What should I cook today?
A new week means seven new lunch ideas. We’re already at Jernej Kitchen Weekly Meal Plan #5, and once again we’ve put together a varied selection of recipes for every day of the week — from an easy meatless lentil bolognese and turkey steaks in creamy mushroom sauce to squid goulash and slow-roasted pork that fills the kitchen with the most incredible aroma.
And something sweet? This week we’re making pumpkin cinnamon rolls and fried apple pies — even better than the McDonald’s version.
We hope this week’s meal plan makes answering the question “What should we cook today?” a little easier.
Monday: Lentil Bolognese
We’re starting the week with a delicious Lentil Bolognese, a great meatless twist on the classic. The lentils add a hearty texture and make the dish satisfying, while the tomato sauce brings a rich, comforting flavor. Serve it with pasta and, if you like, finish with a little grated Parmesan.
A great choice for Meatless Monday when you want a simple, warm, and nourishing lunch the whole family will enjoy.
Tuesday: Turkey Cutlets with Mushroom Cream Sauce
For Tuesday’s lunch, we’re making juicy Turkey Cutlets with Mushroom Cream Sauce. Tender turkey pairs beautifully with the rich, creamy mushroom sauce, creating a simple yet flavorful dish that’s perfect for a weekday meal.
Serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or a slice of good bread to soak up the sauce. It’s a great choice when you’re craving a warm, comforting, and satisfying lunch without a lot of fuss.
Recipe for Turkey Cutlets with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Wednesday: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Midweek calls for a bowl of creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, full of cozy fall flavors. Roasting the squash brings out its natural sweetness and adds extra depth, while the smooth texture makes the soup wonderfully comforting.
Serve it with homemade croutons, seeds, or a slice of fresh bread. It’s a great choice for a lighter lunch or a warm dinner when you’re in the mood for something simple, seasonal, and homemade.
Recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Thursday: Pizza Pockets
For a more relaxed lunch, we’re making homemade Pizza Pockets filled with a flavorful filling and plenty of cheese. They’re golden on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside, and packed with familiar pizza flavors that kids love too.
They’re perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack. Serve them with a simple salad or some fresh vegetables on the side. A fun and easy choice for a day when you’re in the mood for something a little different.
Friday: Calamari in Tomato Sauce
For Friday’s lunch, we’re making Calamari in Tomato Sauce, a flavorful and aromatic dish that’s just hearty enough. The calamari gently simmers in a rich tomato sauce, which keeps it tender and gives the dish a lovely Mediterranean feel.
Serve it with polenta, potatoes, or a slice of good bread to soak up all the sauce. It’s a great choice for Fish Friday when you’re in the mood for something warm, comforting, and a little different.
Recipe for Calamari in Tomato Sauce
Saturday: Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
For the weekend, we’re making a creamy, rich, and beautifully golden Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake. The pasta is tossed with a homemade cheese sauce and pieces of ham, then topped with extra cheese and baked until bubbly and golden on top.
Serve it with a fresh salad or a simple vegetable side. It’s a great choice for a relaxed family lunch when you’re craving something hearty, homemade, and comforting.
Recipe for Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
Sunday: Slow Roasted Pork Butt with Cabbage
For Sunday lunch, we’re making Slow Roasted Pork Butt with Cabbage, a rich and comforting dish with incredibly tender, juicy meat. The long roasting time allows the pork to become almost fall-apart tender, while the cabbage soaks up all the flavorful juices from the roast.
Serve it as a hearty weekend meal, with potatoes or a slice of good bread on the side if you like. It’s a perfect choice for a slower day when you have a little more time and want a cozy, satisfying oven-baked lunch.
Recipe for Slow Roasted Pork Butt with Cabbage
Two gorgeous desserts to end the week
Because a weekend is hardly complete without something sweet, this week’s meal plan includes two dessert ideas as well. One takes a little more time to prepare, but it’s wonderfully soft and fluffy and perfect for special occasions. The other is filled with homemade apples and smells absolutely irresistible.
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
For a sweet end to the week, we’re making Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls that are soft, fluffy, and filled with cozy fall flavors. Pumpkin keeps the dough tender and gives it a beautiful color, while the cinnamon filling brings that warm, comforting flavor we love on autumn weekends.
They’re best served slightly warm with a cup of coffee or tea. A perfect choice for a slow Sunday morning, an afternoon treat, or whenever you’re craving something homemade and wonderfully fragrant.
Add the second dessert descriptionMake the opening less repetitive
Recipe for Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Fried Apple Pies
For our second sweet treat, we’re making Fried Apple Pies that are beautifully crisp on the outside and filled with a juicy, fragrant apple filling. The combination of warm apples, cinnamon, and golden fried pastry is a fun twist on a classic fall dessert.
They’re best served warm, either dusted with powdered sugar or paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A perfect weekend treat when you’re craving something simple, cozy, and seriously delicious.
What should I cook this week?
We hope Weekly Meal Plan #5 makes planning your lunches a little easier and saves you some of the daily thinking about what to cook. Of course, you can switch the recipes between days, make a larger batch of a dish, or prepare something a day ahead.
This week, we’ve combined simple meatless meals, quick family lunches, and a few more hearty ideas for the weekend. We start with Lentil Bolognese, followed by Turkey Cutlets with Mushroom Cream Sauce, creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, and homemade Pizza Pockets. For Fish Friday, we’re making Calamari in Tomato Sauce, while the weekend gets a little more comforting with Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake and Slow Roasted Pork Butt with Cabbage.
For something sweet, we’ve included two distinctly autumnal desserts — soft and fragrant Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls and crisp Fried Apple Pies filled with juicy apples.
On Jernej Kitchen, you’ll find plenty of other ideas for quick lunches, family meals, one-pot dishes, meatless recipes, weekend lunches, and desserts, so you can always revisit our previous weekly meal plans whenever you need more inspiration.
Next week, we’ll be back with seven new lunch ideas to make the question “What should we cook this week?” a little easier to answer.
){kind=link}