Kroger Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week at Kroger, the sale ground beef does double duty, anchoring Monday's Salisbury-style patties and Thursday's pineapple rice bowls, so you buy 2.5 lbs for $12.48 and get two dinners that taste nothing alike. Tuesday's apple-glazed Spiral Ham is a standout at $3.98 for 2 lbs, and it comes with butter-sautéed apples and Stove Top Stuffing. Wednesday's bacon and potato soup with Pillsbury Grands Biscuits keeps the middle of the week cozy, with pantry russet potatoes doing the heavy lifting. Friday is the treat night: four Wild-Caught Lobster Tails at $24.00, broiled with garlic butter and served with skillet Bruce's Yams.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Salisbury-Style Beef Patties with Heinz Gravy and Mashed Potatoes
Description: Seasoned ground beef patties are pan-seared until browned, then simmered briefly in warm gravy. They are served over buttery mashed potatoes for a comforting start to the week.
Sale items used: Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, Stove Top Stuffing or Heinz Gravy (Heinz Gravy)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.25 lb Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef formed into 4 patties, 1 Heinz Gravy, and 2 lb russet potatoes (pantry) for the mash.
Recipes:
- Salisbury Steaks with Brown Gravy
- Chef John's Salisbury Steak Recipe
- Salisbury Steak Recipe

Tuesday
Meal: Apple-Glazed Spiral Ham with Sautéed Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples and Stove Top Stuffing
Description: Kroger Spiral Ham is warmed in the oven under foil with a brown sugar and apple glaze. It is served with butter-sautéed apple slices and a side of prepared Stove Top Stuffing.
Sale items used: Kroger Spiral Ham, Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples, Stove Top Stuffing or Heinz Gravy (Stove Top Stuffing)
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lb Kroger Spiral Ham, 1.5 lb Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples, and 1 Stove Top Stuffing prepared per the package directions.
Recipes:
- Glazed Apple Spiral Ham
- Apple Spice Glazed Ham with Baked Apples Recipe
- Easy Spiral Ham

Wednesday
Meal: Bacon and Potato Soup with Kroger Cheese and Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
Description: Diced potatoes and onion simmer in Swanson Broth until tender, then are partly mashed for body and finished with crumbled crisp bacon and melted Kroger Cheese. Warm baked biscuits alongside make it a cozy midweek dinner.
Sale items used: Smithfield Bacon, Swanson Broth or Dole Pineapple (Swanson Broth), Kroger Cheese, Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, Crescents or Cinnamon Rolls (Grands Biscuits)
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 Smithfield Bacon, 1 Swanson Broth, 1 Kroger Cheese, 1 Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, 2 lb russet potatoes (pantry), and 1 onion (pantry). Add water as needed to thin the soup.
Recipes:
- Bacon and Potato Soup
- Awesome Bacon Potato Soup
- Bacon and Potato Soup

Thursday
Meal: Pineapple Ground Beef Rice Bowls
Description: Ground beef is browned in a skillet with garlic, onion, ginger, and soy sauce, then tossed with Dole Pineapple for a sweet and savory glaze. It is served over steamed rice for a quick bowl with a different flavor profile from Monday.
Sale items used: Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, Swanson Broth or Dole Pineapple (Dole Pineapple)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.25 lb Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef (this completes the 2.5 lb total for the week), 1 Dole Pineapple, and about 1.5 cups uncooked rice (pantry).
Recipes:
- Pineapple Ground Beef Recipe
- 20 Minute Sticky Ginger Sesame Pineapple Beef
- Sticky Pineapple Ginger Beef & Rice Bowl

Friday
Meal: Broiled Garlic Butter Lobster Tails with Skillet Bruce's Yams
Description: Wild-Caught Lobster Tails are split, brushed with garlic butter, and broiled until the meat turns opaque. Bruce's Yams are warmed in a skillet with butter and a little brown sugar as a sweet side.
Sale items used: Wild-Caught Lobster Tails, Bruce's Yams
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 Wild-Caught Lobster Tails (1 per person, bought as 2 packs of 2) and 2 Bruce's Yams. Pantry butter, garlic, and brown sugar finish both.
Recipes:
- Broiled Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
- Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter
- Garlic Butter Broiled Lobster Tails

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef (2.5 lbs): $12.48
- Kroger Spiral Ham (2 lbs): $3.98
- Smithfield Bacon (x1): $3.99
- Wild-Caught Lobster Tails (x2 packs of 2, 4 tails total): $24.00
- Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples (1.5 lbs): $2.66
- Stove Top Stuffing or Heinz Gravy (x2, one Stove Top Stuffing and one Heinz Gravy): $4.00
- Swanson Broth or Dole Pineapple (x2, one Swanson Broth and one Dole Pineapple): $4.00
- Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, Crescents or Cinnamon Rolls (x1, Grands Biscuits): $1.79
- Kroger Cheese (x1): $1.29
- Bruce's Yams (x2): $7.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Russet potatoes (about 4 lb total)
- Onions (2) and garlic
- Long-grain rice
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce and ground ginger
- Flour
- Cooking oil
- Cinnamon
- Salt, black pepper, onion powder, and paprika