Kroger Kid-Friendly Meal Plan
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5-DAY MEAL PLAN
Monday
Meal: Smoked Sausage and Tomato Skillet with Buttered Bread
Description: Sliced smoked sausage is pan-fried until golden and tossed with fresh diced tomatoes in a simple, savory skillet that kids love. Served alongside a slice of soft buttered bread for dipping and scooping.
Sale items used: Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage 12-13 oz (2/$7.00), Grainger County Tomatoes $1.88/lb, Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread $1.99 each, Kroger Butter $2.99 each
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use about 4-5 oz of smoked sausage (half the package, save the rest for another use), roughly 0.25 lb of tomatoes (about $0.47 worth), and 1-2 slices of bread with a small pat of butter.
Recipes:
- Smoked Sausage and Tomato Skillet
Tuesday
Meal: Baked Ground Chicken Meatballs over Pasta with Marinara
Description: Tender, mild ground chicken meatballs are baked in the oven and served over a small portion of pasta smothered in sweet marinara sauce - a total crowd-pleaser for kids. The simple flavors and fun round meatballs make this a meal children will ask for again.
Sale items used: Springer Mountain Ground Chicken 16 oz $2.99 each, Prego Pasta Sauce 14.5-24 oz $1.59 each, Kroger Cheese 6-8 oz $1.49 each
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use about 4-5 oz of ground chicken to make 4-5 small meatballs, cook about 1.5 oz of dry pasta (from pantry), and top with roughly 1/3 cup of marinara; sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Wednesday
Meal: Braised Beef Brisket Sandwiches with Tomatoes and Buns
Description: A small portion of USDA Choice beef brisket is slow-braised until fall-apart tender, then piled onto a soft bun with fresh tomato slices for a kid-friendly sandwich. The mild, juicy beef needs no fancy toppings - just bread and tomato make it a winner.
Sale items used: Whole Beef Brisket USDA Choice $3.99/lb (after digital coupon), Grainger County Tomatoes $1.88/lb, Private Selection Buns 8 ct $3.49 each
Prep time: 20 minutes active + 3-4 hours braising
Serving note: Purchase approximately 0.75 lb of brisket (about $2.99); the long braise time means this is best started in the morning or early afternoon - set it in a covered pot or slow cooker and let it go while you do other things. Use 1 bun and 2-3 tomato slices per serving. Leftover brisket can be refrigerated for another meal.
Thursday
Meal: Kroger Dinner Sausage and Macaroni Bake with Cheese
Description: Sliced Kroger Dinner Sausage is mixed into cooked macaroni with a simple cheesy sauce and baked until bubbly and golden on top - the ultimate kid comfort food. It is warm, cheesy, and filling with familiar flavors every child enjoys.
Sale items used: Kroger Dinner Sausage 18 oz $3.99 each, Kraft Mac & Cheese Microwave Cups 4 ct $3.99 each, Kroger Cheese 6-8 oz $1.49 each
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use about 4-5 oz of sliced dinner sausage and 1 Kraft Mac & Cheese cup as the base; top with a small handful of shredded cheese and bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes until the top is lightly golden.
Friday
Meal: Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder Sliders with Barbecue Sauce and Buns
Description: A small portion of bone-in pork shoulder is slow-cooked until it shreds easily, then tossed in sweet barbecue sauce and piled onto soft slider buns for a fun, hands-on meal kids love. The sweet BBQ flavor and soft pull-apart pork make these sliders a Friday-night favorite.
Sale items used: Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In $1.99/lb, Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce 18 oz $1.59 each, Private Selection Buns 8 ct $3.49 each
Prep time: 20 minutes active + 6-8 hours slow cooking
Serving note: Purchase approximately 1 lb of pork shoulder (about $1.99); bone-in cuts lose some weight during cooking so 1 lb raw yields a good single-serving portion of pulled pork. Start this in a slow cooker in the morning on low heat - it will be ready by dinner with no extra effort. Use 2 slider buns and drizzle generously with BBQ sauce.
