Gourmet Dinners at Home | Meal Plan Menu
Say goodbye to expensive take-out and enjoy restaurant quality dinners at home with this week’s meal plan menu, featuring dine-out favorites like Steak Frites, Pizza Bianca, and Thai Red Curry Chicken.
The temptation to order take-out or stop at a restaurant on the way home is real. Without a proper grocery list and meal plan for the week ahead, the dinner hour can feel stressful. We get it. That’s why in the time it takes to order and pick up dinner, you can enjoy restaurant quality meals at home with our weekly meal planning service.
This week’s menu is inspired by delicious gourmet meals you might find at your favorite restaurant, but with the cozy comforts of home. Treat your taste buds to Italian gnocchi with savory pancetta, spicy Thai curry with squash and chicken, pizza bianca (sans red sauce), and French bistro-inspired steak frites.
With a customized grocery list, weekend prep steps, and simple recipe instructions, you can save time and money by cooking dinners at home without sacrificing flavor. In fact, our meal plans just might introduce you to new flavors and cuisines you’ve never tried before!
“My kids are eating foods at home that I never tried until I was an adult in fancy restaurants. [With Cook Smarts,] meal time is always an adventure.”
– Whitney B. (Member since Aug 2017)
All meals come with gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian options, as well as a grocery list and optional weekend prep steps.
On the Menu
MONDAY
Gnocchi with Swiss Chard & Pancetta + Italian Roasted Cauliflower
This warm, comforting skillet dinner is the perfect meal after a long Monday. Pillowy gnocchi is served in a rich pan sauce with sauteed mushrooms, shallots, Swiss chard, and savory pancetta. A side of roasted Italian cauliflower adds even more veggie goodness to the entire meal.
Simple substitutions are all that’s needed to accommodate a variety of dietary needs. Vegetarians will skip the pancetta and use cannellini beans to pack in some protein. Use gluten-free gnocchi (or other GF pasta) and GF flour in the pan sauce for a delicious gluten-free meal. We use the same flavor profile in this Paleo recipe for Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Chard.
TUESDAY
Thai Red Curry Chicken with Kabocha Squash & Rice
Save time and money with this “fake-out” recipe for spicy and savory Thai red curry. Our version is filled with a bounty of colorful vegetables, tender bites of chicken, and kabocha squash – a variety often used in Southeast Asian cooking. No worries if you can’t find it at your local market; any squash variety will work well in this recipe.
Naturally gluten-free, this recipe is easily made Paleo-friendly by serving over cauliflower rice. Vegetarians can enjoy all the flavors of our Thai Red Curry with Tofu by using soy sauce in place of the fish sauce.
WEDNESDAY
Pizza Bianca with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe + Butter Lettuce Pear Salad
In the time it takes to order pizza and wait for delivery, you can enjoy homemade gourmet pizza with exquisite toppings like Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, fresh mozzarella, and herb-infused garlic oil. For the foodies out there, we invite you to use spicy sausage and then drizzle honey over the top of the pizza for an epic sweet and spicy combo. Be sure to post a pic on Instagram and use the hashtag #cooksmarts, so we can see your delicious Cook Smarts food photo!
To enjoy a gluten-free slice of pie, use GF pizza dough and flour. For a vegetarian pizza, use your favorite olives in place of the sausage. For Paleo folks, you can enjoy all the same flavors in our Paleo Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Saute.
THURSDAY
Steak Frites & Roasted Broccoli with Herb-Garlic Butter
Make a weeknight dinner feel special and fun with “steak and fries,” a French bistro-inspired meal. By roasting the broccoli and potatoes in the oven, this dinner is simple enough to make on a weeknight, yet feels dressed-up with the addition of a flavorful herb-garlic butter.
Naturally gluten-free, make this dish Paleo by serving with sweet potato frites. Vegetarians will love pouring herb-garlic butter over Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Lentils.
Smart meal planning ideas come with every weekly menu. The smarts listed below are only a portion of the meal prep tips we include to help you make the most of your ingredients and your time. Join our community to get the full benefits of our meal plan service every day!
Meal Planning Tips
Make Aheads:
- Get a head start on the week and cook meals for your busiest nights over the weekend. Tuesday’s Thai Red Curry and Rice reheat well, making this an excellent dish to prepare ahead of time.
shortcuts:
- Save time this week with pre-diced pancetta (usually found in the deli section) for Monday’s gnocchi saute.
- You may also find pre-chopped veggies in the produce department for the cauliflower, mushrooms, broccoli, and squash that you’ll be using this week.
- Naan, pita, or any flatbread are excellent alternatives to fresh pizza dough if you’re short on time for Wednesday’s Pizza Bianca.
ingredient notes:
- Thai basil adds a fresh, authentic finish to the Thai curry this week. Don’t use Italian basil as a sub (it has a very different flavor profile), but there’s also no need to go out of your way for the Thai variety – the curry is still delicious without it.
- Broccoli rabe (also called rapini) is a leafy green vegetable with small buds that resemble traditional broccoli. Since you’ll use it on pizza this week, be sure to chop it into small pieces. It has a slightly bitter flavor, so if that’s not a flavor you like, try substituting kale or baby spinach.
leftovers:
- Make a gourmet omelette or frittata for brunch with leftover sausage, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Chop leftover potato frites and re-warm in a cast iron skillet for homemade hash browns.
- Serve leftover steak with sauteed peppers, onions, mushrooms, and your favorite cheese on a toasted hoagie roll for the ultimate steak sandwich.
- Leftover cooked rice is an excellent base for fried rice. Check our stir-fry guide for inspiration!
- Need to reheat leftover Pizza Bianco for a quick meal? Skip the microwave and place a slice of pizza in a cast iron skillet over medium heat and cover with a lid. Keep a close eye on the pan – it should only take a few minutes for the crust to crisp up a bit. Enjoy!
We do more than create meal plans.
We create memories around the dinner table.
Join our weekly meal plan service to get the grocery list, dinner steps, and more cooking tips for these 4 simple dinners.
