Cinnamon Rolls
Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
ClassicmediumCleanup score 3 of 5
Freezer-friendly prep week
Every dish freezes, so anything you don't eat by Thursday goes in the freezer for next week.
Put this prep week in my planner Adds the meals to Monday to Thursday and builds one shopping list.
Planned for 2: at least 2 portions a meal. In the planner you can change any meal's servings and the list follows.
Cook Sunday, eat through the week5 recipes46 portionsHands-on: about 1 hour 40 minLongest cook: about 3 hours
What you'll cook
Chicken Tikka Masala
Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala
StovetopmediumCleanup score 3 of 5
Tomato Soup
Creamy Tomato Soup
CreamyeasyCleanup score 4 of 5
Collard Greens
Southern-Style Collard Greens
Southern-Style with Ham HockeasyCleanup score 5 of 5
No-Bake Energy Bites
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
Peanut Butter Chocolate ChipeasyCleanup score 5 of 5
| Recipe | For | Makes | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting | Breakfast | 12 portions | 4 days | 2 months |
| Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala | Main | 8 portions (the recipe makes 6: scale it up) | 4 days | 3 months |
| Creamy Tomato Soup | Main | 8 portions (the recipe makes 4: scale it up) | 4 days | 3 months |
| Southern-Style Collard Greens | Side | 8 portions | 4 days | 3 months |
| No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites | Snack | 10 portions | 1 week | 3 months |
Sunday prep order
- Prep the shared produce once: 18 cloves garlic and 3 large onions. Wash, chop and split it into a bowl for each recipe.
- Get Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting ready for the oven at 350°F (about 3 hours in all).
- Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala (scaled up to 8 servings) goes in the oven once Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting is done (about 1 hour 35 min in all).
- While that cooks, make Southern-Style Collard Greens on the stove (about 2 hours).
- While that cooks, make Creamy Tomato Soup (scaled up to 8 servings) on the stove (about 40 min).
- Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites while the hot food cools: no cooking needed (about 45 min).
- Cool it quickly: Split big batches into shallow containers so they cool quickly. Hot food can go straight into the fridge. Get everything into the fridge within 2 hours of cooking. (USDA source)
- Label each container with the dish and the day it's for.
Shared ingredients
Buy these once for the whole week and prep them together.
- 1 ½ cups butter for Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting, Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala and Creamy Tomato Soup
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar for Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting, Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala and Creamy Tomato Soup
- 18 cloves garlic for Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala, Creamy Tomato Soup and Southern-Style Collard Greens
- ½ cup tomato paste for Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala and Creamy Tomato Soup
- 2 cups heavy cream for Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala and Creamy Tomato Soup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract for Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting and No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
- 3 large onions for Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala and Southern-Style Collard Greens
- ⅞ cup brown sugar for Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting and Southern-Style Collard Greens
Containers
One per portion, so each meal is grab and go. Shallow ones cool fastest.
- 8 × 2-cup soup containers or pint jars for Creamy Tomato Soup Mason jars
- 20 × 3-cup meal-prep containers with lids for Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting and Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala Food storage containers
- 18 × 1-cup containers with lids for Southern-Style Collard Greens and No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites Food storage containers
Day by day
Monday
- Breakfast Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting (3 portions)Warm in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Lunch Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala (2 portions)Reheat gently, adding a splash of water if thick.
- Dinner Creamy Tomato Soup (2 portions)Reheat on the stove, stirring, until it is steaming all the way through (165°F), or microwave it covered, stirring halfway.
- Dinner Southern-Style Collard Greens (2 portions)Reheat until steaming hot (165°F).
- Snack No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites (3 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Tuesday
- Breakfast Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting (3 portions)Warm in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Lunch Creamy Tomato Soup (2 portions)Reheat on the stove, stirring, until it is steaming all the way through (165°F), or microwave it covered, stirring halfway.
- Dinner Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala (2 portions)Reheat gently, adding a splash of water if thick.
- Dinner Southern-Style Collard Greens (2 portions)Reheat until steaming hot (165°F).
- Snack No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites (3 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Wednesday
- Breakfast Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting (3 portions)Warm in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Lunch Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala (2 portions)Reheat gently, adding a splash of water if thick.
- Dinner Creamy Tomato Soup (2 portions)Reheat on the stove, stirring, until it is steaming all the way through (165°F), or microwave it covered, stirring halfway.
- Dinner Southern-Style Collard Greens (2 portions)Reheat until steaming hot (165°F).
- Snack No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites (2 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Thursday
- Breakfast Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting (3 portions)Warm in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Lunch Creamy Tomato Soup (2 portions)Reheat on the stove, stirring, until it is steaming all the way through (165°F), or microwave it covered, stirring halfway.
- Dinner Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala (2 portions)Reheat gently, adding a splash of water if thick.
- Dinner Southern-Style Collard Greens (2 portions)Reheat until steaming hot (165°F).
- Snack No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites (2 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Why 4 days
Every recipe here keeps at least 4 days in the fridge by its own storage note, and no meal is planned later than that. USDA says to eat refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days (source). Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour when it is above 90°F (a hot car, a picnic). More in leftovers and storage.
Our storage notes are general kitchen guidance in line with USDA advice, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
More prep weeks
Classic comfort prep weekVegetarian prep weekChicken prep weekHands-off slow cooker weekSoup and stew prep weekQuick prep week: an hour or less each