Recipes:
- Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
🛒 Shopping List
SHOPPING LIST
Buy on sale:
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage 12-13 oz (x1 pack, 2/$7.00 deal - buy 2 to get the deal): $7.00
- Grainger County Tomatoes (0.5 lb total across Monday and Wednesday): $0.94
- Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread (x1 loaf): $1.99
- Kroger Butter 16 oz (x1): $2.99
- Springer Mountain Ground Chicken 16 oz (x1): $2.99
- Prego Pasta Sauce 14.5-24 oz (x1): $1.59
- Kroger Cheese 6-8 oz (x2, one for Tuesday and one for Thursday): $2.98
- Whole Beef Brisket USDA Choice (0.75 lb at $3.99/lb): $2.99
- Private Selection Buns 8 ct (x1 pack, used Wednesday and Friday): $3.49
- Kroger Dinner Sausage 18 oz (x1): $3.99
- Kraft Mac & Cheese Microwave Cups 4 ct (x1): $3.99
- Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In (1 lb at $1.99/lb): $1.99
- Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce 18 oz (x1): $1.59
Pantry staples needed:
- Dry pasta (spaghetti or penne) for Tuesday
- Olive oil or cooking oil for skillet meals
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning or dried oregano for meatballs
- Egg (binder for meatballs)
- Breadcrumbs for meatballs
- Cooking spray or butter for baking dish
🏷️ All sale items this week
SALE ITEMS FOUND
Meats on sale:
- Whole Beef Brisket (USDA Choice): $3.99/lb (after $2.00/lb digital coupon; regular with card $5.99/lb)
- Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In: $1.99/lb
- Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp 31-40 ct, Raw, 2 lb bag: $6.99/lb
- Springer Mountain 92% Lean All Natural Ground Chicken or Chicken Patties, 16 oz: $2.99 each
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, 12-13 oz: 2/$7.00
- Wild-Caught Lobster Tails, 3-4 oz: 2/$12.00
- Fresh Atlantic Salmon Fillets Farm-Raised: $9.99/lb
- Kroger 85% Lean Ground Beef, 1 lb package: $7.99 each
- Kroger Boneless Chicken Breasts or Kroger Chicken Party Wings, 8 lb: $20.00 each
- Kroger Dinner Sausage, 18 oz: $3.99 each
- Schweid & Sons Burger Patties, 1.32-1.33 lb: $10.00 each
- Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage, 19 oz: $5.00 each
- Simple Truth Bacon, 12 oz: $5.00 each
- Just Bare Frozen Chicken, 36 oz: $14.99 each
- Oscar Mayer Bacon 12-16 oz or Kroger Beef Bacon 10 oz (select varieties): $4.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Private Selection Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, sliced to order or Grab & Go, In the Deli: $11.99/lb (with digital coupon)
- Private Selection Sliced Salami or Pepperoni, 5 oz: $3.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Kroger Boneless Chicken Breast Cutlets, Frozen, 2.5 lb: $9.49 each (with digital coupon)
Deli and prepared on sale:
- Yucatan Hatch Guacamole, Mild or Medium, 7.5 oz, In the Deli: $4.99 each
- Private Selection Summer Hatch Chile Roll, select varieties, 10.6 oz, In the Deli: $9.99 each
- Private Selection Salad Bowls, select varieties, 6.25-8.45 oz: $5.00 each
- Private Selection Sliced Cheese, select varieties, 8 oz, In the Deli: $4.99 each
- Home Chef Chicken Tenders, Fully Cooked, select varieties, 5 ct: $5.00 each
Produce on sale:
- Grainger County Tomatoes: $1.88/lb
- Personal Watermelon, Cantaloupe or Honeydew Melons: 2/$6.00
- California Yellow or White Peaches or Nectarines: $1.88/lb (with digital coupon)
- Strawberries, 16 oz: $1.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Hatch Chile Peppers: $1.49/lb
- Hatch Sweet Onions, 3 lb bag: $3.99 each
- California Plums or Plumcots: $1.49/lb
- Kroger Pluots, 2 lb bag: $5.99 each
- Organic Yellow or White Peaches or Nectarines: $2.99/lb
- Cuties Seedless Mandarins or Kroger Cosmic Crisp Apples, 3 lb: $4.99 each
- Asparagus: $3.49/lb
- Private Selection Signature Melons: $4.99 each
- Simple Truth Organic Blueberries, 18 oz: $6.99 each
- Mighties Ripe & Easy Green Kiwi, 2 lb: $6.00 each
- Private Selection Vidalia Sweet Onions, 3 lb: $3.79 each
Dairy and eggs on sale:
