Kroger Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan leans on a handful of sale finds to keep things simple and satisfying without much fuss. Large Avocados show up twice, first sliced over Monday's baked Velveeta Shells & Cheese and Roasted Tomato Bowl, then mashed onto Thursday's Greek Yogurt and Avocado Toast, so grabbing four of them covers both nights. Private Selection Tomato Bowls also do double duty, roasted for Monday's dinner and diced into Tuesday's Peanut Butter Noodle Stir-Fry. Kroger Cheese anchors two very different meals too, melted into Wednesday's Roasted Stuffed Carving Pumpkin and grilled between slices of Widepan Bread on Friday. Wednesday is the one splurge night with the carving pumpkins, but you can roast them ahead of time to make dinner easy, and the rest of the week stays quick and low-effort from start to finish.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Velveeta Shells & Cheese with Roasted Tomato Bowl and Avocado
Description: Creamy baked Velveeta Shells & Cheese is topped with warm roasted tomatoes and fresh avocado slices for a comforting, no-fuss dinner. It's rich, cheesy, and ready fast with almost no cleanup.
Sale items used: Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Private Selection Tomato Bowls, Large Avocados
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 2 boxes Velveeta Shells & Cheese (prepared per package, combined to serve 4), 1 Private Selection Tomato Bowl halved and roasted, 2 Large Avocados sliced
Recipes:
- Velveeta Shells and Cheese
- Cheesy Velveeta and Shells
- Herbed Shells & Cheese Bake

Tuesday
Meal: Peanut Butter Noodle Stir-Fry with Roasted Tomatoes
Description: Pasta is tossed in a quick peanut butter and peanut sauce, then finished with warm roasted tomato bowl pieces for a sweet-savory weeknight stir-fry. It comes together in one skillet in under 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Jif Peanut Butter, Planters Peanuts, Private Selection Tomato Bowls
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1/2 cup Jif Peanut Butter, 1/2 cup Planters Peanuts (chopped, for sauce and garnish), 1 Private Selection Tomato Bowl diced, 1 lb pantry noodles (staple)
Recipes:
- Easy Vegan Peanut Sauce Stir Fry Recipe with Noodles
- Easy Stir-Fried Vegetables and Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce
- Peanut Butter Stir Fry

Wednesday
Meal: Roasted Stuffed Carving Pumpkin with Kroger Cheese
Description: Halved carving pumpkins are roasted until tender, then filled with melted Kroger Cheese and a pat of Challenge Butter for a hearty, fall-forward vegetarian main. This is the week's premium night thanks to the pumpkin's per-serving cost.
Sale items used: Carving Pumpkins, Kroger Cheese, Challenge Butter
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: 2 Carving Pumpkins halved and seeded (yields 4 stuffed halves), 4 oz Kroger Cheese shredded, 2 tablespoons Challenge Butter; timing note - pumpkins can be pre-roasted the night before to cut active dinner time
Recipes:
- Vegetarian Stuffed Pumpkin (Recipe Review)
- Baked Stuffed Pumpkin with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Cheese
- Pumpkin stuffed with Vegetables and Cheese

Thursday
Meal: Greek Yogurt and Avocado Toast on Artesano Bread
Description: Thick Chobani Greek Yogurt is spread on toasted Artesano Bread and topped with mashed avocado for a light, protein-forward dinner. It's quick, fresh, and satisfying without any cooking beyond toasting.
Sale items used: Chobani Greek Yogurt, Large Avocados, Artesano Bread
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serving note: 2 Chobani Greek Yogurt containers, 2 Large Avocados mashed, 4 slices Artesano Bread toasted
Recipes:
- Sweet Greek Avocado Toast Recipe
- Greek Avocado Toast Recipe: Easy, Delicious, And Healthy
- Recipe: Honey-Yogurt Avocado Toast

Friday
Meal: Grilled Kroger Cheese Sandwiches with Fresh-Cut Fruit Bowl
Description: Classic grilled cheese made with Kroger Cheese on Private Selection Widepan Bread, pan-fried until golden and melty. Served alongside a chilled Fresh-Cut Fruit Bowl for a simple, kid-friendly finish to the week.
Sale items used: Kroger Cheese, Private Selection Widepan Bread, Fresh-Cut Fruit Bowls
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serving note: 4 oz Kroger Cheese sliced, 8 slices Private Selection Widepan Bread, 1 Fresh-Cut Fruit Bowl divided among 4 plates
Recipes:
- The Best Peach Basil Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
- Blackberry Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese
- Fruit And Brie Grilled Cheese

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Velveeta Shells & Cheese (x2 boxes): $3.98
- Private Selection Tomato Bowls (x2): $10.00
- Large Avocados (x4): $5.96
- Jif Peanut Butter (x1): $4.99
- Planters Peanuts (x1): $2.49
- Carving Pumpkins (x2): $10.00
- Kroger Cheese (x2): $5.98
- Challenge Butter (x1): $2.99
- Chobani Greek Yogurt (x2): $5.98
- Artesano Bread (x1): $3.49
- Private Selection Widepan Bread (x1): $3.49
- Fresh-Cut Fruit Bowls (x1): $5.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Pasta or noodles
- Cooking oil
- Salt and pepper
- Basic seasonings for stir-fry sauce (garlic powder, soy sauce or similar)