Meijer Dairy-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week you get chicken on Monday and Thursday and beef on Tuesday and Friday, with a bone-in ham on Wednesday to break things up. Going dairy-free is easy here, because olive oil and broth stand in for butter in the mashed sweet potatoes, and the $0.99 pack of cranberries turns into a tart pan sauce on Monday. The 5 lb bag of russet potatoes at $1.99 covers both the Tuesday hash and the Friday chuck roast, and the bulk sweet potatoes do double duty on Monday and Wednesday. Greens show up on Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday's braise is mostly hands-off, so you can end the week with a slow-cooked roast instead of a scramble.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes and Cranberries
Description: Chicken thighs and cubed sweet potatoes roast together on one pan until the skin is crisp and the potatoes are caramelized. Fresh cranberries go on for the last 15 minutes so they burst into a tart, lightly sweet pan sauce, with no butter or dairy needed.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs, Bulk Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Cranberries
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 3 lb Chicken Thighs, 2 lb Bulk Sweet Potatoes cut in 1-inch cubes, and 1 pkg (12 oz) Fresh Cranberries. Roast at 425 F for about 40 minutes, tossing with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme and 2 tbsp sugar, and adding the cranberries for the last 15 minutes.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Olives
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Sweet Potatoes
- Sheet Pan Cranberry Chicken Dinner

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Beef and Potato Hash with Onions
Description: Ground beef is browned in a big skillet with diced russet potatoes and onions until the potatoes are crisp at the edges. Smoked paprika and garlic give it a savory, diner-style flavor, and cold red grapes on the side add a sweet contrast.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer 80% Lean Ground Beef, Russet Potatoes, Yellow Onions, California Red Seedless Grapes
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lb Fresh from Meijer 80% Lean Ground Beef, 2.5 lb Russet Potatoes cut in small dice, 1 lb Yellow Onions (about 2 large), and 1 lb California Red Seedless Grapes served on the side. Parboil the potatoes for 5 minutes first so they crisp quickly in the skillet.
Recipes:
- Beef & Sweet Potato Hash Skillet
- Ground Beef and Potato Skillet
- Simple Beef & Hash Brown Skillet

Wednesday
Meal: Baked Bone-In Ham with Sauteed Greens and Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Description: A bone-in ham portion is warmed in the oven while sweet potatoes are boiled and mashed with olive oil and broth instead of butter. Greens are sauteed with garlic and a splash of vinegar for a Southern-style plate.
Sale items used: Meijer Portion Ham Bone in, Bulk Sweet Potatoes, Turnip, Mustard or Collard Greens
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: 2.5 lb Meijer Portion Ham Bone in, 2 lb Bulk Sweet Potatoes, and 2 Turnip, Mustard or Collard Greens bunches. Heat the ham covered with foil at 325 F following the package directions (about 40 minutes), and slice it across the grain to serve.
Recipes:
- GLAZED HAM WITH SWEET POTATO MASH
- The Easiest Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Vegan, Dairy Free)
- Leftover Ham Bone Soup

Thursday
Meal: Baked Chicken Wings with Mandarin-Soy Glaze, Rice and Sauteed Greens
Description: Chicken wings bake at high heat until crisp, then get tossed in a glaze of fresh mandarin juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and honey. They are served over steamed rice with quick sauteed greens and fresh mandarin segments on the side.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Wings, Mandarin Oranges, Turnip, Mustard or Collard Greens
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 2.5 lb Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Wings, 1 bag (3 lb) Mandarin Oranges (juice 4 for the glaze, serve the remaining 8 as segments), and 1 Turnip, Mustard or Collard Greens bunch. Bake the wings at 425 F for about 45 minutes, and cook about 1.5 cups dry rice from your pantry.
Recipes:
- Asian Sticky Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Friday
Meal: Oven-Braised Chuck Roast with Potatoes and Onions
Description: A seared chuck roast braises low and slow in broth with whole onions and russet potatoes until fork-tender. The cooking liquid reduces into a rich, dairy-free gravy to spoon over everything.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Certified Angus Beef Chuck Roast, Russet Potatoes, Yellow Onions
Prep time: 3 hours 15 minutes (about 20 minutes hands-on)
Serving note: 2.5 lb Fresh from Meijer Certified Angus Beef Chuck Roast, 2.5 lb Russet Potatoes cut in large chunks, and 2 lb Yellow Onions cut in wedges. Braise covered at 300 F for about 3 hours, adding the potatoes for the last hour. Make ahead by braising the roast the day before and reheating it gently in its liquid, or sear it in the morning and let it braise while you are out.
Recipes:
- Apple Cider Braised Chuck Roast with Roasted Potatoes
- Braised Chuck Roast (One Pot, Fall Apart Recipe)
- Braised Chuck Roast

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs (3 lbs): $5.07
- Fresh from Meijer 80% Lean Ground Beef (1.5 lbs): $6.74
- Meijer Portion Ham Bone in (2.5 lbs): $6.23
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Wings (2.5 lbs): $7.48
- Fresh from Meijer Certified Angus Beef Chuck Roast (2.5 lbs): $17.48
- Yellow Onions (x1 bag, 3 lb.): $1.79
- Russet Potatoes (x1 bag, 5 lb.): $1.99
- Bulk Sweet Potatoes (4 lbs): $3.56
- Fresh Cranberries (x1 pkg, 12 oz.): $0.99
- Turnip, Mustard or Collard Greens (x3): $3.87
- Mandarin Oranges (x1 bag, 3 lb.): $2.99
- California Red Seedless Grapes (1 lb): $2.29

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic (fresh cloves or garlic powder)
- Smoked paprika
- Dried thyme
- Granulated sugar
- Honey
- Soy sauce
- Ground or fresh ginger
- Cornstarch
- Apple cider vinegar
- Long-grain white rice
- Chicken broth and beef broth (dairy-free)
- Tomato paste
- Bay leaves