A meal plan for a family of 5.
Most recipes are written for four, which leaves a family of five doing awkward math every night: one and a quarter onions, a fifth of a can. The easier fix is to choose dinners that scale cleanly, like stews, traybakes and grain bowls, and to round quantities up to what stores actually sell. A little extra on Tuesday becomes Wednesday’s lunch rather than a shortfall at the table.
This week is built for five people with mixed appetites, often two adults and three children of different ages. Every dinner can be stretched with an extra cup of grain or a second can of beans without changing the recipe. Proteins rotate between chicken, fish, turkey and legumes, and the vegetables are ones that hold up well in big batches. If one of your five is a toddler or a teenager, adjust portions per person rather than cooking separate meals; ARK Table sizes each plate by who is actually eating.
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A sample week of five dinners.
One idea for Monday to Friday, with roughly how long each takes and why it earns its place. Swap any night; ARK Table rebuilds the list.
- Monday45 min
Lemon herb chicken traybake with chickpeas
One large sheet pan feeds five, and the chickpeas crisp up to stretch the chicken further.
- Tuesday40 min
Turkey and white bean chili
Chili doubles easily, tastes better on day two, and lets each person add their own toppings.
- Wednesday35 min
Baked cod with roasted potatoes and green beans
Mild white fish suits younger eaters, and the potatoes scale up without extra effort.
- Thursday35 min
Coconut chickpea curry with brown rice
A pot of curry and a big pan of rice cover five generous portions for the cost of pantry staples.
- Friday25 min
Chicken and vegetable fried rice
Friday uses leftover rice and any remaining vegetables, so the week finishes clean.
Sample dinners for planning inspiration. Times are approximate and include prep.
Making this week your own.
Families of five often find that one dinner a week becomes a default, such as chili on Tuesdays or curry on Thursdays. That’s a strength, not a rut. Keep the default, rotate the other four nights, and let each child nominate one dinner a month. It builds a short list of tried-and-tested family favorites you can return to whenever planning feels like a chore.
Tips that make this week work.
Scale by the package, not the decimal
When a recipe for four needs scaling, round up to the nearest whole can, bag or pack. The extra portion is a planned lunch, and the list stays simple to shop.
Use two pans instead of one crowded one
Overloading a tray steams food instead of roasting it. For five, split traybakes across two pans and swap their oven positions halfway through.
Build a toppings bar
Chili, curry and grain bowls work best for big families when each person finishes their own plate. Set out yogurt, herbs, lime, seeds or cheese and let people choose.
Batch one component on Sunday
Cook a large pot of rice or roast a tray of vegetables at the weekend. It shortens two weeknight dinners and gives older kids something to assemble themselves.
Questions, answered.
How do I scale a four-person recipe for five?
Multiply ingredients by 1.25, then round up to the nearest sensible amount. Spices and salt need less than a full scale-up, so add them gradually and taste. Cooking times rarely change unless you crowd the pan.
Is it cheaper to cook for five than to buy takeout?
For most families, home-cooked dinners cost considerably less per plate than takeout for five, especially when built on legumes, chicken and seasonal vegetables. ARK Table shows your planned week against USDA family food budgets so you can track it.
How do I handle different ages at the same table?
Cook one dinner and vary the portion and the finish. Younger children may want sauce on the side and smaller pieces, while teenagers often need a larger serving or an extra side of grain.
Related meal plans.
See all 50 meal plans- Large familiesA meal plan for large families of six or moreA weeknight dinner plan for families of six or more: big-batch traybakes, stews and bowls, bulk-buying tips, and ways to share the cooking.
- Family of four · BudgetA meal plan for a family of 4 on a budgetA five-dinner week for a family of four on a budget: lentils, chicken thighs and canned fish, one grocery list, and tips to keep the weekly spend steady.
- Teenagers · Teen athletesA meal plan for teenagers and teen athletesFamily dinners for hungry teenagers and teen athletes: bigger portions, protein-forward plates and late-practice timing. Food planning, not sports nutrition advice.
- Picky eatersA meal plan for picky kids, and the rest of the tableA family dinner plan for picky kids: deconstructed plates, mild flavors, one safe food per meal and no separate kid dinners. Five sample nights inside.
Plan your own week, free.
Tell ARK Table who’s at the table and how much time you have. It plans the dinners, sizes every portion and builds one grocery list for any store.
Savings meter: up to $4,400/yr*
*Illustrative family-of-four budgets. Your savings will vary.
ARK Table by ARK Wellness is a food-planning tool, not medical advice. If you follow a diet set by your doctor or care team, their guidance comes first.