20 Meals from Costco for $150 – Slow Cooker Freezer Packs, 2nd Edition

As a working mom with 7 kiddos, a crazy busy schedule that starts at the crack of dawn (literally), I need all the help I can get when it comes to meal prep and keeping up with my hungry family.

This is why I adore the Costco meal plans from Erin over at $5 Dinners. She’s a busy, working mom with kids too and she’s on a mission to make our lives easier. (And cheaper too!)

She discovered a ‘method’ for mixing and matching ingredients from Costco, so that nothing would go to waste, and nothing would sit in your pantry for months on end. She’s pulled together several different plans that will make 20 meals (almost all of them are freezer friendly) using ingredients that cost $150.

So far, she has 6 different sets of meals for dinner and she just released a plan that shows you how to make 85 breakfasts/snacks for $140! She has a knack for taking these bulk ingredients and putting them into different groups of meals…and the recipes are crazy delicious too!

If you don’t want to prep all 20 meals at once, she’ll also tell you how to break the prep work down into 2 or more sections. You can make it work on any schedule!

And you’ll be thanking your lucky stars, come time to think about dinner and all you have to do is start the slow cooker in the morning with one of the ‘slow cooker freezer packs’ or pull out a casserole from the freezer and just heat it up!

Go HERE to take a look!

Here are some free printables if you need them:

• Shopping List – Feel free to print this off and keep it on the fridge to jot down those items that you need to pick up from the store!
• Favorite Recipes – This form will help you make a list of the top recipes that you make for your family.
• Freezer Inventory – Take stock of what you have already so that you don’t overbuy. But also so that you know what you are looking for.
• Pantry Inventory – Keep track of what you have on hand. Then make a plan on what you are using a lot of and stock up on that.
• Monthly Menu Planner – By planning a monthly menu you can better follow the sales and know what you need to buy.

The first thing we are going to do is see who has the best prices this week on the protein part of our meal, because that is where I spend the most of my food budget. * if you do NOT have the same grocery stores as me, do not worry! just grab your ads or look them up online and see who is the cheapest in your area! 

I am shopping at Kroger this week, they have the best deals for the items I am buying. Make sure to use the printable list of items you will need for each recipe at the bottom!

* Click “Display All Matchups” to see all the recipes lists.

:: KROGER ::

• Del Monte Canned Veggies 10 for $10 and 5 for $3.
• Duncan Hines Cake Mix 10 for $10
• Rosarita Refried Beans $.98
• Kroger brand Frozen veggies 10 for $10
• Kroger Cheese $1.99
• John Morelle Bacon 2 for $5
• Chappell Hill Smoked Sausage 2 for $5
• Pork Butt Roast $1.49/lb
• Cantaloupe $.99
• Organic Kale $.99
• Center cut Pork Chops $2.99/lb
• St. Louis Style Pork Ribs $3.49/lb

8 Can Chicken Soup – LOVE this super easy recipe! Grab some chicken, shred it, and then use the canned items on sale this week at Kroger for the rest! Super cheap and easy!

CopyCat Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden – I have been making this for YEARS! Whenever sausage, bacon, potatoes and kale are all on sale at the same time, this is what I am making for sure!

Caribbean Pork Roast – This recipe takes a little time, but you will be SOOOO happy you made it!

Pan Fried Pork Chops – Been a staple at our house since I first read this recipe on the Pioneer Woman.

Mexican Pizza – Super easy and cheap to make, refried breans and ground beef are on sale, so why not?!

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs – My husband will love me, and I will love that I just tossed this in the crock pot!

The BEST Banana Bread EVER! – I couldn’t help this one… Cake mixes are on sale for $1 this week at Kroger, and if you have not made my banana bread recipe you are missing out!!

*Make sure to check out the weekly store deals and coupon match ups. You can make a printable list to make shopping easier! Kroger list HERE, Randalls list HERE, HEB list HERE.

This is one of my favorite meals to cook for my family each year, Easter Dinner. I posted the ham prices HERE if you want to take a look again to see where you want to shop. This is just to give you an idea of what you can do and some good tried and true family recipes!

