tesco
Tesco meal plan for a family of 4 (about £55 a week)
Tesco is where a lot of UK families do the big shop, and its own-label and value ranges are where the savings are. This plan builds seven family dinners from one trip, mostly from those ranges.
The chilli is made as a double batch so Saturday is just jacket potatoes in the oven, and one pack of chicken breast covers the stir-fry and the Friday curry.
Prices below are rough guides to Tesco's own-label range and change week to week. With a Clubcard, Clubcard Prices can bring some items down further.
A week of meals
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Monday
Chicken and vegetable stir-fry
Half the chicken breast sliced thin with a stir-fry veg pack, egg noodles and soy sauce. Fifteen minutes.
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Tuesday
Beef chilli with rice
750g beef mince, kidney beans, chopped tomatoes, onion, pepper and chilli powder. Makes enough for Saturday too.
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Wednesday
Fishcakes, oven chips and peas
Frozen fishcakes and oven chips on one tray, peas on the hob. A no-effort midweek tea.
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Thursday
Sausage pasta bake
Sliced sausages, pasta, chopped tomatoes and pepper, topped with cheese and baked for 20 minutes.
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Friday
Chicken tikka masala with rice and naan
The rest of the chicken breast in a jar of tikka masala sauce, with rice and warm naan. Cheaper than the takeaway.
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Saturday
Chilli jacket potatoes
Tuesday's leftover chilli over baked potatoes with grated cheese and a spoon of yoghurt.
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Sunday
Roast chicken dinner
A whole chicken with roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli and gravy. Leftovers go into Monday's lunchboxes.
Your shopping list
Grouped by aisle so you walk the shop once. Prices reflect a typical UK supermarket basic range.
Meat & fish
- Whole chicken 1.6kg £5.00
- Chicken breast fillets 1kg £6.25
- Beef mince 750g £4.50
- Pork sausages 8-pack £2.00
Fresh fruit & veg
- Potatoes 2.5kg £1.80
- Baking potatoes 4-pack £1.00
- Onions 1kg £0.95
- Peppers 3-pack £1.10
- Carrots 1kg £0.55
- Broccoli £0.70
- Stir-fry vegetable pack £1.20
- Garlic bulb £0.40
- Bananas 6 £0.85
- Apples 6-pack £1.30
Dairy & eggs
- Semi-skimmed milk 4 pints £1.65
- Mature cheddar 500g £3.50
- Butter 250g £1.95
- Natural yoghurt 500g £0.80
Bakery
- Plain naan 2-pack £0.95
- Wholemeal loaf £0.75
Cupboard staples
- Long-grain rice 1kg £1.00
- Egg noodles 375g £1.00
- Pasta 500g £0.60
- Kidney beans 2 tins £0.90
- Chopped tomatoes 4 tins £1.80
- Tikka masala sauce £1.10
- Soy sauce £0.90
- Chilli powder £0.75
- Gravy granules £1.20
Frozen
- Fishcakes 4-pack £2.50
- Oven chips 1.5kg £1.80
- Frozen peas 900g £1.00
Prices are guides and may vary by store and region.
A few tips
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1
Check the Clubcard Prices before you go. If the beef mince is not on offer, turkey mince or a bag of red lentils does the same job in the chilli.
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2
Tesco's value ranges are fine for tins, pasta, rice, frozen veg and oven chips. Spend the difference on the things where quality shows, like the chicken.
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3
Write the list in aisle order and the big shop takes half the time, with less time walking past offers you did not plan for.
Your own plan
Want a plan built for your family?
These ready-made plans are a great starting point. For a plan that fits your exact budget, your dietary needs and the kids' fussy bits, make your own in about five minutes.
No card needed. Cancel any time.
More plans: Cheap weekly meal plan UK (under £50 for a family of 4), Budget meal plan for a family of 4 (£60 a week), Aldi meal plan, £50 a week (UK family of 4), Slow cooker family meals (UK weekly plan)