Fork & Kite
Kite peeking over the fridge

Shopping day! Grab the list, then dinner’s the easy one. Grocery list →

Oct 24–30

Your week, planned : Easy Weekly Meal Plan: Fall Week 3 (Halloween Week), 7 easy dinners + one grocery list

  1. SatGrilled Cheese + Soup15 min
  2. SunMild Monster Chili45 min
  3. MonTeriyaki Chicken Bowls25 min
  4. TueChicken Fried Rice15 min
  5. WedChili Baked Potatoes15 min
  6. ThuPumpkin Pancakes20 min
  7. FriJack-o'-Lantern Pizzas15 min

Every Saturday morning

Next week’s 7 dinners + grocery list, in your inbox before you shop.

Grocery list30 things · one trip
  • Apples
  • Broccoli
  • Russet potatoes
Tap for the list →

Saturday to Friday · school-night dinners under 30 minutes · one trip to the store

The grocery list

One trip. That’s it.

Ballpark: about $95 for the week, about $110 with lunchboxes (plus door candy)

0 of 30 in the cart

Produce

Meat

Dairy & eggs

Bread

Pantry aisles

Frozen

Halloween aisle

Pantry check: you probably have these
  • Oil + butter
  • Salt + pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Soy sauce
  • Syrup
  • Ketchup

This whole week on one page

Dinner’s figured out before they ask.

All 7 dinners + the grocery list on one fridge page. It opens right here. Next week’s plan lands Saturday morning, so the week’s figured out before it starts.

Day by day

Saturday to Friday

Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup Saturday15 min

The day

  • Halloween decoration walkMorningHalloween decoration walkFree. Walk the block (or a store's Halloween aisle) and spot the list below on your phone. They point, you tap. Open the checklist →
  • Mummy wrap raceRain planMummy wrap raceOne roll of toilet paper per team, 2 minutes, best mummy wins. More games on the game-night page. See the games →
  • Splurge insteadA trunk-or-treat or town Halloween eventLots of schools, churches and libraries run free ones this weekend. Check their pages.
  • LunchSnack plate or leftoversCheese, crackers, fruit, whatever's in the fridge. Done.
  • Before dinnerKid job: Cheese StackerThey lay the cheese slices on the bread. You do the stove.
  • After dinnerCandy for the doorPut the door candy somewhere high now. Future you says thanks.

Dinner · 15 min

Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup

Shopping day, so dinner is the easiest of the week: two cans, a loaf and some cheese. Dunking is required.

You need

  • 8 slices sandwich bread
  • 8 slices American or cheddar
  • 2 Tbsp soft butter
  • 2 cans tomato soup (plus water or milk per the can)
  • Apple slices on the side

Do this

  1. Warm the soup in a pot on low, stirring now and then.
  2. Butter the outsides of the bread. Put 2 cheese slices between each pair.
  3. Cook in a skillet over medium 3 minutes per side, lid on, until golden and melty.
  4. Cut into strips for dunking. Apple slices on the side.

If they won’t eat it: Skip the soup: grilled cheese strips and ketchup to dip.

Saturday morning · free

Halloween decoration walk

They point, you tap. No printer needed. 0 of 10 found.

Raining? Mummy wrap race inside: one roll of toilet paper per team, 2 minutes, best mummy wins.

Mild "Monster" Beef Chili Sunday45 min · 15 min hands-on

The day

  • MorningCostume checkTry it on: does it fit, is anything missing, can they walk (and see) in it? Snap the photo now, while it's clean.
  • Rain planSame thing, insideCostume check by a window for the photo. Make a list of anything you still need.
  • AfternoonNothing plannedThat's the plan. Nap, couch, backyard. You don't have to do it all.
  • Sunday reset · 15 minChili on, reset onWhile the chili simmers: wash fruit, cook the rice for Monday, pack Monday's lunchbox.
  • Before dinnerKid job: Bean RinserThey shake the beans in a strainer under the faucet, then set up the topping bar.

Dinner · 45 min

Mild "Monster" Beef Chili

One big pot, two dinners. Mostly simmer time, and Wednesday is already done.

You need

  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 2 cans (15 oz) kidney beans, rinsed
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 packet mild chili seasoning
  • Toppings: shredded cheddar, sour cream, corn chips

Do this

  1. Brown the beef in a big pot over medium-high, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the fat.
  2. Stir in the seasoning, beans, tomatoes and 1 cup water.
  3. Bring to a bubble, then simmer on low 25 minutes, stirring now and then.
  4. Set out the toppings. Everyone builds their own bowl. Save half for Wednesday.

If they won’t eat it: Scoop out some plain browned beef before the sauce goes in: beef, cheese and corn chips.

Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Monday25 min

The day

  • Before dinnerKid job: Rice MeasurerThey scoop and level the rice and pour in the water. Real math, real dinner.
  • After dinner · 10 minSpooky story circleLights low. Each person adds one sentence to a not-too-scary story. Start with: "The pumpkin on our porch blinked..."

Dinner · 25 min

Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls

Sweet, glossy and kid-friendly. Make extra chicken and rice: tomorrow's fried rice takes 10 minutes because of tonight.

You need

  • 2½ lb boneless chicken thighs or breasts, in bites
  • ½ cup bottled teriyaki sauce
  • 2 heads broccoli, in florets
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • Rice (cook a double batch)

Do this

  1. Start a double batch of rice (or use Sunday's).
  2. Cook the chicken in oil in a big skillet over medium-high, 7 to 8 minutes, until cooked through (165°F).
  3. Pour in the teriyaki and let it bubble 1 minute until glossy. Steam the broccoli in the microwave, 4 minutes.
  4. Rice, chicken, broccoli in bowls. Save 2 cups of chicken and half the rice for Tuesday.

