A Hassle-Free Meal Plan to Feed Your Family and Friends

A meal plan full of flavorful recipes everyone will fall in love with, and it won’t take much effort on your part.

By
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta has 25 years of experience in the food service industry and has been developing recipes for 3 years. She is the author of Taste & See Cooks: Recipes to Inspire, Equip and Enjoy.
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Published June 28, 2021
Marta Rivera
A Hassle-Free Meal Plan to Feed Your Family and Friends

Simply Recipes

When it comes to food this year we are going to be a bit more festive!

I think we can all agree we need to make up for lost time with friends and family now that restrictions are starting to lift. Even if your gatherings are smaller than in year’s past, this week's recipes allow you to actually enjoy your weeknight meals without too much effort on your part to feed everyone.

You can also double up on some of the sides, like brown rice, couscous or chips which complement most of the other dishes this week, is an efficient way to save time, too.

This week’s meal plan will equip you with what you need to feed your crew well.

  • Black Bean Burrito Bowl

    Black Bean Burrito Bowl
    Elise Bauer

    My family loves customizing these bowls. I just grab a bunch of pre-cut toppings and sauces from the market and lay out the spread for them to assemble however they see fit. I might save time by using store-bought toppings, but I always make the guacamole from scratch.

  • Herbed Turkey Burger

    Turkey Burger with Rosemary and Thyme

    Burgers are the name of the game when summer rolls around. These herby patties are made with a blend of the thigh and breast meat, so they're juicy and flavorful. Keep it simple and pair these with chips. My suggestion is to double the recipe to freeze some uncooked patties to grill later in the summer when friends stop by for an impromptu barbecue.

  • Beef Kebabs

    Beef Kabobs
    Elise Bauer

    "Meat-on-a-stick" recipes in July! Why not? Most often, they're also meals-on-a-stick. In addition to being easy, you can switch up the marinades or the veggies you assemble to create a whole new flavor vibe. A simple meal can be made for these kebabs by serving them with steamed brown rice or couscous.

  • Citrus-Brined Grilled Pork Chops

    Grilling Pork Chops
    Nick Evans

    The brine for these pork chops ensures you have the juiciest, most tender meat you’ll ever pluck off the grill. If you want to plan ahead, you can begin brining them early in the day before you head off to work.

    Continue to 5 of 6 below.

  • Fried Catfish with Classic Coleslaw

    Fried Catfish
    Elise Bauer

    An old-fashioned fish fry just makes sense when I was choosing what to close out the week with. I'm a big fan of catfish, but if for some reason you can't get your hands on it, pick up some whiting or flounder instead. Be sure to pair it with this classic coleslaw.

  • Weekend Baking: Gluten-Free Monster Bars

    Close up of an overhead view of Bar Cookies of the Gluten Free Monster Variety.
    Kalisa Marie Martin

    This is a fun dessert to involve the family in baking. Switch up the chocolate candies for chopped peanut butter cups or mint chocolates for more variety.