Don't want to venture outside? These simple dinners don't require a lot of ingredients, so you'll be able to whip them up easily. And a lot of them can be customizable to what you have on hand.
A 7-Day Meal Plan of Winter Dinners When Your Fridge Is Bare
Updated on Dec. 21, 2021
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Sunday: Gnocchi with Spinach and Chicken Sausage
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Dinner’s easy when I can use ingredients typically found in my fridge and pantry. —Laura Miller, Lake Ann, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 604 calories, 28g fat (12g saturated fat), 119mg cholesterol, 1226mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 27g protein.
2/7
Monday: Air-Fryer Pork Chops
Total Time
25 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These air-fryer pork chops get their rich flavor from Creole seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bonus: They’re low in carbs, too! —Dawn Parker, Surrey, British Columbia
Nutrition Facts:
1 pork chop: 310 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 86mg cholesterol, 308mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 36g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 2 fat.
3/7
Tuesday: Smothered Burritos
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My brother-in-law teased that I only knew five ground beef recipes. I proved him wrong with my inventive spicy burritos. —Kim Kenyon, Greenwood, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 burrito: 624 calories, 33g fat (15g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 1470mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 36g protein.
4/7
Wednesday: Feta Tomato-Basil Fish
Total Time
20 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I rely on my husband for the main ingredient in this fuss-free dish. He fills our freezer after his summer fishing trip. —Alicia Szeszol, Lindenhurst, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 241 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 113mg cholesterol, 660mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
5/7
Thursday: Satisfying Tomato Soup
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After craving tomato soup, I decided to make my own. My sister Joan likes it chunky-style, so she doesn’t puree. Serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich. —Marian Brown, Mississauga, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 76 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 627mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
6/7
Friday: Skillet Mac & Cheese
Total Time
25 mins
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This super creamy mac ‘n’ cheese is so simple it seems almost too easy! Kids really go for the rich cheese flavor, but I’ve never met an adult who didn’t love it too. —Ann Bowers, Rockport, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 600 calories, 37g fat (23g saturated fat), 144mg cholesterol, 1185mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein.
7/7
Saturday: Crescent Beef Casserole
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This flavorful meal-in-one dish is all you need to serve a satisfying and quick weeknight dinner. It’s on the table in just 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 443 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 981mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein.
