Ontario Family Meal Plan: 7 Dinners for Under $170 This Week
Key Facts
- A full week of seven distinct family dinners can be purchased in Ontario for a total of $165.36 by shopping at five specific grocery banners. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
- The featured Chicken Linguini recipe costs only $2.26 per serving, making it an exceptionally budget-friendly family meal. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
- By strategically shopping at five stores instead of one, an Ontario family can save over $98 on this weekly grocery list. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
- Key ingredients for this week's plan include Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts for $5.49 at Food Basics and Lean Ground Beef for $7.00, also at Food Basics. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
- The lowest total grocery bill is achieved by purchasing items across Food Basics, Foodland, Independent, Metro, and Zehrs. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
- This meal plan includes diverse options like Asian Burgers at $3.89 per serving and a hearty Vegetarian Chili at $6.74 per serving. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
Managing a household grocery budget in Ontario requires more than just clipping coupons; it demands a smart, data-driven approach. With food prices continually in flux, knowing what to buy, when to buy it, and where to buy it is the key to significant savings. This guide provides a comprehensive, costed-out meal plan for one week of dinners. We will break down each recipe, provide a complete grocery list, and reveal the optimal shopping strategy to secure the lowest possible price for your basket. This plan is designed to be delicious, varied, and, most importantly, affordable.
Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.
This Week's $165 Family Meal Plan
This seven-day dinner plan is designed to offer variety, utilize fresh ingredients, and keep your cost per serving low. The recipes are chosen to balance prep time and flavour, ensuring you can put a home-cooked meal on the table even on busy weeknights. The cost per serving for each meal is calculated using eezly's AI-powered grocery price intelligence platform, which finds the lowest current price for every ingredient on your list.
Below is the summary of your dinner menu for the week. Note that the total cost for all ingredients comes to $165.36 when purchased using the optimized shopping strategy detailed later in this article.
| Day | Dinner Recipe | Cost Per Serving | Total Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Asian Burgers | $3.89 | 5 |
| Tuesday | Chicken Linguini | $2.26 | 12 |
| Wednesday | Vegetarian Chili | $6.74 | 4 |
| Thursday | Thai Salad with Chicken | $4.38 | 4 |
| Friday | Chicken & Dressing | $4.42 | 6 |
| Saturday | Chicken with Artichokes | $5.23 | 8 |
| Sunday | Vegetarian Spaghetti | $8.83 | 6 |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026
Monday: Asian Burgers
Start your week with a flavourful twist on a classic. These Asian Burgers cost just $3.89 per serving and take only 10 minutes to prep. The recipe uses lean ground beef, found for $7.00 at Food Basics this week, and seasons it with hoisin sauce and Chinese five-spice. Topped with tangy pickled onions, it's a quick and satisfying meal that feels more gourmet than its price tag suggests. This recipe makes five servings, perfect for a family dinner with a potential leftover for lunch.Tuesday: Chicken Linguini
Tuesday features the most budget-friendly meal of the week: a creamy Chicken Linguini at an incredible $2.26 per serving. This recipe is not only affordable but also generous, yielding 12 servings. This makes it a perfect "cook once, eat twice" meal, providing ample leftovers for lunches or another dinner later in the week. The key ingredients include cooked chicken breast, spinach, and a simple sauce made with cottage cheese and butter. It's a comforting pasta dish that comes together in about 25 minutes.Wednesday: Vegetarian Chili
Go meatless mid-week with a hearty and warming Vegetarian Chili, which costs $6.74 per serving. This recipe is packed with flavour from veggie burgers, green chilies, and chili powder, then topped with mozzarella and sour cream. It’s a filling, protein-rich meal that takes only 10 minutes of prep time. Using canned goods like whole water chestnuts and a base of veggie burgers makes this a convenient pantry-friendly option for a busy weeknight.Thursday: Thai Salad with Chicken
Light, fresh, and perfect for a summer evening, Thursday's Thai Salad with Chicken comes in at $4.38 per serving. This recipe uses chicken thighs, which are priced at $5.87 at Food Basics, combined with a cabbage salad mix and carrots. The star of the show is the simple, homemade peanut dressing using all-natural peanut butter. It’s a healthy and vibrant meal that requires minimal cooking and just 15 minutes of preparation.Friday: Chicken & Dressing
Ease into the weekend with a comforting classic: Chicken & Dressing. At $4.42 per serving, this dish feels like a Sunday dinner but is simple enough for a Friday. It uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts (available for $5.49 at Food Basics) and a straightforward stuffing mix, elevated with a few simple seasonings. The recipe serves six and takes only 15 minutes to prepare before going into the oven, giving you a delicious, low-effort meal to end the work week.Saturday: Chicken with Artichokes
For your weekend meal, enjoy a more sophisticated Chicken with Artichokes, costing $5.23 per serving. This recipe features tender chicken breast fillets simmered in a rich sauce with pasta sauce, artichoke hearts, and mushrooms. While the ingredient list is more complex, the result is a restaurant-quality dish that serves eight, making it ideal for a larger family meal or for having guests. Despite its elegant flavour profile, it still maintains a reasonable cost per serving.Sunday: Vegetarian Spaghetti
End the week with a robust Vegetarian Spaghetti, the heartiest meal in the plan at $8.83 per serving. This dish is loaded with vegetables like portabella mushrooms, zucchini, and sweet green peppers, all tossed in a simple tomato sauce with spaghetti. Topped with 100% Parmesan shredded cheese, it's a satisfying and nutritious vegetarian meal. The higher cost per serving is driven by the large quantity of fresh produce, particularly the portabella mushrooms and zucchini, which are priced at Foodland this week.Your Complete Ontario Grocery List
To achieve the total weekly cost of $165.36, you need to purchase specific items at the stores where they are cheapest. The list below aggregates every ingredient required for all seven dinner recipes. The eezly platform has identified the lowest price for each item across major Ontario banners like Food Basics, Fortinos, Foodland, Independent, Metro, and Zehrs.This is not just a list; it is a strategic shopping plan. To get this final price, you must follow the multi-store shopping strategy outlined in the next section.
