Fuel Your Week with Healthy Meals

Healthy Weekly Meal Plan #17: Your Ultimate Guide to Delicious & Easy Thanksgiving Week Meals

Healthy Weekly Meal Plan #17: Your Ultimate Guide to Delicious & Easy Thanksgiving Week Meals

Welcome to Healthy Weekly Meal Plan #17! This week, we’re making meal planning simpler and more delicious than ever, especially as we approach the bustling Thanksgiving holiday. Whether you’re traveling, hosting, or simply enjoying a quiet week at home, this carefully curated plan offers a delightful array of yummy and healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert recipes designed to bring comfort and joy to your table. From satisfying main courses to festive side dishes and sweet treats, we’ve got your week covered with meals that are both nutritious and incredibly flavorful. Get ready to simplify your cooking and savor every bite!

I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is already upon us! What exciting plans do you have in store? My family and I are eagerly heading to Arizona to celebrate with my parents and some of my husband’s brothers who live there. I’m certainly hoping for smooth travels, avoiding the usual holiday traffic both on our way there and back, which is always a bit of a challenge during this festive time of year. I’m incredibly excited to reunite with my mom, dad, and siblings; almost everyone will be in town, promising a lively and memorable family gathering! But let’s be honest, I’m also very much looking forward to the food – hurray for all the delicious Thanksgiving traditions!

This week’s healthy meal plan is truly special because it not only incorporates fantastic, comforting dishes perfect for the season, but also features a mouth-watering turkey and stuffing combination that’s ideal if you’re still finalizing your holiday menu. These recipes emphasize fresh ingredients, balanced nutrition, and most importantly, incredible taste. You’ll find a blend of classic favorites and exciting new flavors to keep your palate delighted throughout the week. We hope you enjoy preparing and sharing these wonderful meals with your loved ones!

To access any recipe, simply click on its name or the accompanying photo. Each link will take you directly to the full instructions, making your cooking experience as seamless as possible. From our kitchen to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving filled with gratitude and delicious food!

~ Your Healthy Weekly Meal Plan ~

Monday

Kick off your week with this incredibly easy and utterly delicious Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie, also known as cottage pie. Perfect for a meat-free Monday, this comforting dish requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor. It’s packed with wholesome vegetables and topped with a creamy mashed potato layer, making it a hearty and satisfying meal that will warm you from the inside out. Enjoy the richness without the guilt, knowing you’re nourishing your body with a fabulous plant-based option that the whole family will love.

Tuesday

Midweek calls for something quick yet gourmet, and this Easy Chicken Marsala with Blistered Tomatoes fits the bill perfectly. In just 30 minutes, you can create a restaurant-quality meal featuring tender chicken cooked in a rich butter and Marsala wine sauce, beautifully complemented by sweet, blistered tomatoes. It’s a naturally gluten-free option that’s both light and incredibly flavorful, guaranteed to impress your family and become a new favorite weeknight staple. Believe us, your taste buds will thank you for this freakin’ tasty dish!

Wednesday

Dinner

Break up the week with these vibrant and flavorful Southwestern Turkey Burgers. Far from bland, these burgers are a consistent family favorite, crafted with lean ground turkey and infused with a medley of wholesome ingredients like sweet bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and a hint of jalapeño for that perfect, exciting kick. They offer a healthier alternative to traditional beef burgers without sacrificing taste, providing a satisfying and exciting dinner option that’s always the most requested burger in our house!

Side Dish

Pair your turkey burgers with this exquisite Fall Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette, a true celebration of autumn’s bounty. This salad is brimming with seasonal flavors and delightful textures, combining tender roasted butternut squash, chewy wild rice, crunchy pepitas, crisp sweet apples, and nutrient-rich kale. Drizzled generously with a homemade apple cider vinaigrette, it’s not only incredibly delicious but also perfectly suited for making ahead, adding ease to your busy week. Enjoy it as a light side dish or even a fulfilling main course.

Thursday – Thanksgiving Feast!

Main Dish

As Thanksgiving approaches, make your holiday cooking effortlessly delicious with this incredible Crock Pot Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce. This recipe promises the juiciest, most flavorful turkey you’ve ever tasted, thanks to a simple 24-hour brine followed by a slow cook in your crock pot for another 4-8 hours. It’s the perfect solution for a smaller gathering or as a delicious addition to your main feast, ensuring a moist, tender, and absolutely delicious turkey without taking up precious oven space. This method is truly a game-changer for your holiday meal prep!

