Summer doesn’t stick around forever, and neither does grilling weather (depending on where you live, anyway!). So this week we’re firing up the grill while we still can and making the most of it. Nothing fussy, nothing complicated, just good food cooked over an open flame (or a hot skillet, if the weather doesn’t cooperate). Let’s get grilling!
You’ll find prep tips, simple dietary adjustments (gluten-free, low-carb, and more), and helpful notes for each recipe.
Your Weekly Plan
Suggested sides are not included in the grocery list.
- Dinner 1: Easy Flank Steak Marinade
- Dinner 2: Shish Kebabs
- Dinner 3: Citrus Pork Tenderloin
- Dinner 4: Chicken Fajitas
- Brunch/Lunch/Dinner: Dutch Baby Pancake
- Snack/Dessert: Peach Cobbler
This Week’s Kitchen Rhythm
Your Smart Cooky Club plan for the week
- Start strong: Marinated Flank Steak
Get the marinade going early in the week (even the night before), then let the grill do the rest. Five ingredients, big flavor. - Midweek grill night: Shish Kebabs
Colorful, customizable, and a little bit fun to assemble. Let everyone build their own skewer. - Prep-ahead favorite: Yucatan Pork
Bright citrus marinade, juicy grilled pork tenderloin. Marinate it in the morning and it’s ready to grill by dinnertime. - Quick night win: Chicken Fajitas
Just 30 minutes to marinate and it’s sizzling in the skillet. A busy-night lifesaver. - Flexible extras: Dutch Baby Oven Pancake + Peach Cobbler
Not everything this week has to come off the grill! A puffy oven pancake for a lazy breakfast, and a peach cobbler for when you want something sweet.
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: Flank Steak Marinade
Prep-ahead tips: Whisk up the marinade in about five minutes, then score the steak in a crosshatch pattern before it goes in. Let it marinate at least 4 hours, though overnight is ideal (just don’t go past 24 hours or the texture starts to suffer). This one also doubles and freezes beautifully: marinate two steaks at once and tuck one in the freezer for an easy future dinner.
- DIETARY TWEAKS:
- Gluten-Free: Swap the soy sauce for tamari, coconut aminos, or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos. No other changes needed.
- Dairy-Free: No changes needed; this recipe is naturally dairy-free.
- Low-Carb: Already naturally low-carb; skip the brown sugar or use a sugar-free substitute to cut it further.
- Cooking for Two? Use the slider on the recipe card to scale down the servings, or make the full batch and freeze half for later.
- Suggested Sides: Slice it thin against the grain and serve with roasted rosemary red potatoes or roasted potatoes and onions, plus a crisp green salad or some air-fried asparagus. A cold 4-ingredient margarita on the side never hurts either.
Tip! An instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of grilling! The ThermoWorks Lollipop Thermometer is a handy, affordable option to keep by the grill all summer long.
Dinner 2: Shish Kebabs
Prep-Ahead Tips: Whisk the marinade and cut your meat into cubes a day ahead if you like. Just keep the beef and chicken in separate containers if marinating longer than about 4 hours so the flavors don’t mix. Marinate 4 to 6 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Just be sure your soy sauce, Worcestershire, and Dijon are gluten-free brands (Lee & Perrins is a good GF Worcestershire option). Otherwise, naturally gluten-free.
- Vegetarian: Skewer up your favorite diced veggies in the marinade instead of meat.
- Cooking for Two? This one’s easy to portion. Use just one or two small steaks or chicken breasts and use the scale button to reduce the marinade.
- Suggested Sides: Serve over rice or alongside bacon balsamic macaroni salad, sun-dried tomato pasta salad, or Asian ramen noodle salad.
Dinner 3: Citrus Pork Tenderloin
Prep-Ahead Tips: Zest and juice your oranges, lemons, and limes, then whisk together with garlic, achiote powder, and spices for the marinade. Trim and cut your pork tenderloins, then let them marinate for 4 hours. Because it’s citrus-based, this one freezes best if you skip the fridge and go straight into the freezer with the marinade already on it.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Low-Carb: No changes needed; this recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and low-carb.
- Cooking for Two? Use the slider on the recipe card to cut the recipe down, or grill the full batch and use leftovers for tacos or burrito bowls the next day.
- Serving Suggestions: This pairs beautifully with Spanish rice or cilantro lime rice, a fresh cucumber-avocado salad, or warm corn tortillas with pickled red onions and cilantro for a taco-night twist.
Dinner 4: Chicken Fajitas
Prep Ahead Tip: The marinade comes together fast, and the chicken only needs 30 minutes to soak up flavor, though it can marinate up to 24 hours ahead if you want to get a jump on it. Slice your onions and peppers ahead of time too, so dinner comes together in minutes.
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: No changes needed; this recipe is naturally gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free: Skip the sour cream or use a dairy-free version for toppings; the marinade and filling are naturally dairy-free.
- Vegetarian: Swap in portobello mushrooms, beans, or your favorite plant-based protein for the chicken.
- Cooking for Two? Use the button on the recipe card to halve the ingredients, or make the full batch since leftovers reheat well and make a great fajita salad or burrito bowl the next day.
- Serving Suggestions: Round it out with warm tortillas, guacamole, salsa, Spanish rice, and refried beans, or toss it all over a bed of lettuce for a fajita salad.
Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Dutch Baby Pancake
Prep Ahead Tips: Warm your milk gently, whisk it together with flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt, and let the batter rest a few minutes while your skillet and butter heat up in the oven. Bring your eggs to room temperature ahead of time (or warm them briefly in a bowl of warm water if you forget).
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Swap in a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Dairy-Free: Swap in your favorite plant-based milk.
- Cooking for Two? Make the full pancake and enjoy leftovers reheated in the oven or toaster oven. Or use the slider button on the recipe card to reduce the servings and then use a smaller pan size.
- Serving suggestions: Top with melted butter, a squeeze of lemon, and a dusting of powdered sugar, or go big with berries, chocolate chips, or a dollop of lemon curd. Serve alongside air fryer breakfast sausage or fresh fruit.
Dessert: Peach Cobbler
Prep Ahead Tip: You can macerate the peaches the night before and mix your dry batter ingredients ahead too; just keep everything separate until you’re ready to bake so it comes together fresh. Frozen or canned peaches work in a pinch (thaw and drain frozen peaches well first).
- DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Swap in a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Dairy-Free: Use plant-based butter and make dairy-free buttermilk by adding lemon juice or vinegar to your favorite non-dairy milk.
- Cooking for Two? This recipe easily halves for an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish, or make the full batch since it keeps well in the fridge for days.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, because that’s really the only right answer.
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 💚
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