Meijer's $1.49 Chicken Thighs and More Meat Deals This Week

It's a good week to be watching the meat counter. Chicken prices are genuinely low at several stores right now, and if you're feeding a family, that's where I'd be putting my attention first.

This Week's Best Deals

Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs at $1.49/lb. That is about as low as chicken gets. Thighs are forgiving to cook, they stay moist on the grill or in a slow cooker, and at this price you can stock the freezer without guilt. Pick up several packages if you have the room.

Food City Boneless Chicken Breast and Whole Boneless Pork Loin, both at $1.99/lb. Two proteins at the same low price is unusual. The pork loin is especially versatile. Cut it into chops yourself at home and you'll stretch it further than you might think.

ALDI Smithfield Fresh Pork Spareribs at $1.99/lb. Ribs at that price are worth a trip on their own. Pair them with ALDI's assorted summer baked beans at $1.59 for a 15.5-oz can and you've got a backyard meal for very little money.

Kroger Heritage Farm Boneless Chicken Breast at $2.29/lb. Another strong chicken deal, and Kroger is also running a solid buy on boneless pork loin or tenderloin this week (buy one, get one). If you shop Kroger regularly, this is a good week to load up on both.

Publix Whole Young Chicken at $1.59/lb. This one tends to get overlooked, but a whole chicken is one of the most economical things you can put in the oven. Roast it on Sunday and you've got dinner that night plus meat for sandwiches or salads for the next couple of days.

Quick Breakfast and Lunch Ideas

Breakfast: Kroger has Artesano bread at $2.49, and if you pick up some Sargento shredded cheese (2 for $4.00 at Kroger), you've got the start of a simple breakfast sandwich or toast situation. Add a container of Chobani yogurt at 10 for $10 with the digital coupon and that's a full morning covered for almost nothing.

Lunch: Publix has a turkey sandwich in the grab-and-go deli section for $4.99, which is honest value when you don't feel like making anything. If you'd rather build your own, the Kraft Cheese Singles are buy one, get one at Publix this week, and Cabot sweet cream butter is also BOGO, so a simple sandwich at home is easy to put together.

Summer snacking: ALDI has blueberries for $1.99 a pint and avocados for $0.69 each. Kroger has raspberries or blackberries at $1.99 for a 9-oz container with the digital coupon. That's a solid spread of fresh fruit for very little, and this time of year that's exactly what you want on hand for kids and adults alike.

This week's meal plans on MyMenuPlans.com are built around these exact sale prices, so you're not just seeing the deals, you're seeing how to put them together into a real week of meals. Come take a look, and I hope it saves you a few dollars at the register.