Quick Weeknights Week
Fast dinners for busy nights.
By Colton Milbrandt, founder of MindyCart. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.
Plan summary
4 dinners · An example of how Mindy plans a week. Yours is built from what you tell her, and she can work from any recipe you give her.
Dinners
Ground Beef Tacos with Cheesy Refried Beans
One-Pot Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Smoked Sausage and Rice
Shopping list
The ingredients for the dinners above, organized by aisle. Amounts are per recipe, before Mindy consolidates overlapping items into one cart.
Produce
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
for chicken quesadillas
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
for chicken quesadillas
1 yellow onion, finely diced
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
2 cloves garlic, minced
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 tbsp tomato paste
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 lime, cut into wedges
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 yellow onion, diced
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
1 bag (10 oz) Caesar salad kit
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
1 yellow onion, chopped
for smoked sausage and rice
1 red bell pepper, cut into short strips
for smoked sausage and rice
3 cloves garlic, minced
for smoked sausage and rice
Meat & Poultry
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
for chicken quesadillas
1 lb 85% lean ground beef
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 lb 80% lean ground beef
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
14 oz smoked sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch coins
for smoked sausage and rice
Dairy & Eggs
3 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
for chicken quesadillas
1/2 cup sour cream, for serving
for chicken quesadillas
1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1/2 cup sour cream
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1/3 cup grated parmesan
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
Frozen
2 cups frozen peas
for smoked sausage and rice
Pantry / Dry Goods
3 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
for chicken quesadillas
1/2 tsp chili powder
for chicken quesadillas
1/2 tsp ground cumin
for chicken quesadillas
1/2 tsp kosher salt
for chicken quesadillas
4 burrito-size flour tortillas
for chicken quesadillas
1 cup thick and chunky salsa, for serving
for chicken quesadillas
1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 tsp kosher salt
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
1 jar (24 oz) traditional pasta sauce
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
1 lb spaghetti
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
for smoked sausage and rice
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
for smoked sausage and rice
3/4 tsp smoked paprika
for smoked sausage and rice
1/2 tsp kosher salt
for smoked sausage and rice
1/4 tsp black pepper
for smoked sausage and rice
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
for smoked sausage and rice
Other
1/2 cup water
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
8 hard taco shells
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
1 cup pico de gallo
for ground beef tacos with cheesy refried beans
6 cups water
for one-pot spaghetti & meat sauce