Kroger Standard Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Springer Mountain Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenders: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Pork Butt: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Chuck Roast: $3.67/lb
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- Hormel Pepperoni: $14.99 each
- Simple Truth Organic 85% Lean Ground Beef: $9.99/lb
- Wellshire Turkey Bacon: Buy 1, Get 1 Free (base price not listed)
- 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):
- Chuck Roast at $3.67/lb: ~2 lbs for 4 people = $7.34 total, roughly $1.84 per serving
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks at $4.99 each: 1 pack for 4 people = $4.99 total, roughly $1.25 per serving (flat pack price)
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 4-Piece at $5.99 each: 1 pack for 4 people = $5.99 total, roughly $1.50 per serving (flat pack price)
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck at $4.99/lb: ~1.5 lbs for 4 people = $7.49 total, roughly $1.87 per serving
- Barilla Pasta + Ranch Style Beans (meatless night): $0.99 + $0.99 = $1.98 total, roughly $0.50 per serving
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp at $9.99/lb: ~1.5 lbs for 4 people = $14.99 total, roughly $3.75 per serving (premium)
- Chuck Roast at $3.67/lb is the most economical per-pound protein with a stated price, and the two fried chicken flat-pack options are outstanding value at under $6 for a ready-to-serve pack. The Ground Chuck at $4.99/lb is a solid mid-week workhorse. Shrimp at $9.99/lb is the clearest premium item this week and earns the single premium night. The BOGO proteins (chicken breasts, pork butt, smoked sausage, burger patties, turkey bacon) have no stated base price and are excluded from the ranked list and the meal plan entirely.

Why these meals: The five dinners this week lean hard on the best flat-price and per-pound deals on the flyer. The fried chicken packs at $4.99 and $5.99 are practically unbeatable value since the cooking is already done for you, and pairing them with sale mushrooms and potatoes keeps those nights filling without adding much cost. Chuck roast at $3.67/lb is one of the lowest per-pound prices on the flyer for a hearty protein, and a slow braise turns it into a deeply flavorful meal that stretches well across four plates. Ground chuck at $4.99/lb anchors a quick skillet pasta night that uses pantry staples you likely already have. The shrimp at $9.99/lb is the one splurge of the week, and at 1.5 lbs it feeds four comfortably for under $15 in protein, making it the most reasonable premium pick on this flyer. Keeping the meatless pasta night in the mix pulls the per-person total well within range and adds a nice change of pace mid-week.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Braised Chuck Roast with Baby Bella Mushrooms and Petite Potatoes
Description: Thick-cut chuck roast is seared and then braised low and slow in beef broth with garlic and thyme until fork-tender, with baby bella mushrooms and petite gourmet potatoes added in the final hour to soak up the savory pan juices. The result is a rich, hearty one-pot dinner with deep flavor and very little hands-on time after the initial sear.
Sale items used: Chuck Roast, Baby Bella or White Mushrooms, Petite Gourmet Potatoes
Prep time: 20 minutes active, approximately 3 hours total (braise in oven)
Serving note: Use 2 lbs chuck roast for 4 people. Use 2 packs Baby Bella or White Mushrooms (BOGO pair counts as one paid unit). Use 1 bag Petite Gourmet Potatoes (BOGO, pay for one). Start the braise by early afternoon or use a slow cooker on low for 7-8 hours if starting in the morning.

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Ground Chuck and Mushroom Pasta with Barilla Penne
Description: Ground chuck is browned in a skillet with diced onion, garlic, and sliced baby bella mushrooms, then tossed with cooked Barilla pasta and a simple tomato-herb pan sauce built from pantry staples. It is a fast, satisfying weeknight dinner that comes together in about 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck, Baby Bella or White Mushrooms, Barilla Pasta
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs ground chuck for 4 people. Use 1 pack Baby Bella or White Mushrooms. Use 1 box Barilla Pasta (12 oz box feeds 4 generously as a combined pasta-and-meat dish).

Wednesday
Meal: Crispy Fried Chicken Drumsticks with Tri-Color Peppers and Petite Potatoes
Description: Ready-to-eat Private Selection fried chicken drumsticks are warmed in the oven until crispy, served alongside roasted tri-color peppers and petite gourmet potatoes tossed in olive oil and seasoning. The colorful pepper and potato side turns a convenient protein into a complete, vibrant plate.
Sale items used: Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks, Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers, Petite Gourmet Potatoes
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks (5 drumsticks for 4 people, roughly 1 to 1.25 pieces each). Use 1 bag Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers (BOGO, pay for one). Use 1 bag Petite Gourmet Potatoes (second BOGO bag, already paid for Monday - no additional cost).

Thursday
Meal: Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Shrimp with Pico de Gallo over Minute Rice
Description: Jumbo EZ peel shrimp are quickly pan-seared in garlic butter until pink and lightly caramelized at the edges, then spooned over fluffy Minute Rice and finished with a bright, fresh scoop of sale pico de gallo. The combination of warm savory shrimp and cool fresh salsa makes this the most vibrant and festive dinner of the week.
Sale items used: Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp, Pico de Gallo, Minute Rice
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp for 4 people. Use 0.5 lb Pico de Gallo (roughly 1 cup, used as a fresh topping). Use 1 box Minute Rice (standard box yields 4 servings).

Friday
Meal: Oven-Warmed Fried Chicken 4-Piece with Sauteed Tri-Color Peppers and Ranch Style Beans
Description: Private Selection fried chicken pieces are crisped back up in a hot oven, served with a quick saute of tri-color peppers in olive oil and a warm pot of Ranch Style Beans seasoned with cumin and a splash of hot sauce. It is a casual, Southern-inspired Friday dinner that is big on flavor and nearly effortless to pull together.
Sale items used: Private Selection Fried Chicken 4-Piece, Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers, Ranch Style Beans
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack Private Selection Fried Chicken 4-Piece (4 pieces, one per person). Use the second bag of Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers (the free BOGO bag from Wednesday's purchase). Use 2 cans Ranch Style Beans for a generous side for 4 people.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Chuck Roast (2 lbs): $7.34
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck (1.5 lbs): $7.49
- Baby Bella or White Mushrooms (x2 packs, BOGO - pay for 1): $1.24
- Barilla Pasta (x1 box): $0.99
- Petite Gourmet Potatoes (x1 bag, BOGO - pay for 1, second bag used free): $0.00 (free with paid bag - see note: shopper pays once at register, both Monday and Wednesday bags covered)
- Petite Gourmet Potatoes (x1 bag paid): $0.00 (BOGO pair: pay for 1 bag, get 1 free - total charge $0.00 additional since both bags are one BOGO transaction)
- Kroger California Tri-Color Peppers (x1 bag paid, x1 bag free - BOGO): $0.00 (base price not listed - price not listed)
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 5-Piece Drumsticks (x1 pack): $4.99
- Private Selection Fried Chicken 4-Piece (x1 pack): $5.99
- Private Selection Jumbo EZ Peel Shrimp (1.5 lbs): $14.99
- Pico de Gallo (0.5 lb): $1.00
- Minute Rice (x1 box): $0.99
- Ranch Style Beans (x2 cans): $1.98
- Petite Gourmet Potatoes (x1 BOGO pair - 2 bags, pay for 1): $0.00 (base price not listed - price not listed)

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Garlic (fresh or jarred)
- Beef broth (for Monday braise)
- Dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper
- Onion
- Canned crushed or diced tomatoes (for Tuesday pasta sauce)
- Italian seasoning
- Butter (for Thursday shrimp)
- Cumin
- Hot sauce