This Week's Five Dinners
One curated Canadian weeknight plan — Monday to Friday, about 4 hours of total cooking, with ingredients chosen to overlap so you shop once. Add the whole week to your planner, then print one grocery list.
Monday
55 min total
Pâté Chinois (Québec Shepherd's Pie)Cook thisUses ground beef + potatoes — buy once, use twice this week.
Tuesday
45 min total
Calgary Ginger BeefCook thisSame beef, totally different flavour.
Wednesday
90 min total
Split Pea SoupCook thisSlow-simmered; makes lunch leftovers.
Thursday
30 min total
Cedar Plank SalmonCook thisA lighter night before Friday comfort food.
Friday
40 min total
Classic PoutineCook thisFriday treat — potatoes already on the list.
Canadian ingredient substitutions for this plan
Swaps tested against the recipes above. Quantities stay the same unless noted.
No cheese curds?
Use torn low-moisture mozzarella.
Texture differs; curds are worth finding at Costco or a cheese shop.
No beef stock?
Use mushroom or vegetable stock.
Keeps gravy vegetarian without changing quantities.
No fresh salmon?
Use frozen fillets, thawed overnight.
Same weight; pat very dry before grilling.
No split peas?
Use green or yellow — either works.
Yellow is the Québec classic; green tastes identical.
No ginger (fresh)?
Use 1/4 the amount of ground ginger.
Fresh is sharper; ground works in the sauce.
More quick weeknight dinners
Atlantic CanadaNova Scotia Hodge Podge
Early-summer new vegetables simmered in butter and cream, a Nova Scotia garden tradition.
Pantry Pasta with Speedy Tomato Sauce
A quick and easy pasta dish using common pantry items, perfect for a last-minute weeknight meal.
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings
Achieve perfectly crispy chicken wings with minimal oil using your air fryer, a Canadian favourite for snacks or game night.
Quick Maple-Mustard Pork Chops
Flavourful pork chops with a sweet and tangy maple-mustard glaze, perfect for a speedy weeknight meal.
Pantry Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
A versatile and budget-friendly pasta dish using pantry staples and whatever vegetables you have on hand, perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Creamy Tomato Soup
Silky, pantry-friendly tomato soup — ready in 25 minutes, made for grilled cheese.
Sheet Pan Maple-Mustard Salmon
One pan, twenty minutes: glazed BC salmon with roasted broccoli and lemon.
Prairie Perogies with Bacon & Onion
Potato-cheddar perogies pan-fried with bacon and onion — a Prairie Ukrainian-Canadian classic.