::BREAKFAST::

• Quick and Easy Quiche Recipe
• Clone of a Cinnabon Recipe

::MAIN MEAL::

• Coca Cola Ham Recipe

::SIDE DISHES::

• Hash Brown Potato Casserole 
• Cherry Pie Filling Fruit Salad
• Broccoli Salad Recipe

::BREADS::

• Garlic Knots 
• Easter Braided Bread with Colored Easter Eggs Recipe
• Copy Cat Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuit Recipe

::DESSERTS::

• Easy Cake Mix Easter Bunny Cake Recipe
• Texas Sheet Cake Recipe – Chocolate Buttermilk Cake
• Oreo Fudge Brownies Recipe
• Snickers Brownies Recipe! UNBELIEVABLE

Here are some free printables if you need them:

• Shopping List – Feel free to print this off and keep it on the fridge to jot down those items that you need to pick up from the store!
• Favorite Recipes – This form will help you make a list of the top recipes that you make for your family.
• Freezer Inventory – Take stock of what you have already so that you don’t overbuy. But also so that you know what you are looking for.
• Pantry Inventory – Keep track of what you have on hand. Then make a plan on what you are using a lot of and stock up on that.
• Monthly Menu Planner – By planning a monthly menu you can better follow the sales and know what you need to buy.

The first thing we are going to do is see who has the best prices this week on the protein part of our meal, because that is where I spend the most of my food budget. * if you do NOT have the same grocery stores as me, do not worry! just grab your ads or look them up online and see who is the cheapest in your area! 

*Make sure to check out the weekly store deals and coupon match ups. You can make a printable list to make shopping easier! Kroger list HERE, Randalls list HERE, HEB list HERE.

:: THURSDAY :: Chicken and Garlic Glaze – I am using the whole chicken breasts from Kroger on this one. Making a few extra and tearing the meat off them for Saturday’s dinner. I have everything else at home for this dish in my pantry. I just need to add a salad and side.

• Kroger $1.79 chicken breasts
• Walmart -Chicken Broth 
  
• Randalls – Salad Kit $2.50

::FRIDAY:: – Baked Potato Bar – My son is having friends over and I need a cheap and easy meal to feed a bunch of teens!

• Randalls – Lloyd’s Twin Packs B1G1 Free
• Randalls – Lucerne Sour Crean $2.29
• Randalls – Lucerne 32oz Chredded Cheese $6.99
• Kroger – Kroger Fully Cooked Bacon $2.50

::SATURDAY:: – Baked Burritos – Remember the left over chicken from Thursday? I am using it tonight for baked burritos which my kids and everyone LOVES. I will also make extra for lunch on Sunday.

• Walmart – Canned Tomatoes 
  
• Walmart – Canned Black Beans
• Walmart – Tortillas
• Randalls – Salad Kits $2.50

::SUNDAY:: – Steak – New York Strip Steaks. With a side brocooli salad and garlic knots. Again, make extra steak, I am going to have it for my salad at lunch for a few days. 🙂

• HEB – New York Strip Steaks $3.97 /lb
• HEB – Broccoli Organic
• Randalls – Grapes $2.99/lb
• Walmart – Green Onions

::MONDAY:: – Pan Fried Pork Chops, Side Salad and a roll.

• Randalls – Side Salad $2.50
• Kroger – Assorted Pork Chops $1.88/lb

:: TUESDAY :: We will be eating out this night… I already know what a crazy night it will be!

Here are some free printables if you need them:

• Shopping List – Feel free to print this off and keep it on the fridge to jot down those items that you need to pick up from the store!
• Favorite Recipes – This form will help you make a list of the top recipes that you make for your family.
• Freezer Inventory – Take stock of what you have already so that you don’t overbuy. But also so that you know what you are looking for.
• Pantry Inventory – Keep track of what you have on hand. Then make a plan on what you are using a lot of and stock up on that.
• Monthly Menu Planner – By planning a monthly menu you can better follow the sales and know what you need to buy.

The first thing we are going to do is see who has the best prices this week on the protein part of our meal, because that is where I spend the most of my food budget. * if you do NOT have the same grocery stores as me, do not worry! just grab your ads or look them up online and see who is the cheapest in your area! 

:: RANDALLS ::

• Eating Right Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.99/lb
• Pork Shoulder $1.29/lb
• Safeway Spiral Sliced Ham $1.29/lb
• Tyson Breaded Chicken Buy 1 Get 1 Free

:: KROGER ::

• Boneless Chuck Roast $1.99/lb
• Boneless Stew Beef or Cube Steak $3.99/lb
• Chicken Drumsticks $.99/lb
• Pork Shoulder or Butt Roast $1.49/lb
• Tyson Boneless Skinless Chicken $1.99/lb

:: HEB ::

• Boneless Top Sirloin $2.77/lb
• Pork Tenderloin $1.97/lb
• BUY H-E-B Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts get free, Kraft Recipe Makers 12.2 – 18.2 oz. assorted varieties
• BUY H-E-B Natural Seasoned Pulled Pork or Shredded Chicken 16 oz. – get free, H-E-B Natural Original Smoked Sausage 11.4 oz.

