Kroger Dairy-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Johnsonville Smoked Dinner or Breakfast Sausage (Select Varieties, 9.6-14 oz): $2.99/ea - one package feeds 4 at roughly $0.75/serving
- Kroger 85% or 93% Lean Ground Turkey (16 oz): Buy 2, Get 1 Free - buying 2 packages at ~$4.99 each (estimated base), get 1 free = 3 lbs for ~$9.98, roughly $2.50/serving
- Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breasts (Big Pack or Tenders or Thin Breasts): $3.99/lb - 2 lbs for 4 people = $7.98, roughly $2.00/serving
- Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz): $4.99/ea - one package feeds 4 at roughly $1.25/serving
- Kroger 93% Lean Ground Beef (3 lb package): $6.99/lb - 1.5 lbs for 4 people = $10.49, roughly $2.62/serving
- Kroger Chicken Party Wings (Frozen, 2.5 lb): $7.99 flat - one bag feeds 4 at roughly $2.00/serving
- Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct or Medium Shrimp 51-60 ct (Frozen, 12 oz): $7.00 flat - one bag feeds 4 at roughly $1.75/serving
- Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs (Fully Cooked, 2 lb, In the Deli): $13.99 flat - one package feeds 4 at roughly $3.50/serving
- Private Selection Cedar Plank Salmon (Select Varieties, 24 oz): $17.99 flat - one package feeds 4 at roughly $4.50/serving
- Boneless Ribeye Steaks (Family Pack, Limit 5): $12.99/lb - 2 lbs for 4 people = $25.98, roughly $6.50/serving

Why these meals: The sausage and ground turkey are the real workhorses this week, each coming in well under $3 per serving and anchoring two of the four everyday nights with plenty of flavor. Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breasts at $3.99/lb and Kroger Large Shrimp at $7.00 a bag round out the remaining everyday nights at very reasonable per-serving costs, giving the week real variety without leaning on expensive cuts. The Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs earn the single premium night at $13.99 for a fully cooked 2 lb package - they are the best premium value on this flyer because they come in far below the Cedar Plank Salmon at $17.99 and the ribeye steaks that would run over $25 for a family portion, and the fully cooked format means zero prep time. The Hatch Chile Peppers at $1.49/lb and Hatch Sweet Onions at $3.99 for a 3 lb bag add bold seasonal flavor across multiple nights for almost nothing, and the Kroger Pasta 4 for $5.00 deal stretches one of the chicken nights into a satisfying pasta bowl without adding much to the total.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Johnsonville Smoked Sausage and Hatch Chile Skillet with Sweet Corn
Description: Sliced Johnsonville Smoked Dinner Sausage is browned in a skillet with diced Hatch Chile Peppers and Hatch Sweet Onions until everything is caramelized and fragrant, then served alongside sweet corn cut from the cob. The combination of smoky sausage and mildly spicy hatch chiles makes a fast, satisfying weeknight dinner with a distinctly summery Southwest feel.
Sale items used: Johnsonville Smoked Dinner or Breakfast Sausage (Select Varieties, 9.6-14 oz), Hatch Chile Peppers, Hatch Sweet Onions (3 lb bag), Kroger Sweet Corn 4 ct
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 package of Johnsonville Smoked Dinner Sausage (up to 14 oz), 0.5 lb Hatch Chile Peppers, and 4 ears of sweet corn (1 package of Kroger Sweet Corn 4 ct) for 4 people. Use roughly one-quarter of the Hatch Sweet Onions bag this night.

Tuesday
Meal: Ground Turkey Taco Bowls with Hatch Chile Salsa and Kroger Pasta
Description: Seasoned Kroger 85% or 93% Lean Ground Turkey is cooked in a skillet with diced Hatch Chile Peppers and Hatch Sweet Onions, then spooned over cooked Kroger Pasta in place of rice for a hearty taco bowl format. Topped with Yucatan Hatch Chile Guacamole, this bowl is bold, filling, and completely dairy-free.
Sale items used: Kroger 85% or 93% Lean Ground Turkey (16 oz), Hatch Chile Peppers, Hatch Sweet Onions (3 lb bag), Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz), Yucatan Hatch Chile Guacamole (Mild or Medium, 7.5 oz, In the Deli)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 packages of Kroger Ground Turkey (using the Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal, pay for 2 and save the third for another use), 1 box of Kroger Pasta, 0.25 lb Hatch Chile Peppers, and 1 container of Yucatan Hatch Chile Guacamole for 4 people. Use roughly one-quarter of the Hatch Sweet Onions bag this night.
Recipes:
- Ground Turkey Taco Bowls – Kalyn's Kitchen

