What’s Cooking This Week 🍽️
Welcome 2025
We’re only four days into the new year, and already I’ve seen more “new year, new me” posts than ever before. And while I’m all for a fresh start, let’s not forget: it’s also perfectly fine to love the old you. Social media has this way of making us feel like we need to have our intentions, goals, and new habits all perfectly sorted by January 1st. So, let me be your brash friend and tell you—those deadlines? Total BS.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m a planner. My 2025 bingo sheet is already done, and my travel wishlist is taking shape. But honestly, I want to pause for a second, take down the Christmas decorations, and clear my mind before diving into anything ambitious. So, if my vision board doesn’t appear until February, or if my travel plans change course in March, I won’t lose a wink of sleep over it. We’re not here to match anyone else’s timeline, just our own. Remember that!
This week, I shared a few habits I’m carrying with me into the new year, and the big one? (probably why most of you are here) MENU PLANNING. This has been a game-changer for our household for nearly a decade. I started menu planning to save on a grocery budget, which in turn fluffed our travel budget, and for a whole slew of other reasons I can say with absolute confidence that it’s transformed our lives. But I also get it—it can feel overwhelming if you’re just starting out. So, here are a few of my top tips to help you get the ball rolling:
Plan your easiest meals for your busiest days.
I start every week’s menu with my planner side by side. If there is a long day of meetings, appointments, obligations for either of us, those are the days we are planning for an easy meal. Maybe it’s leftovers, maybe it’s takeout, maybe it’s the night you skip the dishes and schedule a date night. Days that I know carry the biggest mental load are the days when dinner needs to by someone other than me.
Start small.
If you aren’t someone that cooks often, planning a menu that requires cooking every single day of the week is a recipe for failure. Instead, start with what feels manageable and build up gradually. If cooking twice a week feels like a realistic goal, commit to that for a month and then aim for a third day. Begin with simple recipes or family favorites that you feel comfortable with, and use that routine as a foundation. As you get more confident, you can expand and experiment with new dishes over time. The key is to start small, stay consistent, and gradually increase your cooking skills without overwhelming yourself.
Set yourself up for success.
In other words, write down the damn list. Not to sound like a broken record and bring up the Harvard study, but people that write down their goals are 73% more likely to achieve them. So if your goal is to cook more often at home this year, put your menu and the grocery list to paper. For all the years I have been making this weekly menu, not a single week has passed that it wasn’t written down. One menu + one grocery list = one trip to the store. I am partial to this notepad because it was designed especially for me, but if your notes app in your phone is a better option then go for it. The key is to commit your plan to something tangible.
What’s cooking this week:
The Best Chicken Soup You’ll Ever Eat (55 Minutes)
Or so the 1,300+ five star reviews say.…
I love a good chicken noodle soup and my reason for making this for Sunday dinner is simple- EVERYONE IS SICK. From family members, to coworkers, to seemingly all of my friend’s littles so before I head back into a full work week, I’m packing myself with a meal to combat any of the yucks that might be headed my way.
What You’ll Need:
1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
6 cloves of garlic
1 yellow onion
2 large carrots
2 celery stalks
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 tablespoon fresh grated turmeric (or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric)*
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup pearl couscous
⅔ cup frozen peas (optional, but recommended)
THE RECIPE 🍴 : https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/the-best-chicken-soup-recipe/
White Chicken Chili (Crock Pot)
If, like me, you are dreading all of the times you said “let’s circle back after the new year” last week, Crock-Pot Monday might be for you. 3 Pieces of Pecan is my husband’s favorite food creator and every time I’ve made this recipe it’s been a hit.
What You’ll Need:
1.25lb Boneless Chicken Thighs
10oz Green Chili Enchilada Sauce
8oz Hatch Green Chile
2 Cans White Beans
2 Cups Fire Roasted Corn
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Paprika
1 T Chili Powder
1 T Cumin
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups chicken bone broth
8 oz cream cheese ( you can also sub Greek yogurt)
Optional toppings: cilantro, lime, shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips
THE RECIPE 🍴:
Dump it all in Crock Pot on High for 4+ hours, pull chicken out and shred, dump it back in
-Add 8oz Cream Cheese softened
**Turn heat to Low for another hour or so
-Add Cilantro, we did a small amount for some color and pop of flavor
-Juice of 1 Lime
-Serve it up and use toppings of your choice
Meatloaf
Work has been feeling like my least favorite place lately (but I’m manifesting a shift in that energy for 2025). So, I’m mentally gearing up for what this week has in store. The usual pre-packaged meals are preservative-heavy options, so I’ve been turning to Whole Foods’ ready-made meals, which are a much better alternative. I see the variety change often, just find them in the refrigerated section by the deli. We are a household of 2 so dinner & lunches for the both of us the next day for $27 is still a much cheaper alternative than eating out.
Pro-tip: they’re 20% off for Prime members on Tuesdays.
Balsamic Chicken (25 Minutes )
The longer you get in the habit of menu planning, the better you’ll get at curating a simple grocery list. I grabbed a pack of boneless, skinless chicken thighs from Costco so 4 recipes this week came from that 1 purchase.
What You’ll Need:
1 1/2 lbs skinless chicken thighs
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon balsamic glaze
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon honey
1 lemon
4 to 5 large garlic cloves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
salt and pepper
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/easy-balsamic-chicken/
Sausage + Gnocchi Marinara (30 Minutes )
The forecast high for us on Thursday is 27 degrees—and for that reason alone —I added a cozy comfort meal to the menu. Sometimes, we have to create our own little special occasions, so I’ll set the mood with a Frank Sinatra playlist, whip up this meal, and for a moment, imagine we’re somewhere warm.
What You’ll Need:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Italian chicken sausage
1 small white onion
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes
1 (1-pound) package potato gnocchi
2 handfuls fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup roughly-chopped fresh basil leaves
fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper
freshly-grated Parmesan
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/sausage-and-gnocchi-marinara/
Air Fryer Chicken Tacos ( 22 Minutes )
Instead of Taco Tuesday, I put chorizo + potato tacos on the menu for Friday last week and it felt like a nice little joy to celebrate the end of the work week. So I think I’m going to put Taco Friday opposite of Crock Pot Monday every week as something fun to look forward to. Highly, highly recommend the marinade here. Even if you don’t make the green sauce, the prep method for the chicken alone is a 10/10.
What You’ll Need:
Chicken Tacos
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
1 clove garlic ( or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
2–3 tablespoons taco seasoning (I use Siete brand)
Avocado Aji Verde
1/2 avocado
1/2 cup mayo
3–ounce chunk of cotjia cheese
1 big handful of cilantro stems and leaves
1 clove garlic
juice of 1–2 limes
2 tablespoons water
Extras
Tortillas
Limes, cilantro, and onion for topping
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://pinchofyum.com/chicken-tacos
WELCOME TO THE LIFE EDIT!
