Baby, it’s chili outside! The second the temperature dips, my slow cooker moves onto the counter and stays there. This week’s meal plan is basically a warm blanket you can eat.
We’ve got not one but two chilis (a creamy White Chicken Chili and my award-winning Colorado Green Chili), a crockpot copycat that tastes like a night out at Olive Garden, a 20-minute pasta that feels fancy, a tortilla soup even the soup skeptics love, and, because we’re not monsters, little muffin-tin apple pies to finish things off.
Lots of slow cooker magic, lots of leftovers, and plenty of reasons to stay in your sweatpants. Let’s get cooking!
Your Weekly Plan
Suggested sides are not included in the grocery list.
- Dinner 1: White Chicken Chili
- Dinner 2: Colorado Green Chili
- Dinner 3: Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken
- Dinner 4: Creamy Bow Tie Pasta
- Brunch/Lunch/Dinner: Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Snack/Dessert: Mini Apple Pies
This Week’s Kitchen Rhythm
Your Smart Cooky Club plan for the week
- Start strong: White Chicken Chili
Let it bubble away in the crockpot while you go about your day, then pile on the toppings. Leftovers make the best lunches. - Slow and low Sunday-style: Colorado Green Chili
Make a big pot, eat it as a stew, smother it over burritos, or dip chips in it. One recipe, endless dinners. - Set it and forget it: Crock Pot Olive Garden Chicken
Five minutes of prep, three ingredients, and a creamy pasta dinner waiting for you. - Quick night win: Creamy Bow Tie Pasta
On the table in about 20 minutes. Perfect for the night everything runs late. - Flexible extras: Chicken Tortilla Soup + Mini Apple Pies
A 30-minute soup that works for brunch, lunch, or dinner, plus a sweet little treat for snack time or dessert.
A simple plan to help your week run a little smoother.
5 Steps to a Stress-Free Week of Meals
Start by printing your grocery list, then let’s make this week feel a whole lot easier.
Remember the suggested sides are not included on the grocery list, so be sure to add those ingredients.
- Plan Your Week, Your Way: There’s no right or wrong order here. Cook the meals as listed or mix and match your favorites.
- Access Your Recipes Anytime: Print the recipe cards or pull them up on your device. Everything you need is right at your fingertips.
- Shop Smart: Check your fridge and pantry first. Cross off what you already have and add anything else you need.
- Make It Yours: Use the tips below to adjust for dietary needs, preferences, or portion sizes.
- Enjoy the Process: This is about simplifying your week and gathering around the table with good food and the people you love.
You’re building a kitchen rhythm that serves your home well, one simple meal at a time.
Dinner 1: White Chicken Chili
Prep-Ahead Tips: This one is practically dump-and-go! Shred your chicken ahead (or grab a rotisserie chicken), and dice the onion and red pepper the night before. In the morning, add everything except the cream, masa, corn, lime, and cilantro to your crockpot (my favorite) and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 4. Short on time? It also comes together in about 30 minutes on the stovetop. About 30 minutes before dinner, stir in the masa-cream mixture and the corn. Finish with lime juice and cilantro right before serving.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free as written, thanks to the masa harina. Just double-check your spices and broth for sneaky fillers.
- Dairy-Free: Swap the heavy cream for extra chicken stock or your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk, and skip the cheese and sour cream on top. Avocado brings plenty of creaminess.
- Low-Carb: Skip the corn and go a little lighter on the beans. Pile on the avocado, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream instead.
- Cooking for Two? Use the slider on the recipe card to halve it, or make the full batch and freeze single servings for up to 3 months. Future you will be so grateful on a cold night.
- Suggested Sides: Nothing beats a warm square of buttermilk cornbread with chili. Add a crunchy Mexican chopped salad and some chips with homemade guacamole and you’ve got a party.
Dinner 2: Colorado Green Chili
Prep-Ahead Tips: Cube your pork shoulder and chop the onion a day ahead. Missed Hatch chile season? No worries, look for frozen New Mexico green chiles in the freezer section. This one does ask for a little stovetop time first: sear the pork, bloom the spices, and whisk up the masa roux. Then simmer it on the stove for 2 to 3 hours, or let the crockpot take over on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or HIGH for 4 to 5. Like most chilies, it’s even better the next day, so it’s a great one to make ahead and reheat.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free when made with masa (corn flour). If you don’t have masa, use a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour, not regular flour.
- Dairy-Free: Make the roux with oil instead of butter (use a couple of teaspoons less) and skip the cheese and crema on top. Fresh avocado, cilantro, and lime keep every bowl rich and bright.
- Low-Carb: Enjoy it as a stew without tortillas or chips, or spoon it over cauliflower rice. Use a little less masa in the roux if you’re counting closely.
- Cooking for Two? This recipe makes a big pot (about 16 servings!), so make the whole thing and freeze it in portions. It keeps in the fridge for 5–7 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months. Hello, future burrito night!
- Suggested Sides: Serve it over cilantro lime rice or with warm flour tortillas for dunking. Got leftovers? Smother some cheese enchiladas with it, or melt cheddar on top and serve it as a dip with tortilla chips.