Wednesday
Meal: Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breast Pasta with Prego Pasta Sauce
Description: Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breasts are sliced thin, sauteed in a skillet until cooked through, then tossed with Kroger Pasta and Prego Pasta Sauce for a straightforward, comforting dinner. The chicken stays juicy from the quick saute method and the marinara brings everything together in one pan.
Sale items used: Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breasts (Big Pack or Tenders or Thin Breasts), Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz), Prego Pasta Sauce (14.5-24 oz), Kroger Steamer Vegetables (10-12 oz)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs of Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breasts, 1 box of Kroger Pasta, 1 jar of Prego Pasta Sauce, and 1 bag of Kroger Steamer Vegetables for 4 people.

Thursday
Meal: Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs with Gourmet Potatoes and Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce
Description: The fully cooked Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs are warmed in the oven and finished with Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce for a sticky, smoky glaze, served alongside Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes roasted in the same oven. This is the premium night of the week, delivering a restaurant-quality rib dinner with almost no active cooking time.
Sale items used: Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs (Fully Cooked, 2 lb, In the Deli), Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce (18 oz), Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes 1.5 lb
Prep time: 25 minutes active, 30 minutes oven time
Serving note: 1 package of Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs (2 lb, fully cooked), 1 bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, and 1 package of Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes (1.5 lb) for 4 people. Timing note: start potatoes in the oven first at 400 degrees F for about 25 minutes, then add the foil-wrapped ribs for the final 20 minutes and brush with sauce for the last 5 minutes uncovered.

Friday
Meal: Sauteed Kroger Large Shrimp with Hatch Chile Peppers and Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage
Description: Kroger Large Shrimp and sliced Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage are sauteed together in a hot skillet with Hatch Chile Peppers and Hatch Sweet Onions, creating a surf-and-turf skillet with bright heat and savory depth. Served over Kroger Pasta, this Friday dinner feels celebratory while staying well within budget.
Sale items used: Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct or Medium Shrimp 51-60 ct (Frozen, 12 oz), Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz), Hatch Chile Peppers, Hatch Sweet Onions (3 lb bag), Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 bag of Kroger Large Shrimp (12 oz, thawed), 1 package of Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz), 0.25 lb Hatch Chile Peppers, and 1 box of Kroger Pasta for 4 people. Use the remaining portion of the Hatch Sweet Onions bag this night.
Recipes:
- One Pot Shrimp and Sausage Pasta - Healthy World Cuisine

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Johnsonville Smoked Dinner or Breakfast Sausage (Select Varieties, 9.6-14 oz) (x1): $2.99
- Kroger 85% or 93% Lean Ground Turkey (16 oz) (x2, get 1 free - pay for 2): $9.98
- Simple Truth Boneless Chicken Breasts (Big Pack or Tenders or Thin Breasts) (1.5 lbs): $5.99
- Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz) (x1): $4.99
- Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct or Medium Shrimp 51-60 ct (Frozen, 12 oz) (x1): $7.00
- Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs (Fully Cooked, 2 lb, In the Deli) (x1): $13.99
- Hatch Chile Peppers (1 lb total): $1.49
- Hatch Sweet Onions (3 lb bag) (x1): $3.99
- Kroger Sweet Corn 4 ct (x1 - part of 2 for $7.00 deal, buying 2 units): $7.00
- Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz) (x3 - part of 4 for $5.00 deal, buying 4 boxes): $5.00
- Prego Pasta Sauce (14.5-24 oz) (x1): $1.59
- Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce (18 oz) (x1): $1.59
- Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes 1.5 lb (x1 - second unit of 2 for $7.00 deal, paired with Sweet Corn above): $0.00
- Kroger Steamer Vegetables (10-12 oz) (x2 - part of 2 for $3.00 deal): $3.00
- Yucatan Hatch Chile Guacamole (Mild or Medium, 7.5 oz, In the Deli) (x1): $4.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or neutral cooking oil
- Garlic (fresh or jarred)
- Salt and black pepper
- Cumin and chili powder (for turkey taco bowls)
- Smoked paprika (optional, for shrimp skillet)
- Foil (for warming ribs)