Italian night, all week long! My Grandpa Frank owned an Italian restaurant here in Denver, so a week of pasta, stromboli and tiramisu feels a lot like a family reunion to me. Baked rigatoni. Marry Me Chicken. Penne alla vodka in 30 minutes. A stromboli stuffed with salami, capicola and provolone. Plus a big Italian chopped salad for lunches, and tiramisu to finish.
My favorite trick this week? Make a full batch of pizza dough for the stromboli and freeze the second ball. Thanksgiving week, Pizza Night is already half done. Future you will thank you!
Your Weekly Plan
Suggested sides are not included in the grocery list.
- Dinner 1: Baked Rigatoni
- Dinner 2: Marry Me Chicken
- Dinner 3: Penne alla Vodka
- Dinner 4: Italian Stromboli
- Brunch/Lunch/Dinner: Italian Chopped Salad
- Snack/Dessert: Traditional Tiramisu
This Week’s Kitchen Rhythm
Your Smart Cooky Club plan for the week
- Make-ahead Monday: Baked Rigatoni
Assemble it Sunday, bake it Monday. Add 10 minutes to the covered bake time since it goes in cold. - Date night at home: Marry Me Chicken
One skillet, about 30 minutes, and a sauce you will want bread for. Trust me. - 30-minute rescue: Penne alla Vodka
Let the sauce simmer at least 7 minutes so the vodka mellows out. Toss in cooked Italian sausage if you want it heartier. - Pizza dough night: Italian Stromboli
Roll, fill, bake. Freeze the second ball of dough for Pizza Night on Thanksgiving week. - Flexible extras: Italian Chopped Salad + Tiramisu
Prep the salad and dressing separately for lunches all week. The tiramisu needs at least 4 to 6 hours in the fridge, and it is even better the next day.
A simple plan to help your week run a little smoother.
This Week’s Kitchen MVP: A Pizza Stone. Slide your stromboli onto a hot stone and the bottom bakes up crisp and golden instead of soft. Then pull it out again for Pizza Night on Thanksgiving week.
Don’t have one yet? This is the pizza stone I use. Put it in the oven while it preheats so it gets good and hot.
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: Baked Rigatoni
Prep-Ahead Tips: Make the meat sauce a day ahead, or assemble the whole casserole, cover it and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add 10 minutes to the covered bake time when it goes in cold (let it sit on the counter while you preheat the oven). Want one for the freezer? Wrap the unbaked casserole in plastic and foil and freeze up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, covered, for 45 to 55 minutes, then uncover for 10 to 15 more. Make sure your casserole dish is safe to go from freezer to oven.
DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free rigatoni or penne, and check the labels on your marinara and sausage.
- Dairy-Free: Use your favorite plant-based cream and cheeses.
- Low-Carb: Swap in your favorite low-carb, high-protein pasta.
Cooking for Two? This makes 6 to 8 servings. Split it between two smaller baking dishes, bake one, and freeze the other unbaked for a busy night. Or use the slider on the recipe card to halve it.
Suggested Sides: My Cheesy Garlic Bread is a must! Add an Italian Chopped Salad (it’s on the plan this week, so make a double batch) or Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli. Or grab a loaf from the store!
Dinner 2: Marry Me Chicken
Prep-Ahead Tips: The night before, slice big chicken breasts in half lengthwise so they cook evenly, season them, and refrigerate. Grate the parmesan fresh; the pre-grated kind can make the sauce grainy. Mince the garlic and slice the sun-dried tomatoes, and dinner is about 30 minutes away.
DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free, since we skip the flour dredge. Just check your chicken broth label.
- Dairy-Free: Swap the heavy cream for full-fat canned coconut cream, and skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free parmesan. This one is tested, and my dairy-free friend loved it!
- Low-Carb: Already low-carb. Serve it over zucchini noodles or cauliflower mash instead of pasta.
Cooking for Two? Use the slider on the recipe card to make 2 servings. Leftovers keep up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of broth or cream to bring the sauce back to life.
