Kroger Dairy-Free Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Springer Mountain Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenders: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Pork Butt: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Chuck Roast: $3.67/lb
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Hormel Pepperoni: $14.99 each
- Simple Truth Organic 85% Lean Ground Beef: $9.99/lb
- Wellshire Turkey Bacon: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Private Selection Burger Patties: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck: $4.99/lb
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp: $9.99/lb
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 4-Piece: $5.99 each
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks: $4.99 each

Vegetables on sale:
- Kroger Adorbs Seedless Mandarins: $1.99/lb
- Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Petite Gourmet Potatoes: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Red, Green or Black Seedless Grapes: $1.99/lb
- Pink Lady Apples: $1.99/lb
- Red or Black Plums: $1.99/lb
- Blueberries: 3/$11 with Card
- Raspberries: 3/$11 with Card
- Baby Bella or White Mushrooms: $1.24 each with Card
- Pico de Gallo: $1.99/lb with Card

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Chuck Roast at $3.67/lb: 2 lbs feeds 4 = $7.34 total, about $1.84 per serving
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck at $4.99/lb: 1.5 lbs feeds 4 = $7.49 total, about $1.87 per serving
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks at $4.99 each: 1 pack feeds 4 as a main = $4.99 total, about $1.25 per serving (flat pack price)
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 4-Piece at $5.99 each: 1 pack feeds 4 = $5.99 total, about $1.50 per serving (flat pack price)
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp at $9.99/lb: 1.5 lbs feeds 4 = $14.99 total, about $3.75 per serving (premium)

Why these meals: Chuck roast at $3.67/lb is the standout deal this week, giving you a rich, satisfying braise for well under $2 a person. Ground chuck at $4.99/lb is another workhorse that keeps two more nights affordable and flexible. The flat-priced fried chicken packs are genuinely cheap per serving and make for a fast, no-fuss weeknight. Shrimp at $9.99/lb earns the one premium spot because it is the most expensive protein chosen and cooks in minutes, making it a fun Friday treat without blowing the week's budget. The Simple Truth Organic Ground Beef at $9.99/lb was skipped because it costs twice as much per pound as the Private Selection ground chuck for no meaningful difference in a cooked dish, and keeping it out is what holds the total comfortably inside the weekly ceiling.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Braised Chuck Roast with Baby Bella Mushrooms and Potatoes
Description: Chuck roast is seared in a hot pot, then slow-braised with baby bella mushrooms, garlic, and beef broth until fork-tender and deeply savory. Petite gourmet potatoes are added in the final hour to soak up the rich pan juices, making this a complete one-pot dinner.
Sale items used: Chuck Roast, Baby Bella or White Mushrooms, Petite Gourmet Potatoes
Prep time: 20 minutes active, 2.5 hours total
Serving note: Use 2 lbs chuck roast, 2 packages baby bella mushrooms (2 x $1.24), and 1 bag petite gourmet potatoes (BOGO - buy 1 bag, get 1 free, use 1 bag tonight and save the second for Thursday). Make-ahead note: start the braise by 4:30 PM for a 7:00 PM dinner, or braise the day before and reheat gently on the stovetop.
Recipes:
- Roast Beef Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy Recipe / Video - Eat Simple Food
- Beer Braised Beef Chuck Roast with Mushrooms - ZOE Farms

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Ground Chuck Tacos with Pico de Gallo and Tri-Color Peppers
Description: Seasoned ground chuck is browned in a skillet with sliced tri-color peppers and onion, then served in corn tortillas topped with fresh pico de gallo. The peppers add sweetness and crunch while the pico keeps every bite bright and fresh.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck, Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers, Pico de Gallo
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs ground chuck, 1 package tri-color peppers (BOGO - buy 1 package, get 1 free; use half tonight and save the rest for Wednesday), and 0.5 lb pico de gallo. Corn tortillas are a pantry staple. Serves 4 with 3 tacos each.
Recipes:
- Beef Tacos with Pico de Gallo | Silver Fern Farms

Wednesday
Meal: Barilla Pasta with Ground Chuck, Tri-Color Peppers, and Tomato Sauce
Description: Browned ground chuck is simmered with the remaining tri-color peppers, canned tomatoes, and Italian seasoning into a hearty meat sauce served over Barilla pasta. This is a completely different flavor profile from Tuesday - the sauce is slow-cooked and tomato-forward rather than taco-spiced.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck, Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers (second half from BOGO), Barilla Pasta
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 lb ground chuck, the remaining half of the tri-color pepper package from Tuesday, and 1 box Barilla pasta ($0.99). Canned tomatoes and seasoning are pantry staples. Serves 4 generously.

Thursday
Meal: Fried Chicken Drumsticks with Roasted Petite Potatoes and Blueberries
Description: Ready-made fried chicken drumsticks are warmed in the oven until crispy while the reserved petite gourmet potatoes are roasted with olive oil, garlic, and rosemary on a sheet pan alongside. Fresh blueberries served on the side round out the plate with a bright, no-cook finish.
Sale items used: Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks, Petite Gourmet Potatoes (second bag from Monday's BOGO), Blueberries
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 30 minutes total
Serving note: Use 1 pack of 5-piece drumsticks (1 pack at $4.99 - one drumstick per person plus one extra to share), the second bag of petite potatoes saved from Monday, and 1 pint blueberries (purchased as part of the 3/$11 deal - see shopping list).

Friday
Meal: Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Baby Bella Mushrooms and Minute Rice
Description: Jumbo EZ peel shrimp are sauteed in olive oil with garlic, baby bella mushrooms, and a splash of lemon juice until pink and just cooked through, then served over fluffy Minute Rice. The mushrooms add an earthy depth that makes this feel like a restaurant-quality dish on a Friday night.
Sale items used: Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp, Baby Bella or White Mushrooms, Minute Rice
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs shrimp, 1 package baby bella mushrooms ($1.24), and 1 box Minute Rice ($0.99). Lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and salt are pantry staples. Serves 4.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Chuck Roast (2 lbs): $7.34
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck (2.5 lbs total for Tuesday and Wednesday): $12.48
- Baby Bella or White Mushrooms (x2 packages, for Monday and Friday): $2.48
- Petite Gourmet Potatoes (buy 1 get 1 free, 2 bags for $0 extra - 1 bag purchased): $0.00 (free with purchase of 1 bag; base price not listed - item included at $0 as the free component; see note)
- Pico de Gallo (0.5 lb): $1.00
- Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers (buy 1 get 1 free, 1 package purchased): $0.00 (base price not listed - included at $0 as free component; see note)
- Barilla Pasta (x1 box): $0.99
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks (x1 pack): $4.99
- Blueberries (x1 pint, part of 3/$11 deal - buying 1 at implied $3.67 each): $3.67
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp (1.5 lbs): $14.99
- Minute Rice (x1 box): $0.99

Note on BOGO items: The Petite Gourmet Potatoes and Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers are both Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals with no base price listed in the flyer. Both are used across two nights each, so the shopper buys one package of each and receives the second free. Because no base price is stated, these are listed at $0.00 and the shopper should expect a small additional cost at checkout that cannot be calculated from the flyer data provided.

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Garlic (fresh or jarred)
- Salt and black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Cumin and chili powder (for taco seasoning)
- Beef broth (for Monday's braise)
- Canned diced tomatoes (for Wednesday's pasta sauce)
- Corn tortillas
- Lemon juice
- Rosemary (dried or fresh)