Kroger Kid-Friendly Meal Plan
Switch dietary option for this week:
BUDGET RATIONALE
Why these meals: This week's plan is built around simple, kid-friendly favorites that come together fast on busy weeknights. You'll start with Turkey Sloppy Joes on Monday, a mess-friendly sandwich dinner the kids will love, then move into Baked Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Squash on Tuesday for a mild, homey meal. Wednesday keeps things easy with Baked Chicken Tenders and Steamed Vegetables, a guaranteed hit with minimal cleanup, while Thursday brings classic backyard vibes with Beef Burgers and Sweet Corn. We wrap up the week with Buttery Shrimp Pasta on Friday, a fun, twirlable dish that's ready in under 30 minutes. Each meal uses sale items from Kroger, like the Kroger 85% Lean Ground Turkey and Rao's Pasta Sauce, so you're getting great value while keeping dinner simple and satisfying for the whole family.
5-DAY MEAL PLAN
Monday
Meal: Turkey Sloppy Joes
Description: Ground turkey simmered in a simple sweet and tangy sauce, served on soft buns for an easy, mess-friendly favorite. A classic kid-approved sandwich dinner that comes together in one skillet.
Sale items used: Kroger 85% Lean Ground Turkey, Wonder Bread Buns
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb Kroger 85% Lean Ground Turkey, 4 Wonder Bread Buns
Recipes:
- Turkey Sloppy Joes (quick and easy!)
- 30-Minute Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes
- 30-Minute Turkey Sloppy Joes - The Real Food Dietitians
Tuesday
Meal: Baked Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Squash
Description: Boneless pork tenderloin baked until tender and lightly seasoned, served alongside soft roasted butternut squash cubes. A mild, homey dinner the whole family can enjoy.
Sale items used: St. Louis Style Pork Ribs or Boneless Pork Tenderloin, Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 2 lb Boneless Pork Tenderloin, 2 lb Butternut Squash, diced and roasted
Recipes:
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Fall Veggies
- Roast Pork Tenderloin with Butternut Squash
- Perfectly Baked Pork Tenderloin
Wednesday
Meal: Baked Chicken Tenders with Steamed Vegetables
Description: Frozen chicken baked until golden and crispy, paired with a simple steamed vegetable side for a balanced, familiar plate. Easy cleanup and a guaranteed kid favorite.
Sale items used: Tyson Frozen Chicken, Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Tyson Frozen Chicken (about 4 servings), 1 package Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables
Recipes:
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders - Cooking Classy
- Sheet Pan Smoky Parmesan Chicken Tenders & Veggies
- Roasted Rosemary Chicken Tenders and Veggies
Thursday
Meal: Beef Burgers with Sweet Corn
Description: Juicy beef burger patties grilled or pan-seared and served on soft buns, with sweet corn on the side for a classic backyard-style dinner. Simple, satisfying, and easy to customize with toppings.
Sale items used: Kroger 73% Lean Beef Burgers, Ball Park Buns or Nature's Own Perfectly Crafted Buns, Kroger Sweet Corn
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Kroger 73% Lean Beef Burgers (4 patties), 4 Ball Park Buns, 1 package Kroger Sweet Corn
Recipes:
- Sweet Corn Topped Burgers Recipe
- Beef And Veggie Burgers: Toddler-Friendly!
- Beef Burgers with Hidden Veggies
Friday
Meal: Buttery Shrimp Pasta
Description: Tender cooked shrimp tossed with pasta and a mild tomato sauce for a fun, twirlable dinner kids enjoy. A simple stovetop meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Kroger Cooked or Raw Large Shrimp, Barilla Pasta, Rao's Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Kroger Cooked Large Shrimp, 1 box Barilla Pasta, 1 jar Rao's Pasta Sauce
Recipes:
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta - No Wine
- 30-Minute One-Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta - Jillian's Healthful Eats
🛒 Shopping List
SHOPPING LIST
Buy on sale:
- Kroger 85% Lean Ground Turkey (1 package): $2.99
- Wonder Bread Buns (1 package): $1.99
- Boneless Pork Tenderloin (2 lb): $5.98
- Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash (2 lb): $2.98
- Tyson Frozen Chicken (1 package): $6.99
- Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables (1 package): $1.79
- Kroger 73% Lean Beef Burgers (1 package): $10.00
- Ball Park Buns (1 package): $3.49
- Kroger Sweet Corn (1 package): $3.99
- Kroger Cooked or Raw Large Shrimp (1 package): $6.00
- Barilla Pasta (1 box): $1.39
- Rao's Pasta Sauce (1 jar): $5.99
Pantry staples needed:
- Salt, pepper, cooking oil
