Select Page

Week 1 – Meal Plan

by | Sep 29, 2025 | Lifestyle

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Week 1: Cozy Crockpot Wins and Easy Comforts

If you’re like me — pregnant, tired, feeding a picky toddler or husband with a restaurant palate……You need dinners that are high-protein, filling, and don’t require gourmet energy.
This week’s plan leans on the crockpot and the air fryer for maximum ease.

Also fair to mention – if you shop at Aldi this should cost approximately $150 for the week depending on how heavily you lean into the snacks and what you do with the leftovers. (We are a soon to be family of 4 so each meal would have leftovers for lunches later that week)

Dinners this week

  • Crockpot Roast with Veggies

  • Swiss Mushroom Burgers + Air Fryer Fries

  • Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches + Steamed Broccoli

  • Chicken Enchiladas

  • Philly Cheesesteaks + Air Fryer Tots

  • Hamburger Helper + Garlic Bread

  • Flex Night

Snack Ideas (This Week)

  • Yogurt parfaits with fruit + granola(if you have or want to buy)

  • String cheese + fruit

  • Apple slices + cheese or peanut butter

  • Crackers + peanut butter

  • Hard-boiled eggs

  • Popcorn & trail mix cups (popcorn + nuts + trail mix)

Print Recipe

Week 1

Crockpot Roast with Veggies Swiss Mushroom Burgers + Air Fryer Fries Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches + Steamed Broccoli Chicken Enchiladas Philly Cheesesteaks + Air Fryer Tots Hamburger Helper + Garlic Bread Flex Night (no recipe/eat leftovers)

Ingredients

Proteins:

  • 6 lbs chuck roasts ~6 lbs total
  • 3 lb beef roast
  • 4 lbs ground beef burgers & Hamburger Helper
  • 1.5 lbs shaved beef steak
  • 2 lbs chicken breast

Dairy:

  • 4 slices Swiss cheese
  • 10 slices provolone
  • 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar/Jack
  • Butter 1 Tbsp
  • 1/2 gallon Milk for Hamburger Helper + mashed potatoes, ~1 qt

Bakery:

  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 12 hoagie rolls
  • 8 flour tortillas
  • 1 loaf garlic bread

Produce:

  • 4 medium potatoes
  • 1 lb carrots
  • 3 onions
  • 2 bell peppers
  • 1 lb broccoli florets
  • 16 oz Mushrooms

Pantry/Frozen:

  • 32 oz Beef broth 2 cups
  • 1 au jus packet
  • 1 can 28 oz enchilada sauce
  • 1 Hamburger Helper box
  • 1 bag frozen French fries
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots
  • Worcestershire Sauce

Snacks:

  • Greek yogurt tub or pouches
  • String cheese
  • 3 lbs Apples
  • 3 lbs Oranges
  • Popcorn kernels or bag
  • Trail mix
  • Mixed nuts
  • Crackers
  • 1 bag baby Carrots
  • 3 Cucumbers
  • 1 bag celery
  • 1 dozen Eggs

Instructions

  • Crockpot Roast with Veggies
  • Ingredients (serves 4–6):
  • 3–4 lb beef chuck roast
  • 4 medium potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 4 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 medium onions, quartered
  • 2 cups beef broth (or 1 can + water to equal 2 cups)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme (optional)
  • Instructions:
  • Place roast in bottom of crockpot.
  • Layer potatoes, carrots, and onions around roast.
  • Pour broth over top. Sprinkle with seasonings.
  • Cover and cook 8–9 hours on LOW or 5–6 hours on HIGH.
  • Serve with broth as gravy.
  • Swiss Mushroom Burgers + Air Fryer Fries
  • Ingredients (serves 4):
  • 2 lbs ground beef (80/20 for best flavor)
  • 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 1 bag frozen French fries
  • Instructions:
  • Form beef into 4 patties, season with salt, pepper, Worcestershire.
  • Cook patties on skillet or grill pan 4–5 min per side (until 160°F).
  • In a small pan, sauté mushrooms in butter until golden (5–7 min).
  • Top burgers with Swiss cheese and mushrooms.
  • Cook fries in air fryer at 400°F for 12–15 min, shaking halfway.
  • Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches + Steamed Broccoli
  • Ingredients (serves 6):
  • 3 lb chuck roast
  • 1 (1 oz) packet au jus gravy mix
  • 3 cups water
  • 6 hoagie rolls
  • 6 slices provolone cheese
  • 1 lb broccoli florets
  • Instructions:
  • Place roast in crockpot. Sprinkle au jus mix over. Add water.
  • Cover and cook 8 hrs LOW or 5 hrs HIGH.
  • Shred beef and serve on hoagie rolls with provolone.
  • Use crockpot liquid for dipping.
  • Steam broccoli on stovetop or microwave until tender (5–7 min).
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Ingredients (serves 6–8):
  • 2 lbs chicken breast
  • 1 can (28 oz) red enchilada sauce
  • 8 flour tortillas (medium)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or blend)
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Instructions:
  • Place chicken in crockpot with half the enchilada sauce + spices. Cook 6 hrs LOW or 3 hrs HIGH.
  • Shred chicken. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Fill tortillas with chicken + cheese, roll up, place seam down in 9x13 pan.
  • Pour remaining sauce over, top with cheese.
  • Bake 25 min at 350°F until bubbly.
  • Philly Cheesesteaks + Air Fryer Tots
  • Ingredients (serves 4):
  • 1.5 lbs shaved beef steak (or thin-sliced ribeye)
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 bell peppers, thinly sliced
  • 2 Tbsp oil
  • 4 hoagie rolls
  • 4 slices provolone cheese
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots
  • Instructions:
  • Cook onion and peppers in oil until soft (8–10 min).
  • Add shaved beef, cook until browned (5–7 min).
  • Pile into hoagie rolls, top with provolone. Broil for 2–3 min to melt.
  • Cook tots in air fryer at 400°F for 15 min, shaking halfway.
  • Hamburger Helper + Garlic Bread
  • Ingredients (serves 6):
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 box Hamburger Helper (cheeseburger macaroni works well)
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 loaf garlic bread
  • Instructions:
  • Brown beef in skillet. Drain.
  • Add Hamburger Helper mix, milk, water. Cook as package directs (10–15 min).
  • Bake garlic bread according to package instructions.