Food City Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around what's on sale at Food City, starting with the Boston Butt at $3.57 for your Monday slow-roast with Honeycrisp Apples and Specialty Potatoes. The 3 lb pack of Ground Round at $20.97 does double duty, covering burgers on Tuesday and the chili-spiced skillet hash on Friday, so split the pack when you get home and refrigerate or freeze the second half. The Caesar kits and Half Loaf Italian Bread each turn up twice, on Tuesday and Thursday, which keeps the shopping list short, while the Smithfield sausage sheet pan on Wednesday and the shrimp Caesar salad on Thursday add some variety in between.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Boston Butt with Honeycrisp Apples and Roasted Specialty Potatoes
Description: A Boston Butt roasts low and slow in a covered pan until it is fork-tender, with Honeycrisp Apples added for the last 45 minutes so they soften into a sweet pan sauce. Specialty Potatoes roast alongside in the same oven for an easy, hands-off dinner.
Sale items used: Food City Fresh Whole-in-Bag Boston Butt, Honeycrisp Apples, Specialty Potatoes
Prep time: 3 hours 15 minutes (about 20 minutes hands-on)
Serving note: 3 lbs Boston Butt, 1.5 lbs Honeycrisp Apples (wedged), and 1 package (24 Oz) Specialty Potatoes. Roast covered at 300 F for about 2 hours 15 minutes, then add the apples and potatoes, uncover, and roast about 45 more minutes. To save time, roast the pork the day before and reheat slices in the pan juices, or put it in the oven by 3 PM.
Recipes:
- Boston Butt Pork Roast
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples
- Sunday Pork Roast

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Ground Round Burgers on Toasted Italian Bread with Caesar Kit Salad
Description: Thick Ground Round patties are seared in a hot skillet and served on toasted Half Loaf Italian Bread pieces in place of buns. A crisp Caesar Kit salad rounds out the plate.
Sale items used: Ground Round (3 lbs or more), 85% Lean, Half Loaf Italian Bread, Caesar or Lite Caesar Kit
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs Ground Round (four 6 oz patties), 1 Half Loaf Italian Bread cut into 4 sandwich pieces and toasted, and 1 Caesar or Lite Caesar Kit. Refrigerate or freeze the other 1.5 lbs from the 3 lb pack for Friday.
Recipes:
- Caesar Salad Beef Burger on Garlic Crostini
- Caesar Salad Burgers
- Pan-Seared Soy-Dijon Hamburger on Toast

Wednesday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Roasted Smithfield Sausage Links with Butternut Squash and Sweet Onions
Description: Smithfield Sausage Links roast on one sheet pan with cubed Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash (use butternut) and wedges of Sweet Onions until the edges brown. Dried sage and a splash of pantry vinegar give it a savory-sweet fall flavor.
Sale items used: Smithfield Sausage Links or Patties, Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash, Sweet Onions
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 2 packages Smithfield Sausage Links (links version; flyer does not state pack size, so use both), 2.5 lbs butternut squash cut into 1-inch cubes, and 1 lb Sweet Onions in wedges. Roast at 425 F for about 40 minutes, turning once, until the sausage reaches 160 F inside. Use two sheet pans if the squash looks crowded.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Butternut Squash & Sausage
- Roasted Fall Vegetable & Italian Sausage Sheet Pan Meal
- Sausage and Butternut Squash Sheet Pan Dinner

Thursday
Meal: Shrimp Caesar Salad with Garlic Italian Bread Toasts
Description: Cooked Shrimp are warmed briefly in a skillet with garlic and oil, then piled over a Caesar Kit salad. Broiled garlic toasts made from Half Loaf Italian Bread complete this quick no-oven dinner.
Sale items used: Cooked Shrimp, 21/30 Ct, Caesar or Lite Caesar Kit, Half Loaf Italian Bread
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1.25 lbs Cooked Shrimp, 1 Caesar or Lite Caesar Kit, and 1 Half Loaf Italian Bread sliced, brushed with garlic oil, and broiled 2 to 3 minutes per side. Warm the shrimp only 2 to 3 minutes so they stay tender.
Recipes:
- Lemon-Herb Shrimp Caesar Salad with Grilled Garlic Bread
- Shrimp Caesar Salad
- Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp & Garlic Bread Croutons

Friday
Meal: Chili-Spiced Ground Round and Specialty Potato Skillet Hash
Description: Diced Specialty Potatoes are pan-fried until golden, then tossed with Sweet Onions and browned Ground Round seasoned with chili powder and cumin. It is a hearty one-skillet finish to the week with a smoky Tex-Mex flavor.
Sale items used: Ground Round (3 lbs or more), 85% Lean, Specialty Potatoes, Sweet Onions
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs Ground Round (the remaining half of the 3 lb pack), 1 package (24 Oz) Specialty Potatoes diced small, and 0.5 lb Sweet Onions diced. Fry the potatoes covered about 15 minutes before adding the onions and beef.
Recipes:
- Spiced Ground Beef and Potato Skillet
- Easy Hamburger Hash
- Ground Beef and Potato Hash

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Food City Fresh Whole-in-Bag Boston Butt (3 lbs): $3.57
- Ground Round (3 lbs or more), 85% Lean (3 lbs): $20.97
- Smithfield Sausage Links or Patties (x2 packages): $5.98
- Cooked Shrimp, 21/30 Ct (1.25 lbs): $12.49
- Specialty Potatoes, 24 Oz (x2 packages): $6.00
- Honeycrisp Apples (1.5 lbs): $2.99
- Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash (2.5 lbs): $2.48
- Sweet Onions (1.5 lbs): $1.94
- Caesar or Lite Caesar Kit (x2 kits): $6.00
- Half Loaf Italian Bread (x2 loaves): $4.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt and black pepper
- Cooking oil
- Butter
- Fresh or jarred garlic
- Dried sage
- Chili powder and ground cumin
- Apple cider vinegar or other mild vinegar
- Ketchup and mustard for the burgers