Kroger Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Perdue Chicken Drumstick Family Pack: Buy 1, Get 2 Free
- Oscar Mayer Beef Franks Select Varieties: $3.99
- Swaggerty's Farm Sausage Rolls: $1.59
- Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs Fully Cooked: $8.99/lb
- Private Selection Angus Beef Patties Frozen: $4.99
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Loins Select Varieties: Buy 1, Get 1 Free
- Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage Select Varieties: Buy 1, Get 1 Free
- Boneless Pork Tenderloins: $3.99/lb
- Flat Iron or Flank Steaks: $6.99/lb
- Private Selection Angus 90% Lean Ground Sirloin: $8.99/lb
- Wendy's Beef Patties: $8.99/lb
- Tyson Chicken Frozen Select Varieties: $5.10
- Gorton's Crunchy Breaded Fish Portions or Sticks Frozen: $3.99
- Private Selection Mesquite Smoked Turkey Breast or Swiss Cheese Sliced to Order: $8.99/lb

Vegetables on sale:
- California Red Seedless Grapes / Taylor Farms Select Varieties: $1.99
- Grainger County Tomatoes: $1.88/lb
- Kroger Peaches or Nectarines: $2.49
- Kroger Strawberries: $4.99
- Washington Red Cherries: $3.99
- Private Selection Heirloom Navel Oranges 5 lb Bag: $4.99
- Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes Select Varieties: $1.99/lb

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Swaggerty's Farm Sausage Rolls: $1.59/pack - roughly $1.59 for 4 servings (about $0.40/serving)
- Perdue Chicken Drumsticks (Buy 1 Get 2 Free): a family pack runs about $7-8, with BOGO x2 free you effectively get 3 packs for the price of 1, bringing cost to roughly $2.50-$3.00 for more than enough drumsticks for 4 people (about $0.65-$0.75/serving)
- Oscar Mayer Beef Franks: $3.99/pack - roughly $3.99 for 4 servings (about $1.00/serving)
- Private Selection Angus Beef Patties Frozen: $4.99/pack - roughly $4.99 for 4 servings (about $1.25/serving)
- Gorton's Crunchy Breaded Fish Portions or Sticks: $3.99/box - roughly $3.99 for 4 servings (about $1.00/serving), but this is a processed/breaded item counted as a fish protein
- Tyson Chicken Frozen Select Varieties: $5.10/bag - roughly $5.10 for 4 servings (about $1.28/serving)
- Boneless Pork Tenderloins: $3.99/lb - need about 2 lbs for 4 people = $7.98 total (about $2.00/serving)
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Loins (Buy 1 Get 1 Free): typical loin is $8-10, BOGO cuts effective price to roughly $4-5 for 4 servings (about $1.00-$1.25/serving) - moves up the value list when you need two anyway
- Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage (Buy 1 Get 1 Free): roughly $4-5 per pack, BOGO makes it about $2.50 for 4 servings - good value but more of a breakfast protein
- Flat Iron or Flank Steak: $6.99/lb - need about 2 lbs for 4 people = $13.98 total (about $3.50/serving) - PREMIUM
- Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs Fully Cooked: $8.99/lb - need about 3 lbs for 4 people = $26.97 total (about $6.75/serving) - PREMIUM
- Private Selection Angus 90% Lean Ground Sirloin: $8.99/lb - need about 1.5 lbs for 4 people = $13.49 total (about $3.37/serving) - PREMIUM label cut
- Wendy's Beef Patties: $8.99/lb - roughly same as ground sirloin, $13.49 for 4 (about $3.37/serving) - PREMIUM price point
- Private Selection Mesquite Smoked Turkey Breast Sliced to Order: $8.99/lb - deli meat priced at a premium per pound

Why these meals: The Perdue drumstick Buy 1 Get 2 Free deal is the star of this week's flyer - you walk out with three family packs for the price of one, making Monday night's baked drumsticks practically the cheapest protein you can serve all week. The Swaggerty's sausage at $1.59 and the Beef Franks at $3.99 anchor two more very affordable weeknight dinners, and the $4.99 frozen beef patties make Friday's burger night a crowd-pleasing bargain for the whole family. The Gorton's fish sticks at $3.99 earn the one seafood night this week - they are far and away the most budget-friendly fish option on the flyer and genuinely the most kid-friendly preparation you can find, which makes them the easy call over the pricier steak and rib options. The flat iron steak at $6.99/lb was technically the least expensive of the premium cuts, but with drumsticks, sausage, franks, and fish sticks covering four delicious and affordable nights, there was no need to reach for it, keeping the week's total comfortably low and the meals squarely in kid-approved territory.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Roasted Potatoes
Description: Juicy chicken drumsticks coated in tangy BBQ sauce and baked until golden and sticky, served alongside crispy roasted potato wedges. This is the kind of finger-food dinner kids love to dig into, and cleanup is a breeze with a simple sheet pan setup.
Sale items used: Perdue Chicken Drumstick Family Pack (Buy 1 Get 2 Free), Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes in oven
Serving note: 3 drumsticks per person (12 drumsticks total), 1 lb potatoes cut into wedges roasted alongside

