April 30 Minute Weeknight Dinners Meal Plan | Week of April 27

This week's meal plan is filled with April 30 Minute Weeknight Dinners that are perfect for busy spring nights, from cozy curry and skillet meals to bright seafood and an easy Friday favorite. You'll also find simple meal prep tips and a printable shopping list PDF to make the week even easier.

This Week's Recipes

1

Monday: Cauliflower Tikka Masala with Chickpeas

In this vegetarian riff on a popular Indian dish, we swap in cauliflower and chickpeas for the chicken in tikka masala. The cauliflower's nooks and crannies are particularly good at soaking up all the intense flavors of the sauce. Serve over rice for an easy healthy dinner that's ready in just 20 minutes.

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2

Tuesday: Southwest Turkey Butternut Skillet

This Southwest Ground Turkey Butternut Squash Skillet is a hearty, 30-minute one-pan dinner loaded with lean protein, beans, veggies, and Southwest spices. An easy weeknight meal that also works beautifully for meal prep.

Southwest Turkey Butternut Skillet SaveSaved!

3

Wednesday: Chicken Scampi

This Chicken Scampi recipe is a light, flavorful weeknight pasta dinner that's high-protein and comes together in under 30 minutes.

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4

Thursday: Baked Cod with Lemon Sauce

Try this simple baked cod recipe for a delightful seafood dinner ready in under twenty minutes. You will love the taste!

Baked Cod with Lemon Sauce SaveSaved!

5

Friday: Sloppy Joe's Skillet

Perfect for Friday nights, when you're feeding a crowd, or busy nights when you need something easy.

Sloppy Joe's Recipe SaveSaved!

6

Treat: Skillet Blueberry Cobbler

This Blueberry Cobbler is a quick and easy recipe made with fresh or frozen blueberries, pantry ingredients, and ready in 35 minutes. Serve straight from the skillet with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

Skillet Blueberry Cobbler SaveSaved!

Shopping List

Produce

• 1 medium head cauliflower, about 4 cups florets
• 1 medium butternut squash (for 3 cups cubed)
• 2 medium onions total should cover the 1 cup chopped/diced onion needed across the week
• 1 small shallot
• 1 bunch garlic (you'll need about 10 cloves)
• 4 lemons for juice, zest, and slices across the cod, scampi, and cobbler
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (you need 1 cup halved)
• 1 bunch fresh parsley
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 2 limes for wedges/garnish
• 1 jalapeño or small pack, optional for garnish
• 1 small bunch celery or about 2 stalks for ½ cup chopped
• 1 small container baby kale (at least 2 cups)
• 1 small bag baby spinach (at least 2 cups)
• 2 cups blueberries

Meat and Seafood

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (24 ounces)
• 4 cod fillets (about 24 ounces total)
• 1 pound lean ground beef

Dairy

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter total
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup whole milk
• Parmesan cheese for serving, optional but recommended with the scampi
• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, optional for serving the cobbler

Canned and Jarred Goods

• 2 cans chickpeas/black beans total
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 jar tikka masala sauce, at least 1½ cups
• Ketchup, at least ½ cup
• Dijon mustard, at least 1 teaspoon
• Worcestershire sauce, at least 1 tablespoon
• Balsamic vinegar, at least 1 tablespoon

Pasta, Bread, and Grains

• 8 ounces angel hair pasta
• 6 hamburger buns is a practical buy for the sloppy joes since the recipe serves 6 and calls for buns for serving.
• Rice, optional: I'd buy 2 cups uncooked basmati or jasmine rice if you want to serve the tikka masala over rice as suggested.
• Tortillas, cornbread, or tortilla chips, optional for Tuesday night serving ideas.

Baking and Pantry Staples

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 5 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Pinch cloves
• Pinch cayenne pepper, optional
• Salt and black pepper
• Olive oil or neutral oil, plus cooking spray if needed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup dry white wine or broth for the scampi

Meal Prep Tips

A few minutes of prep at the beginning of the week can make these 30-minute dinners even easier.

• Chop the onion, garlic, celery, and butternut squash ahead of time and refrigerate until needed.
• Cut the cauliflower into florets early for Monday's tikka masala.
• Wash and dry the kale, spinach, parsley, and cilantro, so they're ready to use.
• Measure pantry spices for the Southwest skillet and sloppy joes in advance if you like quick weeknight cooking.
• For dessert, rinse the blueberries and measure the dry ingredients for the cobbler ahead of time.
• If serving rice with the tikka masala or cod, cook it in advance and refrigerate it for easy reheating.

Find More Quick Meal Plan Ideas

For more healthy dinner inspiration, browse my past weekly meal plans!