A grocery list for a week of easy dinners
One shop, five dinners, and a fridge that isn't full of things you forgot about.
4 min read
The problem with weeknight dinners usually isn't cooking. It's standing in front of the fridge at 7pm with no plan and half an onion.
Here's a single grocery list that covers five simple dinners. Swap anything you don't like for something you do.
The list
Fresh
- Onions and garlic
- A bag of spinach
- Peppers
- Lemons
- Fresh herbs, if you like them
Fridge
- A dozen eggs
- Greek yogurt
- A block of feta or cheddar
- Chicken thighs or firm tofu
Cupboard
- Rice and pasta
- Two tins of chickpeas
- Two tins of chopped tomatoes
- Wraps or flatbreads
- Stock cubes
Freezer
- Peas
- Mixed vegetables
The five dinners
- Chicken or tofu traybake with peppers and onions, served with rice.
- Chickpea and spinach stew with tinned tomatoes and a spoon of yogurt.
- Pasta with peas, lemon and cheese.
- Egg fried rice using leftover rice from night one and frozen vegetables.
- Wraps with whatever is left: eggs, feta, spinach, the last of the chickpeas.
Why it works
Most ingredients show up in more than one meal, so less goes to waste. Night four uses night one's rice. Night five is designed to clear the fridge.
If you have dietary needs or allergies, adjust freely. The structure matters more than the specific ingredients.
