Kroger Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This is a vegetarian-friendly week at Kroger with some genuinely strong deals on cheese, yogurt, and produce that make it easy to build satisfying dinners without spending much. Kroger Cheese at $1.49 a package is the standout value, anchoring two different meals in completely different ways - a skillet frittata loaded with Hatch chiles and tomatoes, and a broiled open-face melt on Lewis Bakery bread. Morningstar Farms Entrees at $3.99 give you a convenient plant-based protein night, and the Hatch Chile Peppers at $1.49/lb paired with Hatch Sweet Onions make a rich, saucy bean and chile bowl that costs almost nothing per serving. The DiGiorno or California Pizza Kitchen pizza at $6.99 is the one splurge night, and it earns its spot because it feeds all four people for under $2 a head with zero prep time, making it the smartest Friday easy-night choice on this flyer. The Prego Pasta Sauce at $1.59 rounds out a pasta night that keeps costs low while the Hatch produce and tomatoes add fresh summer flavor across the week.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Hatch Chile and Tomato Skillet Frittata with Kroger Cheese
Description: Fresh Hatch chile peppers and Grainger County tomatoes are sauteed in butter until softened, then eggs from your pantry are poured over and the whole skillet is finished under the broiler until puffed and golden. Kroger cheese is scattered over the top in the final minute so it melts into pools over the bright summer vegetables.
Sale items used: Hatch Chile Peppers, Grainger County Tomatoes, Kroger Cheese (select varieties, 6-8 oz), Kroger Butter (select varieties, 16 oz)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 lb Hatch Chile Peppers, 1 lb Grainger County Tomatoes, 1 package Kroger Cheese (6-8 oz), and 1 package Kroger Butter (you will use about 2 tablespoons; the rest keeps all week). Supplement with 8 eggs from pantry. Serves 4 generously.
Recipes:
- Spicy Hatch® Green Chile Breakfast Frittata

Tuesday
Meal: Prego Marinara Pasta with Roasted Asparagus and Melted Kroger Cheese
Description: Asparagus spears are tossed in olive oil and roasted in the oven at 425 degrees until tender and lightly browned at the tips, then served alongside rigatoni or penne tossed with Prego pasta sauce warmed on the stovetop. A second package of Kroger cheese is stirred into the hot pasta off the heat so it melts into a creamy, stringy finish.
Sale items used: Asparagus, Prego Pasta Sauce (14.5-24 oz), Kroger Cheese (select varieties, 6-8 oz)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs Asparagus, 1 jar Prego Pasta Sauce (choose a 24 oz jar), and 1 package Kroger Cheese (6-8 oz). Supplement with 12 oz dry pasta from pantry. Serves 4.
Recipes:
- Baby Pasta Shells with Asparagus and Marinara
- Roasted Asparagus Pasta

Wednesday
Meal: Hatch Sweet Onion and Black Bean Tacos with Hatch Chile Salsa on Mission Carb Balance Tortillas
Description: Sliced Hatch Sweet Onions are cooked in butter in a skillet over medium-high heat until deeply golden and sweet, then combined with canned black beans from the pantry and spooned into warm Mission Carb Balance Tortillas. Diced Grainger County Tomatoes and finely chopped Hatch Chile Peppers are stirred together raw as a quick fresh salsa spooned over the top.
Sale items used: Hatch Sweet Onions (3 lb bag), Hatch Chile Peppers, Grainger County Tomatoes, Mission Carb Balance Tortillas (8 ct), Kroger Butter (select varieties, 16 oz)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use roughly half the 3 lb bag of Hatch Sweet Onions (about 1.5 lbs), 0.5 lb Hatch Chile Peppers, 0.75 lb Grainger County Tomatoes, 1 package Mission Carb Balance Tortillas (8 ct, which is 2 tortillas per person), and about 2 tablespoons Kroger Butter from the open package. Supplement with 1 can black beans from pantry. Serves 4.

Thursday
Meal: Morningstar Farms Entree Patties on Private Selection Buns with Tomato and Hatch Chile Slaw
Description: Morningstar Farms Entree patties are cooked on a skillet according to package directions until heated through and lightly crisped on the outside, then placed on toasted Private Selection Buns. Thinly sliced Grainger County Tomatoes and finely diced Hatch Chile Peppers are tossed with a little vinegar and salt from the pantry for a bright, crunchy topping.
Sale items used: Morningstar Farms Entree (5.25-12 oz), Private Selection Buns (select varieties, 8 ct), Grainger County Tomatoes, Hatch Chile Peppers
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 package Morningstar Farms Entree (choose a variety with at least 4 patties or servings), 1 package Private Selection Buns (8 ct, use 4 buns; remaining 4 buns are extra), 0.5 lb Grainger County Tomatoes, and 0.25 lb Hatch Chile Peppers. Serves 4.

Friday
Meal: California Pizza Kitchen or DiGiorno Pizza Baked with Fresh Tomato and Hatch Chile Topping
Description: A California Pizza Kitchen or DiGiorno Pizza is baked in the oven according to package directions, then pulled out in the final 3 minutes so diced Grainger County Tomatoes and thinly sliced Hatch Chile Peppers can be scattered over the top and warmed through. The result is a crisp, cheesy pizza with a fresh summer produce finish that takes almost no effort on a Friday night.
Sale items used: California Pizza Kitchen or DiGiorno Pizza (select varieties, 13.4-28 oz), Grainger County Tomatoes, Hatch Chile Peppers
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pizza (choose a variety 20 oz or larger for 4 people), 0.5 lb Grainger County Tomatoes, and 0.25 lb Hatch Chile Peppers. Serves 4. Choose a cheese or veggie variety to keep the meal vegetarian.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Hatch Chile Peppers (2.25 lbs total across the week): $3.36
- Grainger County Tomatoes (3.5 lbs total across the week): $6.58
- Hatch Sweet Onions, 3 lb bag (x1): $3.99
- Kroger Cheese, select varieties, 6-8 oz (x2 packages): $2.98
- Kroger Butter, select varieties, 16 oz (x1): $2.99
- Asparagus (1.5 lbs): $5.24
- Prego Pasta Sauce, 14.5-24 oz (x1): $1.59
- Mission Carb Balance Tortillas, 8 ct (x1): $3.99
- Morningstar Farms Entree, 5.25-12 oz (x1): $3.99
- Private Selection Buns, select varieties, 8 ct (x1): $3.49
- California Pizza Kitchen or DiGiorno Pizza, select varieties, 13.4-28 oz (x1): $6.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Eggs (8 large, for Monday frittata)
- Dry pasta (12 oz rigatoni or penne, for Tuesday)
- Canned black beans (1 can, for Wednesday tacos)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Red wine vinegar or white vinegar (for Thursday slaw)
- Garlic (optional, for pasta and frittata)
- Dried oregano or Italian seasoning (optional, for pasta)