Weekly Meal Plan + Shopping List

We’re back with another installment of the IDCO weekly meal plan, and this time around, we’re focused on recipes inspired by a sweet and spicy balance. To carry out our theme, we’ve planned out four weeknight dinners that deliver tons of flavor with a minimal time commitment. Plus, we’ve included a couple of fun extras (hint: ice cream AND cocktails) to help round out your menu.

As always, you’ll find a handy shopping list at the bottom of the post with everything you need for a week’s worth of delicious eats. And because at-home cocktail hours are a summertime must, we’ve included the perfect spicy marg that’s best sipped al fresco.

 

WEEKNIGHT MENU FAVORITES

 

recipe & photo via Pinch of Yum

 

Honey Lemon Chicken

 

It’s time to break out the cast iron skillet for this fan-favorite weeknight meal. With just a handful of ingredients and a four-step process, these crispy chicken thighs cook up beautifully for busy nights where “quick and easy” is the name of the game. The honey lemon sauce adds a subtle sweet balance that’s great for tiny picky eaters and grown-ups alike.

 

recipe & photo via Skinnytaste

 

Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls

 

If you have yet to experience the deliciousness of poke (a Hawaiian dish featuring diced raw fish), allow us to introduce this recipe from Gina of Skinnytaste. Her take on poke is basically summer in a bowl, with vibrant flavors and seasonings to make your palette sing. Keep in mind that pulling off a poke bowl means buying sushi-grade fish from a reputable market — freshness is key!

 

recipe & photo via Chocolate for Basil

 

BBQ Chickpea Flatbreads

 

We recently discovered Jerrelle of Chocolate for Basil, and to say we’re obsessed is a bit of an understatement. As a James Beard Award nominee and author of Black Girl Baking, Jerrelle definitely knows her way around the kitchen and has a goldmine of wellness-focused recipes archived on her blog. Whether you’re going for Meatless Monday or otherwise, her chickpea flatbread features a sweet-yet-savory BBQ kick that’s all kinds of delicious.

 

recipe & photo via The Wooden Skillet

 

Grilled Veggie Kabobs + Creamy Chimichurri

 

Veggie kabobs are a summer meal plan staple, but this recipe from The Wooden Skillet takes things up a notch. The spicy chimichurri elevates this dish to main entree status, giving you the option to go vegetarian or serve it alongside your choice of grilled protein. While this recipe calls for unsweetened almond milk, you easily swap in any milk or plain greek yogurt if you’d like. Either way, we guarantee those veggie kabobs will be the star of the show.

 

 

BRUNCH

 

 

recipe & photo via Grandbaby Cakes

Homemade Buttermilk Waffles

 

In full transparency, we’ve been known to reach for the box mix when it comes to waffle making on a Saturday morning. But Jocelyn of Grandbaby Cakes’ foolproof recipe has made us fully reconsider. These delicious brunch favorites come together in 20 minutes flat, and they’re made with staple ingredients you’ve likely already got on hand.

 

SOMETHING SWEET

 

 

recipe & photo via Freutcake

 

 

No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream

 

Before you scroll right past this more “advanced” dessert, hear us out. All you need for this no-churn ice cream is a mixer, four ingredients, and a little bit of time on your hands. If you thought you couldn’t make your own homemade ice cream, we’re here to say, you most definitely can.

 

TO SIP

 

 

recipe & photo via HealthNut Nutrition

 

Grapefruit Jalapeño Margarita

 

Everyone’s favorite summer drink got a spicy citrus makeover thanks to Nikole of HealthNut Nutrition. Her fresh take on a classic marg uses all-natural ingredients and calls for honey or maple syrup (in place of refined sugar) for a healthy-ish twist. Whip these up on a hot summer day for the ultimate at-home happy hour.