- Ketchup, brown sugar or Worcestershire sauce (for sloppy joes)
- Garlic (for shrimp pasta)
🏷️ All sale items this week
SALE ITEMS FOUND
Meats on sale:
- Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef: $4.99/lb
- Kroger Beef Shaved Steak: 2 for $10.00
- Kroger 85% Lean Ground Turkey: $2.99 each with card
- Hormel Bacon: $4.99 each with digital coupon
- Tyson Frozen Chicken: $6.99 each with digital coupon
- Hormel Beef Entrée: $9.99 each with digital coupon
- Kroger Dinner Sausage Links: $3.99 with card
- Home Chef St. Louis Style Ribs: $14.99 with card
- Kroger 73% Lean Beef Burgers: $10.00 with card
- Kroger Cooked or Raw Large Shrimp: $6.00 with card
- Boneless Chuck Roast or Steaks: $9.49/lb
- St. Louis Style Pork Ribs or Boneless Pork Tenderloin: $2.99/lb
- Private Selection Marinated Salmon or Tilapia: $7.99 with card
- Simple Truth Organic 85% Lean Ground Beef: $20.00 with card
Deli and prepared on sale:
- Kroger Sweet Corn: $3.99 with card
- Home Chef Fried Chicken: $5.00 with card
- Private Selection Soup: $7.00 with card
- Wellshire Lunch Meat: $4.99 each with digital coupon
Produce on sale:
- Kroger Tri-Color Peppers: $6.00 with card
- Raspberries or Blackberries: 2 for $4.00
- California Red, Green or Black Seedless Grapes: $1.99/lb
- Kroger Lemons or Limes: $4.99 with card
- Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash: $1.49/lb
- Kroger Bartlett, Bosc or Red Pears: $5.00 with card
- Jumbo Blueberries: $5.99 with card
- Fresh-Cut Fruit Bowls: $5.00 with card
- Kroger Adorbs Seedless Mandarins or Honeycrisp Apples: $4.99 each with digital coupon
Dairy and eggs on sale:
- Chobani Greek Yogurt: 10 for $10.00
- Kroger Cheese: $1.49 each with digital coupon
- Land O Lakes Butter: $2.99 each with digital coupon
- Chobani Creamer: 2 for $9.00
- Ben & Jerry's Dairy-Free Dessert: $5.49 with card
- Fairlife Core Power Protein Shake: $4.29 with card
Bakery and bread on sale:
- Double Layer Cake: $15.99 each with digital coupon
- Wonder Bread, Buns or Mott's Applesauce Cups: $1.99 each with digital coupon
- Dot's Pretzels or Tate's Cookies: $4.99 each with digital coupon
- Private Selection Tiramisu Bar Cake: $12.99 each with digital coupon
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Muffins: $5.00 with card
- Pumpkin Pie: $6.99 with card
- Private Selection Pumpkin Cake Roll: $7.99 with card
- Private Selection Fresh Baked Butter Croissants: $5.00 with card
- Ball Park Buns or Nature's Own Perfectly Crafted Buns: $3.49 with card
Pantry on sale:
- Kroger Beans or Starkist Tuna: $0.88 each with card
- Pringles or Campbell's V8 Splash: $1.99 each
- Nabisco Family Size Crackers: $4.49 each
- Barilla Pasta: $1.39 each
- Rice-A-Roni or Pasta-Roni: $0.99 each
- Hellmann's Mayonnaise: $4.49 each
- Progresso Soup: $1.29 each with digital coupon
- Cap'n Crunch or Life Cereal / Quaker Instant Oatmeal: $1.49 each with digital coupon
- Knorr Pasta or Rice Sides: $0.99 each with digital coupon
- Folgers Coffee: $11.99 each with digital coupon
- Pop-Tarts: $3.29 each with digital coupon
- Swanson Broth: 2 for $5.00
- Rao's Pasta Sauce: $5.99 with card
- Nissin Ramen Bowl or Campbell's Spaghettios: 4 for $5.00
- Simple Truth Organic Broth: $2.00 with card
- Simple Truth Organic Tortilla Chips: $2.49 with card
- Starbucks Coffee: $7.99 each with digital coupon
- Private Selection Mac & Cheese or Kroger Queso Dip: $2.49 each with digital coupon
- Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal or Granola: $3.49 each with digital coupon
- Kroger Potato Chips: $1.79 with card
- Lay's Potato Chips, Cheetos, or Smartfood Popcorn: 4 for $10.00
- Party Size Tostitos: $3.99 with card
- Little Debbie Snack Cakes or David Protein Bar: 2 for $6.00
- Blue Diamond Almonds: $2.49 each with digital coupon
- Lifesavers or Skittles Gummies: $2.99 with card
Frozen on sale:
- Breyers Ice Cream or Talenti Gelato/Sorbetto: $2.99 each with digital coupon
- Klondike Ice Cream Bars: $2.99 each with digital coupon
- Freschetta Pizza: $3.99 each with digital coupon
- Nestlé Drumstick Cones or Cooked Perfect Meatballs: $6.99 each with digital coupon
- Farm Rich Appetizers: $5.99 each with digital coupon
- Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables or Simple Truth Organic 90 Second Rice: $1.79 each with digital coupon
- Popsicle Ice Pops or V8 Vegetable Juice: $4.49 each with digital coupon
- Stouffer's Family Size Entrée: $7.49 each with digital coupon
🛒 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.
$53.58
for 4 people · $13.39 per person
📍 Disclaimer: Prices and availability are based on the Kroger weekly sales flyer for the week of September 23, 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.