Tuesday’s Table

If you’ve been around the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably noticed that I like a little thing called “Planned Overs.”

If you’re new here, welcome! I’m glad you’re here. Let me explain.

Planned overs are simply my way of cooking once and intentionally making extra for another meal. It makes dinner prep quicker, saves money, reduces waste, and helps me get a home-cooked meal on the table even on our busiest days.

This week, we’ll be using some of the food we prepped last week, while also making a few extras that will help us with meals next week.

That's the beauty of planned overs. Once you get into the habit, one week's meals begin helping you with the next week's meals.

I hope you love the ideas—and, more importantly, that your family loves the home-cooked meals!

Tuesday — Spaghetti & Meatballs

Fresh meatballs or frozen meatballs—I’m not gonna judge ya. :)

Do whatever you have time for and whatever your family will eat! About 90% of the time, I make my own meatballs, but sometimes I grab a bag at Costco and call it a day.

Either way, make extra!

Planned Over: Save some of those meatballs AND spaghetti sauce for Saturday, when we're turning them into meatball sandwiches.

Wednesday — Chicken Fried Rice

Tonight we're using one of our planned overs from last week!

We'll make Chicken Fried Rice using the extra rice we intentionally saved from Friday's dinner.

If you made my homemade teriyaki sauce a couple of weeks ago, this is the perfect time to use it for the chicken. I like to marinate my chicken and grill it before adding it to the rice. I just think grilled chicken has SO much more flavor than chicken baked in the oven or cooked in a pan.

But again—you do you! Whatever works for you and your family.

One less thing to cook tonight, and THAT is exactly why I love planned overs.

Thursday — Roast & Potatoes

Today is going to be a busy one for me. I have a wedding to deliver and set up, which means I won't be home at dinnertime.

This is exactly the kind of day when I love my crock pot.

I'll throw a roast, potatoes, and everything else in before I leave, and my family will have a hearty, home-cooked dinner waiting for them even though I won't be there to make it.

I use my own pot roast seasoning so I know it's gluten-free. And here's a little sneak peek—I'll be adding it to Seasoned with Grace in a few weeks!

And whatever you do, don't throw away that leftover roast.

I LOVE making homemade hash with leftover pot roast, so we'll save that for another meal.

Planned Over: Save the leftover roast for homemade hash.

Friday — Chicken Tacos

Tacos are definitely a go-to in our house.

Everyone loves them, and honestly, we could eat tacos a couple of times a week. I just change things up by using different meats and toppings so it doesn't feel like we're eating the exact same meal over and over.

I still have some of the chicken I bought on sale at Costco in the freezer, so this week we're having chicken tacos.

And, of course, I'm cooking extra.

We'll use that chicken again over the weekend for naked burrito bowls.

If you missed it, check out last week's post for my homemade taco seasoning recipe!

Planned Over: Make extra chicken for Sunday's burrito bowls.

Saturday — Meatball Sandwiches

Remember those extra meatballs and spaghetti sauce from Tuesday?

Now is the time to pull them out!

Heat everything up, pile the meatballs and sauce onto a bun, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and dinner is served.

Seriously. That's it.

This is why I love planned overs so much. You did the work on Tuesday, and Saturday-you gets to enjoy it.

Sunday — Naked Burrito Bowls

After a busy weekend, Sunday is one of those nights when I really appreciate an easy dinner—especially when I'm also trying to get ready for the week ahead.

Naked burrito bowls are PERFECT because there really aren't any rules.

Use what you have.

White rice? Sure.

Spanish rice? Absolutely.

Cilantro lime rice? Perfect.

Pinto beans? Yep.

Black beans? Sounds good.

Refried beans? Why not?

Layer whatever rice and beans you have in a bowl, add the extra chicken from Friday night's tacos, and top everything with cheese and sour cream. Add lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, avocado, or whatever else your family likes.

They're quick, they're filling, everyone can make their bowl exactly how they want it, AND they're a great way to clean out some leftovers from the refrigerator.

That's a win all the way around.

Monday — Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

We're finishing the week with Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs. You can absolutely make these with steak instead if that's what your family prefers.

I'll use my homemade teriyaki sauce to marinate the chicken before grilling it with veggies.

And guess what?

We're already thinking about next week.

If you make homemade teriyaki sauce, make extra and tuck it into the refrigerator. We'll use it again Friday night for burgers.

Planned Over: Save some teriyaki sauce for next Friday's dinner.

See How It All Connects?

This is what I mean when I talk about planned overs.

We're not eating the same leftovers night after night. We're intentionally making a little extra and turning it into something different.

Last week's rice became Wednesday's Chicken Fried Rice.

Tuesday's spaghetti and meatballs became Saturday's Meatball Sandwiches.

Friday's chicken tacos became Sunday's Naked Burrito Bowls.

And Monday's teriyaki sauce is already helping us get dinner on the table NEXT Friday.

Once you start thinking about your meals this way, you'll be surprised by how much easier dinner can become.

You don't have to make everything homemade. You don't have to spend Sunday afternoon meal prepping for five hours. And you definitely don't have to make complicated dinners every night.

Sometimes it's homemade meatballs.

Sometimes it's a Costco bag.

Do what works for your family.

The goal is simply to think ahead a little, stretch what you already have, save some money, and make getting a home-cooked dinner on the table a little easier.

Jennifer's Kitchen Tip 🌿
Before you put dinner away, portion out your planned overs FIRST. It's easy for everyone to grab seconds or eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. If you know those meatballs are Saturday's dinner, set them aside before they disappear! A little planning tonight can save you time—and money—later in the week.

Happy cooking, friends!
And remember, there's grace around the table, too. 🤍
Jennifer