Dinner 3: Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken
Prep-Ahead Tips: Five minutes of prep, people! Put the chicken in your crockpot, pour the Italian dressing over it, sprinkle with parmesan, and set the block of cream cheese on top. Cook on LOW for about 4 hours (that’s the sweet spot for juicy chicken). Tip: let the cream cheese come to room temperature first so the sauce stays silky, not lumpy!
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and double-check that your Italian dressing is gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free: Swap in a dairy-free cream cheese and skip the parmesan, or sprinkle with a little nutritional yeast for that savory, cheesy flavor.
- Low-Carb: Skip the pasta and spoon the creamy chicken over zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or roasted broccoli.
- Lighter Option: Use Neufchâtel cheese and a low-sodium Italian dressing.
- Cooking for Two? This one cuts in half beautifully using the slider on the recipe card. The chicken keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, and both freeze for up to 2 to 3 months.
- Suggested Sides: It’s not an Olive Garden night without bread and salad! Serve with cheesy garlic bread and Romaine wedge salad or an Italian chopped salad.
Dinner 4: Creamy Bow Tie Pasta
Prep-Ahead Tips: This one is fast, so prep is all about having everything ready to go. Chop the mushrooms, slice the sun-dried tomatoes, and measure out your broth, cream, and Prosecco ahead of time. In the Instant Pot it cooks in just 4 minutes (about 20 minutes start to finish), and stovetop directions are included on the recipe card too. Want more protein? Add rotisserie chicken, cooked Italian sausage, or sliced grilled chicken right at the end.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free farfalle or penne. Gluten-free pasta can be finicky in the pressure cooker, so I’d use the stovetop method and cook it to package directions.
- Dairy-Free: Sauté the mushrooms in olive oil, swap the heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk or a plant-based cooking cream, and use a dairy-free parmesan.
- Low-Carb: Make the creamy mushroom and sun-dried tomato sauce on the stovetop and toss it with zucchini noodles or hearts of palm pasta. Top with grilled chicken to make it a meal.
- Cooking for Two? This is already a smaller batch (about 4 main-dish servings), so make it as written and pack the leftovers for lunches. Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of broth or cream.
- Suggested Sides: Pair it with a crisp Italian chopped salad tossed with zesty Italian dressing and quick air-fryer asparagus.
Lunch or Dinner: Tortilla Soup
Prep-Ahead Tips: This 30-minute soup is a great way to use up leftover chicken (or turkey!). Shred the chicken and dice your onion ahead of time, and keep cooked rice in the freezer so you can toss it straight in. And don’t forget the secret ingredient: a can of tomato soup!
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: The soup itself is naturally gluten-free, but check your labels. Watch the tomato soup, since some canned brands are thickened with wheat flour. Check the broth too.
- Dairy-Free: Sauté the onion in all olive oil instead of the butter, and check that your tomato soup is dairy-free. Skip the cheese and sour cream and lean on avocado, fresh lime, and crunchy tortilla strips.
- Low-Carb: Leave out the rice and corn and add extra veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, or celery. Skip the tortilla chips and top with avocado and cheese.
- Cooking for Two? Halve the recipe with the slider, or make the whole pot. It keeps for up to 5 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer, and it’s perfect for packing in a thermos for lunch.
- Suggested Sides: Serve with cornbread or cheesy quesadillas for dipping, chips with blender salsa, or a green salad with honey lime dressing. For brunch, a bright Mexican fruit salad is the perfect fresh side.
Dessert: Mini Apple Pies
Prep-Ahead Tips: Make the streusel topping and the quick apple filling a day ahead and keep them in the fridge. Toss the chopped apples with a squeeze of lemon if you’re prepping them early so they don’t brown.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Use a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour in both the crust and the streusel.
- Dairy-Free: Swap in plant-based butter for the crust, filling, and streusel, and use a dairy-free caramel sauce (or skip it).
- Lighter / Lower-Sugar: Use less brown sugar in the crust (½ cup is plenty), go easy on the caramel, and enjoy them as a perfectly portioned treat.
- Cooking for Two? Bake the full dozen and freeze the extras for up to 3 months. Thaw one overnight in the fridge, then warm it in the microwave.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve warm with a scoop of old-fashioned vanilla ice cream or a dollop of stabilized whipped cream, with an extra drizzle of salted caramel bourbon sauce. For the ultimate chilly-day snack, pair one with a mug of white hot chocolate.
Make the Most of This Meal Plan
- Only the main recipes are included in the printable grocery list (no sides)
- Look over the recipes at the start of the week so nothing sneaks up on you
- Prep a few basics ahead (chopped veggies, cooked proteins, sauces)
- Cook once, plan for leftovers to cover another meal
- Don’t be afraid to swap meals based on your schedule or what sounds good
- Keep simple sides on hand (bread, salad, fruit) to round things out
- Adjust portions as needed, especially if cooking for two
- Give yourself a little grace… done is better than perfect 💚
Rate & Comment