Trim Healthy Mama October Menu Plan (Easy Crockpot, Instant Pot & Quick Meals)

October is one of my favorite times of the year. Here in Texas, the weather finally cools down, which means it’s the perfect season for soups, casseroles, and hearty comfort food. The only downside? This season seems to fly by in a blink! With busy schedules and the holidays around the corner, it can be tough to stay on plan and get dinner on the table.

That’s why I created this Trim Healthy Mama October Menu—full of quick recipes, crockpot meals, and easy dinner ideas. With just a little prep work on the weekend, you can set yourself up for stress-free weeknight dinners all month long.

How to Meal Prep for Your October THM Menu

A little bit of prep goes a long way. Here are a few ideas to make your weeknights easier:

• Prep the Crockpot Base – Add your items to the crock base and then store in the fridge. Just add to the cooking part(?), cook, and eat on your busy night.

• Ground Beef Prep – Brown hamburger meat in bulk, then store it for quick skillet meals, casseroles, or crockpot recipes.

• Freezer Bag Meals – Pre-assemble meals (like Papaya Chicken) into freezer bags. On cooking day, just dump into the crockpot or Instant Pot.

• Chop Veggies Ahead – Slice onions, peppers, and salad veggies to make mealtime faster.

Weekly Dinner Themes

To keep things fun (and simple), I stick with a few weekly dinner traditions:

• Crockpot Monday – On Wednesdays or Thursdays, I prep a crockpot meal and store it in the fridge (inside the crock). On Friday morning, I set it on the base, and dinner cooks itself while I go about my day.

• Taco Tuesday – Every Tuesday features a Mexican-inspired meal. Most recipes can easily be adapted to be S, E, or FP—just swap toppings. Keep it light with salsa, nonfat Greek yogurt, cilantro, green onions, or a wedge of light Laughing Cow cheese.

• Sheet Pan Friday- Easy sheet pan dinners on Fridays, do any prep work you can ahead of time to make your Friday’s easier.

• Leftover Saturdays – We use up whatever’s in the fridge. This saves money and keeps food waste low.

Comfort Food Favorites for October

This menu includes family-friendly fall favorites, including:

• Two THM Chili Recipes – One classic and one with hidden veggies (both family-approved!).

• Warm Soups & Easy Casseroles – Perfect for cozy fall evenings.

• Mexican-Inspired Dinners – Simple, flavorful meals that fit right into Taco Tuesday.

Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly THM dinners or easy prep-ahead meals, this plan gives you plenty of variety without extra stress.

Final Thoughts

This October THM menu plan is designed to make your month easier, cheaper, and more delicious. With simple prep tips, cozy fall recipes, and built-in weekly themes, you can stay on plan without feeling stressed.

If you try it, I’d love to know: Which night of the week is your favorite—Taco Tuesday, Crockpot Monday, or Chili Night?

1. Garlic Mushroom Chicken over on plan pasta and a salad S
2. CP Coconut Chicken Curry over Indian Spiced Rice S or XOer
3. Sheet pan Fajitas Any
4. Cheesy Sausage, Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole with a salad S
5. Roast with Veggies S
6. Pepper Steak over Fried Rice S
7. Fiesta Stuffed Sweet Potatoes E
8. Melt in Your Mouth Chicken with Green Beans and Salad S
9. Creamy Ranch Pork Chops with mashed cauliflower and steamed broccoli S
10. Sheet Pan Bulgogi with Cauliflower fried rice and Asian Slaw S
11. Crack Chicken S (this is an IP recipe but you can cook it in your crockpot)
12. Tuscan Chicken with Mushrooms with a salad S
13. Crockpot Caesar Chicken with Green Beans and Salad S
14. Mexican Rice E
15. Crockpot Pizza Bowls with a salad S
16. Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Roasted Veggies S
17. Sheet Pan Lasagna with Salad S
18. Pumpkin Kale Pasta Sauce with a salad S
19. BBQ Pulled Pork with Coleslaw and Pickles S
20. Crockpot Pineapple Asian Pork with Asian Green Beans E
21. Barbacoa with Spanish Rice and Pico de Gallo S
22. Chili Version 1, Version 2 with low carb cornbread S
23. Easy Weeknight Cheesy Baked Pasta with Salad S
24. Kielbasa and Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner S
25. Cheeseburger Soup S
26. Salmon Patties with Roasted Cauliflower and salad S
27. Beef Ragu over Noodles of choice with Salad S
28. Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole S
29. Peruvian Chicken with Sauteed Squash and Fried Cauliflower Rice S
30. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole with Salad S
31. Sheet Pan Chicken Shwarma with over Rice S or XOer

Here is a link to the printable calendar