This October meal plan has a full month of ideas for easy, homemade family-friendly dinners. Includes a free printable PDF calendar with each day's menu idea for easy planning.
Earlier this year, I started a new feature here on Family Food on the Table with my January meal plan and February meal plan followed by meal plans for March, April, May, June, July, August and then the September meal plan, each one giving you an entire month's worth of recipe ideas for easy, healthy family dinners.
I myself love to menu plan and schedule out our meals.
It does not feel like a chore at all, and I really do enjoy it. I think it's the type A scheduler in me coming out in full force.
If you're interested, I've got a whole post of my official guide to meal planning, with all my tips and tricks.
And previously, I've shared a list of 30 easy healthy family dinner ideas that could work for any month of the year.
But today, I'm trying to make it easy on YOU by giving you another full month's worth of ideas for healthy family dinner ideas.
This will carry you through the entire month of October.
I've included the photo of the meal plan here if you want to pin it, but there's a free printable PDF link at the bottom as well, so you can easily save and print.
So let's dive right in.
October Meal Plan Notes:
Each day has its own recipe idea, complete with sides if needed to make a full meal. (Some things like tacos are more all-inclusive, though you could add sides if you like.)
You can make easy swaps to suit your family's tastes. Use whatever vegetables are your favorite to steam, make mashed potatoes instead of baked potatoes, choose white or brown rice, etc. Customize to your heart's content.
Saturdays are blank. This is intentional and meant to be reserved for either using up any leftovers from the week or ordering dinner in or going out to eat. Cause we all need a break!
Speaking of, you can totally use some cheater swaps. Buy something pre-prepared at the store or use a box mix. It's all about what works for you.
Also, the calendar and meal plan are ideas for prompts to get you started.
If you also need specific recipes, I've got some included below. You can also grab recipes from your own collection, your favorite cookbooks, or from Pinterest or Google.
Oh, and I included these ideas in order from October 1 on the calendar to October 31, with the date listed too, which will hopefully make things easier to find throughout the month.
October Recipes:
20 - Crock pot loaded potato soup
21 - Chicken enchiladas (add black beans!)
22 - Salmon and leeks
23 - Sheet pan honey mustard chicken with potatoes
24 - Ground turkey sloppy Joe's
27 - Sausage and kale stuffed spaghetti squash
28 - Salmon taco bowls
30 - Apple and brie stuffed chicken
31 - Southwest turkey chili or vegetarian pumpkin chili and cornbread
OK then, hopefully are you all set now!
Here's the free PDF download where you can save or print the October calendar. Or save this page to come back to.
**October meal plan PDF**
Also, here's the 2024 October meal plan calendar if you want to check that out for more ideas and inspiration. And if you're looking to get ahead, here's the November meal plan.
I hope you have a wonderful - and delicious - month!
XO,
Kathryn
Rachel says
So helpful! I get analysis paralysis and have the hardest time choosing meals.
Kathryn Doherty says
Yay, I'm so glad this is helpful Rachel! And I know what you mean... sometimes just having a list of ideas in front of you can really help! 😊
Megan says
Finding this a few years later, but it's still inspiring! I love the balance of flavors and meatless v. variety of meat options here. Thanks for the beautiful and simple layout. I don't feel overwhelmed at all, I'm just ready to get my grocery list together and start cooking!
Kathryn Doherty says
Oh yay, I'm so happy to hear this is helpful for you Megan! Thank you for sharing! Also, I've been updating and republishing all of my monthly menus this year (2024). The September one is live and the updated October menu will be live here in just a couple of weeks if you want to check back for a calendar that's current. Happy cooking!