Shopping List

4 dinners this week, week of Monday, October 26

  1. Creamy Pesto Cavatappi with Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Mon) · 2. Loaded Baked Potato Soup (Tue) · 3. Brown Butter Butternut Squash Rigatoni (Wed) · 4. Fried Rice (Thu, already have everything)

⚠️ Check the fridge and pantry first. Butter, eggs, milk, flour, oils, and spices are verify-don't-rebuy. The Check First list at the bottom has the specifics.

Produce

  • 8 oz cremini or baby bella mushrooms (Mon, 1 cup sliced)
  • 1 lemon (½ Mon · ½ Wed)
  • 2½ lb russet potatoes, about 5 (Tue)
  • 1 bunch chives (Tue topping)
  • 1 medium butternut squash, about 2½ lb, or 2 lb pre-cubed (Wed)
  • 1 small pack fresh sage, about 16 leaves (Wed)
  • 2 yellow onions (1 Tue · 1 Wed)
  • 1 head garlic (2 cloves Mon · 3 cloves Tue · 4 cloves Wed)

Dairy & Cheese

  • Heavy cream, 1 pint (½ cup Mon · ½ cup Tue · ½ cup Wed)
  • Parmesan wedge, about 8 oz (Mon: ¼ cup chicken + ¼ cup sauce · Wed: 1 cup · extra for the table)
  • 8 oz block sharp cheddar (Tue: 6 oz in the soup + topping)
  • Sour cream, ½ cup + more for topping (Tue) ← check last week's tub
  • Whole milk, 1 cup (Tue) ← likely have
  • Butter, 8 tbsp, one stick (1 Mon · 3 Tue · 4 Wed) ← likely have
  • Eggs, 1 (Mon chicken) ← likely have

Meat & Seafood

  • 1 boneless chicken breast, about ½ lb (Mon)
  • 4–6 slices thick-cut bacon (Tue)

Veggie Proteins

  • 1 pack plant-based Italian sausage, such as Beyond Italian, about 14 oz (½ Wed · ½ Thu)

Pantry & Dry Goods

  • 1 lb cavatappi (Mon, 8 oz used)
  • 1 lb rigatoni (Wed)
  • Vegetable broth, 4½ cups: two 32 oz cartons, or one carton plus bouillon (½ cup Mon · 4 cups Tue)
  • Basil pesto, ⅓ cup jar (Mon)
  • Panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup (Mon) ← check the pantry
  • All-purpose flour, 3 tbsp (Tue) ← likely have

Sauces & Condiments

  • Olive oil, about 5 tbsp (3 Mon · 2 Wed) ← likely have

Spices & Seasonings

  • Italian seasoning, 1 tsp (Mon)
  • Dried thyme, ½ tsp (Tue)
  • Nutmeg, a pinch (Wed)
  • Red pepper flakes (Mon · Wed, table) ← likely have
  • Kosher salt, black pepper ← likely have

Optional Toppings

  • Hot sauce (Tue, adults)
  • Crusty bread (Tue)
  • Cherry tomatoes, ½ cup (Mon sauce)
  • Baby spinach, a handful (Mon) ← use the smoothie spinach

Check First — likely already in the house

  • Fried rice (Thu): you said you have everything. Make sure the rice gets cooked by Wednesday, and check that the vegetarian stir-fry sauce is still there.
  • Sour cream and Parmesan: there may be leftovers from last week.
  • Panko, thyme, and nutmeg: the pantry items most likely missing.
  • Butter, eggs, milk, flour, olive oil: glance before buying. The week uses a full stick of butter.
  • Smoothie greens: spinach and carrots.

Verified against all four meals ✓

Walked Creamy Pesto Cavatappi, Parmesan Crusted Chicken (the version in the cavatappi recipe), Loaded Baked Potato Soup, and Brown Butter Butternut Squash Rigatoni line by line. Fried Rice is off the list by request.

Combined: Garlic (2 + 3 + 4 cloves → 1 head). Yellow onions (1 + 1 → 2). Heavy cream (½ + ½ + ½ cup → 1 pint). Butter (1 + 3 + 4 tbsp → 1 stick). Vegetable broth (½ + 4 cups). Parmesan (¼ + ¼ + 1 cup + table → 8 oz wedge). Lemon (½ + ½ → 1). Plant-based sausage (half Wed + half Thu).

Changed from the recipes as written: On Monday, vegetable broth replaces chicken stock, and one chicken breast replaces two because only you're eating it. The recipe's cherry tomatoes and spinach are optional. Wednesday is all vegetarian, with no Italian sausage, and half the plant-based sausage is saved for Thursday.

Timing reminders

  • 🥓 Tuesday: bacon goes into a cold oven, and the soup gets made while it bakes.
  • 🍚 By Wednesday: cook the rice for Thursday.
  • 🍳 Wednesday: set aside half the plant-based sausage for Thursday.

Smoothies

  • Everyday: frozen mixed berries + spinach + carrots