Kroger Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Chicken breasts at $1.99/lb are the best deal on this entire flyer, so they anchor two of the five nights in completely different preparations - a skillet pan sauce one night and a bacon-topped baked dish another. St. Louis Style Pork Ribs at $2.99/lb give you a slow-oven rib night that feels like a weekend splurge for a weeknight price, and the 80% Lean Ground Beef and Pork Blend at $8.00 for 2 lbs is a versatile everyday protein that drives a hearty skillet dinner. The Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp earn the one premium night at $6.99/lb - they come in at a much lower per-serving cost than the strip steaks ($23.98 for 4) or the Simple Truth ground beef ($25.00 flat), making them the clear best-value premium pick this week. The strip steaks and the $25 ground beef were deliberately skipped because their per-serving costs are simply too high to keep the week in range. Tri-color peppers, broccoli, corn, tomatoes, and avocados from the produce sale add color and variety across the week without repeating any one vegetable more than twice.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Boneless Chicken Breasts with Tomato-Broccoli Skillet
Description: Boneless chicken breasts are seasoned and seared in a hot skillet until golden, then finished with a quick pan sauce built from diced Grainger County Tomatoes and tender broccoli florets. The result is a bright, satisfying one-pan dinner that comes together in well under an hour.
Sale items used: Heritage Farm Boneless Chicken Breasts, Grainger County Tomatoes, Broccoli Crowns
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of Heritage Farm Boneless Chicken Breasts (about 4 portions), 1 lb of Grainger County Tomatoes (roughly 2 medium tomatoes, diced), and 1 lb of Broccoli Crowns (one large crown, cut into florets). Season chicken with pantry salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil; deglaze pan with a splash of chicken broth if available.
Recipes:
- One-Skillet Chicken and Broccoli Dinner

Tuesday
Meal: Slow-Oven St. Louis Style Pork Ribs with Sweet Corn
Description: St. Louis Style Pork Ribs are rubbed with pantry spices and roasted low and slow in the oven until the meat is tender and pulls cleanly from the bone, then finished under the broiler for a caramelized crust. Kroger Sweet Corn is boiled alongside and served as a simple, sweet side.
Sale items used: St. Louis Style Pork Ribs, Kroger Sweet Corn (4 ct)
Prep time: 20 minutes active prep; 2.5 to 3 hours total oven time - start ribs by early afternoon or prep the rub the night before and refrigerate overnight for a quicker weeknight start.
Serving note: Use 3 lbs of St. Louis Style Pork Ribs (a half slab serves 4 generously) and 1 package of Kroger Sweet Corn (4 ct, one ear per person). Rub ribs with pantry brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; roast covered at 300 degrees F for 2.5 hours, then broil uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes.
Recipes:
- BBQ St. Louis Ribs in the Oven

Wednesday
Meal: Ground Beef and Pork Blend Skillet with Tri-Color Peppers and Ben's Original Ready Rice
Description: The 80% Lean Ground Beef and Pork Blend is browned with diced tri-color peppers and pantry onion, seasoned with garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika for a bold, savory skillet. Ben's Original Ready Rice is heated and stirred in at the end to make a complete one-pan meal with great texture and color.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus 90% Lean Ground Sirloin (80% Lean Ground Beef and Pork Blend, 2 lb), Kroger Tri-Color Peppers (6 ct), Ben's Original Ready Rice (8.47-8.8 oz)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use one 2 lb package of the 80% Lean Ground Beef and Pork Blend, half of the 6 ct Kroger Tri-Color Peppers (3 peppers, sliced), and 2 pouches of Ben's Original Ready Rice (one pouch per 2 people). Reserve remaining 3 peppers for Friday's meal. Season with pantry garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Recipes:
- Easy Dirty Rice
- Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Dinner

Thursday
Meal: Bacon-Topped Baked Boneless Chicken Breasts with Roasted Gourmet Potatoes
Description: Boneless chicken breasts are topped with strips of Kroger Bacon and baked in the oven until the bacon is crisp and the chicken is cooked through, creating a juicy, flavor-packed main. Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes are halved, tossed in olive oil and pantry herbs, and roasted on the same sheet pan for an easy, cohesive dinner.
Sale items used: Heritage Farm Boneless Chicken Breasts, Kroger or Private Selection Bacon (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz), Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes (3 lb)
Prep time: 15 minutes active prep; 45 minutes total bake time
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of Heritage Farm Boneless Chicken Breasts (4 portions), 1 package of Kroger or Private Selection Bacon (lay 2 to 3 strips over each breast), and 1 package of Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes (3 lb, halved). Roast everything at 400 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes until chicken reaches 165 degrees F internal temperature and potatoes are golden.

Friday
Meal: Sauteed Large Peeled and Deveined Shrimp with Tri-Color Peppers, Avocado, and Tomato
Description: Raw Large Peeled and Deveined Shrimp are sauteed in a hot skillet with the remaining tri-color peppers and a splash of Frank's Red-Hot Sauce for a lively, slightly spicy finish. Sliced avocado and fresh diced Grainger County Tomatoes are served alongside as a cool, creamy contrast to the warm, bold shrimp.
Sale items used: Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp (31-40 ct, Raw, 2 lb bag), Kroger Tri-Color Peppers (6 ct) (remaining 3 peppers from Wednesday's purchase), Large Avocados, Grainger County Tomatoes, Frank's Red-Hot Sauce (23 fl oz)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of Large Peeled and Deveined Shrimp (from the 2 lb bag; remainder can be frozen), the 3 reserved tri-color peppers (sliced), 2 Large Avocados (2 for $3.00, one package), and 0.5 lb of Grainger County Tomatoes (1 to 2 medium tomatoes, diced). Use Frank's Red-Hot Sauce sparingly as a finishing sauce; adjust heat to taste.
Recipes:
- Seared Shrimp with Tomato, Lime, and Avocado
- Skillet Shrimp with Tomato and Avocado Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Heritage Farm Boneless Chicken Breasts (4 lbs total, 2 lbs for Monday and 2 lbs for Thursday): $7.96
- St. Louis Style Pork Ribs (3 lbs): $8.97
- Private Selection Angus 90% Lean Ground Sirloin (80% Lean Ground Beef and Pork Blend, 2 lb) (x1 package): $8.00
- Kroger or Private Selection Bacon (Select Varieties, 12-16 oz) (x1 package): $3.99
- Large Peeled & Deveined Shrimp (31-40 ct, Raw, 2 lb bag) (x1 bag, use 1.5 lbs): $13.98
- Kroger Tri-Color Peppers (6 ct) (x1 package, used across Wednesday and Friday): $6.00
- Private Selection Gourmet Potatoes (3 lb) (x1 package): $6.00
- Kroger Sweet Corn (4 ct) (x1 package): $4.99
- Grainger County Tomatoes (1.5 lbs total, used Monday and Friday): $3.74
- Broccoli Crowns (1 lb): $1.99
- Large Avocados (x1 deal, 2 avocados): $3.00
- Ben's Original Ready Rice (8.47-8.8 oz) (x2 pouches): $2.98
- Frank's Red-Hot Sauce (23 fl oz) (x1 bottle): $4.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Cumin
- Brown sugar (for rib rub)
- Dried herbs (such as rosemary or thyme, for potatoes)
- Chicken broth (optional, for Monday pan sauce)