A Week of Big-Batch, Family-Friendly Dinners

Some nights it can feel like a feat to get dinner on the table no matter how many mouths you’re feeding. But if you’ve got a crew of up to six or eight sitting down on the regular, recipes that serve four just won’t cut it.

You need to stack your meal plan with high-yield dinners that skip the fuss and satisfy the table. This week’s meal plan will help you do just that, leaning hard on casseroles and slow cooker suppers that make enough for the biggest family to enjoy. And if you’re not feeding a crew of big eaters, each of these dinners makes enough leftovers for everyone’s lunch — and most can even be frozen for future dinners!

Monday pasta night is an easy win — especially when it involves a pan of cheesy baked ziti. Get a head start by prepping and assembling dinner over the weekend. Not only will it save you time on Monday, but baked ziti also tastes better after it’s had a day to set in the fridge.

Get the recipe: How To Make an All-Star Baked Ziti

This veggie-packed casserole delivers the saucy, cheesy comfort of classic enchiladas. Serve warm tortillas on the side so everyone can stuff their own, or opt for some crunchy tortilla chips.

Get the recipe: 5-Ingredient Enchilada Casserole

This hearty fall classic leans on pantry ingredients for an easy midweek dinner everyone around the table will love. Just don’t forget to bring out cheddar crackers for topping!

Get the recipe: How To Make Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Get a head start on dinner by making the broth and chopping all the vegetables during your weekend meal prep session. With most of the legwork already done, this comforting stew hits the table in under 30 minutes.

Get the recipe: Vegetarian Kale and Cannellini Bean Stew

Nothing’s more fun on Friday night that a DIY affair. Toss pork in the slow cooker first thing in the morning, and let it cook all day. When dinner hits the table, everyone can assemble their own wraps.

Get the recipe: Slow-Cooked Hoisin and Ginger Pork Wraps with Peanut Slaw

• The Beginner’s Guide to Meal Planning: What to Know, How to Succeed, and What to Skip
• The Best Way to Use a Weekend for Meal Planning Success
• Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before You Start Meal Planning
• 5 Strategies for Picking Recipes for a Week of Meal Planning

Click below to get more tips, insights, and ideas from our Meal Plan Club crew and readers like you.

Meal planning isn’t always easy — especially if you’re just getting started. But we’re firm believers that it’s the secret to stress-free weeknight dinners. We want to help you find inspiration and ease some of the pain points that come with getting dinner on the table night after night, whether you’re cooking one or a family of four or five. Every week we share a new meal plan solution specifically customized for you from reader requests or from a guest contributor, for Next Week’s Meal Plan!