5 Ways to Get Out of a Dinner Rut

Tired of the same dinners week after week? Even family favorites get old after a while. What can you do about it? Here are 5 ways to shake up your normal meal line-up and get out of a dinner rut:

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Have you ever fallen into a dinner rut? You know, where you feel like you’re serving the same old meals over and over (and over) again? You’ve gone through your list of family favorites fifty million times, and now you want something fresh and new… but what??

Been there. Done that. Made that meatloaf for the zillionth time.

Fortunately, I have a few strategies for when I’m feeling the “I’m so bored with these meals I could scream!” blues. Read on for 5 easy ways to break out of a dinner rut and bring some spice back into your meal plan.

5 Ways to Get Out of a Dinner Rut

Tired of the same dinners week after week? Even family favorites get old after a while. What can you do about it? Here are 5 ways to shake up your normal meal line-up and get out of a dinner rut:

Swap ideas with a friend

There’s a very high probability you have a friend who is also feeling a little blah about her family’s dinner line-up. Make a trade! Ask her for some of her family’s favorites and give her some of yours! I can almost guarantee you’ll each pick up a few new ideas.
Do some “research”

Devote a chunk of time on an evening or weekend to peruse your favorite Pinterest boards and pinners to get some new inspiration. You could also browse your favorite food magazines, recipe sites, or blogs. And if anyone gives you a hard time about it, you can absolutely tell them it’s research. *wink*
Google your ingredients

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found an awesome new recipe by googling some of the ingredients I have on hand or deals I’ve picked up at the store. Searches such as “what can I make with _____” and “_____ recipes” comprise the bulk of my computer’s search history.
Try a new (to you) ingredient

I love expanding my cooking repertoire, so every once in a while, I like to pick up a new ingredient I’ve never cooked with before, just to see what it’s like. Sometimes it becomes a new family favorite (like this Instant Pot Rice Pudding)! Make sure you already have a recipe for it, though, so it doesn’t just sit around and go to waste. (See Tip #3 for how to find one.)
Put a fun twist on a family favorite

You don’t necessarily need a complete overhaul — sometimes all you need is a little twist on a familiar favorite to make it seem new and exciting. Try one of your favorite dishes with a different meat or vegetable, use a different spice or seasoning, package it in a slightly different way, or try a different cooking technique.

Here are some ways to put new spins on familiar favorites:

- Mix up Taco Tuesday with these taco variations
- Combine two classics (e.g. cheeseburger pizza or cheeseburger quesadillas)
- Make a traditional dish in a muffin tin (meatloaf cups are lots of fun for kids!)
- Check out “deconstructed dinners” (Google it — there are tons of them!)
- Make some of your favorite dishes on a sheet pan
- Try “gourmet” versions of classic favorites, such as gourmet grilled cheese, gourmet pizza, or gourmet mac and cheese

We all fall into a meal rut from time to time. It’s one of the basic facts of life! The good news is, you don’t have to stay there. The next time you’re facing an empty meal plan without an ounce of inspiration, try the five tips above to get out of your dinnertime rut.