If they won’t eat it: Pull some chicken out before the sauce: plain chicken, rice and butter.

10-Minute Chicken Fried Rice Tuesday15 min

The day

  • Before dinnerKid job: Pea PourerThey pour the frozen peas and carrots into the pan (you stir). Then they crack the eggs.
  • After dinner · 10 minFold-and-draw monsterFold a paper in 3. One person draws a head, folds it over, passes it; the next draws a body, then legs. Unfold and laugh.

Dinner · 15 min

10-Minute Chicken Fried Rice

Monday's rice and chicken, a bag of frozen peas and carrots and two eggs. Cold rice fries best, so tonight is fast on purpose.

You need

  • Rice from Monday (about 4 cups)
  • 2 cups chicken from Monday, chopped
  • 1½ cups frozen peas and carrots
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp oil + 1 Tbsp butter

Do this

  1. Heat the oil and butter in a big skillet over medium-high. Add the peas and carrots, 2 minutes.
  2. Push them aside, crack in the eggs and scramble.
  3. Add the rice and chicken. Press it flat and let it crisp 2 minutes, then stir.
  4. Splash in the soy sauce, stir 1 more minute. Done.

If they won’t eat it: Scoop plain rice and egg into their bowl before the peas go in.

Chili Baked Potatoes Wednesday15 min

The day

  • Before dinnerKid job: Potato PokerThey poke the holes with a fork (you hold the potato). Very satisfying.
  • After dinner · 10 minTrick-or-treat practiceThey knock on a bedroom door, say "Trick or treat!" and "Thank you!" Great for little ones and shy kids. Big kids: you're the neighbor answering the door.

Dinner · 15 min

Chili Baked Potatoes

The easiest night of the week, on purpose. Sunday you already made the chili; the microwave does the potatoes.

You need

  • 4 russet potatoes (6 for 4-5)
  • The saved half of Sunday's chili
  • Shredded cheddar + sour cream

Do this

  1. Scrub the potatoes and poke each 5 or 6 times with a fork.
  2. Microwave 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until a knife slides in.
  3. Warm the chili while they cook.
  4. Split the potatoes, top with chili, cheese and sour cream.

If they won’t eat it: Potato bar: butter, cheese and sour cream, no chili. Their pick.

Breakfast for Dinner: Pumpkin Pancakes Thursday20 min

The day

  • Before dinnerKid job: Face MakerThey press the chocolate-chip faces into the pancakes. Scary, silly or surprised.
  • After dinner · 10 minDraw-on masksPaper plates and markers only. You cut the eye holes first, they draw the face. No glue, no glitter.

Dinner · 20 min

Breakfast for Dinner: Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin pancakes with chocolate-chip jack-o'-lantern faces and scrambled eggs. Use the whole can, make a double batch, and Friday's lunchbox is done.

You need

  • 2 cups complete pancake mix (the just-add-water kind)
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Mini chocolate chips for faces
  • 6 eggs to scramble
  • Bananas on the side
  • Butter + syrup

Do this

  1. Stir the mix, pumpkin, cinnamon and about 1¼ cups water until just combined (lumps are fine). Thick is OK.
  2. Pour ¼ cup at a time onto a buttered skillet over medium. Press chip faces on top.
  3. Flip when the edges look dry, about 2 minutes, then 1 more minute.
  4. Scramble the eggs in the same pan. Freeze or fridge the extra pancakes for Friday's lunchbox.

If they won’t eat it: Plain pancakes from the same mix (pour a few before the pumpkin goes in), still with a chip face.

Pizza Friday: Jack-o'-Lantern English Muffin Pizzas Friday15 min

The day

  • Heads-upSchool costume day?Lots of schools do the party or parade today. Check the sign-up and the costume rules the night before.
  • Everyone's jobFace ArtistEveryone makes their own jack-o'-lantern pizza. That's the whole activity.
  • After dinnerGet-ready-for-tomorrow, then a movieLay out costumes, buckets and glow sticks. Set the candy rule now: pick 3 tonight, the rest goes in a bowl up high. Movie: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown or Spookley the Square Pumpkin for little ones; Hotel Transylvania or Monsters, Inc. for 7+.
  • Tomorrow · HalloweenDinner before you goSaturday is Halloween and next week's plan starts with it: a 15-minute dinner everyone eats before trick-or-treating. Look for it here next week.

Dinner · 15 min

Pizza Friday: Jack-o'-Lantern English Muffin Pizzas

Pizza Friday, Halloween edition. English muffins, sauce, cheese and pepperoni faces. Easy on a night that may already have a school party in it.

You need

  • 6 English muffins, split (12 halves)
  • 1 jar pizza sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • Pepperoni (cut some into triangles and zigzags)

Do this

  1. Heat the oven to 425°F. Put the muffin halves on a sheet pan and toast 3 minutes.
  2. Everyone spreads sauce and adds cheese.
  3. Make jack-o'-lantern faces: pepperoni triangles for eyes, a zigzag mouth.
  4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until bubbly. Week done.

If they won’t eat it: Cheese only. Still pizza.

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Three open kids lunchboxes for the week

Lunchboxes

Put this, this and this.

  • Pumpkin pancake box
    • Thursday's pumpkin pancakes (great cold or toasted)
    • Yogurt cup
    • Grapes
  • Fried rice box
    • Tuesday's fried rice (cold is fine, or warm in a thermos)
    • Apple slices
    • A few corn chips
  • Chili thermos box
    • Warm chili in a thermos (or plain beef and cheese)
    • Corn chips for scooping
    • Apple slices
Plus 20 after-school snacks →
Kite in pajamas with a coffee

Dinner’s figured out before they ask.

Next week’s 7 easy dinners + the grocery list land in your inbox Saturday morning, before you shop. This week’s fridge page opens right here, no waiting.

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