Giant Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta with Tomatoes
Description: A small skillet of ground beef simmered with diced tomatoes and tossed with pasta and melted cheese, kid-friendly and mild. Portion sized just for one, with leftovers minimized.
Sale items used: 73% Lean Ground Beef
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 0.25 lb ground beef (about $0.87 worth), 1 cup cooked pasta, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes (canned, pantry), 1/4 cup shredded cheese (pantry).
Recipes:
- Easy Ground Beef Pasta (One Pot)
- Cheesy Beef Pasta Recipe
- Ground Beef Pasta (One Pot)

Tuesday
Meal: Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Description: Two juicy drumsticks brushed with a sweet, mild BBQ sauce and baked until tender and slightly crispy. A fun finger-food dinner kids love.
Sale items used: Fresh Chicken Drumsticks or Leg Quarters
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Buy about 0.75 lb drumsticks (roughly 2 pieces) at $0.99/lb.
Recipes:
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks (Easy and Juicy)
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Wednesday
Meal: Roasted Whole Chicken with Mini Cucumber Salad
Description: A simply seasoned piece of roasted chicken paired with a light, refreshing mini cucumber salad. Since a whole chicken is too much for one person, a smaller cut is used for practicality.
Sale items used: Whole Chicken Fryer, Giant Salad Blends/Mini Cucumbers
Prep time: 55 minutes (make-ahead note: roast chicken portion the night before to save time)
Serving note: Use about 0.5 lb bone-in chicken pieces cut from the whole fryer ($1.49/lb), plus 1/2 pack mini cucumbers (from a 2-for-$5 pack, shared use).
Recipes:
- Simple Roast Chicken Recipe For Families & Kids
- Creamy Chicken Cucumber Salad

Thursday
Meal: Garlic Butter Shrimp with Rice
Description: Sweet, tender shrimp sauteed in a mild garlic butter sauce, served over a bed of warm rice. A simple, kid-approved seafood night.
Sale items used: Large Raw EZ Peel Shrimp
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 0.35 lb shrimp (about $2.10 worth) and 3/4 cup cooked rice (pantry).
Recipes:
- Garlic Butter Shrimp and Rice
- Easy garlic butter shrimp and rice
- Garlic Butter Shrimp over Rice

Friday
Meal: Ground Chicken Sliders with Avocado
Description: Mini chicken sliders on soft small buns topped with a few slices of creamy avocado, a fun handheld dinner. Mild seasoning keeps it familiar and kid-friendly.
Sale items used: Perdue Ground Chicken, Hass Avocados
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use about 1/3 of the Perdue Ground Chicken package (approx 0.33 lb, cost prorated to $1.33) and 1 avocado from the 4-for-$5 pack.
Recipes:
- California Avocado Chicken Sliders
- Avocado Chicken Sliders Recipe
- Chicken Avocado BLT Sliders

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Ground Beef (0.25 lb): $0.87
- Chicken Drumsticks (0.75 lb): $0.74
- Whole Chicken Fryer (0.5 lb): $0.75
- Mini Cucumbers (1 pack, shared): $2.50
- Large Raw EZ Peel Shrimp (0.35 lb): $2.10
- Perdue Ground Chicken (1 package, portion used): $3.99
- Hass Avocados (1 avocado): $1.25

Pantry staples needed:
- Pasta
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheese
- BBQ sauce
- Rice
- Garlic
- Butter
- Small burger buns
- Cooking oil, salt, pepper