Dinner Decided: Week 12 Meal Plan
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What I love so much about Dinner Decided Week 12 (and every Dinner, Decided free plan) is the variety! This week has a little bit of everything: lean ground turkey, juicy chicken, and hearty Italian sausage, plus takeout-inspired teriyaki, cheesy Tex-Mex enchiladas, and a veggie-packed soup that’ll warm you right up. And of course, there’s plenty of cheese and carbs, because we all know that’s the way to these kiddos’ hearts!
And because I know how busy weeknights can get, I made this week extra easy, with two slow cooker meals that cook while you go about your day and a one-pan dinner that means less cleanup. I always prioritize everyday ingredients, simple cooking methods, and meals that are hearty enough to keep everyone full and happy. Plus, a little something sweet to start your mornings or snack on throughout the week, because what’s a meal plan without a treat?!
If you’re new to Dinner, Decided, the biggest takeaway is: The planning is already done for you! No more staring into the fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what to make. Just a week of delicious recipes to look forward to, less decision fatigue, and more time enjoying dinner with your people. That’s what Dinner, Decided is all about!
Week 12 has a good balance of:
- Slow cooker meals: Teriyaki Chicken and Minestrone cook hands-off while you go about your day
- One-pan dinners: Chicken Florentine Meatballs & Orzo comes together with less cleanup
- Lean proteins: ground turkey, chicken, and Italian sausage keep things interesting
- Takeout-inspired flavors: sweet and savory teriyaki that beats the drive-thru
- Cozy comfort food: loaded baked potatoes and cheesy enchiladas
- Veggie-packed options: a hearty minestrone loaded with beans, spinach, zucchini, and more
- Family-friendly favorites: plenty of cheese and carbs the kiddos will love
- A sweet treat: grab-and-go Breakfast Cookies for busy mornings or snacking
With Dinner, Decided you’re getting:
- Tested, developed, and retested recipes that work
- Ingredients overlap (cook once, eat twice theory)
- Leftovers get repurposed in creative ways.
- Grocery spending stays reasonable.
- Full shopping lists with swaps and substitution ideas
- Food waste is minimized.
- Most importantly…Dinner decisions are already made!
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Why This Week Works
- ⏰ Set it and forget it: Two slow cooker meals mean two nights where dinner practically makes itself while you’re busy with work, school runs, and everything in between!
- ✌🏻 Cook once, eat twice: The minestrone makes a big batch, so you’ll have leftovers for easy lunches all week, or you can freeze some for a future busy night.
- 🔄 Flexible and customizable: Serve the teriyaki chicken over ramen one night and with rice and broccoli the next, or swap ground beef in for the turkey to suit your family’s tastes.
- 😍 Family-friendly favorites: Sloppy joes, enchiladas, and meatballs are classics that even the pickiest eaters will get excited about!
- 🍪 A sweet start: Breakfast Cookies are perfect for meal prepping on Sunday, so you have a grab-and-go breakfast or snack ready all week.
- 🍽️ Less planning, more enjoying: The hardest part is already done! No more wondering what’s for dinner, just a week of delicious meals ready to make.
Free Download for Week 12
Bye boring dinners, hello realistic meal plan that utilizes all of your groceries. Less trips to the store, strategic planning, protein-centered meals, and a sweet treat that is both satisfying and tasty!
Dinner, Decided: Week 12 Meal Plan
Monday
- Serving Suggestion: These Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes are a full meal on their own for my family. But if you feel you need a little something extra with them, I’d suggest a side salad or roasted veggie.
Tuesday
- Serving Suggestion: You can also make this without the ramen noodles and serve the chicken over cooked rice if preferred!
Wednesday
- Serving Suggestion: These enchiladas are very filling on their own, but you could always serve with a side of rice, side salad, or roasted veggies if you feel like you want a little more!
Thursday
- Serving Suggestion: I love how this is a full meal in one pan! Like the other meals this week, I think it’s a complete meal as written, but could always pair with a side salad or roasted veggie if desired. You do you!
Friday
- Serving Suggestion: This is a hearty, filling soup so you really don’t NEED to serve anything else with it. Buuuut some of my Rosemary Garlic Pull Apart Rolls or 1-Hour Dinner Rolls wouldn’t hurt either 😉
Sweet Treet
- Serving Suggestion: I’m obsessed with these Healthy Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies. Make a batch (or two!) early in the week so you can enjoy them all week long!
Did you make any of these meals?
I’d love to hear what you thought! Which was your favorite? What swaps did you decide to make? Did your kiddos enjoy it? Do you have any extra tips for someone else who is going to make this week’s plan? Gimme allllllll your thoughts & feedback in the comments below! This helps me when building future weeks’ meal plans!
Shopping List
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