Meal Plan Menu | Week of 11/16/20
This week of cozy meals for cold nights includes some of our favorite fall dinner ideas, including a slow cooker recipe, a breakfast for dinner idea, sheet pan chicken and veggies, and baked orzo with sausage and cheese.
MONDAY
Slow Cooker Split Pea and Ham Soup
When you’re in need of a good soup for chilly, rainy weather, this split pea and ham soup with rich umami flavors will be just the cure for cold nights and curling up by the fireplace. The ham you choose will influence the soup’s flavor profile, which is also seasoned with fresh thyme, dried oregano, and bay leaves. It’s a thick soup full of carrot and onion, and we serve it with a crusty baguette to help you soak up every last drop! Pair with a side salad of grapes and pistachios over mixed greens and a white wine vinaigrette.
Meal Planning Smarts:
- This split pea soup can be made ahead in the stovetop or the slow cooker and reheated to serve.
- It also freezes well, or you can turn leftover soup into a rice casserole by adding in some extra protein, veggies, and cheese before popping in the oven!
Diet Variation:
- Avoiding gluten? Simply choose gluten-free bread instead of the standard baguette.
- The paleo version of this meal is a sausage soup with turnips and kale, and is paired with the same side salad as the original.
- Vegetarians will use miso paste to make up for the umami flavors that ham provides in the original version of this soup.
TUESDAY
Mushroom and Spinach Breakfast Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries
In need of a quick and easy meal? This breakfast-for-dinner meal is just that, requiring only a few ingredients. Simply sauté mushrooms and spinach with chopped shallot, scramble some eggs, and crumble feta on top to make the sandwich filling. The sandwiches are served with a side of frozen sweet potato fries that we give a more homemade feel with a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves. Including prep, dinner will be on the table in just 35 minutes!
Meal Planning Smarts:
- Feel free to add any vegetables or cheese you have in your pantry to customize your sandwich and use up leftovers.
- Extra sandwich rolls freeze well – just follow our Infographic Freezer Guide to see how to freeze properly!
Diet Variation:
- This breakfast for dinner recipe is already vegetarian!
- The gluten-free and paleo version of this meal is a Mushroom, Spinach, and Bacon Frittata (feta for GF folks, no feta for paleo). Skip the frozen sweet potato fries in favor of baking your own sweet potato wedges that are served with a spicy avocado crema.
“My 8-year-old’s comment on tonight’s soup: ‘Dad, what’s about to go in your mouth is NEXT level.’ 🙌 Just another [day] with fab food — so thankful for that.”
–Kelley M. (Member since May 2018)
WEDNESDAY
Chicken with Honey Lemon Butter and Roasted Root Veggies
This sheet pan meal gets an upgrade thanks to the honey lemon butter you’ll pour on top of the chicken as it roasts. It will flavor the potatoes and parsnips as well, which will get extra crispy and have a slight sweet-and-sour kick. The vegetables and chicken are served with an arugula side salad to add some beautiful green color and balance out the flavors of the meal. The whole thing takes just 45 minutes, including roasting time!
Meal Planning Smarts:
- Fresh thyme flavors this meal as well, so you’ll be sure to use up what you bought for Tuesday’s meal!
- Freeze leftover honey lemon butter or chicken, or use the leftover chicken on a salad.
- Don’t like arugula? Sub your favorite salad greens.
Diet Variation:
- This meal is already gluten-free, but to make it a paleo dinner, use sweet potatoes instead of russet.
- For a vegetarian meal, you’ll make Honey Lemon Butter Farro and Chickpeas instead of chicken.
THURSDAY
Sausage Baked Orzo with Roasted Broccoli
This baked orzo is made with 2 types of canned tomatoes for a simple yet richly flavored meal. Italian sausage gets a boost from added thyme and oregano, and mozzarella is melted on top. We balance the pasta with a side of oven-roasted broccoli sprinkled with fresh lemon juice to up the brightness. This meal is made even easier by the fact that you don’t need to drain the orzo — it’ll cook primarily in the oven, and excess cooking liquid simply becomes part of the sauce.
Meal Planning Smarts:
- Leftover baked orzo and uncooked broccoli freeze well, so double up for a future meal!
Diet Variation:
- Gluten-free pasta is a simple switch to make this a gluten-free meal.
- Paleo cooks will make Pork Chops with Olive Caper Sauce and a side of roasted broccoli.
- Vegetarians will use white beans instead of sausage for a hearty, filling pasta dish.
All meals come with gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian options, as well as a grocery list and optional weekend prep steps. Join our weekly meal plan service to get the grocery list, dinner steps, and more cooking tips for these 4 simple dinners.
