The Meal Plan That is Saving My Life Right Now AND MY Summer Meal Rotation

I loathe meal planning…

…and when I say loathe, I really mean the worst kind of loathing you can possibly imagine. I DESPISE it!!!

I don’t want to have to think about the food we are going to eat for a really really long time…like EVER. I just want it to be there in my day planner, and all I have to do is look at it and make it.

I’ve been trying out this method for over a year now, and am LOVING it. And that’s really saying something since, you guessed it…I loathe meal planning.

So to fix this very depressing, ugly, brain fatiguing, horrible “pain point,” I came up with this meal plan (or “rotation” is actually a better word), that I’m SOOO excited about! The only way I can think to describe it is like a capsule wardrobe, but for food instead–Capsule Meal Planning! (And I actually googled that, and someone else came up with that title already, BUMMER!)

Here’s the idea

All of our favorite dinner meals are split up seasonally. Each season has 12-14 main dishes and 12-14 side dishes. And these will go on a rotation for the season.

Once I figure out the 14 meals, I add them to my calendar…over and over and over and over, until the next season. And BOOM…hardly any planning necessary because I did all the hard work all at once! (BIGGEST WIN OF MY LIFE TIME!)

To make matters even easier, many of the meals have the same few ingredients, with a few exceptions (like baked beans), so as long as I have the majority of these ingredients in my pantry, I can make several of these meals at any given time! WOOHOO!!!! The less I have to think about meals, the better! For example, cilantro is great in both Indian and Mexican dishes. The naan is great for both Indian meals and also as the bread for homemade pizza! Our favorite Sister Schubert rolls can be both sides and the sandwich bun for shredded meat. Where I can’t eat rolls, or buns, I can substitute lettuce to turn the dish into a salad or wrap!

I have included sides with each meal (again, so I don’t have to think about it), but really, I am not stuck to these exact meals. I can switch around or completely remove sides and vegetables as much or as little as I want. It just depends on what I’ve got in my pantry!

my Go-To pantry items

MEATS:

Chicken, Ground Beef, Pork

COOKED VEGGIES:

Green Beans, Broccoli, Corn, Zucchini

RAW VEGGIES:

Carrots, Snap Peas, Broccoli, Romaine Lettuce, Green Pepper, Tomato, Cucumber, Onion, Cilantro

CARBS:

Potatoes, Fries, Sister Schubert’s or Homemade Rolls, Naan, Spaghetti

DAIRY:

Shredded Cheese, Yogurt, Milk, Cream

HERBS AND SPICES:

Herbs and spices are KEY in using this meal plan. I keep my favorites always stocked, and as soon as I run out, I add it to my grocery cart so I never go too long without one that I use over and over!

summer meal Rotation!

Chicken

Butter Chicken with Rice: As you will notice, we love us some Indian food! The first four recipes could technically be considered as one in my actual rotation. I will not be making or eating all four dishes within the same week.

Chicken Shawarma with Rice, Naan and Tzatziki Sauce: I’ve talked about this recipe many, MANY times on Instagram, but this is really a family favorite. This is one I ALWAYS make for company because it tends to be such a crowd pleaser. For an Indian style rice, I like to double the spice recipe and add the extra spices to the rice.

Chicken Curry with Rice and Indian Cucumber Salad: Any type of cucumber or fresh vegetable salad is fitting here or switch it out with the Yogurt salad below.

Chicken Tandoori with Rice and Indian Yogurt Salad: For another type of Indian Rice, you could try this. I love the flavor of curry leaves, and am so thankful when my Indian friends share them with me! Don’t be stuck to the recipe!!! Oftentimes, when I try to make an Indian style rice, I’ll just sprinkle some spices in like cinnamon, clove and chili pepper.

Chicken Spaghetti with Garlic Bread and Salad: A summer twist on spaghetti!

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with French Fries and Fresh Veggies: No recipe. Just simply chicken breasts in the crockpot or Instant Pot with your favorite BBQ sauce. When done, shred and serve. (Save the leftovers for a quick meal of homemade BBQ pizza!)

Mexican Street Tacos with Street Corn and Chips: Street Corn is my favorite!!!!

Beef

Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole with Salad: I love this summer twist on an otherwise normal tator tot casserole.

Sloppy Joes with Chips and Fresh Veggies: Sandwiches are always in during the summer months!

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes with Fries and Salad: A really yummy twist on sloppy joes. These guys are delicious!

Million Dollar Spaghetti with Salad: This is one of my husband’s favorites, so it pretty much stays on the meal rotation all year long. I use ground beef instead of the sausage it calls for in the recipe.

Pork

Pork Chops (my favorite seasoning to use on these) with Blistered Green Beans and Rolls: In the summer it’s fun to grill these, but I also love cooking these in the iron skillet, and then using the same skillet (without cleaning it), to make the green beans. Cooking them this way makes the most amazing green beans ever. My husband says they’re the best he’s ever had…even better than fancy restaurant green beans!!!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Cornbread or Fries and Slaw: Eat your favorite BBQ restaurant at home!

Other

Grilled Pizza with Salad: Using naan or flatbread as your base layer makes for amazing pizza!!!!

Hot Dogs, Zucchini or Squash, Chips and Baked Beans: The baked beans are here for when I feel like adding all these extra ingredients to my cart. When I’m not feeling it, we’re having fresh veggies instead.

Baked Potato Bar with Cheesy Broccoli: This is a favorite quick meal. And I love how the potatoes turn out baking them this way. It’s worth the extra effort to pull them out halfway through to butter and salt them! (And here’s an Easy Cheese Sauce if you don’t want the store-bought kind.)