New Year, New Meal Planning Method & Routine

A Real-Life Dinner List for Busy Seasons

Oh the question of all questions, “What’s for dinner?”
My goal for the new year is to reduce decision fatigue in different areas in my life to make space & energy in my mind for other things. The first area I’m starting with is meal time.

My hope is that having go-to dinners grouped by category helps me decide faster, shop smarter, and avoid the 5pm panic. Today I’m sharing my personal dinner lists — the meals we rotate through again and again in real life.

If you’re in a busy season too, I hope this gives you a starting point.

Here’s a printable pdf of all these lists so you can print them out! I’m adding mine to the front of my recipe binder.

🥗 Bowl Dinners

Bowls are one of my favorite dinner categories because they’re customizable and easy to adapt for what’s already in the fridge. They’re also great for feeding kids and adults from the same base meal.

Some of our go-to bowl dinners:

  • Greek chicken or steak bowls

  • Crispy Rice Bowls

  • Burger bowls

  • Caesar Salad Bowls with Crispy Chicken

  • Yum Yum Rice Bowls

  • Bahn Mi Bowls

  • Fajita bowls

  • Sloppy Joe Bowls

  • Bang Bang Salmon Rice Bowls

🍳 Easy Weeknight Dinners

These are the meals I reach for on nights when energy is low and time is short. Minimal ingredients, minimal cleanup, and nothing complicated.

Our easy dinner staples include:

  • Spaghetti

  • Burgers

  • One-Pan Sausage & Veggies

  • Sauteed Shrimp in Butter with Mixed Veggies

  • Change Your Life Chicken - Lazy Genius

  • One-pan lasagna

  • Baked Tacos

  • Chicken Fajitas

  • Baked Sweet Potatoes with Ground Beef, Black Beans, Avocado

  • Grilled Balsamic Chicken

  • Pot Roast Gyros (HBH)

  • Tostadas

  • Salmon with Potatoes & Veggies

  • Quesadillas

Tip: If a dinner can be made without a recipe, it usually ends up on this list.

🍲 Crockpot & Slow Cooker Meals

Crockpot dinners feel like a gift to my future self. These are perfect for busy afternoons, or Sundays when I want dinner handled early.

Some crockpot meals we love:

  • Shredded Chicken Tacos

  • BBQ Pork with Baked Potatoes

  • Butter Chicken with Cilantro/Coconut Rice

  • Honey Sriracha Chicken

  • Enchilada Bake

  • Beef Ragu

  • Lasagna Soup

  • French onion pot roast

  • Chicken Tortilla soup

  • White Bean Chicken Chili

  • Mississippi Roast With roasted baby potatoes & salad

  • HBH White wine chicken & Kale

  • Chicken Tamale Burrito Bowls

❤️ Family Favorites & Comfort Meals

These are the dinners everyone cheers for — the ones tied to memories, traditions, or just really good flavors. They might take a little more effort, but they’re always worth it.

Our favorites include:

  • Korean BBQ Meatballs with Brussels and Sweet Potatoes

  • Chicken Pot Pie

  • Enchiladas (shrimp, chicken, or ground beef)

  • Meatloaf Meatballs (Defined Dish)

  • Cajun Chicken Patties

  • Shepherd’s Pie

  • Bang Bang Shrimp (Dinner, then Dessert)

  • Zuppa toscana Soup

  • Taco Soup

  • Chicken Piccata

  • Lemon Risotto with Pan Roasted Chicken (Simply Delicious)

  • Marry Me Chicken

  • Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Cream Sauce (All Foodie Recipes)

  • Balsamic Mushroom Chicken Marsala

  • Chuck Roast Chili

  • Asian Chicken Thighs with Broccoli & Rice

  • Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes with Green Beans

  • Philly Cheesesteaks

  • Broccoli Chicken Penne

These are the meals I come back to when I want dinner to feel extra comforting or special.

How I Use These Lists Week to Week

  • Pick 1–2 easy/bowl meals

  • Add 1 crockpot meal

  • Choose 1 family favorite

  • Choose 1 new recipe from a cookbook or Pinterest

  • Plan for leftovers

Having these lists means I’m never starting from scratch — and that alone makes dinnertime feel lighter.

Here are Some of my Most Used & Loved Cookbooks:

Carrington Winkelmann