Publix Vegetarian Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Boneless Top Sirloin Steak: $10.99/lb
- Ground Chuck: $5.99/lb
- Lobster Tails: $8.99 each
- White Shrimp: $18.49/lb
- GreenWise Sockeye Salmon Fillets: $16.99/lb
- Publix Hand-Breaded Panko Shrimp: $7.99 each
- The Original Bourbon Marinated Salmon: $8.99 each
- Boneless Chuck Roast: $7.99/lb
- Publix Chicken Breast Cutlets: $9.99/lb
- Bluehouse Atlantic Salmon Fillets: $9.99/lb
- Catfish Fillets: $9.99/lb
- GreenWise Snow Crab Clusters: $10.99/lb
- Publix Extra Lean Pork Loin Tenderloin: $7.99/lb
- Publix Parmesan Chicken Breast Cutlets: $6.99/lb
- GreenWise Lean Pork Loin Chops: $6.99/lb
- GreenWise Angus Ribeye Steak: $21.99/lb
- Hormel Black Label Bacon: 2 for $6.00
- Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Breast Strips: $7.99/lb
- GreenWise Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: $5.99/lb
- Publix Whole Young Chicken: $1.49/lb
- Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Bacon: $5.49 for 8-oz pkg
- Publix Sweet Italian Sausage: $5.99 for 20-oz pkg
- Publix Top Round Roast Beef: $4.99/lb
- Honey Bourbon Salmon Burgers: $3.00 each
- Ball Park Franks: $3.00 for 15-oz pkg
- Publix Gourmet Beef Meatballs Bacon & Cheddar: $8.99/lb
- Publix Gourmet Meatballs Southwest Chipotle: $8.79/lb
- Springer Mountain Farms Ground Chicken Breast: $3.99 for 6-oz pkg
- Steakhouse Elite Signature Ground Beef: $9.99 for 16-oz pkg
- Boar's Head Ovengold Roasted Turkey Breast: $8.49/lb
- Publix Lemon Pepper Oven-Roasted Chicken: $6.99 each
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Tenderloin: $5.99 for 19.2-23-oz pkg

Vegetables on sale:
- Vidalia Sweet Onions: $3.49 for 5-lb bag
- Peaches or Nectarines: $2.99/lb
- Cherries: $4.99/lb
- Publix Pineapple Chunks: $3.99/lb
- Small Red Seedless Watermelon: $5.99 each
- Organic Strawberries: 3 for $10.00
- Red or White Seedless Grapes: $2.99/lb
- Crunch Pale Apple Slices: $2.99 for 2-3-oz pkg
- Black or Red Plums: $1.99/lb
- Plumeots: $2.49/lb
- Organic Plums: $2.49/lb
- Garden Life Romaine, Green, or Red Leaf: $3.99 for 7-oz cont
- Yellow Squash or Zucchini: $1.99 for 2-oz tray (price not listed per lb; flat tray price used as stated)
- Bulk Sweet Corn: 5 for $5.00
- Broccoli or Cauliflower: 2 for $6.00
- Green Avocados: 2 for $5.00
- Publix Tricolor Peppers: $4.99 for 3-ct pkg
- Publix White Mushrooms: 2 for $6.00
- Publix Classic Salad Blend: $2.00 for 16-oz pkg
- Publix Idaho Russet Potatoes: $3.99 for 5-lb bag

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):

Note: This is a vegetarian meal plan. All animal proteins from the meat and seafood section are excluded. The diet-compliant proteins available from the sale items are eggs, beans, cheese, and tofu/tempeh-adjacent items from dairy, pantry, and frozen sections. Below are the relevant compliant protein sources ranked by cost to feed 4 people:

• Pete & Gerry's Eggs (12-ct carton, $4.99): roughly $1.25 per serving of 3 eggs each
• Bush's Best Beans (10 for $10.00, so $1.00 per can): 2 cans feeds 4 people at roughly $0.50 per serving, or $2.00 for 4 people
• Galbani Fresh Mozzarella Cheese (BOGO - price not listed as a base price in the flyer): price not listed
• Kraft Shredded Cheese (2 for $6.00, so $3.00 per bag): 1 bag used across a meal, roughly $0.75 per serving
• Dr. Praeger's Entrées ($3.99 for 8-10-oz box): 2 boxes for 4 people at $7.98 total, roughly $2.00 per serving

