It’s time to get a head start on your meal plan for next week. From a 30-minute skillet chili to the most genius use of tater tots, we’ve got five weeknight dinners that will get you through the week. So grab a pen, make your shopping list, and stock up before the weekend’s over.
Top: Vegetarian Skillet Chili, photo by Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times | Gyro Burgers at The Candid Appetite | Black Bean Beef Chow Mein at i am food blog
Related: Meal plan: 5 easy dinners from a fancy one-pot chicken and rice to a four-ingredient chili.
Vegetarian Skillet Chili | Photo by Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
If you've been looking for an easy, kid-friendly way to introduce #MeatlessMonday to your kids, this Vegetarian Skillet Chili at The New York Times is it. And it comes together in 30-minutes. If you can manage it, don't skip the quick pickled red onions—they make a big difference, for the not-picky eaters, at least. I admit that the recipe for this Black Bean Beef Chow Mein at i am food blog may have you shopping for some ingredients that you've never used before, but they should be pretty easy to find in the international aisle of your local supermarkets and are totally worth it. Plus, once you get everything you need, this recipe only takes 25 minutes to cook, which means you'll want to make it again and again, putting those new ingredients to good use. This Garlicky Spaghetti with Lemon, Capers and Almonds at Two Red Bowls is right up my alley. Dead simple, an interesting but easy combination of ingredients, and quick. Oh, and pasta, which means that everyone will get in on this action. If your kids won't eat capers, try olives or just skip them all together, at least for them.Related: Meal plan: 5 easy dinners from no-cook tacos to a one-pot pizza pasta bake.
I'm a sucker for any twist on burgers and, being a good Greek girl, these Gyro Burgers at The Candid Appetite look especially good. These are made with ground turkey, but feel free to substitute ground lamb if you like. If your family likes lamb, it'll make these an especially delicious (and more authentic!) meal. Tater Tot Chicken Pot Hotdish at My Name is Yeh will take a little more time than the 20-30 minutes that I usually devote to weeknight meals, but not so much more that I can pass up the opportunity to serve up tater tots this way. Genius, right? And surely the makings of a hit with the whole family. This is the perfect way to usher in a cozy fall weekend.
