Okay, real talk—meal planning can sometimes feel like pulling teeth. I get it. But here’s the thing: there’s this one little trick that completely changed how I handle weekly meal prep, and I promise it’ll do the same for you. It’s called a Recipe Master List, (you can find one in my meal planning printable here) and honestly, it’s pure magic. No more blank stares at the fridge wondering what to cook, no more scrambling to guess if dinner will be a hit with the fam. It’s simple, genius, and I’m about to walk you through how to make one yourself. You’re gonna love this.
Step 1: Build Your Recipe Master List
Alright, so what even is a Recipe Master List? Basically, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a list of all the meals your family loves (and I mean loves—the ones where no one complains and everyone clears their plate). This list is your holy grail for meal planning. You’ll pull it out every week when it’s time to decide what’s for dinner, and voilà—you’ll have an easy lineup of go-to meals to choose from.
Here’s how to start. Think about your household favorites. Tacos? Spaghetti? That one casserole your kids actually ask for? Write them all down. And for bonus points, ask your loved ones for their input—it feels less like a chore when everyone gets a say.
Personally, I keep my Recipe Master List (get my Meal Planning Printable Here) in my homemaking clipboard (find my post on how to make on here) because I’m a sucker for organization, but you can stash yours wherever works for you. A homemaking binder? A notes app on your phone? A sticky note on your fridge? It doesn’t matter as long as it’s handy.
Oh, and don’t stop updating your list! Every time you try a new recipe that’s a winner, add it to the mix. It’s like curating a greatest hits album—because dinner is a vibe. I like to pick one night a week for trying a new recipe to add to the Recipe Master List assuming it’s a hit.
Step 2: Plan the Week
Now comes the fun part—using your list! When it’s time to plan meals, instead of staring at a blank page, just pick a few options from your Master List. Trust me, it makes life soooo much easier. You know these meals are crowd-pleasers, so there’s no second-guessing.
And if you want to spice things up (pun intended), try adding some theme nights. Not only does this make meal planning more fun, but it also keeps things interesting for your family. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Taco Tuesday (because duh, tacos)
- Italian Night (think lasagna, pizza, or a big bowl of pasta)
- Breakfast for Dinner (who doesn’t love pancakes at night?)
- Comfort Food Friday (hello, mac and cheese)
Still with me? Okay, here’s another hack if you’re working with food storage. I do this a lot because we keep a stocked pantry. Assign a food group to each night, like lentils, rice, beans, pasta, or bread. Then find recipes to match. Sounds tricky? It’s not—I promise. Here’s what I do to make it work:
- Rice Night: Hawaiian haystacks (so easy and delicious!)
- Lentil Night: Dal Makhani or lentil tacos
- Pasta Night: Well, pasta. Enough said.
- Bread Night: Delicious pizza, or a cozy soup in bread bowls? You’re welcome.
Oh, and don’t forget to block out one night for something new—you might just discover a recipe that’ll earn a spot on your Master List. And always save a night for leftovers. Not only is it practical, but it gives you a guilt-free break from cooking. Win-win! You can also do leftover lunches if that’s better for you, and cook a new dish every evening!
Step 3: Take Stock of What You’ve Got
Okay, quick pro tip—that fridge? CLEAN IT OUT before you plan anything. I like to meal plan on Wednesdays because it’s right after I’ve gone through my fridge and tossed all the expired stuff. (RIP last week’s lettuce that turned into slime.) You can find my blog post on how to clean out your fridge here, but basically doing this lets me see what’s still good and what leftovers need to be used. It also saves money because if you’ve got something like half a block of cheese or a bag of rice just hanging out, you can plan a meal around it instead of buying more.
Once I’ve cleaned and taken inventory, I build my meal plan for the week and make my grocery list. Seriously, the fridge cleanse is a game-changer for staying organized. No more “ugh” moments when you discover leftovers you forgot about—because they’ll already be part of the plan!
A Sneak Peek at My Weekly Plan
Here’s what our menu looks like this week to give you an idea of how this all comes together:
- Monday: Homemade beans and flour tortillas (it’s an easy favorite!)
- Tuesday: “White People Tacos” (okay, don’t judge—that’s just what we call those hard-shell tacos that remind us of Taco Bell!)
- Wednesday: Tostadas with all the fixings
- Thursday: Nachos (yes, I love anything with cheese, chips, and toppings)
- Friday: Tortilla Soup (hearty, healthy, and sooo good)
- Saturday: Sopes (a classic family favorite)
See what I mean? Once your list is set, the plan basically writes itself. Plus, having a weekly plan like this makes grocery shopping so much easier. You know exactly what you need, so no stress or random splurges.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been struggling with meal planning, I promise the Recipe Master List is about to be your new best friend. It’s easy, it saves time, and it takes so much pressure off trying to come up with what to cook every week.
Start building your list today—write down your family’s faves, update it whenever you find a new gem, and use themes or food groups to mix things up. Trust me, you’ll feel like an absolute rockstar when dinnertime rolls around and you’ve got everything planned out.
And seriously, tell me—what’s on your Recipe Master List? Now that I’ve spilled all my secrets, I’d love to hear your go-to meals in the comments!