Suggested Sides: You need something to soak up that sauce! Linguine, my Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or a loaf of Rustic Italian Bread. Add a Steakhouse Wedge Salad for something crisp.
Dinner 3: Penne alla Vodka
Prep-Ahead Tips: Make the sauce up to 5 days ahead and refrigerate it, or freeze it up to 3 months. Warm it slowly over low heat. If the cream separates a little, whisk in a splash of pasta water or cream. Cook the pasta fresh so it doesn’t turn mushy.
DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: The sauce is naturally gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
- Dairy-Free: Swap the heavy cream, butter and parmesan for plant-based versions.
- Low-Carb: The sauce is already low-carb. Serve it over protein pasta, zucchini noodles, hearts of palm pasta or spaghetti squash.
Cooking for Two? This makes 6 to 10 servings. Make the full batch of sauce, toss half with ½ pound of pasta, and freeze the rest for another night.
Suggested Sides: This is a meal all on its own, but an Italian Chopped Salad or Air Fryer Asparagus rounds it out. Want it heartier? Stir in cooked Italian sausage. It’s our favorite add-in.
Dinner 4: Italian Stromboli
Prep-Ahead Tips: Make a full batch of my No Rise Pizza Dough. It makes two dough balls; use one for the stromboli and freeze the other for Pizza Night on Thanksgiving week. You can assemble the stromboli up to 8 hours ahead (skip the egg wash and slits), wrap it tightly and refrigerate. Or freeze it unbaked up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge for 24 hours before baking.
DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free pizza dough. I haven’t tested this one yet, so let me know if you try it!
- Vegetarian: Skip the meats and load it up with cooked veggies like spinach, mushrooms, red peppers, onions or zucchini.
Cooking for Two? Divide the dough and make two smaller strombolis. Bake one and freeze the other. Leftovers keep up to 7 days in the fridge and reheat beautifully in the air fryer at 400°F for 6 to 8 minutes.
Suggested Sides: Warm homemade marinara or chunky pizza sauce for dipping. (Keep the sauce out of the stromboli itself, or the crust gets soggy.) Add a crisp Steakhouse Wedge Salad and dinner is done.
Lunch or Dinner: Italian Chopped Salad
Prep-Ahead Tips: Whisk the vinaigrette a day ahead so the flavors come together. Chop everything and store the salad and dressing separately; undressed, it keeps 2 to 3 days. The marinated chickpeas on the recipe card keep up to 4 days.
DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free. Check the labels on your salami and pepperoncini.
- Vegetarian: Leave out the salami. For vegan, skip the provolone or use a vegan cheese.
- Low-Carb: Leave out the garbanzo beans.
Cooking for Two? Use the slider on the recipe card to make 2 servings, or make the full batch and pack lunches all week. Keep the dressing on the side until you eat.
Serving Suggestions: Add grilled chicken to make it dinner, or serve it next to a slice of leftover stromboli. In the mood for a different dressing? Try my Buttermilk Ranch.
Dessert: Traditional Tiramisu
Prep-Ahead Tips: This one is meant to be made ahead! Make it the day before; it gets even better once the ladyfingers soak up the coffee. Making it the same day? Let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 to 6 hours. Freezing some? Skip the cocoa and dust it on after it thaws.
DIETARY TWEAKS
- Gluten-Free: Swap in gluten-free ladyfingers. Everything else is naturally gluten-free; just check your cocoa and liquor labels.
- Alcohol-Free: Replace the rum with more coffee or a splash of water.
Cooking for Two? It keeps up to 4 days in the fridge, but it’s best on days 1 and 2. So cut it into squares, wrap the extras twice in plastic and once in foil, and freeze up to 3 months. Pull out a slice or two whenever the craving hits.
Serving Suggestions: A cup of coffee or espresso. Want a cookie on the side? My Pizzelle or Pignoli Cookies are perfect.
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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