3 Weekend Recipes That Set Up A Whole Week Of Easy Dinners

Weeknight meal prep can be easy—really! These three hands-off recipes will set you up for a whole week of delicious dinners.

By Jennifer Pallian

Updated February 27, 2026

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A large wide and shallow bowl of freshly cooked brown rice for a feature on meal prep cooking.

Produced by Sun Ngo; Food Styling by Eshun Mott; Photography by; Christie Vuong; Prop styling by; Catherine Doherty.

One of the best ways to streamline weeknight meals is with a big, relaxed Sunday cook. Easy techniques such as gentle simmering and slow roasting let flavours deepen and set you up with flexible building blocks for quick dinners throughout the week. A tender roast chicken, creamy white beans and a big pot of hearty grains will later become aromatic Thai curry, warming burritos, a cozy casserole and more.

The Big Sunday Cook

A slow cooker with a glass lid contains a whole, seasoned roast chicken resting on a wire rack. In the foreground, a cutting board holds ingredients for the recipe, including a halved onion, several cloves of garlic, bay leaves, and a small pile of dried white beans. Various spices in small jars, a large blue and white mixing bowl, and other kitchen items are visible on the counter in the background, set against a pink-tiled wall. The scene is brightly lit and focuses on the preparation for a slow-cooker meal.

Slow Cooker "Roast" Chicken

A slow, gentle cook transforms chicken into something deeply tender and rich, with the meat practically falling off the bone. Low heat keeps the meat juicy while breaking down collagen for an ultra silky texture. For extra flavour, reserve the cooking liquid to use in the soup or casserole recipes that follow. Get this slow cooker "roast" chicken recipe.

Big Batch Brown Rice

Using the pasta method for making rice (or other grains, such as quinoa, farro or barley) is a hack my Indian mother-in-law taught me. Now I can’t do it any other way: so easy, zero measuring, and it makes fluffy, tender grains every time. Get this big batch brown rice recipe.

A large dutch oven filled with freshly cooked white beans still in their cooking broth. A ladle is taking a scoop of beans out.

Creamy White Beans with Garlic and Onion

Salt helps beans cook evenly. Plenty of olive oil brings a deep, satisfying creaminess. Get this white bean with garlic and onion recipe.

Five Weeknight Dinners

Three bowls of chicken soul with sides of crackers.

Monday: Chicken, White Bean and Rice Soup

This hearty soup is a comforting choice for any weeknight. It’s extra flavourful with the addition of leftover cooking liquid from the roast chicken (see tip), and made fast with precooked rice and beans. Get this chicken, white bean and rice soup recipe.

An oval platter with two whole white bean burritos and a side dish of sour cream for dipping.

Tuesday: White Bean Burritos

These no-fuss burritos come together quickly thanks to precooked beans. With just a little kick of spice and a crispy exterior, they make an easy, satisfying meal or snack. To make them more filling—or to stretch to more servings—add 1/3 cup of cooked rice to each burrito. Get this white bean burrito recipe.

A cast iron skillet filled with rice, chicken broth, cheese, shredded chicken and broccoli.

Wednesday: Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Creamy, comforting and packed with chicken, broccoli and rice, this one-skillet casserole is the perfect blend of flavour and texture. Get this chicken and broccoli casserole recipe.

A person is presenting a wooden, round serving tray with two bowls of creamy Thai chicken curry, one large and one small, garnished with red peppers and green vegetables, likely spinach and zucchini. The large bowl of curry is in the foreground, with chopsticks resting on the rim. A third, small bowl in the background contains brown rice. Two lime wedges sit on the tray next to a pair of brightly colored chopsticks (blue-green and orange-red). To the right is a pale green shaker, possibly for salt or spices, on a light green tablecloth. The lighting is warm and inviting, highlighting the texture and color of the meal.

Thursday: Almost-Instant Thai Chicken Curry

This vibrant, Thai-inspired curry is a weeknight go-to, combining creamy coconut milk, fresh vegetables and a touch of lime. Precooked chicken cuts down on prep, bringing together a flavour-packed meal in no time. Get this Thai chicken curry recipe.

A large enamel steel paella pan filled with rice, chicken, tomatoes, red peppers and onions.

Friday: Quick Paella

This hearty paella marries chorizo, chicken and saffron rice for a zesty one-pan dish. Get this quick paella recipe.

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Jennifer Pallian

Jennifer Pallian is a food scientist, recipe developer and blogger at Foodess. She lives in Vancouver.

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