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Nice weather, Knicks games, and a lot of time outside with Fletcher this week. These five dinners were all fast enough that we never felt like we were stuck inside cooking when we could have been outside. One sheet pan lasagna, one sheet pan chicken, one pasta salad, one copycat sandwich, and one 10 minute bowl. This week has something for everyone!
Keep scrolling for everything you need to make your life easier:
5 easy dinner recipes (all are gluten free with dairy free suggestions!)
how to save time and money with each recipe
how to serve these recipes to your WHOLE family, including toddlers
Also On YouTube This Week
Three new videos are up on my YouTube channel this week! Make sure to check them out!
1 prep, 4 toddler meals: I show you how one simple prep session gives you four completely different toddler meals including deconstructed meatball parm subs and an egg breakfast bowl. If you have a little one at home this one is SO worth the watch!
4 ingredient smoothie: My go-to quick smoothie that takes about 2 minutes and keeps me full. Simple, easy, and genuinely delicious.
Grocery haul: Come shop with me! I walk you through exactly what I bought this week and how I plan to use it all.
How to Save Money AND Time this Week
Chicken shows up in four out of five dinners this week. Buy one bulk pack and you are covered for Nights 1, 2, 4, and 5.
The elote pasta salad is best made earlier in the day or even the night before — it gets better as it chills.
The honey garlic sheet pan chicken is completely hands off once it goes in the oven so put it in and go back outside!
The lasagna serves four so it will carry you into the next day for lunch with zero extra effort.
The McChicken sandwiches make four patties — freeze any extras for a future busy night and reheat in the air fryer straight from frozen!
Making Your Week Easier: What Dinner to Double
The elote pasta salad is your best double batch this week. Make the full batch on Sunday and portion into containers for easy grab and go lunches all week long.
The sheet pan sundried tomato lasagna also reheats beautifully — assemble two pans at once and freeze the second for a future week!
The 5 Fast and Easy Dinner Recipes
Night 1: Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken
Your favorite Chinese takeout made at home on a sheet pan in 30 minutes. The honey garlic sauce is SO good and the sheet pan does all the work while you are outside. Naturally gluten free and dairy free!
Use what you have: Any vegetable that roasts well works here — whatever is in the fridge or on sale!
For the little ones: Set aside plain baked chicken pieces before or after adding the sauce. Serve with soft rice.
Swap: Chicken thighs are often cheaper and stay juicier on the sheet pan!
Night 2: Elote Pasta Salad with Shredded Chicken
Make this one earlier in the day and dinner is already done. Creamy elote dressing, seared corn, shredded rotisserie chicken, green onions, and lettuce all tossed together and chilled. It genuinely gets better the longer it sits!
Use what you have: Any short gluten free pasta works — rotini, penne, or bowties all hold the dressing beautifully. Canned or frozen corn works just as well as fresh!
For the little ones: Cut everything into smaller pieces. Toddler friendly and SO easy!
Swap: Skip the chicken and add black beans or roasted chickpeas for a vegetarian version!
Night 3: At Home Gluten Free McChicken Sandwiches
The most nostalgic McDonald’s order made completely gluten free at home. Crispy minced chicken patties, mayo, shredded lettuce on a toasted gluten free bun. This one is a project but SO worth it and genuinely better than the original!
Use what you have: Buy ground chicken to skip the food processor step entirely. Any gluten free bun works here!
For the little ones: Cut the patty into small pieces and serve like chicken nuggets with a dipping sauce on the side.
Swap: Spicy mayo instead of regular mayo for a spicy McChicken situation. SO good!
Night 4: Sheet Pan Sundried Tomato Lasagna
Sundried tomato ricotta, creamy tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella on a sheet pan in 50 minutes. No meat, no fuss, completely vegetarian and SO filling. Assemble it ahead of time and just bake when you are ready!
Use what you have: Any jarred creamy tomato sauce works — Raos, Bertolli, or Wegmans creamy blush are all great options!
For the little ones: Cut the noodles into smaller pieces. Fletcher had all the same ingredients this time!
Swap: Add sliced chicken sausage or shredded rotisserie chicken layered in for extra protein!
Night 5: Caprese Chicken Bowl…but with a Roasted Red Pepper Twist!!
The 10 minute caprese chicken bowl but this week we are swapping the fresh tomatoes for jarred roasted red peppers. Same leftover grilled chicken, same burrata, same pesto and balsamic glaze over arugula — just a different flavor profile that is SO good for summer. Grill the chicken earlier in the week alongside another dinner and this one comes together with zero cooking!
Use what you have: Same arugula from the grilled chicken sandwich if you made it earlier this week. Same pesto. One shop, multiple dinners!
For the little ones: Small pieces of grilled chicken with roasted red pepper and a little pesto on the side.
Swap: Fresh mozzarella instead of burrata if it is easier to find or on sale that week!
Bonus Night 6: a bonus dinner this week from Heather Hardcastle!!
Grocery List
Produce
1 bag arugula (Night 5)
1 jar roasted red peppers (Night 5)
