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How Tesco’s Celebrity Cooking Series Can Inspire Your Weekly Meal Plan

hhealthymeal

2026-01-26 12:00:00

4 min read

Turn Tesco Kitchen episodes into a week of meals: a celebrity-inspired weekly plan with grocery lists, batch-cook tips and healthier swaps.

Feeling stuck at the grocery aisle and tired of same-old dinners? Use Tesco Kitchen’s celebrity recipes to build a practical, time-saving weekly plan

If you want tasty inspiration that fits a busy week, this guide turns ideas from Tesco Kitchen celebrity series into a realistic, healthy weekly meal plan — complete with ingredient lists, batch-cook workflows and smart recipe swaps so meals are lighter, quicker and wallet-friendly. Packed with 2026 trends like plant-forward eating, low‑alcohol pairings and waste-reduction hacks, you’ll get a full week mapped out and ready to shop for.

Why Tesco Kitchen matters for your meal planning in 2026

Tesco launched an eight-part content series in 2026 that pairs hosts Seema Pankhania and Greg James with guest chefs, food writers and industry personalities who share meaningful dishes from their lives. The series is designed to do one thing well: spark practical, repeatable recipes for everyday cooks.

“To help inspire customers with mouth-watering new recipes,”

That line — the series' stated aim — is your cheat sheet. Instead of watching a single celebrity demo and moving on, we’ll distill episode ideas into a full, balanced weekly menu where you can batch-cook staples, reuse components and make healthier swaps inspired by each celebrity dish.

How to use this guide (quick): the inverted pyramid method

Top: Full weekly plan with daily dishes and a consolidated grocery list.
Middle: Batch-cook schedule and storage tips so you spend one big block of time prepping.
Bottom: Healthier swaps, allergen adjustments and trend-forward extras (low-alcohol pairings, sustainability tips).

Weekly meal plan overview — celebrity-inspired, family-friendly (serves 4)

This plan borrows frameworks common to Tesco Kitchen episodes: a showstopper main, a simple midweek twist, and a make-ahead comfort dish. Prep time assumes a 90–120 minute Sunday batch session plus 20–30 minutes of evening finishing on busy days.

Monday — Grain bowl inspired by a comfort-recipe episode

Bright, filling and built on leftovers. Think roasted vegetables, pan-seared chicken or tofu, and a citrus-tahini drizzle.

Cooked wholegrain (brown rice or quinoa) — 600g cooked
Roasted veg mix — 800g (sweet potato, red pepper, red onion)
Protein — 600–800g chicken breast or firm tofu
Dressing — tahini, lemon, garlic, water to emulsify

Swap tip: For lower fat, swap some tahini for Greek yogurt or silken tofu mixed with lemon. For plant-forward, use extra beans and roasted mushrooms in place of chicken.

Tuesday — Spiced midweek curry inspired by a celebrity chef

One-pot curry with canned tomatoes, coconut milk and a handful of spices. Simmer and serve with rice or flatbreads.

Onion, garlic, ginger
Spice mix — turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala
Canned tomatoes & light coconut milk — 2 tins each
Protein — chickpeas + leftover chicken or paneer
Greens — spinach or kale

Swap tip: Use reduced-fat coconut milk or a mix of milk and yogurt to cut saturated fat. Add pulses to stretch protein affordably.

Wednesday — Quick fish supper (pescatarian episode vibe)

Grilled or oven-baked fish with a simple herb crust, served with new potatoes and a quick slaw.

Firm white fish or salmon fillets — 600–800g
Breadcrumbs or crushed nuts + herbs
New potatoes or quick-cook grains
Slaw — cabbage, carrot, vinegar dressing

Swap tip: For sustainable fish, choose line-caught or certified options. For gluten-free, use ground oats or polenta for crust. For lower sodium, skip pre-made fish sauces and use citrus and herbs.

Thursday — Leftover remix: taco night

Use Monday and Tuesday leftovers to make tacos: shredded roasted veg, curried chickpeas, chopped slaw and avocado.

Tortillas or lettuce leaves
Leftover proteins and veg
Quick salsa and yogurt-lime crema

Swap tip: Use whole‑grain or corn tortillas, or enjoy as a low-carb lettuce wrap.

Friday — Celebrity-styled comfort pasta (family episode)

Comfort without collapse: a lighter carbonara or roasted tomato & ricotta pasta using part-skim cheese and added veg.

Whole-wheat pasta — 400–500g
Veg add-ins — roasted cherry tomatoes, courgette
Protein — pancetta or smoked tofu cubes
Cheese — part-skim ricotta or pecorino sparingly

Swap tip: Stir in a handful of spinach and reserve pasta water to make a creamy texture without extra cream. Consider a drizzle of a high-quality oil as a finishing touch — see our oil guide for picks that add flavour without heavy calories.

Saturday — Weekend showstopper: roast & gravy (celebrity comfort classic)

Roast chicken or cauliflower with classic trimmings — reserve some roast veg to repurpose into Monday’s grain bowl or Thursday’s tacos.

How to use the plan: Practical tips

Consolidate spices and pantry staples on your ingredient list so shopping is faster.
Batch-cook staples and cool quickly; use a labelled container system guided by the storage playbook to maximise fridge life.
Run a weekly "leftovers remix" night to reduce waste and stretch proteins — a small tweak that saves money and time.

healthymeal

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