$80 Weekly Meal Plan (5 Budget Dinners)

This week kicks off with a whole roast chicken, becoming the base for the next meal. The following days rotate soups and noodles with a variety of different proteins, so every day feels interesting. Despite that, many ingredients appear in more than one recipe so you can buy once and use them throughout the week. We call that a win-win!

Everything in this plan is approachable for weeknight–although we do recommend the chicken be made on Sunday, despite its low active time–but still flavorful and satisfying. And if you want something sweet at the end of the week, there’s an optional dessert that feels like a bakery treat without the high price tag!

Quick Answers: Price, Prep & Portions

Before we dive into the full meal plan, here’s what you need to know to decide if this menu is right for you:

• Estimated cost: About $80 for the full week of dinners, assuming you already have common pantry staples like oil, salt, pepper, and basic seasonings. The optional dessert adds about $15 more.
• Serves about 4 people: Most recipes yield 4-6 servings, which means leftovers can cover lunches or stretch into additional meals.
• Built around real weeknights: Several dinners come together in about 30-40 minutes, and the roast chicken cooks mostly unattended in the oven.
• Flexible for busy weeks: Most recipes make leftovers that can be used for lunches or another dinner if you don’t want to cook every night.
• Smart ingredient overlap: The plan uses ingredients across multiple meals (like a whole roast chicken that becomes tortilla soup later in the week) to stretch both time and grocery dollars.
• Balanced and filling: Protein, vegetables, pasta, and legumes appear throughout the week so the meals stay satisfying without feeling repetitive.
• No specialty ingredients: Everything can be found at a standard grocery store.

Monday: Roast Chicken

This is the foundation of the week. A classic roast chicken that starts simple but blooms with flavor thanks to the herb butter.

Roast until the skin turns crisp and golden, allow to rest to keep the inside juicy, then shred the leftovers for tomorrow’s dish.

My #1 Tip: Make your roast chicken on Sunday, using the inactive roasting time to prep the ingredients for your other dishes the rest of the week. Since the cookies are often served chilled, consider baking at least half of the batch today as well.

Tuesday: Tortilla Soup

This is the follow-up that makes the whole plan feel smart. A second dinner built from the leftovers of the first. It’s not quite “Taco Tuesday” but an argument could be made that it’s close enough!

The soup starts with sautéed vegetables, garlic, and spices, then simmers with tomatoes and broth until everything melds together. Shredded chicken gets stirred in near the end so it warms through without drying out.

Bright toppings like avocado, cilantro, sour cream, or crispy tortilla strips make every bowl customizable.

Wednesday: Sesame Noodles

This is the quick reset in the middle of the week. Fast, flavorful, and veggie-forward, this isn’t your average pasta dish.

The noodles cook in minutes, while a creamy sauce made with peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and rice vinegar comes together in a bowl. Tossed with tender noodles and crisp vegetables, the whole dish finishes in about 25 minutes.

Serve warm or chilled, and add extra vegetables or leftover chicken if you want to stretch it even further.

Thursday: Chickpea Soup

This cozy soup is hearty enough to stand on its own, but simple enough to pull together without much planning.

Start with sautéed onions, carrots, and celery, then simmer with tomatoes, potatoes, chickpeas, and broth until everything softens and the flavors deepen.

Tip: blending a portion of the soup creates a creamy texture while still keeping plenty of chunky vegetables and beans in each bowl.

Friday: Pizza Pasta

Pizza Friday, minus the delivery fee; this is the comfort-food night. Easy, familiar, and exactly the kind of dinner that disappears quickly around the table.

Everything cooks together in one pot: pasta, sauce, and toppings. As the pasta simmers, it absorbs the rich tomato flavor while Italian seasoning, melted cheese and pepperoni bring those unmistakable pizza-style notes to the dish.

Serve it hot and bubbly straight from the pot and let it close out the week on a comforting note.

Optional Dessert: Crumbl Cookies

Worry not: we did not forget dessert! This is the optional sweet finish for the week. A bakery-style treat that turns simple pantry ingredients into something that feels special.

Skip the store-bought cookies and indulge in these at home. This copycat recipe captures the size, texture, flavor, and even coloring of a classic Crumbl cookie–without the price tag.

Bake a batch for the weekend and enjoy them throughout the week. They’re meant to be refrigerated, after all! They store well and make a fun treat after dinner.

Download: Printable Shopping List & Menu

Ready to Cook It? If this menu is calling your name, don’t wing it. We have a shopping list, an optimized printable for each recipe, and tips & tricks for making these recipes as a meal (e.g. how to prep certain ingredients or when to start specific recipes)!

Grab the printable shopping list and menu below so you can cook this without thinking twice.

Printable Budget-Friendly Meal Plan

Shopping List

Ingredients are grouped by section to match how you actually shop. You’ll also get two versions: one that includes the optional course and one that excludes it.

Printable Recipes

Each recipe is formatted as a clean, single-page printable – no photos, no clutter, and no wasted ink. Just ingredients, clear instructions, and the details you actually need while cooking.

Tips & Tricks

The real magic is in the strategy. You’ll get practical notes on what can be made ahead, what’s best cooked fresh, how to prep efficiently, and how to time everything.

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