MindyCart

Quick Weeknights Week

Fast dinners for busy nights.

4 dinnersQuick & easy

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

Chicken Quesadillas

40m11 ingredients4 servings

Ground Beef Tacos with Cheesy Refried Beans

25m13 ingredients4 servings

One-Pot Spaghetti & Meat Sauce

30m10 ingredients4 servings

Smoked Sausage and Rice

45m11 ingredients4 servings

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