Tag: #MealPlanning

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🍁 Two-Week Fall Comfort Menu + Reserve Snapshot Wk 27 & 28

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Fall is for fuzzy socks, warm dinners, and absolutely not overcomplicating your grocery list. This round of my two-week reserve-based meal plan is all about cozy, comforting food that doesn’t require you to play kitchen martyr. We’re talking about meals that fill the house with that “mmm, someone’s cooking something amazing” smell — without requiring you to stand too long or juggle twelve pans.

Like always, the plan mixes a few cooked meals with reserve-based options — things you can pull together fast from your pantry or freezer when energy or spoons are running low. The goal: flexibility without frustration. You deserve to eat well, even on the days that don’t go as planned.

So grab your list, sip your coffee, and let’s make sure the next two weeks taste like comfort and sanity.

🥘 Cook Meals

  1. Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie — Creamy, cozy, and low-effort. Add frozen veggies, shredded chicken, broth, and biscuit topping.
  2. Sheet Pan Sausage & Potatoes — Chop, toss, roast. One pan, minimal cleanup, maximum yum.
  3. Beef Tips with Gravy + Mashed Potatoes — Comfort classic. Slow simmer or use the crockpot if you want to make it even easier.
  4. Tuscan Chicken with Spinach and Garlic Butter Rice — Quick skillet dinner that feels fancy without being fussy.
  5. Loaded Baked Potato Night — Bake or microwave potatoes, then set out toppings like cheese, butter, and green onions for a build-your-own vibe.
  6. Simple Spaghetti or Noodle Bowl Night — Customize with what you have on hand — sauce, veggies, or even leftover meat.

🥫 Reserve Meals

  1. Breakfast for Dinner — Eggs, toast, or breakfast sandwiches. Always hits the spot.
  2. Soup Starter Night — Toss frozen veggies, broth, and leftover meat or rice in a pot and call it done.
  3. Wraps or Sandwich Night — Turkey, ham, or whatever deli meat is handy.
  4. Ramen Remix — Doctor up instant ramen with egg, spinach, or leftover veggies.
  5. Snack Board Dinner — Cheese, crackers, fruit, pickles, whatever looks good on a plate.
  6. Emergency Frozen Meal — Whether it’s pizza, burritos, or something store-bought — no guilt, no dishes.

Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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🍗 Two-Week Reserve-Based Crockpot Menu: Chicken, Sausage & Beef Edition (Wk 27&28)

JoLeave a comment

Because ovens are rude and we deserve ease.

Let’s be real — chronic illness, neurodivergence, parenting, and general life chaos don’t care that dinner still has to happen.
So here’s a two-week, reserve-based crockpot plan that keeps you fed without a meltdown.

You’ll cook just three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday) and still have enough food for reworks, leftovers, and “oops, I forgot to defrost something” days.

🐔 TUESDAY: Chicken Day

🥣 Salsa Crockpot Chicken

The OG lazy girl dinner. Don’t mess with perfection.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 jar (16 oz) salsa
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • Optional: 1 cup frozen corn or a can of diced tomatoes (drained)

Instructions

  1. Dump it all in the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 6–8 hours or high 3–4.
  3. Shred it up and mix before serving.

Serve With: Rice, tortillas, or potatoes.
Reserves: Use leftovers in quesadillas, nachos, rice bowls, or over pasta.

🍽️ Chicken & Veggie Bowls

Healthy-ish. Easy. Zero oven time. We love that for us.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs chicken (breasts or thighs), chunked
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • ½ onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Toss it all in the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 5–6 hours or high 3–4.
  3. Stir before serving to coat everything evenly.

Serve With: Rice, quinoa, or in wraps.
Reserves: Toss leftovers into scrambled eggs or pasta for a second meal.

🌭 THURSDAY: Sausage Day

🍝 Sausage & Peppers Pasta

A classic one-pot wonder — but make it a slow cooker.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups broth
  • 8 oz pasta (add later!)
  • Italian herbs, salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Add everything except the pasta.
  2. Cook on low 5–6 hours or high 3–4.
  3. Stir in uncooked pasta 30–40 minutes before serving (add a splash of broth if needed).

Reserves: Bake leftovers with cheese or thin it out for soup.

🥔 Sausage, Potato & Pepper Hash

Like a diner breakfast but without having to move.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 ½ lbs potatoes, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • Garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper

Instructions

  1. Grease crockpot lightly with oil or spray.
  2. Toss everything in and mix well.
  3. Cook on high 3–4 hours or low 6–7, stirring halfway through.

Serve With: Fried egg on top or a warm roll.
Reserves: Wrap leftovers in tortillas for breakfast burritos.

🥩 SUNDAY: Ground Beef Day

🌶️ Lazy Chili Mac (No Beans)

It’s comfort food that won’t fight your stomach.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked ground beef
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2 cups elbow noodles
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • Salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Add everything except noodles to the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 4–5 hours.
  3. Stir in noodles 30 minutes before serving.

Reserves: Serve leftovers over baked potatoes or tortilla chips.

🍚 Beef & Rice Bowls

Your freezer meal hero.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked ground beef
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked rice
  • 3 cups broth
  • ½ onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt, pepper, paprika

Instructions

  1. Combine everything in the crockpot.
  2. Cook on low 4–5 hours or high 2–3.
  3. Fluff before serving.

Reserves: Wrap in lettuce or tortillas, or top with fried eggs.

That should last us into November, wow it flies by, til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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