Kroger Kid-Friendly Meal Plan
Switch dietary option for this week:
BUDGET RATIONALE
Why these meals: This week's plan keeps things simple and kid-friendly with familiar favorites your whole family will recognize, like Tuesday's Ground Beef Spaghetti with Marinara and Friday's Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta for a mild but special end to the week. You'll get great mileage out of a few smart buys: the Kroger Russet Potatoes 10 lb bag stretches across both Monday's Oven-Baked Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes and Thursday's Sausage and Pepper Skillet, while the pack of bell peppers covers Wednesday's Baked Chicken Tender Sandwiches and reappears in that same Thursday skillet. Wednesday's chicken tenders on soft buns are designed to be assembled by little hands, making dinner interactive without extra effort on your part. Each meal is built around mild seasoning and easy portioning, so picky eaters have plenty to enjoy while you spend more time at the table and less time in the kitchen.
5-DAY MEAL PLAN
Monday
Meal: Oven-Baked Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes
Description: Sliced pork tenderloin roasted until juicy and served alongside crispy roasted potato wedges. A simple, mild dinner that is easy for kids to eat with just a bit of ketchup on the side.
Sale items used: Boneless Pork Tenderloin, Kroger Russet Potatoes (10 lb bag)
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 2 lb pork tenderloin; 1.5 lb potatoes cut into wedges from the 10 lb bag (remainder used Thursday).
Recipes:
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin Recipe
- Easy Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes
- Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes
Tuesday
Meal: Ground Beef Spaghetti with Marinara
Description: Classic spaghetti tossed with a simple beef and tomato sauce, a familiar favorite that is easy to portion for little eaters. Ready in under an hour with minimal cleanup.
Sale items used: Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck, Barilla Pasta, Kroger Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1 package (about 1.3 lb) ground chuck; 1 box Barilla Pasta; 1 jar Kroger Pasta Sauce, all portioned for 4 servings.
Recipes:
- One Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- One-Pot Spaghetti with Ground Beef and Marinara Sauce
- Simple Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe
Wednesday
Meal: Baked Chicken Tender Sandwiches with Bell Peppers
Description: Oven-baked chicken tenders piled onto soft buns with a few strips of sweet bell pepper for crunch. A fun, handheld dinner kids can build themselves.
Sale items used: Home Chef Chicken Tenders, Private Selection Wide Pan Bread or Buns, Red, Orange or Yellow Bell Peppers
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Home Chef Chicken Tenders (serves 4); 4 buns from the pack; 1 bell pepper sliced thin (from the 2-pack, remainder used Thursday).
Recipes:
- Balsamic Glazed Chicken and Bell Pepper Sandwiches
Thursday
Meal: Sausage and Pepper Skillet with Potatoes
Description: Sliced breakfast sausage sautéed with bell pepper strips and diced potatoes for a warm, one-pan dinner. Mild and hearty, it is a great way to use up the rest of the week's potatoes and peppers.
Sale items used: Kroger Breakfast Sausage, Red, Orange or Yellow Bell Peppers, Kroger Russet Potatoes (10 lb bag)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Kroger Breakfast Sausage sliced; 1 remaining bell pepper diced; 1.5 lb potatoes diced from the same 10 lb bag as Monday.
Recipes:
- Sausage, Pepper and Potato Skillet Recipe
- Easy Sausage and Potato Skillet
- Sausage Peppers and Potatoes Skillet
Friday
Meal: Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Description: Tender Gulf shrimp sautéed in a light garlic butter sauce and tossed with pasta, a special but easy Friday night treat. Mild seasoning keeps it kid-approved while still feeling a bit fancy.
Sale items used: Kroger Large Gulf Shrimp, Barilla Pasta
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Kroger Large Gulf Shrimp; 1 box Barilla Pasta, both portioned for 4 servings.
Recipes:
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta with Tomatoes
🛒 Shopping List
SHOPPING LIST
Buy on sale:
- Boneless Pork Tenderloin (2 lb): $5.98
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck (1 package): $6.99
- Kroger Pasta Sauce (1 jar): $1.67
- Barilla Pasta (2 boxes): $1.98
- Home Chef Chicken Tenders (1 package): $5.00
- Private Selection Wide Pan Bread or Buns (1 package): $3.49
- Red, Orange or Yellow Bell Peppers (1 pack of 2): $3.00
- Kroger Russet Potatoes 10 lb bag (1 bag): $5.00
- Kroger Breakfast Sausage (1 package): $2.99
- Kroger Large Gulf Shrimp (1 package): $7.00
Pantry staples needed:
- Butter
- Garlic
- Olive oil or cooking oil
- Salt and pepper
- Ketchup (optional for serving)
🏷️ All sale items this week
SALE ITEMS FOUND
Meats on sale:
- Boneless Chuck Roast: $6.99/lb
- Boneless Pork Tenderloin or St. Louis Style Pork Ribs: $2.99/lb
- Whole Pork Shoulder Bone-In: $2.49/lb
- Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs (2 lb): $14.99 each
- Eckrich Smoked Sausage: $5.00 each
- Private Selection Chuck & Brisket Ground Beef (2 lb): $15.00 each
- Kroger Breakfast Sausage: $2.99 each
- Kroger Large Gulf Shrimp: $7.00 each
- Private Selection Angus 80% Lean Ground Chuck: $6.99 each
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage: 2 for $7.00
- Home Chef Chicken Tenders: $5.00 each
- Hormel Seasoned Pork Carnitas: $8.99 each
- Hormel Microwave Ready Bacon or Kroger Meat Entrée: $8.99 each
- Smithfield Bacon or Oscar Mayer Beef Franks: $3.99 each with digital coupon
Deli and prepared on sale:
- Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Lunch Meat or Claussen Pickles: $2.99 each with digital coupon
- Sargento Cheese Slices: 2 for $5.00
- Sargento Cheese: 2 for $5.00
Produce on sale:
- Personal Watermelon, Cantaloupe or Honeydew Melons: 2 for $6.00
- Raspberries or Blackberries: 2 for $5.00
- Honeycrisp Apples or Bartlett Pears: $2.50/lb
- Kroger Russet Potatoes (10 lb bag): $5.00 each
- Kroger Seedless Grapes (3 lb): $6.00 each
- Kroger Adorbs Seedless Mandarins (5 lb bag): $5.00 each with digital coupon
- Red, Orange or Yellow Bell Peppers: 2 for $3.00
- Cotton Candy, Gum Drops or Moon Drops Grapes: $3.99/lb
- Private Selection Autumn Crisp or Holiday Grapes (2 lb): $5.99 each
- Simple Truth Organic Seedless Grapes (2 lb): $6.99 each
- Private Selection Cara Cara Navel Oranges (3 lb bag): $4.99 each
- Jumbo Blueberries (9.8 oz): $5.99 each
- Fresh In-Store Made Guacamole: $6.99 each
- Dole Salad Kits: 3 for $11.00
Dairy and eggs on sale:
- Kroger Eggs (18 ct, Large, Grade A): $1.99 each
- Kroger Milk (Half Gallon): $1.59 each
- Chobani Greek Yogurt: $2.99 each
- BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella: $8.49 each
- Fairlife Core Power Protein Shake: $3.99 each
- International Delight Creamer: $2.99 each
- Stok Cold Brew Coffee: $5.49 each
Bakery and bread on sale:
- Pudding Cake or Cake Donuts: $6.99 each with digital coupon
- Mini Cupcakes: $5.00 each
- Private Selection Wide Pan Bread or Buns: $3.49 each
- Dave's Killer Bread Organic Bread: $4.99 each
- Artesano Bread or Buns: $3.49 each
- Private Selection Fresh Baked Butter Croissants or Bakery Fresh Muffins: $5.00 each
- Fresh Baked Cookies: $3.00 each
Pantry on sale:
- Progresso Soup: 6 for $9.00
- Kroger Pasta Sauce or Private Selection Pasta: 3 for $5.00
- Ragú Pasta Sauce: $1.29 each with digital coupon
- Barilla Pasta: $0.99 each with digital coupon
- General Mills Cereal: $1.79 each with digital coupon
- Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce or Nongshim Ramen: $1.49 each
- Simply Fruit Drink or Ade or GT's Kombucha: $1.99 each
- Velveeta Shells & Cheese or Classico Pasta Sauce: $1.99 each
- Heinz Ketchup or Kraft Mayo: $3.49 each
- Simply Orange Juice or Post Large Size Cereal: $3.49 each
- Nature Valley Crunchy: $1.99 each
- Ken's Salad Dressing or Cholula Hot Sauce: $2.49 each
- Pepperidge Farm Goldfish or Nature Valley Bars: $1.99 each
- Planters Peanuts or Voortman Bakery Cookies: $2.49 each
- Kashi Cereal: $4.99 each
- Kroger Saltine Crackers: $2.00 each
- Kroger Salad Dressing or Simple Truth Organic Broth: $1.99 each
- Cheez-It Family Size Crackers: $3.99 each
- Lesser Evil Popcorn: 2 for $6.00
- Kettle Brand Potato Chips or Simple Truth Organic Bone Broth: $3.99 each
- Annie's Organic Fruit Rope: 2 for $8.00
- Kind Bars or Kind Max Protein Bars: $7.99 each
- Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing: $3.99 each
- Big K Cola (2 Liter): $1.00 each
- M&M's Candy: 2 for $3.00
- Kroger Apple Cider: $2.99 each with digital coupon
- Poppi Prebiotic Soda: $5.99 each with digital coupon
- Chick-Fil-A Sauce or Buffalo Wild Wings Sauce: $2.99 each
- Belvita Cookies or Chex Mix: $3.49 each
- Hershey's King Size Candy: $2.99 each
- Green Mountain or McCafé K-Cups: $7.99 each
- Quest Protein Bars: $8.99 each
- Premier Protein Shakes: $25.99 each
- Starbucks Coffee: $9.99 each
- Muscle Milk Protein Shakes: $7.99 each
Frozen on sale:
- Tyson Frozen Chicken: $9.99 each with digital coupon
- DiGiorno Stuffed Crust Pizza or California Pizza Kitchen Pizza: $6.99 each with digital coupon
- Amy's Entrée: $4.29 each with digital coupon
- Kroger Frozen Meatballs or Perdue Frozen Chicken: $5.99 each
- Smucker's Uncrustables: $9.49 each
- Bob Evans Breakfast Sausage: $9.99 each
- Dole Diced Peaches, Hostess Cupcakes/Multipack or Dole Fruit Bowls: 2 for $6.00
- Totino's Pizza Rolls (50 ct): $4.99 each
- Totino's Pizza Rolls (130 ct): $11.99 each
🛒 Estimated Shopping Cost
Based on sale prices for items in this plan
Some sale prices require the store's loyalty card or a clipped digital coupon. Check the flyer before you shop.
$43.10
for 4 people · $10.78 per person
📍 Disclaimer: Prices and availability are based on the Kroger weekly sales flyer for the week of September 09, 2026. Flyers are sourced from store websites and weekly flyer aggregator sites. Actual prices may vary by location. Always verify prices at your local store. We are not affiliated with Kroger.