Publix Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around mild, familiar flavors your kids will actually eat, from Monday's baked BBQ chicken leg quarters to Wednesday's slow-roasted pulled pork, both hearty proteins that shred easily and pair with sides like rice, broccoli, and mashed potatoes. Chicken shows up in two different forms, first as leg quarters on Monday and again as ground chicken breast tucked into naan wraps on Thursday, so you get variety without repeating the same dish. Tuesday's beef spaghetti and Friday's garlic butter shrimp round things out with kid-approved textures, twirlable pasta and easy-to-eat shrimp over rice, while broccoli, carrots, and green beans keep some steady veggie sides in rotation all week. Shared items like the 2-pack of broccoli, shredded cheese, and rice bags are used across multiple nights, so nothing sits unused in your fridge. Overall, this is a straightforward, low-fuss lineup where every meal feels like something your family already knows and likes.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked BBQ Chicken Leg Quarters with Broccoli and Rice
Description: Chicken leg quarters baked until golden and brushed with a simple barbecue glaze, served alongside steamed broccoli and fluffy rice. A comforting, familiar plate kids can easily pick apart.
Sale items used: Publix Chicken Leg Quarters, Broccoli, Mahatma Jasmine Rice
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken leg quarters, 1 head of broccoli (from the 2-pack), 1 cup dry rice cooked per package directions.
Recipes:
- Baked BBQ Chicken Leg Quarters
- Easy Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
- Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken Legs and Better Home Fries

Tuesday
Meal: Beef Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Broccoli
Description: Ground chuck simmered into a hearty tomato meat sauce tossed with pasta, topped with shredded cheese, and served with steamed broccoli on the side. A simple, saucy favorite that's easy for little hands to twirl.
Sale items used: Ground Chuck, Publix Premium Pasta, GreenWise Organic Pasta Sauce, Kraft Shredded Cheese, Broccoli
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs ground chuck, 1 box of Publix Premium Pasta (from the 2-pack), 1 jar pasta sauce, 1 bag shredded cheese (from the 2-pack), remaining head of broccoli from Monday's pack.
Recipes:
- One-Pot Spaghetti with Broccoli and Meat Sauce
- Easy One Pot Pasta with Ground Beef and Broccoli
- Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli

Wednesday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pulled Pork with Mashed Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Description: Pork Boston butt roasted low and slow until fork-tender and easy to shred, served over creamy mashed potatoes with roasted brussels sprouts. Mild and hearty, this is comfort food kids know and love.
Sale items used: Publix Pork Boston Butt Roast, Publix Russet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts
Prep time: 25 minutes active, plus roasting time
Serving note: 2 lbs pork Boston butt, about 1.5 lbs russet potatoes mashed, 1 bag of brussels sprouts (from the 2-pack). Make-ahead note: start the roast early in the day or the night before, since it needs 3-4 hours of low oven roasting to become tender before slicing/shredding for dinner.
Recipes:
- Pulled Pork Sliders with Brussels Sprouts Slaw
- Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes
- Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cheese Grits

Thursday
Meal: Skillet Chicken Naan Wraps with Carrots
Description: Ground chicken breast pan-seared with mild seasoning and tucked into warm naan flatbread with a little cheese, served with sliced carrots on the side. Handheld and fun, this is an easy one for kids to build themselves.
Sale items used: Springer Mountain Farms Ground Chicken Breast, Stonefire Naan Flatbread, Kraft Shredded Cheese, GreenWise Organic Whole Carrots
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs ground chicken breast, 1 pack Stonefire Naan Flatbread, remaining shredded cheese from Tuesday's pack, 1 pack of carrots (from the 2-pack).
Recipes:
- Ginger Chicken Naan Wraps
- Tandoori Chicken Naan Wraps
- Chicken Shawarma Wraps

Friday
Meal: Garlic Butter Shrimp with Rice and Green Beans
Description: Lightly seasoned shrimp sauteed in a mild garlic butter, served over rice with steamed green beans. A special end-of-week treat that's still simple and mild enough for young palates.
Sale items used: White Shrimp, Mahatma Jasmine Rice, Pero Family Farms Snipped Green Beans
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb white shrimp, remaining rice from Monday's bag, 1 pack of snipped green beans (from the 2-pack).
Recipes:
- Garlic Shrimp and Green Beans
- Garlic Butter Shrimp and Rice
- One-Pan Shrimp and Green Beans in Chinese Garlic Sauce

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Publix Chicken Leg Quarters (2 lbs): $3.18
- Broccoli (1 pack of 2 heads): $6.00
- Mahatma Jasmine Rice (1 bag): $2.49
- Ground Chuck (1.5 lbs): $7.49
- Publix Premium Pasta (1 pack of 2 boxes): $5.00
- GreenWise Organic Pasta Sauce (1 jar): $2.99
- Kraft Shredded Cheese (1 pack of 2 bags): $6.00
- Publix Pork Boston Butt Roast (2 lbs): $5.98
- Brussels Sprouts (1 pack of 2 bags): $5.00
- Publix Russet Potatoes (1 five-lb bag): $3.99
- Springer Mountain Farms Ground Chicken Breast (1.5 lbs): $5.99
- Stonefire Naan Flatbread (1 pack): $6.00
- GreenWise Organic Whole Carrots (1 pack of 2): $3.00
- White Shrimp (1 lb): $9.99
- Pero Family Farms Snipped Green Beans (1 pack of 2 bags): $5.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Barbecue seasoning or sauce base ingredients (if not using a bottled sauce)
- Butter
- Garlic
- Olive oil or cooking oil
- Salt and pepper
- Milk (for mashed potatoes)