Meal planning is one of those little things that makes a huge difference to my week. I don’t do anything elaborate – I just like knowing what we’re having for dinner, making one grocery list and taking that daily 5 pm decision off my plate. I usually look at what the week has in store and work backwards from there: quicker dinners on the busier nights, something slower when I know I’ll be home, and a good mix so we’re not eating the same kind of thing every night. This week I’ve got Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos and Sticky Hoisin Beef Noodles for the faster nights, Chicken Schnitzel with Creamy Mushroom Sauce and Butter Chicken Meatballs for proper comfort food, plus Sticky Asian-style Pulled Pork and Pot Roast when I want dinner cooking away while I get on with everything else. I’m sharing the full plan in case it helps take a few dinner decisions off your plate too.

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Baked Chicken Tacos in tray with juicy filling

Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos

5 from 14 votes
These Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos are an easy chicken dinner made with juicy seasoned chicken, sweet corn and melted cheese, all baked inside soft tortillas until the tops are golden and crispy. This family-friendly taco recipe is easy to customise with your favourite toppings, making these baked chicken tacos perfect for busy weeknights, feeding a crowd or a fun Mexican-inspired dinner.
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Sticky Soy Beef Mince Noodle Recipe

Sticky Hoisin Beef Noodles

5 from 2 votes
These Sticky Hoisin Beef Noodles are the perfect fakeaway for busy nights. A rich, glossy hoisin sauce coats tender noodles, caramelised minced (ground) beef and plenty of vegetables, creating a comforting dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes. It’s budget-friendly, incredibly versatile and a brilliant way to reinvent beef mince using simple pantry staples.
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Crispy breaded chicken schnitzel topped with creamy mushroom sauce, served with sautéed green beans and mashed potatoes in a bowl.

Chicken Schnitzel with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

5 from 14 votes
Golden chicken schnitzels topped with a creamy mushroom sauce you can make in the same pan – what’s not to love? Chicken Schnitzel with Creamy Mushroom Sauce is freezer-friendly, weeknight-worthy, and feels like a hug on a plate. Perfect for when you want something cosy without the fuss.
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Butter Chicken Meatball Recipe

Butter Chicken Meatballs

4.96 from 23 votes
This Butter Chicken Meatballs recipe takes the classic family-favourite curry up a notch. Meatballs made with minced (ground) chicken are simmered in a mild and creamy butter chicken sauce, then served over rice with refreshing yoghurt on the side. The recipe is great for get-ahead meal prep and is also freezer-friendly.
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Full beef and potato pie in one pan, with a golden flaky crust.

Crispy Potato Topped Beef “Pie”

4.68 from 28 votes
This Crispy Potato Topped Beef “Pie” is a quick, comforting alternative to a traditional cottage pie, made with finely sliced potatoes as the topping instead of mash. It’s loaded with vegetables, cooked in one pan, and finished with a buttery, golden potato layer. A family favourite, it’s perfect for busy weeknights and makes great leftovers.
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Pot roast beef recipe with mashed potatoes

The BEST Beef Pot Roast Recipe

5 from 6 votes
This easy oven-braised pot roast is made with a whole beef chuck roast, carrots, celery and onion, slowly cooked until the beef is fall-apart tender. Everything cooks in one pan with a simple homemade beef gravy made from tomato paste, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs – no packet gravy in sight. Serve The BEST Beef Pot Roast recipe with creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate comforting family dinner. The hands-on preparation is minimal and the leftovers are just as delicious the next day.
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Close up of Pulled Pork Taco Recipe

Sticky Asian-style Pulled Pork (Slow-cooker, Oven and Pressure Cooker!)

5 from 11 votes
Sticky Asian-style Pulled Pork is cooked until fall-apart tender in the oven, slow-cooker or pressure cooker, coated in a rich hoisin, garlic and ginger sauce, then stuffed into Peking duck-style pancakes (my favourite!), rice paper wrappers, mini tortillas or bao buns, or served with rice or noodles. Made with an affordable cut of pork and simple supermarket ingredients, it’s perfect for family dinners, entertaining, meal prep, and easy leftover meals all week long.
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