🍽️ What Can I Make For Dinner Checklist
Check off what you have and build a meal from there!
🍗 Pick a Protein
- [ ] Chicken
- [ ] Ground beef
- [ ] Turkey
- [ ] Sausage
- [ ] Eggs
- [ ] Canned tuna
- [ ] Salmon
- [ ] Shrimp
- [ ] Beans
- [ ] Lentils
- [ ] Chickpeas
- [ ] Tofu
- [ ] Cheese
🍚 Pick a Base
- [ ] Rice
- [ ] Pasta
- [ ] Potatoes
- [ ] Sweet potatoes
- [ ] Quinoa
- [ ] Farro
- [ ] Barley
- [ ] Couscous
- [ ] Tortillas
- [ ] Bread
- [ ] Noodles
🥦 Add Vegetables
- [ ] Onions
- [ ] Garlic
- [ ] Carrots
- [ ] Celery
- [ ] Bell peppers
- [ ] Broccoli
- [ ] Cabbage
- [ ] Zucchini
- [ ] Spinach
- [ ] Frozen vegetables
- [ ] Canned vegetables
- [ ] Leftover vegetables
🫙 Pick a Sauce or Flavor
- [ ] Marinara
- [ ] Salsa
- [ ] Pesto
- [ ] Soy sauce
- [ ] Hot sauce
- [ ] Barbecue sauce
- [ ] Curry sauce or paste
- [ ] Coconut milk
- [ ] Broth or stock
- [ ] Tomato sauce
- [ ] Salad dressing
- [ ] Hummus
🌿 Add Flavor
- [ ] Fresh herbs
- [ ] Dried herbs
- [ ] Garlic
- [ ] Ginger
- [ ] Lemon or lime
- [ ] Vinegar
- [ ] Mustard
- [ ] Spices
- [ ] Parmesan
- [ ] Pickles
- [ ] Olives
🥜 Add a Little Something Extra
- [ ] Nuts
- [ ] Seeds
- [ ] Avocado
- [ ] Shredded cheese
- [ ] Sour cream or yogurt
- [ ] Crispy onions
- [ ] Toasted breadcrumbs
- [ ] Sauerkraut
- [ ] Fresh greens
🍳 Easy Meal Ideas
- [ ] Stir-fry
- [ ] Pasta bowl
- [ ] Grain bowl
- [ ] Soup or stew
- [ ] Skillet dinner
- [ ] Sheet-pan dinner
- [ ] Tacos or burritos
- [ ] Loaded baked potato
- [ ] Fried rice
- [ ] Frittata or omelet
- [ ] Big salad
- [ ] Sandwich or wrap
💡 Don’t Forget:
You don't need every ingredient on this list. Pick one protein + one base + one vegetable + one flavor and you've already got the bones of dinner.
🛒 Quick Kitchen Check
Before ordering takeout or making another grocery run, check your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. A few basic ingredients can often be combined into a completely different meal.
