🙌🏻 Your FREE Weekly Meal Plan: 12/11/25


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Hi Reader,

A couple weeks ago I took my daughter roller skating for the first time at a local rink.

Never have I felt older then when I wondered if we'd skate in the opposite direction at some point to get equal wear and tear on our inside knee. 🤣

Although we skipped out on the limbo (yes, they're still playing that - and the dice game!) muscle memory eventually took over, we had the most fun time. Necks, backs, and knees fully intact at the end, thank goodness!

The recipes I'm sharing in this week's meal plan are ones I've cooked so many times that I hardly need a recipe. Just like roller skating, muscle memory kicks in, and I know exactly what to do. Hopefully you'll love these recipes so much that they'll become familiar staples in your home too!

Here's what's on tap:

🍽 Weekly Meal Plan

1️⃣ Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper

2️⃣ Chicken and Rice Soup

3️⃣ Oven-Baked Burgers

4️⃣ Baked Chicken Thighs

5️⃣ Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

📆 Let's Break it Down

#1 Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper

One pan, a handful of ingredients, endless topping possibilities. We call this "taco rice" at home, and there's never a drop left when I make it.


#2 Chicken and Rice Soup

This soup is so simple I often make a single serving of it for lunch (I just did on Monday)! A prime example of how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly delicious. Serve with Air Fryer Green Beans.


#3 Oven-Baked Burgers

We had ground beef in the fridge that needed to be used earlier this week, so I made stovetop burgers as a hearty, after-school snack for my kids. Immediately reminded why I hate making burgers on the stovetop. It was SUCH a mess! My baked burgers are just as delicious, hands-off, and mess-free. Serve with frozen french fries or tater tots, plus salads. Tip: add baked bacon and top with BBQ sauce to make BBQ Bacon Burgers - soo satisfying.


#4 Baked Chicken Thighs

The effort to get juicy chicken thighs on the table is shockingly low, yet the outcome is deliciously high. Serve with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans and Bacon, and/or Air Fryer Asparagus.


#5 Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

This is one of the most beloved recipes on Iowa Girl Eats — even folks from Chicago (home of Italian Beef) rave. Toss everything into the crock pot then press on. Easy! Serve with side salads or Zesty Pasta Salad.


👩🏻‍🍳 More Recipes to Try

  1. Snack: Christmas Crunch
  2. Simmer: Loaded Baked Potato Soup
  3. Bake: Gluten Free Shortbread
  4. Devour: Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
  5. Prep: High-Protein Overnight Oats

⭐️ NEW! On Iowa Girl Eats

Savory Chicken Stew

Nourishing, warming, filling, and hearty - Chicken Stew is the perfect meal for a cold December night!


Have you made and loved a recipe on Iowa Girl Eats? I'd love if you'd give it a ⭐️ rating and comment, which helps others know that a recipe is worth making. Thank you for considering!

 

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Happy planning,

Iowa Girl Eats - Easy Gluten Free Recipes

At iowagirleats.com we share easy gluten free recipes with everyday ingredients — no specialty grocery store nor hard to find ingredients required!

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