Ranked compliant proteins from most to least economical per serving for 4 people:
- Bush's Best Beans ($1.00/can, 2 cans for 4 people): $2.00 for 4 people | $0.50 per person
- Pete & Gerry's Eggs ($4.99 for 12-ct): $4.99 for 4 people | $1.25 per person
- Kraft Shredded Cheese as primary protein support ($3.00/bag, 1 bag): $3.00 for 4 people | $0.75 per person (used as a supporting protein alongside beans or eggs)
- Dr. Praeger's Entrées ($3.99/box, 2 boxes): $7.98 for 4 people | $2.00 per person
- Galbani Fresh Mozzarella Cheese (BOGO, base price not listed in flyer): price not listed - excluded from shopping list per flyer rules

Why these meals: This week's flyer is very heavily weighted toward meat and seafood, with almost no standalone vegetarian proteins on sale, so the five dinners lean hard on the pantry powerhouses that are on sale: Bush's Best Beans at $1.00 a can and Pete & Gerry's Eggs at $4.99 a dozen are the anchors for four of the five nights and keep the per-person cost remarkably low. The produce section is genuinely strong this week - corn at 5 ears for $5, zucchini and yellow squash at $1.99 a tray, broccoli and cauliflower 2 for $6, and Vidalia onions for $3.49 a five-pound bag - so the meals are built around those deals to add color, nutrition, and variety without inflating the total. Dr. Praeger's Entrées at $3.99 a box earn the one slightly elevated night, since two boxes feed four people for under $8 and the brand makes genuinely satisfying vegetarian patties and blends that stand on their own as a main. The Ronzoni Pasta BOGO is a standout deal that anchors one hearty pasta night alongside Botticelli Premium Pasta Sauce, and the Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit BOGO pairs beautifully with beans for a fun taco night that costs almost nothing per person. Skipping the fresh mozzarella BOGO was a deliberate call since no base price is listed in the flyer, making it impossible to calculate a real cost.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Black Bean and Vidalia Onion Tacos with Tricolor Peppers
Description: Seasoned Bush's Best Beans are warmed in a skillet with sliced Vidalia sweet onions and strips of Publix Tricolor Peppers, then spooned into taco shells from the Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit for a fast, colorful weeknight dinner. The kit's included seasoning packet and taco shells do most of the work, and a dollop of Publix Mild Guacamole on each taco adds richness without any extra prep.
Sale items used: Bush's Best Beans, Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit (BOGO), Publix Tricolor Peppers, Vidalia Sweet Onions, Publix Mild Guacamole
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 cans of Bush's Best Beans, 1 Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit (the BOGO means you pay for one and get one free - use one kit this week and save the second), 1 pkg Publix Tricolor Peppers (3-ct, sliced), roughly 1 lb of Vidalia Sweet Onions from the 5-lb bag, and 1 pkg (8-oz) Publix Mild Guacamole. Each person gets 3 tacos.
Recipes:
- Black Bean Tacos with Roasted Peppers and Onions Recipe
- Vegetarian Black Bean Tacos - Skinnytaste
- Southwestern Black Bean Tacos - A Beautiful Plate

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet-Scrambled Egg and Zucchini Frittata with Shredded Cheese
Description: Pete & Gerry's Eggs are whisked and cooked low and slow in a skillet with sliced yellow squash or zucchini and Vidalia sweet onions until just set, then topped with Kraft Shredded Cheese and finished under the broiler for a golden, bubbly top. This Italian-style frittata is hearty enough to serve as a full dinner with a simple salad on the side from the Publix Classic Salad Blend.
Sale items used: Pete & Gerry's Eggs, Yellow Squash or Zucchini, Vidalia Sweet Onions, Kraft Shredded Cheese, Publix Classic Salad Blend
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 carton (12 eggs) of Pete & Gerry's Eggs, 1 tray Yellow Squash or Zucchini (2-oz tray, sliced thin), roughly 0.5 lb Vidalia Sweet Onions from the bag, 1 bag Kraft Shredded Cheese (2 for $6.00, use one bag), and 1 bag (16-oz) Publix Classic Salad Blend for the side. Serves 4 with 3 eggs per person.

Wednesday
Meal: Ronzoni Pasta with Botticelli Sauce, Broccoli, and Mushrooms
Description: Ronzoni Pasta is boiled and tossed with Botticelli Premium Pasta Sauce, blanched broccoli florets, and sauteed Publix White Mushrooms for a satisfying, vegetable-loaded pasta dinner. The mushrooms add a meaty, savory depth that makes this feel like a full meal rather than a simple pasta night.
Sale items used: Ronzoni Pasta (BOGO), Botticelli Premium Pasta Sauce, Broccoli or Cauliflower, Publix White Mushrooms
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 box Ronzoni Pasta from the BOGO pair (pay for one, get one free - use one box this week), 1 jar (up to 24-oz) Botticelli Premium Pasta Sauce, 1 head of broccoli from the 2 for $6.00 deal (use one head, save the second for Thursday), and 1 pkg Publix White Mushrooms from the 2 for $6.00 deal (use one pkg). Toss everything together and serve family-style.

