October always seems to sneak up fast! Between crisp mornings, long evenings at the soccer field, and weekend cross-country meets, dinner can quickly become an afterthought. That’s why I’m leaning even harder into menu planning right now — it keeps our meals balanced, cozy, and ready when life gets hectic. This round of Menu Planning 10/5–10/18/25 is full of fall comfort food, quick weeknight favorites, and a few new recipes I can’t wait to test. If you’re juggling busy family schedules too, I hope this sparks some dinner inspiration! Don’t forget I also I post weekly recipes through the link on my instagram profile. Please follow me there. I appreciate the support!
10/5-10/11
- Turkey Meatballs in Creamy Sage Pumpkin Sauce*
- Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken*
- Flavorful Meatloaf
- Skinny Greek Yogurt Enchiladas
- Cookie Dough Fudge
10/12-10/18
- Smoky 4 Bean chili
- Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches
- Harvest Chicken Casserole
- Crispy Bang Bang Salmon Bites Bowls
- Butternut Squash Tortellini Soup
- Gingerbread bars
Let’s Discuss!
Looking back at the last two weeks of menu planning, we tried a handful of new recipes, and a few stood out as clear keepers! I had been hoping the weather would finally cool down since it’s been in the 80s. It didn’t. We still enjoyed the Icelandic Fish stew and Rye Bread. Claire is already asking me to make it again!
- Cheeseburger Orzo Skillet– This was so quick and easy! I added fresh spinach for extra veggies.
- Icelandic Fish Stew– We enjoyed this a few times on our trip so I wanted to try it on my own. This went well and wasn’t too hard to make! I topped with a bit of cheese and chives.
- Crockpot French Onion Meatballs– These were easy and tasty, but I wish the sauce thickened up better.
- Icelandic Rye Bread– We loved the rye bread in Iceland. I made my version in the slow cooker. It was in a bread pan that fit inside my slow cooker with water on the bottom of the slow cooker. It worked really well!
A couple of recipes will definitely go into our regular rotation (especially that cheeseburger orzo), and the Iceland-inspired dishes were such a fun way to keep vacation memories alive. Now I’m ready to jump into our Menu Planning 10/5–10/18/25 with a mix of quick comfort food and new cozy fall recipes to try.
What about you — have you discovered any new family favorites lately or a recipe that made busy nights easier? I’d love to hear what’s been on your menu!