:: THURSDAY :: Caribbean Pulled Pork – This is an INSANELY good pulled pork recipe that I made for the first time this summer. We are having it again tonight. I will have a salad from Kroger and rolls.

:: FRIDAY :: Hamburgers – No recipe here. Just regular old hamburgers on the grill. Kroger had the angus ground chuck on sale for $1.99/lb and I have some in the freezer. They also have hamburger buns for $1.

:: SATURDAY :: Chicken Tacos – I have a lot of chicken, and the taco packets were  free this at Randalls… so we will be having tacos! Plus I can just use the same lettuce and tomatoes from the hamburger meal for toppings on the tacos.

:: SUNDAY :: Tortilla Soup – I can put this in the crock pot and it will be ready when we are home from church! I also will just make extra chicken from the night before and use that in the soup. So I wont have to cook more or shred any chicken!

:: MONDAY :: Easy Shells and Cheese – This is one of my favorite meals and so I am making it. I will be getting the ground beef from Kroger as well as the makings for a salad to go with it.

:: TUESDAY :: Easy Chicken and Cheese Enchilada’s – Using the leftover chicken from the night before I am making enchiladas!

:: WEDNESDAY ::  Honey Roasted Chicken Salad – These are on sale at Kroger and this is such a quick and easy meal. Plus my kids love it!

*Make sure to check out the weekly store deals and coupon match ups. You can make a printable list to make shopping easier! Kroger list HERE, Randalls list HERE, HEB list HERE.

Good morning!!! I have to get my butt back in gear because this not having a plan for dinner is really getting annoying! I hate scrambling at the last minute and I need to buckle down and save some more money, and this is the way to do it.

Here are some free printables if you need them:

• Shopping List – Feel free to print this off and keep it on the fridge to jot down those items that you need to pick up from the store!
• Favorite Recipes – This form will help you make a list of the top recipes that you make for your family.
• Freezer Inventory – Take stock of what you have already so that you don’t overbuy. But also so that you know what you are looking for.
• Pantry Inventory – Keep track of what you have on hand. Then make a plan on what you are using a lot of and stock up on that.
• Monthly Menu Planner – By planning a monthly menu you can better follow the sales and know what you need to buy.

The first thing we are going to do is see who has the best prices this week on the protein part of our meal, because that is where I spend the most of my food budget. * if you do NOT have the same grocery stores as me, do not worry! just grab your ads or look them up online and see who is the cheapest in your area! 

:: RANDALLS ::

• 80% ground beef $2.99/lb
• Hillshire Farm Sausage 2 for $6

:: KROGER :: 

• Kroger boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.79/lb * Stock up price 
• Lloyd’s Shredded BBQ $3.99 tub
• Pork Butt Roast $1.49/lb

:: HEB :: 

• Assorted pork chops $1.97/lb
• Boneless chicken breasts $1.97/lb
• Pork Tenderloin $2.97/lb

:: THURSDAY :: Crispy Cheddar Chicken –  I am getting chicken from Kroger at $1.79/lb. My little kids love this recipe and it is really easy, they even help me make it! Add a salad and maybe a roll and you have dinner for under $12!

:: FRIDAY :: Pan Fried Pork Chops – Tonight for dinner I am another Pioneer Woman recipe, like you can go wrong with that! These are super easy to make and even the kids love them! Plus pork chops are on sale at HEB this week.

:: SATURDAY :: Chicken Kabobs – Chicken is on sale this week at Kroger for only $1.79/lb. (get some extra to toss in the freezer for the next few weeks) The Lawry’s marinade was also on sale for only $.49 and we love this stuff!!!  I am combining the 2 sales and making dinner for really cheap!! Add in a fresh salad and you have dinner for about $10!

:: SUNDAY :: – Chicken and Pork Tacos – I am going to toss some chicken in the crock pot while we are at church, heat up the leftover pork chops when we get home and have a taco bar! If you have not tried my Easy Chicken Taco recipe, you NEED to! Dinner for under $10 again!

:: MONDAY :: – Baked Potato Bar – The Lloyd’s BBQ in a tub is on sale this week, and this is a favorite on baked potatoes at our house. I will have leftover from the tacos the night before, like cheese, sour cream etc. So, it will be perfect to add to the potatoes!

:: TUESDAY :: – Simple Sour Cream Enchiladas – Just as easy as it sounds, and with chicken on sale this week, we are having a lot of it! Add a salad and some fruit and you have another meal around $10!