Your week, planned : Easy Weekly Meal Plan: Fall Week 4 (Halloween + the Week After), 7 easy dinners + one grocery list

You need

• 1 big bag tortilla chips
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 cup mild salsa
• ½ cup sour cream in a zip-top bag

Do this

1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Spread the chips on a sheet pan (lined with foil for easy cleanup).
2. Scatter the beans and cheese on top. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, until melty.
3. Spoon little dots of salsa around the pan.
4. Snip a tiny corner off the sour cream bag. Pipe 3 or 4 circles, then drag lines from the middle out: spiderweb.

You need

• 3½ lb bone-in chicken thighs (about 8)
• 2 lb baby potatoes, halved
• 1 lb carrots, in chunks (save 3 for Monday)
• 2 Tbsp oil
• 1 tsp each salt, garlic powder and paprika

Do this

1. Heat the oven to 425°F. Toss the potatoes and carrots with half the oil and seasoning on a big sheet pan.
2. Rub the chicken with the rest and set it on top, skin up.
3. Roast 35 to 40 minutes, until the skin is golden and the chicken hits 165°F.
4. Pull the meat off 3 thighs and save it (about 2 cups) for Monday's soup.

You need

• 2 cups chicken from Sunday, shredded
• 2 cartons (32 oz each) chicken broth
• 3 carrots, sliced into coins
• 2 ribs celery, sliced (optional)
• 3 cups wide egg noodles
• Saltine crackers on the side

Do this

1. Bring the broth to a boil in a big pot. Add the carrots and celery, simmer 8 minutes.
2. Add the noodles and cook 6 to 7 minutes, until tender.
3. Stir in the chicken and heat 2 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper.
4. Ladle into bowls. Crackers on the side.

You need

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp Worcestershire (optional)
• 6 hamburger buns
• Baby carrots on the side

Do this

1. Brown the beef in a big skillet over medium-high, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the fat.
2. Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire and ½ cup water.
3. Simmer 8 minutes until thick.
4. Scoop onto buns. Save half the meat for Wednesday.

You need

• 2 boxes mac and cheese (plus the milk and butter on the box)
• The saved half of Tuesday's sloppy joe meat
• 1 bag frozen peas or broccoli on the side

Do this

1. Cook both boxes of mac and cheese as the box says.
2. Warm the sloppy joe meat in the microwave, 2 minutes.
3. Scoop some plain mac out for anyone who wants it plain, then stir the meat into the pot.
4. Steam the frozen veg in the microwave, 4 minutes.

You need

• ½ bag (about 30) frozen tater tots
• 10 eggs
• 1½ cups shredded cheddar
• 6 large flour tortillas
• Mild salsa or ketchup to dip
• Apple slices on the side

Do this

1. Heat the oven and bake the tots as the bag says (about 20 minutes). Start them first.
2. While they bake, scramble the eggs in a buttered skillet over medium-low, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Warm the tortillas 20 seconds in the microwave.
4. Fill each with eggs, tots and cheese. Roll, and cut in half. Wrap 2 in foil for Friday's lunchbox.

You need

• 1 loaf French bread, split lengthwise and cut in 4
• 1 jar pizza sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• Pepperoni

Do this

1. Heat the oven to 425°F. Put the bread on a sheet pan cut side up and toast 4 minutes.
2. Everyone spreads sauce on their section and adds cheese and pepperoni.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until bubbly and golden at the edges.
4. Cut into strips for little ones. Week done.