekendfun

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