Blueberry Muffins
Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops
Lemon Sugar-TopeasyCleanup score 2 of 5
Hands-off slow cooker week
Let the slow cooker or pressure cooker do the long part while you make the rest.
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 recipes44 portionsHands-on: about 1 hour 10 minLongest cook: about 4.5 hours
What you'll cook
Taco Salad
Ground Beef Taco Salad
Ground BeefeasyCleanup score 2 of 5
Weeknight Tacos
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
Slow Cooker Salsa ChickeneasyCleanup score 5 of 5
Baked Potatoes
Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
Twice-BakedmediumCleanup score 3 of 5
Hummus
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Roasted Red PeppereasyCleanup score 3 of 5
| Recipe | For | Makes | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops | Breakfast | 12 portions | 5 days | Doesn't freeze well |
| Ground Beef Taco Salad | Main | 8 portions (the recipe makes 4: scale it up) | 4 days | Doesn't freeze well |
| Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos | Main | 8 portions (the recipe makes 6: scale it up) | 4 days | 3 months |
| Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes | Side | 8 portions | 4 days | Doesn't freeze well |
| Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | Snack | 8 portions | 4 days | Doesn't freeze well |
Sunday prep order
- Prep the shared produce once: 7 green onions. Wash, chop and split it into a bowl for each recipe.
- Start Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (scaled up to 8 servings) in the slow cooker first: it takes about 4.5 hours, mostly on its own.
- Get Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes ready for the oven at 400°F (about 1 hour 50 min in all).
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops bakes at the same 400°F: put it in alongside Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes on another rack (about 50 min in all).
- While that cooks, make Ground Beef Taco Salad (scaled up to 8 servings) on the stove (about 30 min).
- Make Roasted Red Pepper Hummus while the hot food cools: no cooking needed (about 10 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 tbsp ground cumin for Ground Beef Taco Salad, Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- 2 ¾ tsp garlic powder for Ground Beef Taco Salad, Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos and Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
- 1 ½ cups sour cream for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
- ⅓ cup lemon juice for Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- 2 ⅔ cups salsa for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
- 2 tsp smoked paprika for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- 3 ½ cups cheddar cheese for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
- 3 tbsp chili powder for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
- ⅝ cup milk for Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops and Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
- 7 green onions for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
Containers
One per portion, so each meal is grab and go. Shallow ones cool fastest.
- 16 × 3-cup meal-prep containers with lids for Ground Beef Taco Salad and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos Food storage containers
- 16 × 1-cup containers with lids for Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Food storage containers
- 12 × zip-top bags, or a lidded box lined with a paper towel for Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops Freezer bags
Day by day
Monday
- Breakfast Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops (3 portions)Serve it at room temperature, or warm it briefly.
- Lunch Ground Beef Taco Salad (2 portions)reheat to 165°F (74°C).
- Dinner Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (2 portions)reheat in a covered skillet until steaming (165°F).
- Dinner Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes (2 portions)Reheat in a 375°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Snack Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (2 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Tuesday
- Breakfast Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops (3 portions)Serve it at room temperature, or warm it briefly.
- Lunch Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (2 portions)reheat in a covered skillet until steaming (165°F).
- Dinner Ground Beef Taco Salad (2 portions)reheat to 165°F (74°C).
- Dinner Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes (2 portions)Reheat in a 375°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Snack Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (2 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Wednesday
- Breakfast Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops (3 portions)Serve it at room temperature, or warm it briefly.
- Lunch Ground Beef Taco Salad (2 portions)reheat to 165°F (74°C).
- Dinner Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (2 portions)reheat in a covered skillet until steaming (165°F).
- Dinner Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes (2 portions)Reheat in a 375°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Snack Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (2 portions)Eat it cold, straight from the fridge.
Thursday
- Breakfast Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops (3 portions)Serve it at room temperature, or warm it briefly.
- Lunch Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos (2 portions)reheat in a covered skillet until steaming (165°F).
- Dinner Ground Beef Taco Salad (2 portions)reheat to 165°F (74°C).
- Dinner Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes (2 portions)Reheat in a 375°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Snack Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (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 weekSoup and stew prep weekFreezer-friendly prep weekQuick prep week: an hour or less each