Kroger Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Four of the five dinners lean on genuinely cheap proteins: pork shoulder at $1.99/lb, Kroger Dinner Sausage at $3.99 for an 18 oz package, Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage at $5.00 for a 19 oz package, and Springer Mountain Ground Chicken at $2.99 per 16 oz package. These are some of the best per-serving values on the entire flyer and they anchor a week that stays well within reach. The one premium night goes to the Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp at $6.99/lb - the 2 lb bag is a flat purchase that feeds four generously, and it is the most approachable premium protein on the flyer compared to salmon at $9.99/lb or lobster tails at $24.00 for four. The Whole Beef Brisket is a tempting deal at $3.99/lb after the digital coupon, but brisket requires a long low-and-slow cook that does not fit a weeknight format well, so it was skipped in favor of faster, leaner cuts. The Hatch Chile Peppers and Hatch Sweet Onions are on sale at the same time as the Hatch-themed sausage, making two of this week's meals feel especially cohesive and seasonal without adding much cost.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Kroger Dinner Sausage with Hatch Chile Peppers and Tomatoes over Rice
Description: Sliced Kroger Dinner Sausage is browned in a skillet until caramelized, then tossed with sauteed Hatch Chile Peppers and diced Grainger County Tomatoes for a smoky, slightly spicy one-pan dinner. Served over fluffy white rice, this is a fast, deeply savory weeknight meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Kroger Dinner Sausage (18 oz), Hatch Chile Peppers, Grainger County Tomatoes
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 package (18 oz) Kroger Dinner Sausage sliced into rounds for 4 people; 0.75 lb Hatch Chile Peppers; 1 lb Grainger County Tomatoes. Rice is a pantry staple.

Tuesday
Meal: Braised Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In with Hatch Sweet Onions and Garlic over Egg Noodles
Description: A bone-in pork shoulder is seasoned, seared on all sides in a Dutch oven, then braised low and slow in broth with sliced Hatch Sweet Onions and garlic until the meat is fork-tender and the braising liquid becomes a rich pan sauce. The shredded pork and savory onion sauce are ladled over egg noodles for a hearty, satisfying dinner.
Sale items used: Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In, Hatch Sweet Onions (3 lb bag)
Prep time: 20 minutes active prep; 2.5 to 3 hours total (braise in oven). Start by 4:00 PM for a 7:00 PM dinner, or braise the pork the night before and reheat the shredded meat and sauce on the stovetop in about 15 minutes.
Serving note: Approximately 3 lbs Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In (bone-in weight; yields roughly 1.5 lbs cooked meat for 4 people); use approximately half the 3 lb bag of Hatch Sweet Onions (about 1.5 lbs). Egg noodles are a pantry staple.

Wednesday
Meal: Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage and Asparagus Skillet with Kroger Cheese
Description: Sliced Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage is pan-fried alongside trimmed asparagus spears until both are lightly charred and fragrant with green chile heat. Finished with a sprinkle of melted Kroger Cheese, this skillet dinner is bold, colorful, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage (19 oz), Asparagus, Kroger Cheese (6-8 oz, select varieties)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 package (19 oz) Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage sliced for 4 people; 1 lb asparagus; 1 package (6-8 oz) Kroger Cheese.
Recipes:
- Hatch Green Chile Sausage Quiche - The Night Owl Chef
- Mexican Skillet Lasagna - Super Safeway
- Sausage & Veggie Skillet - Brita Cooks

Thursday
Meal: Skillet-Browned Springer Mountain Ground Chicken Tacos with Hatch Guacamole and Tomatoes
Description: Springer Mountain Ground Chicken is cooked in a skillet with cumin, chili powder, and garlic until browned and seasoned through, then spooned into warm Mission Carb Balance Tortillas and topped with Yucatan Hatch Guacamole and diced Grainger County Tomatoes. Each taco is fresh, filling, and loaded with Hatch-season flavor.
Sale items used: Springer Mountain 92% Lean All Natural Ground Chicken or Chicken Patties (16 oz), Mission Carb Balance Tortillas (8 ct), Yucatan Hatch Guacamole (7.5 oz), Grainger County Tomatoes
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 2 packages (16 oz each) Springer Mountain Ground Chicken for 4 people (2 tacos each from 8 tortillas); 1 package Mission Carb Balance Tortillas (8 ct); 1 container (7.5 oz) Yucatan Hatch Guacamole; 0.5 lb Grainger County Tomatoes diced for topping.
Recipes:
- Once-A-Week Ground Chicken Tacos (Easy 15 Minute Dinner)

Friday
Meal: Garlic Butter Sauteed Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp with Asparagus and Lewis Bakery Bread
Description: Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp are sauteed in a hot skillet with Kroger Butter, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon until pink and just cooked through, then served alongside quickly sauteed asparagus spears for a bright, celebratory end-of-week dinner. Thick slices of Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread are served alongside to soak up the garlic butter pan sauce.
Sale items used: Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp 31-40 ct, Raw, 2 lb bag, Asparagus, Kroger Butter (16 oz, select varieties), Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread (12 oz)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 full 2 lb bag Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp (approximately 0.5 lb per person); 1 lb asparagus; 1 package (16 oz) Kroger Butter (use about 4 tablespoons, remainder stored); 1 loaf Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread.
Recipes:
- One Pan Butter Garlic Shrimp - Carlsbad Cravings
- Garlic Butter Shrimp with Asparagus - low carb, keto, healthy
- One Pan Shrimp and Asparagus Recipe | Eatwell101

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Kroger Dinner Sausage, 18 oz (x1 package): $3.99
- Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In (3 lbs at $1.99/lb): $5.97
- Hatch Sweet Onions, 3 lb bag (x1 bag): $3.99
- Johnsonville Hatch Green Chile Smoked Sausage, 19 oz (x1 package): $5.00
- Asparagus (2 lbs total across Wednesday and Friday at $3.49/lb): $6.98
- Kroger Cheese, select varieties, 6-8 oz (x1 package): $1.49
- Springer Mountain 92% Lean All Natural Ground Chicken or Chicken Patties, 16 oz (x2 packages): $5.98
- Mission Carb Balance Tortillas, 8 ct (x1 package): $3.99
- Yucatan Hatch Guacamole, Mild or Medium, 7.5 oz, In the Deli (x1 container): $4.99
- Grainger County Tomatoes (1.5 lbs total across Monday and Thursday at $1.88/lb): $2.82
- Hatch Chile Peppers (0.75 lb at $1.49/lb): $1.12
- Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp 31-40 ct, Raw, 2 lb bag (x1 bag at $6.99/lb): $13.98
- Kroger Butter, select varieties, 16 oz (x1 package): $2.99
- Lewis Bakery Half Loaf Bread, select varieties, 12 oz (x1 loaf): $1.99

Pantry staples needed:
- White rice (for Monday)
- Egg noodles (for Tuesday)
- Chicken or vegetable broth (for Tuesday braise)
- Garlic (used Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
- Olive oil or neutral cooking oil
- Cumin, chili powder, onion powder, paprika (for Thursday taco seasoning)
- Salt and black pepper
- Lemon (for Friday shrimp)