Putting my family on a rotating meal plan was a game changer in my house.
Why? Because we gave each meal a theme.
Themed dinner nights make planning a breeze. Fewer choices = less overwhelm. Which leads to eating out less, making healthier meals, and spending less time on meal planning and grocery shopping.
Taco Tuesday isn’t the only fun to have during the week!
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How to Start Themed Dinner Nights
First, decide what meal types work best on certain days of the week.
Lately, Wednedays are the busiest nights for my family. So, I need crockpot, freezer meals, or soups those days. On the weekend, the more fun options come out. Do what works for you!
Most Exciting & Efficient Themed Dinner Nights
Pasta Night
Anything Italian works on this night.
- Spaghetti and meat sauce or meatballs
- Creamy chicken alfredo
- Baked Ziti
- Pesto Pasta with chicken
- Shrimp Linguine
Taco Tuesday
Tacos are just the start!
- Chicken or beef tacos
- Chicken fajitas
- Black bean and corn quesadillas
- Easy taco pie
- Tostadas
Do you have to theme every day of the week? Heck no. You might like one or two themed dinners. But each dinner you give a direction to is one fewer decision to make when you’re tired.
Fish Fridays/Seafood Saturdays
- Grilled salmon with lemon butter sauce
- Tuna casserole
- Crab or tuna cakes
- Baked or pan-fried cod
- Fish tacos with cabbage
Breakfast for Dinner
- Fluffy pancakes with maple syrup and bacon
- Egg casserole with hashbrowns
- French toast casserole with fruit
- Omelettes with hashbrowns
- Breakfast burritos with sausage and avocado
Pizza Themed Dinner Night
Great for Fridays, Saturdays, or family night fun.
- Margherita pizza with fresh mozarella
- BBQ chicken pizza with red onion
- Pepperoni pizza
- Veggie pizza with bell peppers and olives
- White sauce or pesto pizza
Leftover Night
Pull out all the leftovers for the week, or re-purpose your leftovers into one of the following:
- Leftover stir-fry: Combine leftover veggies, proteins, and rice or noodles with a stir-fry sauce.
- Leftover calzones or quesadillas: Fit in any leftover taco or pizza toppings to make this unique fun food.
- Leftover pasta salad: Toss leftover pasta with fresh veggies, cheese, and vinaigrette for a refreshing salad.
- Leftover soup: Combine various leftovers with broth, beans, and spices for a hearty soup.
- Leftover sandwiches
Salad Night
- Greek salad with grilled chicken: Greens, cucumber, tomato, olives, feta cheese, and grilled chicken
- Cobb salad: Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese
- Southwest salad: Quinoa, black beans, corn, avocado, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro
- Caprese salad: Fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, basil
- Thai peanut salad: Mixed greens, shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumber, bell pepper, grilled shrimp, peanuts
- Strawberry spinach salad: Spinach, baby greens, strawberries, feta, and pecans
More Ideas: Fun Green Salad Recipes
Soup & Chili Night
Soups are incredibly versatile (great for busy weeknights). Plus, you can leave it to cook in the Crockpot or Instant Pot.
- Classic chicken noodle soup
- Vegetarian minestrone soup
- Beef and bean Chili
- Butternut squash soup
- Lentil soup
- Pasta fa*gioli soup
- White chicken chili
Slow Cooker or Freezer Meal Night
- Slow cooker pulled pork
- Crockpot beef stew
- Freezer burritos
- Slow cooker chicken tortilla soup
- Crockpot chicken and rice
- Freezer and slow cooker taco soup
More Ideas: 12 Easy Freezer Meal Ideas & 12 Healthy Crockpot Dinners
Grill & Chill Night
- Grilled steak, chicken, or pork
- Grilled kabobs with meat and veggies
- Grilled burgers
- Grilled hot dogs or brats
Meatless Mondays
- Veggie stir-fry with rice
- Lentil or black bean tacos
- Spinach and ricotta stuffed shell
- Loaded baked potatoes
Asian Food Night
- Vegetable fried rice
- Pad Thai
- Veggie spring rolls
- Vegetable curry
Snacky Dinner Night
Great for family nights, sports games, social events, or just when you’re tired from the week.
- Loaded nachos
- Charcuterie board with your favorite fixings
- Baked potato bar
- Veggie sushi rolls
Sheet Pan Sundays
- Greek lemon garlic roasted chicken and vegetables
- Chicken sausage with potatoes and veggies
- Honey mustard salmon with roasted vegetables
- Sheet pan fajitas
Sunday Supper
I’m stealing this term from the book Lessons in Chemistry. It’s such a good one!
- Classic roast chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy
- Beef pot roast with root vegetables
- Meatloaf with green beans and mashed potatoes
- Baked lasagna
- Herb pork tenderloin with roasted vegetables
- Shepherd’s pie
My Weekly Themed Dinner Nights
Here’s what my rotating meal plan looks like. We also like to switch back and forth bi-weekly to keep things more exciting.
Monday: Pasta night/sheet pan night
Tuesday: Tacos or Mexican variation
Wednesday: Freezer meal, crockpot, or soup
Thursday: Fish
Friday: Pizza or snacky dinner
Saturday: Breakfast for dinner or leftovers
Sunday: Grill & chill or Sunday Supper
Related: 5 Hacks For Making Family Dinners Easier
Free Meal Planning Printable
Meal Planner PrintableDownload
Related: Ultimate Meal Planning List of Meals
What’s Next?
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