Kroger Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Springer Mountain Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenders: Buy 1, Get 1 Free
- Pork Butt: Buy 1, Get 1 Free
- Chuck Roast: $3.67/lb
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage: Buy 1, Get 1 Free
- Hormel Pepperoni: $14.99 each
- Simple Truth Organic 85% Lean Ground Beef: $9.99/lb
- Wellshire Turkey Bacon: Buy 1, Get 1 Free
- 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):
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage (BOGO, two packages for the price of one): roughly $0.75-$1.00 per serving for 4 people
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks ($4.99 each): roughly $1.25 per serving (one pack feeds 4 with sides)
- Chuck Roast ($3.67/lb, ~2 lbs for 4 people): roughly $1.84 per serving
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck ($4.99/lb, ~1.5 lbs for 4 people): roughly $1.87 per serving
- Springer Mountain Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenders (BOGO): roughly $2.00-$2.50 per serving depending on base price
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp ($9.99/lb, ~1 lb for 4 people): roughly $2.50 per serving

Why these meals: The smoked sausage BOGO and the $4.99 drumstick pack are the real steals this week, giving you two filling kid-friendly dinners for almost nothing per plate. Chuck roast at $3.67/lb is a fantastic everyday value and anchors a slow-cooked dinner that practically makes itself. Ground chuck at $4.99/lb keeps a classic pasta night affordable and familiar for picky eaters. Shrimp at $9.99/lb is the one splurge of the week, and at roughly $10 for a full pound it is actually the gentlest premium on this flyer, making it the right call for Friday's fun dinner. Sticking to pantry staples like Barilla pasta at $0.99 and Minute Rice at $0.99 keeps the supporting cast cheap so the proteins can shine without blowing the budget.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage and Rice Skillet
Description: Sliced smoked sausage is browned in a skillet until caramelized, then stirred together with cooked Minute Rice for a hearty one-pan dinner kids love. The smoky, savory flavors are simple and satisfying, and the whole meal comes together in about 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, Minute Rice
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 package of Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage (sliced into coins) and 2 cups dry Minute Rice (makes 4 cups cooked, about 1 cup per person). The BOGO deal means you pay for one package and get one free; use the second package later in the week or freeze it.
Recipes:
- Easy Smoked Sausage Skillet
- Cheesy Smoked Sausage And Rice Skillet
- Smoked Sausage and Pepper Skillet

Tuesday
Meal: Baked Chuck Roast with Barilla Pasta
Description: A 2-lb chuck roast is seasoned and slow-baked in the oven with a splash of broth until fork-tender, then served over Barilla pasta for a cozy, kid-approved dinner. The rich, beefy sauce from the roasting pan doubles as a simple pasta topper that even picky eaters enjoy.
Sale items used: Chuck Roast, Barilla Pasta
Prep time: 20 minutes active, 2.5 hours total (oven braise)
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of Chuck Roast and 2 boxes of Barilla Pasta (16 oz each, about 4 oz dry pasta per person). Start the roast by 4:30 PM for a 7:00 PM dinner; the oven does the work while you help with homework.

Wednesday
Meal: Private Selection Fried Chicken Drumsticks with Barilla Pasta Salad
Description: Ready-to-eat fried chicken drumsticks are served warm alongside a simple cold pasta salad tossed with pantry staples for a no-fuss midweek dinner. Kids love eating drumsticks with their hands, and the pasta salad rounds out the plate with familiar flavors.
Sale items used: Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks, Barilla Pasta
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks (one drumstick per person with one extra to share) and 1 box of Barilla Pasta (16 oz) for the pasta salad. Warm the drumsticks in a 350-degree oven for 10-12 minutes while the pasta cooks.
Recipes:
- Fried chicken drumsticks with pasta salad
- SFC Drumsticks and pasta salad

Thursday
Meal: Ground Chuck Beef Tacos with Pico de Gallo
Description: Seasoned Private Selection Angus Ground Chuck is browned in a skillet and served in taco shells with Pico de Gallo and Tillamook Cheese for a crowd-pleasing taco night. This is a classic build-your-own dinner that kids aged 5-12 can help assemble themselves.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck, Pico de Gallo, Tillamook Cheese
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of ground chuck (about 6 oz raw per person), 0.5 lb of Pico de Gallo, and 1 package of Tillamook Cheese (the BOGO deal means you pay for one block and get one free; use the second for snacking or another meal). Serve in taco shells from your pantry.
Recipes:
- Ground Beef Tacos

Friday
Meal: Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Shrimp over Minute Rice
Description: Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp are quickly pan-seared in garlic butter until pink and tender, then served over fluffy Minute Rice for a fun Friday dinner that feels special without being complicated. The mild, buttery flavor is a big hit with kids, and the whole meal is on the table in under 20 minutes.
Sale items used: Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp, Minute Rice
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 lb of Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp (about 4 oz per person) and 2 cups dry Minute Rice (makes 4 cups cooked). Peel the shrimp before cooking or let older kids help peel at the table for a fun activity.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage (x1 paid, x1 free via BOGO - 1 package used this week): $3.99
- Chuck Roast (2 lbs at $3.67/lb): $7.34
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks (x1 pack): $4.99
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck (1.5 lbs at $4.99/lb): $7.49
- Pico de Gallo (0.5 lb at $1.99/lb): $1.00
- Tillamook Cheese (x1 paid, x1 free via BOGO - 1 package used this week): $5.99
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp (1 lb at $9.99/lb): $9.99
- Barilla Pasta (x3 boxes at $0.99 each): $2.97
- Minute Rice (x2 boxes at $0.99 each): $1.98

Pantry staples needed:
- Taco shells
- Chicken or beef broth (for braising the chuck roast)
- Garlic (for the shrimp)
- Butter (for the shrimp)
- Olive oil or cooking oil
- Salt, pepper, and taco seasoning
- Italian dressing or mayo (for the pasta salad)
- Dried Italian herbs