Lidl Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Chicken drumsticks at $1.39/lb are the best deal on this entire flyer and anchor a fun baked drumstick night that kids will love picking up with their hands. Chicken breast at $2.49/lb gives you a second economical chicken night in a completely different format - a quick skillet pasta with Barilla Protein+ that comes together in under 30 minutes. Pork shoulder at $2.49/lb is a fantastic slow-cook value, and while it does take time in the oven, you can get it started early and let it do its thing while the kids play; it shreds beautifully for a build-your-own taco night using the sale corn tortillas. Ground beef at $5.99/lb is pricier per pound than the chicken and pork options but the 2 lb. sale pack feeds four generously as burger patties on brioche buns, making it a fun Friday cookout-style night. Salmon at $17.99 for a 30 oz. family-size pack is the clear premium pick this week - it works out to about $4.50 per person, which is the most expensive per-serving protein on the list, but it is still a reasonable splurge for a whole salmon dinner, and it edges out the ribs and shrimp as the best premium value when you factor in portion size. The ribeye steak at $7.49 each (only 10 oz. per steak) was deliberately skipped because four steaks would cost nearly $30 and is not a kid-friendly format anyway.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Honey Barbecue Sauce and Frozen Seasoned Fries
Description: Juicy chicken drumsticks are coated in Sweet Baby Ray's honey barbecue sauce and baked until golden and sticky, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that kids can eat right off the bone. Crispy frozen seasoned fries bake alongside on a second rack, making this a one-oven, hands-off weeknight dinner.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, Sweet Baby Ray's honey barbecue sauce, Frozen seasoned fries
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes bake time
Serving note: Use 2.5 lbs of chicken drumsticks (roughly 8-10 drumsticks for 4 people); coat with about half the 18 oz. bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's honey barbecue sauce; bake 1 bag (32 oz.) of frozen seasoned fries on a separate rack. Total time is 60 minutes; get drumsticks in the oven first, then add fries for the last 25 minutes.
Recipes:
- Easy Honey BBQ Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks
- Baked Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Amazing Honey BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Tuesday
Meal: Chicken Breast and Pasta Skillet with Carbone Sauce
Description: Sliced boneless skinless chicken breast is pan-cooked until golden, then tossed with Barilla Protein+ pasta and Carbone sauce for a hearty, familiar Italian-style dinner kids will ask for again. Everything comes together in one pot after the pasta boils, keeping cleanup easy on a school night.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh boneless/skinless chicken breast family size, Barilla Protein+ pasta, Carbone sauce
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of chicken breast sliced into bite-size pieces; cook 1 box (14.5 oz.) of Barilla Protein+ pasta; use 1 jar (24 oz.) of Carbone sauce. Serves 4 generously.

Wednesday
Meal: Slow-Baked Pork Shoulder Tacos with Salsa and Corn Tortillas
Description: A boneless pork shoulder roast is seasoned and slow-baked in the oven until tender enough to pull apart with forks, then served in warm corn tortillas with salsa and sour cream for a build-your-own taco bar kids love. Set it up as a fun assembly station and let everyone load their own tortillas.
Sale items used: Smithfield fresh boneless pork shoulder picnic roast, Small corn tortillas, Baked beans / salsa / pickles (salsa variety), Sour cream
Prep time: 20 minutes active, 3-4 hours bake time
Serving note: Use a 2.5 lb. pork shoulder roast; season and bake covered at 325 degrees F for 3 to 4 hours until fork-tender, then shred. Warm 8-10 small corn tortillas from 1 package (25 oz.); use 1 jar of salsa (from the 3 for $5.00 mix-and-match deal) and 1 container (16 oz.) of sour cream. Make-ahead note: start the roast by early afternoon; it holds well covered in a low oven or rested under foil.
Recipes:
- Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos + Corn Salsa

Thursday
Meal: Baked Salmon Fillet with Broccoli and Lemon
Description: The family-size salmon fillet is portioned into four pieces, brushed with a simple butter-and-lemon glaze, and baked until flaky and tender alongside roasted broccoli crowns for a colorful, wholesome dinner. The mild flavor and flaky texture make this an easy win even for picky eaters, especially with a squeeze of fresh lemon on top.
Sale items used: Fish Market fresh Chilean Atlantic salmon skin on fillet portions family size 30 oz., Broccoli crowns, Lemons 2 lb.
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 20 minutes bake time
Serving note: The 30 oz. salmon pack portions into 4 servings naturally; use 1.5 lbs of broccoli crowns cut into florets; use 2-3 lemons from the 2 lb. pack for juice and slices. Bake salmon and broccoli together at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes.
Recipes:
- One Pan Baked Salmon & Broccoli

Friday
Meal: Ground Beef Burgers on Brioche Buns with Ketchup and Cheese
Description: Juicy homemade beef patties made from 93% lean ground beef are pan-cooked or grilled and served on toasted brioche hamburger buns with ketchup and melted cheese slices for a classic Friday burger night. Kids can customize their own burger with their favorite toppings, making it a fun end-of-week meal.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh ground beef 93% lean 32 oz. (sold in 2 lb. packs), Brioche hamburger buns, Tomato ketchup, Milbona cheese block assorted varieties
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack (2 lbs.) of ground beef to form 4 patties (8 oz. each); use 1 pack of brioche hamburger buns (10.8 oz., check pack count - use 4 buns); use 1 bottle (24 oz.) of tomato ketchup; use 1 block (8 oz.) of Milbona cheese, sliced. The 2 for $3.00 cheese deal means you pay $3.00 for 2 blocks; cost above reflects 1 block's share of that deal.
Recipes:
- Brioche Beef Burger
- Juicy Homemade Beef Burger Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks (2.5 lbs): $3.48
- Sweet Baby Ray's honey barbecue sauce (x1): $1.79
- Frozen seasoned fries (x1, 32 oz.): $1.99
- Butcher's Specialty fresh boneless/skinless chicken breast, family size (2 lbs): $4.98
- Barilla Protein+ pasta (x1, 14.5 oz.): $2.49
- Carbone sauce (x1, 24 oz.): $6.99
- Smithfield fresh boneless pork shoulder picnic roast (2.5 lbs): $6.23
- Small corn tortillas (x1, 25 oz.): $1.49
- Baked beans / salsa / pickles - salsa variety (x1, part of 3 for $5.00 deal, priced at $1.67 each): $1.67
- Sour cream (x1, 16 oz.): $1.29
- Fish Market fresh Chilean Atlantic salmon skin on fillet portions, family size, 30 oz. (x1): $17.99
- Broccoli crowns (1.5 lbs): $2.24
- Lemons, 2 lb. (x1 pack): $2.29
- Butcher's Specialty fresh ground beef, 93% lean, 32 oz. (x1 pack, 2 lbs): $11.98
- Brioche hamburger buns (x1, 10.8 oz.): $2.99
- Tomato ketchup (x1, 24 oz.): $0.99
- Milbona cheese block, assorted varieties (2 blocks, 2 for $3.00): $3.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or cooking oil (for searing chicken and salmon)
- Butter (for salmon glaze)
- Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper (for seasoning drumsticks and pork shoulder)
- Dried Italian seasoning or oregano (for pasta skillet)
- Cumin and chili powder (for pork shoulder seasoning)