Side Dish

No Thanksgiving spread is truly complete without a memorable stuffing, and this Crock Pot Cranberry Pecan Stuffing is an absolute must-try. This light and easy recipe is bursting with festive flavors, combining the sweetness of cranberries with the delightful crunch of pecans to create a perfectly balanced and irresistible side dish for your holiday table. Cooking it in the crock pot conveniently frees up your oven for other dishes, making holiday meal prep a breeze. It’s the ideal accompaniment to your turkey, adding a delightful texture and taste to every single bite.

Friday

Unwind after a busy Thanksgiving with this comforting and wholesome Chicken Cacciatore Recipe. This classic Italian-American dish features tender chicken pieces simmered with an abundance of fresh vegetables in a rich, deeply flavorful tomato sauce. It’s an incredibly easy-to-prepare meal that delivers on both taste and nutrition, making it an ideal choice for a healthy and satisfying family dinner. This hearty recipe is perfect for using up any leftover veggies and providing a delicious, soul-warming end to your festive week, offering a comforting embrace after all the holiday excitement.

Saturday

Breakfast

Start your weekend on a nutritious note with these energizing Berry Quinoa Breakfast Muffins. These aren’t just any muffins; they’re power-packed with wholesome ingredients like protein-rich quinoa, fiber-filled oatmeal, and an abundance of juicy berries. They provide sustained energy and keep you feeling full and satisfied until lunchtime, making them an ideal choice for a healthy and convenient breakfast or a grab-and-go snack for busy Saturday mornings. Enjoy a burst of flavor and a boost of nutrition!

Dinner

For a flavorful yet lighter dinner, dive into this incredible Buffalo Chicken Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing. It offers all the bold, zesty flavor of your favorite hot wings but in a healthier, refreshing salad format. Loaded with crisp greens, succulent buffalo chicken, and a medley of fresh vegetables, this vibrant salad is perfectly complemented by a creamy, spicy ranch dressing that ties all the flavors together. It’s an easy-to-make dish that proves healthy eating can still be incredibly delicious and satisfying, perfect for a relaxed Saturday evening.

Dessert

Treat yourself this weekend with these irresistible Soft & Chewy Ginger Cookies. Bursting with a warm, spicy ginger flavor, these cookies are exceptionally soft, delightfully chewy, and made with a gluten-friendly flour, making them a wonderful treat for almost everyone. Whether you’re planning for a holiday cookie exchange, seeking a comforting snack to enjoy with your coffee, or simply want to indulge in a delicious homemade dessert, these ginger cookies are the perfect choice. They embody the essence of cozy autumn and winter flavors and are sure to be a delightful end to any meal!

Sunday

Breakfast

Wrap up your weekend mornings with a slice of pure indulgence: Dark Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread with Oatmeal Streusel. This isn’t just banana bread; it’s a masterpiece of flavors and textures. Incredibly tender and sweet, it’s generously studded with rich dark chocolate chunks and crowned with an irresistible, crunchy oatmeal streusel topping. It’s the perfect treat to savor with your morning coffee or share with loved ones, making Sunday breakfast a truly special occasion that feels both comforting and luxurious.

Dinner

Conclude your healthy meal plan with an elegant yet simple dish: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. These delicate tilapia fillets are broiled to perfection, creating a wonderfully crispy Parmesan crust that locks in flavor and moisture. Served atop a vibrant and delicious roasted red pepper sauce, this meal is not only incredibly healthy and light but also remarkably easy to prepare. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy seafood, offering a sophisticated taste without the fuss, making it a perfect healthy end to your week and preparing you for the next.

This healthy weekly meal plan was brought to you by a wonderful collaboration of talented food bloggers:

With Salt & Wit | Maebells | Mariah’s Pleasing Plates | The Creative Bite | Joyful Healthy Eats | Yummy Healthy Easy

We hope this comprehensive meal plan provides you with inspiration, convenience, and a wealth of delicious, healthy options throughout your week, especially during the festive Thanksgiving period. Enjoy the process of cooking and the joy of sharing these fantastic meals!

Making your meal planning easier with Healthy Weekly Meal Plan #17! Yummy & healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert recipes for you to make this week!