Weekly Meal Plan 7.3.26

We've got your whole week covered — three dinners that are fast, family-friendly, and actually good, plus a festive side dish that's basically made for the 4th. Grab the grocery list below, shop once, and enjoy the week.

Dinner # 1: Crispy Skillet Chicken Thighs

Get the recipe → (Two Peas and Their Pod)

Golden, crispy skin. Juicy meat. One skillet. This is the kind of dinner that looks impressive and takes almost no effort — seasoned with a simple pantry spice rub, seared until golden, and finished in a garlic cream sauce that your family will want to pour over everything. Great over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.

Dinner # 2: One Pot Creamy Lemon Orzo with Chicken

Get the recipe → (Mel's Kitchen Cafe)

One pot, 20 minutes, and a sauce so good you'll want a piece of bread just to clean the pan. Toasted orzo simmers in broth and cream, then gets tossed with chicken, spinach, lemon zest, and Parmesan. Bright, creamy, comforting — and almost no cleanup. This one goes on the permanent list.

Dinner # 3: Cheesy Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet

Get the recipe → (Mel's Kitchen Cafe)

One skillet, big flavor, and leftovers that are somehow even better cold straight from the fridge the next day (yes, really). Cooked chicken, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, salsa, and cheese all come together in one colorful pan. Top with sour cream, avocado, or whatever you've got. Kids love it. Tired moms love it more.

🇺🇸 4th of July Side: Watermelon, Blackberry & Mint Salad

Get the recipe → (Two Peas and Their Pod)

Four ingredients, zero cooking, and naturally red, white (add a little crumbled feta!), and blue. Watermelon cubes, fresh blackberries, chopped mint, and a squeeze of lime. Perfect for a cookout, a potluck, or just a Tuesday when it's too hot to turn the oven on. Make it in five minutes and look like you planned something festive.

Full Grocery List

Produce

• Fresh garlic (1 head)

• 1 shallot

• Fresh spinach (large bag)

• 2 lemons

• 1–2 sweet potatoes

• 1 bell pepper (any color)

• 1 jalapeño (optional, for skillet)

• Fresh cilantro

• 1 small seedless watermelon

• 1 pint fresh blackberries

• Fresh mint (small bunch)

• 1 lime

• 1 avocado (for skillet topping)

Meat

• 6–8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (skillet chicken)

• 1½ lbs boneless chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken (lemon orzo)

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (sweet potato skillet — rotisserie works great)

Pantry/Dry Goods

• Garlic powder

• Onion powder

• Paprika

• Dried Italian seasoning or dried basil

• Orzo pasta (1 cup)

• Chicken broth (32 oz)

• Olive oil

• Taco seasoning (or cumin, chili powder, garlic powder)

• Salsa (1 jar, your favorite)

• Cornstarch

Dairy/Refrigerated

• Butter

• Heavy cream or half and half

• Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)

• Shredded Mexican blend cheese

• Sour cream (for topping)

• Feta cheese (optional, for watermelon salad)

• Milk

Recipes this week from Two Peas and Their Pod and Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Click any link above for the full recipe and instructions.