This week's menu includes juicy Chicken Zucchini Burgers, Chickpea Spinach Curry, creamy One-Pot Alfredo—and two brand-new dinners made from the leftovers!
This meal plan will serve 3 to 4!
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What's In This Week's Summer Meal Plan
MONDAY: Cook Once, Feast Twice - Chicken Zucchini Burgers + Corn on the Cob (with chili lime butter)
TUESDAY: Pantry Magic - Chickpea Spinach Curry + Rice
WEDNESDAY: Leftover Glow-Up - Seared Chicken & Zucchini Rice Bowls
THURSDAY: Lazy Day Win - One Pot Alfredo Pasta
FRIDAY: No Rules Friday - Chickpea Spinach Curried Sloppy Joes
As always, this week's meal plan includes 3 brand-new dinners and 2 leftover glow-ups! We intentionally make a little extra so those leftovers become completely new meals later in the week. That means a shorter grocery list, less cooking, and way less weeknight stress.
This week, Monday's Chicken Zucchini Burger Patties get a second life on Wednesday with Tuesday's leftover rice. Then on Friday, we transform Tuesday's Chickpea Spinach Curry into fun Indian-style Sloppy Joes, piled into buttery buns (or sandwich bread) for an easy dinner that tastes nothing like leftovers.
As always, you'll find plenty of easy recipe inspiration this week! The peanut butter toast makes a quick, high-protein breakfast or snack, the mini blueberry muffins are packed with sweet, juicy fresh summer blueberries, and the outrageously fudgy chocolate cherry brownies are an easy one-pan dessert that's absolutely incredible with a scoop of ice cream. They're made with fresh Bing cherries, which are at their peak right now!
MONDAY: Chicken Zucchini Burgers + Air Fryer Corn on the Cob (with chili lime butter)
The burger recipe makes 5–6 patties, depending on the size of your buns (I recommend making 6 patties if you want to serve 2 to 4 people on Wednesday). Enjoy what you need tonight, then refrigerate the extra patties for Wednesday's Leftover Glow-Up.
The corn is super easy to make in the air fryer. No air fryer? No problem! Cook the ears in a hot cast-iron skillet (no butter or oil needed), turning occasionally until they're lightly charred all over, then brush with the chili lime butter before serving.
TUESDAY: Chickpea Spinach Curry + Rice
The curry makes 4 servings, so save the leftovers for Friday's Leftover Glow-Up. If you are serving 4 on Tuesday, then go ahead and make a double batch to make sloppy joes on Friday.
Cook a big batch of white rice too—you'll need the extras for Wednesday's dinner!
WEDNESDAY: Seared Chicken & Zucchini Rice Bowls
Turn the burger patties into chicken strips: Slice the leftover chicken zucchini burger patties into ½-inch strips. Heat a lightly oiled nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, arrange the strips in a single layer and sear for 2–3 minutes per side, until they're golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
Make the buttery scallion rice: Using the same skillet (just wipe it clean first), melt a little butter or heat some oil. Sauté chopped garlic and the white parts of a few scallions (save the green tops) over medium heat until fragrant. Add the leftover rice, breaking up any clumps as you go. Stir in a small splash of soy sauce, salt, pepper, and the sliced green scallions. If you have any leftover corn from Monday, cut the kernels off the cob and toss them in too. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning. If it needs more flavor, add a little salt rather than more soy sauce so the garlic and scallions can still shine.
Build your bowls: Divide the buttery scallion rice between bowls and top with the seared chicken strips. Drizzle on some Sriracha, chili crisp, Frank's RedHot, or whatever spicy sauce you already have in the fridge. Anything with a kick works perfectly here. Dig in!
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THURSDAY: One Pot Alfredo Pasta
The recipe is linked above and makes 4 servings. For an easy veggie side, sauté any leftover spinach with sliced garlic in a splash of olive oil until just wilted. Season with salt, a pinch of sugar, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if you like a little heat.
Or keep it even simpler with air fryer broccoli, oven-roasted green beans, or parmesan air fryer green beans—all great pairings for this meal!
FRIDAY: Chickpea Spinach Curried Sloppy Joes
Thicken the curry: Add the leftover curry to a skillet and simmer until it thickens. You're looking for a consistency that's thick enough to pile onto a bun without immediately running off, but still loose enough to scoop and be deliciously messy. Remove from the heat.
Toast the buns: Butter the leftover burger buns from Monday and toast them in a skillet until golden brown. No buns? Any sandwich bread you have on hand works just as well.
Assemble: Pile the thickened curried chickpeas onto the toasted buns, sloppy-joe-style. Top with chopped red onion, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lemon juice, and pickled jalapeños if you have them. Grab plenty of napkins and dig in!
SHOPPING LIST
Produce
- 1 medium zucchini
- 3 medium red onion
- 1 bulb garlic
- 1 knob of ginger
- 1 large tomato (to use for burger)
- lettuce (if needed for burgers)
- 2 to 4 corn on the cob (no husks), depending on the number of servings
- 1 smallest bunch cilantro (optional)
- 1 lemon
- 1 small bag of baby spinach
- 1 bunch scallions
Meat, Poultry and Fish
- 1 pound ground chicken (or use turkey)
Condiments and Spices
- panko breadcrumbs
- vegetable oil
- ground coriander
- ground cayenne
- ground turmeric
- garam masala powder
- chili powder
- cumin seeds
- salt
- ground black pepper
- mayonnaise
- Sriracha sauce
- Soy sauce
Dairy & Misc. Refrigerated Items
- 1 egg
- Greek yogurt (or plain)
- butter
- parmesan cheese
- 2 cups milk
Grains
- 1 pack Burger buns (about 8)
- white rice
- 1 box of spaghetti (you'll use half)
Canned and Jarred
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (2 cans of doubling the recipe)
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 (15 ounces) can chickpeas (2 cans of doubling the recipe)
- 1 (15 ounces) can chicken stock
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->