Kroger Kid-Friendly 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 generously as part of a meal, roughly $0.75/serving
- Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz): $4.99/ea - one 16 oz package serves 4, roughly $1.25/serving
- Kroger 93% Lean Ground Beef (3 lb package): $6.99/lb - 1.5 lbs needed for 4 people = $10.49, roughly $2.62/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
- Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct or Medium Shrimp 51-60 ct (Frozen, 12 oz): $7.00/package - one 12 oz package serves 4 as a pasta topping, roughly $1.75/serving
- Private Selection Cedar Plank Salmon (Select Varieties, 24 oz): $17.99/package - one 24 oz package serves 4, 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 nights are the real stars of this week - Johnsonville Smoked Dinner Sausage at $2.99 a package and Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage at $4.99 anchor two of the most affordable dinners on the plan. Ground beef at $6.99/lb gives you a classic kid-pleasing cheeseburger night for about $10.49 in protein, and chicken breasts at $3.99/lb round out the everyday proteins with a simple baked pasta. The shrimp at $7.00 for a 12 oz bag earns the one premium spot this week - it is the most practical premium choice because one bag stretches nicely over buttered pasta for four kids, and it costs far less per serving than the salmon at $17.99 or the ribeye at $12.99/lb, both of which were deliberately skipped to keep the week's total well within range.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Penne Pasta with Prego Marinara and Kraft Shredded Cheese
Description: Cooked penne pasta is tossed with Prego pasta sauce, poured into a baking dish, topped generously with Kraft shredded cheese, and baked until bubbly and golden - a total crowd-pleaser that kids love to help assemble. Serve with steamed Kroger Steamer Vegetables on the side for a complete and colorful plate.
Sale items used: Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz), Prego Pasta Sauce (14.5-24 oz), Kraft Shredded Cheese (7-8 oz), Kroger Steamer Vegetables (10-12 oz)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 boxes (12-16 oz each) of Kroger Pasta, 1 jar Prego Pasta Sauce, 2 bags (7-8 oz each) Kraft Shredded Cheese (buy 2 for $5.00), and 1 bag Kroger Steamer Vegetables; bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes after boiling pasta.
Recipes:
- Baked Penne Pasta

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Cooked Johnsonville Smoked Dinner Sausage with Sweet Corn and Gourmet Potatoes
Description: Sliced Johnsonville Smoked Dinner Sausage is browned in a skillet until caramelized on the edges, then served alongside boiled sweet corn on the cob and roasted Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes - a simple, hearty one-skillet-style dinner kids always clean their plates for. Everything cooks in about 30 minutes with minimal fuss.
Sale items used: Johnsonville Smoked Dinner or Breakfast Sausage (Select Varieties, 9.6-14 oz), Kroger Sweet Corn 4 ct, Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes 1.5 lb (Select Varieties)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 packages Johnsonville Smoked Dinner Sausage at $2.99 each, 1 pack Kroger Sweet Corn 4 ct (one ear per person), and 1 bag Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes 1.5 lb; the corn and potatoes are sold together as 2 for $7.00, so buy one Sweet Corn 4 ct and one Gourmet Potatoes 1.5 lb for $7.00 total.
Recipes:
- Smoked Sausage and Potato Skillet Recipe

Wednesday
Meal: Skillet Ground Beef Cheeseburgers on Private Selection Buns with Sargento Cheese Slices
Description: Seasoned Kroger 93% Lean Ground Beef patties are shaped and cooked in a skillet until juicy, then topped with melted Sargento Cheese Slices and served on toasted Private Selection Buns - a classic burger night that kids go wild for. Set out French's Yellow Mustard and Hellmann's Mayonnaise so everyone can build their own.
Sale items used: Kroger 93% Lean Ground Beef (3 lb package), Sargento Cheese Slices (8-20 ct), Private Selection Buns (Select Varieties, 8 ct), French's Yellow Mustard (20 oz), Hellmann's Mayonnaise (11.5 fl oz)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of Kroger 93% Lean Ground Beef at $6.99/lb = $10.49 (from the 3 lb package; freeze the rest), 1 pack Sargento Cheese Slices (buy 2 for $5.00 - use second pack for snacking), 1 pack Private Selection Buns 8 ct at $3.49; French's Yellow Mustard is Buy 1 Get 1 Free so grab two bottles and pay $3.99 for the pair (base price treated as $3.99 for the one you pay for), and Hellmann's Mayonnaise at $3.99 each.

Thursday
Meal: Stovetop Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage Pasta with Prego Marinara and Kraft Shredded Cheese
Description: Sliced Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage is browned in a pan, stirred into warm Prego pasta sauce, and ladled over cooked Kroger pasta, then finished with a sprinkle of Kraft shredded cheese for a hearty, familiar dinner. This is a different build from Monday's baked pasta - it is a quick stovetop toss rather than a baked casserole, with sausage as the star protein.
Sale items used: Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz), Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz), Prego Pasta Sauce (14.5-24 oz), Kraft Shredded Cheese (7-8 oz)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 package Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage 16 oz at $4.99, 1 box Kroger Pasta at $1.25 (from the 4 for $5.00 deal), 1 jar Prego Pasta Sauce at $1.59, and the second pack of Kraft Shredded Cheese already purchased Monday (2 for $5.00 deal).
Recipes:
- One Pot Pasta with Sausage
- Italian Chicken Sausage Pasta

Friday
Meal: Buttered Pasta with Kroger Large Shrimp and Kraft Shredded Cheese
Description: Thawed Kroger Large Shrimp are quickly sauteed in butter until pink and tender, then tossed with cooked Kroger pasta and finished with Kraft shredded cheese for a simple, fun Friday dinner kids love to twirl on their forks. It comes together in under 20 minutes and feels like a special treat without the premium price tag of salmon or steak.
Sale items used: Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct (Frozen, 12 oz), Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz), Kraft Shredded Cheese (7-8 oz)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 bag Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct (Frozen, 12 oz) at $7.00, 1 box Kroger Pasta at $1.25 (from the 4 for $5.00 deal), and the remaining Kraft Shredded Cheese from the 2-pack purchased Monday; thaw shrimp in cold water for 15 minutes before cooking.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Kroger Pasta (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz) (x4 boxes, 4 for $5.00 deal): $5.00
- Prego Pasta Sauce (14.5-24 oz) (x2 jars at $1.59 each): $3.18
- Kraft Shredded Cheese (7-8 oz) (x2 packs, 2 for $5.00): $5.00
- Kroger Steamer Vegetables (10-12 oz) (x2 bags, 2 for $3.00 - buy 2 to meet deal): $3.00
- Johnsonville Smoked Dinner or Breakfast Sausage (Select Varieties, 9.6-14 oz) (x2 packages at $2.99 each with Digital Coupon): $5.98
- Kroger Sweet Corn 4 ct and Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes 1.5 lb (1 of each, 2 for $7.00): $7.00
- Kroger 93% Lean Ground Beef (3 lb package) (1.5 lbs used at $6.99/lb): $10.49
- Sargento Cheese Slices (8-20 ct) (x2 packs, 2 for $5.00): $5.00
- Private Selection Buns (Select Varieties, 8 ct) (x1): $3.49
- French's Yellow Mustard (20 oz) (Buy 1 Get 1 Free - pay for 1): $3.99
- Hellmann's Mayonnaise (11.5 fl oz) (x1): $3.99
- Simple Truth Italian Chicken Sausage (16 oz) (x1): $4.99
- Kroger Large Shrimp 31-40 ct (Frozen, 12 oz) (x1): $7.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Butter (for sauteing shrimp and roasting potatoes)
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Water for boiling pasta