Tuesday
Meal: Spaghetti with Sausage Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread
Description: Swaggerty's sausage crumbled and browned into a simple Classico tomato sauce over tender Barilla spaghetti - a classic combo kids always go back for seconds on. Pair with toasted bread and a side of grape tomatoes for a complete, satisfying dinner.
Sale items used: Swaggerty's Farm Sausage Rolls ($1.59), Classico pasta sauce ($1.99), Barilla Pasta ($0.99)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 2 sausage rolls crumbled for the sauce (enough for 4 generous servings), 12 oz pasta cooked, one 24 oz jar of Classico sauce
Recipes:
- Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread - Gonna Want Seconds
- Easy Spaghetti Stuffed Garlic Bread Recipe - Recipes by Clare

Wednesday
Meal: Gorton's Crispy Fish Stick Tacos with Tomato Salsa
Description: Golden crunchy Gorton's fish sticks tucked into soft tortillas and topped with diced fresh Grainger County tomatoes for a simple, fun taco night kids can assemble themselves. Set out toppings in little bowls and let everyone build their own for a hands-on dinner experience.
Sale items used: Gorton's Crunchy Breaded Fish Portions or Sticks Frozen ($3.99), Grainger County Tomatoes ($1.88/lb)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 2 boxes of Gorton's fish sticks (approximately 3-4 sticks per person), 0.5 lb of tomatoes diced for topping, 8 small soft tortillas (pantry)
Recipes:
- Fish Stick Tacos Recipe | Gorton's Seafood

Thursday
Meal: Beef Frank Hot Dogs with Potato Salad and Chips
Description: Classic backyard-style hot dog night with Oscar Mayer beef franks on buns, served with Kroger potato salad and crunchy Frito-Lay chips on the side. This is a no-fuss, all-smiles dinner that kids will ask for again and keeps the evening relaxed and fun.
Sale items used: Oscar Mayer Beef Franks ($3.99), Kroger Potato Salad ($3.99), Frito-Lay Multipack ($3.49)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serving note: 2 hot dogs per person (8 total from a standard pack), 1 container of Kroger potato salad split among 4, 1 Frito-Lay multipack with assorted bags for each person
Recipes:
- hot dogs with vinegared iceberg and potato chips – smitten kitchen

Friday
Meal: Smash-Style Cheeseburgers with Rice and Pineapple
Description: Private Selection frozen beef patties smashed on a hot skillet for crispy edges and a juicy center, served on buns with all the classic toppings kids love. A side of Ben's Ready Rice and sweet Dole pineapple chunks rounds out a fun Friday night feast that feels like a special occasion without the price tag.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus Beef Patties Frozen ($4.99), Ben's Ready Rice ($0.99), Dole Pineapple 8 oz ($0.99)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 beef patty per person (standard 4-count package), 1 pouch of Ben's Ready Rice split as a side, 1 can of Dole pineapple chunks shared among 4
Recipes:
- Smash Burger Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Perdue Chicken Drumstick Family Pack - Buy 1 Get 2 Free (buy 1 pack, get 2 free): $7.99
- Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes (1 lb): $1.99
- Swaggerty's Farm Sausage Rolls (x2 packs): $3.18
- Classico Pasta Sauce (x1 jar): $1.99
- Barilla Pasta 12-16 oz (x1 box): $0.99
- Gorton's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks Frozen (x2 boxes): $7.98
- Grainger County Tomatoes (0.5 lb): $0.94
- Oscar Mayer Beef Franks (x1 pack): $3.99
- Kroger Potato Salad (x1 container): $3.99
- Frito-Lay Multipack (x1): $3.49
- Private Selection Angus Beef Patties Frozen (x1 pack): $4.99
- Ben's Ready Rice (x1 pouch): $0.99
- Dole Pineapple 8 oz (x1 can): $0.99

Pantry staples needed:
- BBQ sauce (for drumsticks)
- Olive oil or cooking oil (for roasting potatoes)
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
- Small soft flour tortillas (for fish tacos)
- Shredded cheese, sour cream, lettuce (taco toppings)
- Hot dog buns
- Hamburger buns
- Ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish (condiments)
- Cheese slices (for burgers)