Thursday
Meal: Dr. Praeger's Veggie Patties with Roasted Cauliflower and Corn
Description: Dr. Praeger's Entrées are pan-cooked according to package directions and served alongside oven-roasted cauliflower florets and fresh sweet corn cut from the cob, creating a satisfying plate with varied textures and a range of flavors. The cauliflower roasts at 425 degrees F with a little olive oil and salt until caramelized at the edges, and the corn is briefly boiled or roasted alongside it.
Sale items used: Dr. Praeger's Entrées, Broccoli or Cauliflower, Bulk Sweet Corn
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 boxes (8-10-oz each) Dr. Praeger's Entrées to yield enough patties for 4 people (check box for patty count and adjust plating accordingly), 1 head of cauliflower from the 2 for $6.00 deal (the second head from the pair bought on Wednesday), and 4 ears of sweet corn from the 5 for $5.00 deal. Each person gets 1 ear of corn, a generous portion of cauliflower, and patties from the two boxes.

Friday
Meal: Baked Egg and Bean Shakshuka with Crusty Ciabatta
Description: Bush's Best Beans are simmered in a skillet with diced Vidalia sweet onions and Publix Tricolor Peppers in a spiced tomato base, then Pete & Gerry's Eggs are cracked directly into the sauce and baked in the oven at 375 degrees F until the whites are just set and the yolks are still runny. Presliced Mini Fresh Ciabatta Rolls are served warm alongside for scooping, making this a festive, hands-on Friday dinner that feels special without any premium ingredient cost.
Sale items used: Bush's Best Beans, Pete & Gerry's Eggs, Vidalia Sweet Onions, Publix Tricolor Peppers, Presliced Mini Fresh Ciabatta Rolls
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 cans Bush's Best Beans, 1 carton (12-ct) Pete & Gerry's Eggs (crack 8 eggs into the sauce for 2 eggs per person, use remaining 4 eggs for another meal or breakfast), roughly 0.5 lb Vidalia Sweet Onions from the bag, the remaining peppers from the 3-ct Publix Tricolor Peppers pkg (any unused from Monday), and 1 pkg (12-oz) Presliced Mini Fresh Ciabatta Rolls. Use an oven-safe skillet and finish in the oven for 10-12 minutes after adding the eggs.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Bush's Best Beans (4 cans at $1.00 each, from 10 for $10.00 deal): $4.00
- Pete & Gerry's Eggs (2 cartons x $4.99): $9.98
- Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit (BOGO - 1 kit purchased, 1 free; base price not listed in flyer): price not listed - excluded per flyer rules; use pantry taco shells or substitute with a listed item
- Publix Tricolor Peppers (1 pkg, 3-ct): $4.99
- Vidalia Sweet Onions (1 bag, 5-lb): $3.49
- Publix Mild Guacamole (1 pkg, 8-oz): $3.49
- Yellow Squash or Zucchini (1 tray, 2-oz): $1.99
- Kraft Shredded Cheese (2 for $6.00, buy 2 bags): $6.00
- Publix Classic Salad Blend (1 bag, 16-oz): $2.00
- Ronzoni Pasta (BOGO - 1 box purchased, 1 free; base price not listed in flyer): price not listed - excluded per flyer rules; use 1 box from pantry or substitute
- Botticelli Premium Pasta Sauce (1 jar): $4.99
- Broccoli or Cauliflower (2 for $6.00, buy 2): $6.00
- Publix White Mushrooms (2 for $6.00, buy 1 pkg): $3.00
- Dr. Praeger's Entrées (2 boxes x $3.99): $7.98
- Bulk Sweet Corn (4 ears at $1.00 each from 5 for $5.00): $4.00
- Presliced Mini Fresh Ciabatta Rolls (1 pkg, 12-oz): $2.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil (for roasting cauliflower and sauteing vegetables)
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic (minced, for pasta sauce and shakshuka base)
- Cumin and chili powder (for taco and shakshuka seasoning)
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for shakshuka)
- Canned diced tomatoes (for shakshuka base, if not using extra pasta sauce)
- Taco shells or tortillas (if Old El Paso kit is unavailable due to unlisted base price)
- Pasta (if Ronzoni BOGO base price is unavailable, use pantry pasta)