I’m making a week’s worth of Half-Baked Harvest recipes. Every week, Half-Baked Harvest’s Tieghan Gerard sends out a “Meals of the Week” post. I decided, no matter what, I would make every meal she sent out.

This week I grabbed her meals from her “Nine Favorite Things” post. She gave 5 meals for the week, a treat, and a jalapeno cheddar biscuit for Sunday. I didn’t get to the treat or biscuit but all 5 meals are represented below!

My tastebuds are thanking me this weeks. Her recipes were simple, easy to follow, and so delicious.

Monday: 20 Minute Stir Fried Honey Ginger Sesame Noodles

Rating: 8/10

Ease: 8/10

Best for: Craving new flavors, quick dinner, cheap meals

First things first. This was good. Really good. But something went wrong because I never used any sesame seeds? And because I used olive oil instead of seasume oil I didn’t use a namesake ingredient.

I used Trader Joe’s Pappardelle Egg Noddles for my noodle which soaked up the flavor and wow. I feel like most noodle and rice dishes soak up flavor over time so I really wish we had leftovers so the flavors were more melded together. Unfortunately, we ate it all.

My brother, 18, ate two large plates of the noodles and even though I doubled the recipe and my parents ate out, we still finished the double portion (supposedly feeds 12?). I will say, my family has big eaters. We’re all pretty active and there’s two teenage boys in the house.

I was pretty in love with this dish. It was nutty and rich. But for a carb filled plate, it still felt light and seasonal.

Of course, I added chicken thighs to mine because my family cannot eat a meal without a meat protein source.

Tuesday: Greek Chicken Chopped Salad with Lemon Tahini Vinaigrette

Rating: 9/10

Ease: Simple, but a bit of prep

Best for: Start of the week meal prep, fresh meals

This.

I might have found the perfect Greek Chicken salad. It was so fresh, so light, but still kept me full all night. Immaculate.

I’m typically a little eh on tahini dressings because tahini really steals the show, but for some reason it didn’t bother me in this salad. I think the lemon vinigrette helped keep the creaminess in check.

Half-Baked Harvest is not exactly a health food curator, but she really focuses on whole foods with lots of flavors, spices, and vegetables. This salad was both light and rich with a fullness of spice and colors.

The chicken was just good. I won’t be raving about it later, but it certainly did the trick. I think I needed more spices or more marinade.

We ended up with some leftover chicken. I did 3 pounds of chicken instead of the one the recipe calls for. The salad was completely gone. I probably used more lettuce than the recipe calls for but I did not double the dressing and I wouldn’t have wanted more.

Oh and one of the best parts of this dish is the croutons. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. Spicy, oily and so so good.

If we would have had leftovers, this salad would be the best for lunches. I could definitely keep this on rotation for an easy meal prep. It would make lunches so much easier.

Wednesday: 15 Minute Cajun Hot Honey Butter Shrimp

Rating: 9/10

Ease: Incredibly easy. Perfect to whip up in 15 minutes

Best for: Forgot to meal prep, unique shrimp dish, fast food

Wednesday night was super easy but the shrimp’s tangy, slightly spicy flavor is definitely worth making again.

I used Half-Baked Harvest’s Cajun seasoning recipe which was zesty and flavorful. Shrimp is an easy dish to underseason, but I thought the seasoning and sauce were an amazing combination.

The honey sauce *made* the shrimp. I know that the butter amounts in this recipe may scare some people off but its worth it. Shrimp is meant to be a little buttery, garlicky, and lemony.

Although– I didn’t buy a lemon for this dish soooo I used a lime. Unconventional, but I know the power of an acid. I really liked the lime flavor.

It was a simple, easy to keep in the rotation recipe. It’s perfect for a rushed night when you just need something on the table.

Thursday Baked Cheddar Pesto Egg Boats

Rating: 7.5/10 (little salty with all the cheese and bacon)

Ease: Pretty quick and easy! Several easy steps!

Best for: Breakfast for dinner!

Ookkk. I love bread. Bread in literally all forms. These were incredible. You pour egg into a boat of cheese and pesto, topped with cheese, with cheese in the eggs.

I made this with mini ciabatta loaves instead of one big one. I’m not the best at following recipes so my measurements were slightly different, but I definitely kept the heart of the recipe

These were super easy, cheap, and different than anything I’ve made. You would be surprised how much the bread soaks up the egg. I got my Ciabatta and pesto from Trader Joe’s, both great options.

Everyone in my family loved these. I don’t love a lot of cheddar because of how salty it tends to be so if I made it again, I might cut down on the cheese.

Spicy Zucchini Ricotta Lasagna with Oregano Breadcrumbs

Rating: 9.2/10

Ease: Eh its not super quick but its certainly not difficult

Best for: Sunday dinner, sit down dinner

“This is amazing for zucchini and really good for normal food” -Luke, 15

My youngest brother, who skips on vegetables, had a huge slice and leftovers of this veggie lasagna. My parents loved it. I loved it.

Every zucchini lasgna I’ve ever made turns out watery. If you follow Half-Baked Harvest’s zucchini instructions, you will get a perfectly not watery zucchini lasagna.

I loved the hit of spice and the flavors of the lasagna. They melded into a perfectly cheesy, saucy lasgna.

But the breadcrumbs made it. They added the crunch vegetable lasagnas usually lack.

There is no way I won’t make this one again. Wow. What a dish.

Final Thoughts

Half-Baked Harvest cooks. A lot.

But everything is good, full of vegetables, and healthier without sacrificing for flavor and satisfaction. I will continuing cooking her recipes because they just hit the spot.

This is a great challenge for you when you get in that recipe rut.

Thanks so much Half-Baked Harvest! You make a great week of meals.