- Kroger Cheese, select varieties, 6-8 oz: $1.49 each (with digital coupon)
- Kroger Butter, select varieties, 16 oz: $2.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Chobani Greek Yogurt, select varieties, 4 ct: $2.99 each (with digital coupon)
- The Greek Gods Greek Yogurt, 24 oz: $3.79 each (with digital coupon)
- Chobani Greek Yogurt Drink, 7 fl oz or Built Puff Protein Bar, 1.41-1.45 oz: 2/$4.00
- Yoplait Go-Gurt, 8 ct or Dannon Danimals Smoothies, 6 ct: $1.49 each (with digital coupon)
Bakery and bread on sale:
- Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread, select varieties, 12 oz: $1.99 each
- Private Selection Buns, select varieties, 8 ct: $3.49 each
- Strawberry Crunch Cake, 8" or other varieties, In the Bakery: $9.99 each
- Angel Food Cake 9-13 oz or Private Selection Cupcakes, 4 ct: $6.00 each
- Private Selection Fresh Baked Butter Croissants Large 4 ct or Mini 12 ct or Bakery Fresh Muffins, 4 ct: $5.00 each
Pantry on sale:
- Prego Pasta Sauce, 14.5-24 oz or Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, 18 oz: $1.59 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Hellmann's Mayonnaise, select varieties, 20-30 fl oz: $5.49 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Kraft Mac & Cheese Microwave Cups, 4 ct or Multipack 5 ct: $3.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Nabisco Oreo Family Size Cookies, 7.14-20 oz or Pepperidge Farm Cookies, 5-8.6 oz: $3.99 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Nabisco Snack Crackers, 3.5-8.5 oz or Keebler Cookies, 8.5-13.4 oz: $2.99 each (with Buy More Save More)
- General Mills Cereal, 8.9-14 oz or Jif Peanut Butter, 15-16 oz: $2.29 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Kellogg's Giant Size Cereal, 16.5-29.5 oz or Starbucks Iced Coffee, 48 fl oz: $4.99 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, 6-10 ct or Chex Mix, 7-8 oz: $1.99 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, 4.8-8 oz or Mission Tortilla Chips, 9-11 oz: $1.99 each (with Buy More Save More)
- Mott's Applesauce, 6 ct or Kroger Fruit Cups, 4 ct: 2/$5.00
- Stouffer's Family Size Entrées, select varieties, 28-40 oz: $8.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Green Mountain or McCafé K-Cups, 8-10 ct or Community Coffee, 12 oz: $6.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Kroger Coffee, select varieties, 20-29 oz can: $9.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Lunch Meat, 7-9 oz or Claussen Pickles, 20-32 fl oz: $3.49 each (with digital coupon)
- Simple Truth Organic Tortilla Chips, select varieties, 7.5-9 oz: 2/$5.00
- José Olé Taquitos, select varieties, 15-20 ct: $5.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Liquid I.V. Drink Mix, 6 ct or Chomps Chomplings Meat Sticks, 6 ct: $7.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Mission Carb Balance Tortillas, 8 ct or Morningstar Farms Entrée, 5.25-12 oz: $3.99 each (with digital coupon)
Frozen on sale:
- Stouffer's or Lean Cuisine Entrée, select varieties, 8-12.875 oz: 4/$10.00 (when you buy 4 with card)
- Nestlé Drumstick Cones, select varieties, 8-20 ct: $5.99 each (with digital coupon)
- California Pizza Kitchen or DiGiorno Pizza, select varieties, 13.4-28 oz: $6.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Eggo Waffles, 8-10 ct or Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal, 9.2-15 oz: $2.49 each (with digital coupon)
- Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars, 4 ct Sandwiches or 3 ct: $3.99 each (with digital coupon)
- Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream, 14 fl oz or Bars 3-6 ct: $4.49 each (with Buy More Save More)
🛒 Estimated Shopping Cost
Based on sale prices for items in this plan
$38.52
for 1 person · $38.52 per person
📍 Disclaimer: Prices and availability are based on the Kroger weekly sales flyer for the week of August 05, 2026. Flyers are sourced from store websites and weekly flyer aggregator sites. Actual prices may vary by location. Always verify prices at your local store. We are not affiliated with Kroger.