Meijer Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs with Buttered Barilla Pasta
Description: Juicy oven-baked chicken thighs seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and garlic powder make a comforting, kid-approved dinner for two. Served alongside tender Barilla pasta tossed in butter, this is a simple weeknight win that kids will happily clean their plates.
Sale items used: Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Barilla Pasta, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or Imperial Spread
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Purchase approximately 1 lb of boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 3-4 thighs) for 2 people at $3.19/lb; cook one box of Barilla pasta and use about half for this meal, saving the rest for Tuesday; toss pasta with 1-2 tablespoons of butter spread.
Recipes:
- Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake
- Chicken Thighs Pasta Bake

Tuesday
Meal: Ground Turkey and Ragu Pasta Sauce over Barilla Spaghetti
Description: Browned ground turkey simmered in classic Ragu pasta sauce creates a hearty, familiar meat sauce that kids love over a big bowl of spaghetti. This is a quick and easy dinner that comes together in about 20 minutes and tastes just like a cozy restaurant-style pasta night at home.
Sale items used: Meijer Ground Turkey Roll, Ken's Salad Dressing or Ragu Pasta Sauces or Simply Vinaigrette (Ragu), Barilla Pasta
Sale items used: Meijer Ground Turkey Roll, Ragu Pasta Sauce, Barilla Pasta
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use approximately half of the Meijer Ground Turkey Roll (about 0.75 lb) for 2 people, saving the rest for another use or freezing; use one jar of Ragu pasta sauce ($1.99); cook one box of Barilla pasta and use about half for this meal.
Recipes:
- Easy Turkey Ragù Recipe
- Easy Turkey Ragu Recipe

Wednesday
Meal: Meijer Baby Back BBQ Pork Ribs with Watermelon
Description: Sweet and smoky Meijer Baby Back BBQ Pork Ribs are oven-baked low and slow until fall-off-the-bone tender, making them a fun and messy kid-friendly dinner. Fresh slices of cool seedless watermelon on the side make this feel like a backyard cookout right in your own kitchen.
Sale items used: Meijer Baby Back BBQ Pork Ribs, Locally Grown Large Seedless Watermelon
Prep time: 20 minutes active, about 2 hours total bake time - start ribs by 4:30 PM for a 6:30 PM dinner
Serving note: One pack of Meijer Baby Back BBQ Pork Ribs at $9.99 is a pre-sauced ready-to-bake rack, which is appropriate for 2 people with leftovers; cut watermelon into wedges and serve 2-3 slices per person from the whole watermelon ($4.99), storing the rest for snacks and sides throughout the week.
Recipes:
- Baby Back Ribs with Watermelon Barbecue Sauce
- BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Watermelon Glaze
- Grilled Ribs with Watermelon BBQ Sauce

Thursday
Meal: Johnsonville Smoked Sausage and Kraft Singles Wraps in Flour Tortillas
Description: Sliced Johnsonville smoked sausage warmed in a skillet and wrapped in a soft flour tortilla with a melted Kraft Single makes a quick, cheesy, kid-friendly wrap that feels like a fun lunch-for-dinner night. Kids can help assemble their own wraps, making this a simple and interactive meal the whole family will enjoy.
Sale items used: Johnsonville Smoked Sausage Ropes or Breakfast Sausage, Kraft Singles, La Banderita Fajita or Burrito Flour Tortillas
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serving note: Use about half of one Johnsonville smoked sausage rope, sliced into coins, for 2 people; use 2-3 Kraft Singles slices per wrap; use 2-3 large flour tortillas from one pack of La Banderita tortillas ($2.49), saving the rest for the week.
Recipes:
- Grilled Sausage & Pepper Wraps
- Smoked Sausage Wrap

Friday
Meal: Oven-Roasted Boneless Pork Loin with Buttered Egg Noodles
Description: A small boneless pork loin roast seasoned with simple pantry spices and roasted until golden and juicy is a satisfying and impressive end-of-week dinner that kids will enjoy. Served over buttery egg noodles, this meal feels special but comes together with minimal effort and familiar flavors.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Whole Boneless Pork Loin, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or Imperial Spread
Prep time: 15 minutes active, about 60-75 minutes total roast time - season and place in oven by 5:15 PM for a 6:30 PM dinner
Serving note: Purchase approximately 1 lb of boneless pork loin at $1.99/lb for 2 people; egg noodles are a pantry staple - cook about 2 cups dry and toss with 1-2 tablespoons of butter spread; the butter spread was already purchased Monday so no additional purchase is needed.
Recipes:
- Best Damn Oven Roasted Pork Loin
- Slow Roasted Boneless Pork Loin with Mustard

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (1 lb): $3.19
- Barilla Pasta (x2 boxes): $2.98
- I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or Imperial Spread (x1): $3.89
- Meijer Ground Turkey Roll (x1): $2.99
- Ragu Pasta Sauce (x1): $1.99
- Meijer Baby Back BBQ Pork Ribs (x1 pack): $9.99
- Locally Grown Large Seedless Watermelon (x1): $4.99
- Johnsonville Smoked Sausage Ropes (x1): $2.99
- Kraft Singles (x1 pack): $2.89
- La Banderita Fajita or Burrito Flour Tortillas (x1 pack): $2.49
- Fresh from Meijer Whole Boneless Pork Loin (1 lb): $1.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Egg noodles
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Cooking oil or nonstick spray
- Paprika or Italian seasoning (optional for pork loin)