Meal Plan 123

Aug 28, 2026

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Labor Day weekend and the start of college football are here, which means this week's meal plan needs to do a little bit of everything. The dinners keep weeknights simple, make the most of late-summer produce, and intentionally use leftovers to save both time and money. And Saturday, is all about Game Day, obviously.😉

Meal Plan 123

Just like all my weekly meal plans, this week's meal plan includes 7 delicious dinners, ideas for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, meal-prep ideas, and a shopping list. I truly want to help you make home-cooked meals easier!

Download the meal plan, complete with tips and a shopping list, here. Or simply find inspiration below.

Dinner Recipes

Sunday: Crockpot Carnitas (or Instant Pot Carnitas) with Mexican Slaw and Tortillas
Monday: Carnitas Bowls with Instant Pot White Rice (using Sunday's leftovers)
Tuesday: Mexican Spaghetti
Wednesday: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas with Fresh Fruit
Thursday: Sheet Pan Salmon with Potatoes and Green Beans
Friday: Burgers with Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Saturday: Pizza Sliders with Veggies and Dill Dip

Breakfast Ideas

Lunch Ideas

Snack & Treats

Tips for this Week's Meal Plan

On Sunday: The carnitas are the longest-cooking meal of the week, which is exactly why I put them on Sunday. The slow cooker does most of the work, and the recipe makes enough to intentionally save pork and slaw for Monday night's dinner. Although, feel free to speed up prep with Instant Pot Carnitas.
On Monday: Turn leftover carnitas into easy rice bowls. Prepare Instant Pot White Rice and top with leftover slaw, avocado, cilantro, or whatever taco toppings your family likes.
On Tuesday: Use ground beef, turkey, or chicken depending on what is on sale. If using beef, buy a larger package and use the rest for Friday's burgers.
On Wednesday: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas use peppers, onions, lime, cilantro, tortillas, and many of the same toppings you already purchased for the carnitas. Everything roasts on one pan in about 20 minutes.
On Thursday: Sheet Pan Salmon includes the potatoes and green beans right on the pan, so there is no separate side dish to worry about. Feel free to use another veggie if desired.
On Friday: Kick off the last unofficial weekend with burgers and corn on the cob. Buy 2½ pounds of ground beef earlier in the week and divide it between Tuesday's Mexican Spaghetti and Friday's burgers to simplify shopping.
On Saturday: College football is back! Make Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders and put out whatever fresh fruit and vegetables are still hanging around from the week. The sliders are easy to assemble and easy to eat in front of the game.
For Leftovers: Extra peppers, onions, avocado, cilantro, tortillas, and cheese can become quesadillas or wraps for lunch. English muffin pizzas make great use of extra pizza sauce and cheese.