Produce:
* Artichokes, Large
* Bok Choy
* Brussels Sprouts
* Cabbage Salad
* Carrots
* Celery
* Garlic
* Chopped Green Chilies
* Parsnips
* Sweet Green Peppers
* Portabella Mushrooms
* Spinach
* Turnips
* Zucchini Squash, Yellow
* Dill
* Pickled Onions
Meat & Dairy:
* Lean Ground Beef
* Chicken Breast Fillets
* Cooked Chicken Breast
* Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
* Chicken Thighs
* 2% Cottage Cheese
* Unsalted Butter
* Shredded Partly Skimmed Mozzarella Cheese
* 14% Lactose Free Sour Cream
* Cheddar-Style Processed Cheese Product Slices
* 100% Parmesan Shredded Cheese
* 1% Milk
Pantry & Dry Goods:
* Hoisin Sauce
* Original Pasta Sauce
* Tomato Sauce
* Aylmer Canned Tomatoes Crushed
* Spaghetti
* Whole Wheat Pasta Shapes in Tomato Sauce
* Olive Oil
* Only Peanuts All Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter
* Caesar Dressing
* Chicken Stuffing Mix
* Whole Water Chestnuts
* Green Giant Canned Summer Peas
* Organic Beef Stock Cubes
* Reduced Salt Chicken Broth
* Mushrooms, Dried
* Chinese Five Spice Seasoning
* Crushed Red Pepper
* Chili Powder
* Fine Sea Salt
* Black Pepper
* Garlic Powder
* Onion Powder
* Parsley Flakes
This comprehensive list forms the basis of your weekly shop. For an interactive version and to generate a personalized shopping list, you can explore tools like the eezly meal planner.
Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.
Where to Shop: Your 5-Store Strategy for Maximum Savings
The single most effective way to lower your grocery bill is to shop at multiple stores. While it requires more planning, the savings are substantial. According to eezly's analysis of this specific 39-item grocery basket, shopping at a single premium banner could cost you as much as $264.02. By visiting five specific stores for the best deals at each, you can drop that total to $165.36, saving you $98.66 in a single week.
Here is how the total cost of your basket decreases as you add more stores to your shopping trip:
| Number of Stores | Recommended Banners | Total Basket Cost | Savings vs. 1 Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loblaws | $264.02 | $0.00 |
| 2 | Food Basics, Loblaws | $216.04 | $47.98 |
| 3 | Food Basics, Foodland, Loblaws | $177.53 | $86.49 |
| 4 | Food Basics, Foodland, Independent, Zehrs | $172.16 | $91.86 |
| 5 | Food Basics, Foodland, Independent, Metro, Zehrs | $165.36 | $98.66 |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026
The data is clear: a five-store strategy yields the lowest price. Your optimal shopping route this week in Ontario involves visiting Food Basics, Foodland, Independent, Metro, and Zehrs. Food Basics carries the best prices for many of the core proteins and pantry staples, such as the Lean Ground Beef ($7.00) and Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts ($5.49). Meanwhile, banners like Foodland have better pricing on specific produce items like the Portabella Mushrooms needed for the Vegetarian Spaghetti.
This strategy, known as "flyering" or cross-basket shopping, is what powers significant savings. While driving to five separate stores may not be feasible for everyone, even adopting a two-store strategy (Food Basics and Loblaws) saves you nearly $48. The key is to be intentional. Use a price comparison tool to identify which 2-3 stores in your area offer the best combined value for the items you need each week. You can check the latest prices and find the best deals in your area before you shop.
Meal Prep Tips and Time-Saving Strategies
A great meal plan is only effective if it's manageable. Saving money on groceries should not come at the expense of your time and sanity. Here are some practical tips to make this weekly plan work for you.
Embrace Batch Prepping
Set aside an hour or two on Sunday to prepare ingredients for the week ahead. * Vegetable Prep: Chop your onions, garlic, and peppers. Wash and dry your spinach and salad greens. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge. This will turn a 15-minute prep time into a 2-minute assembly job on a busy weeknight. For recipes like the Vegetarian Chili and Vegetarian Spaghetti, having the vegetables ready to go is a major time-saver. * Protein Prep: The Chicken Linguini recipe calls for cooked chicken. You can cook a larger batch of chicken breasts at the start of the week. Use some for the linguini and shred the rest for the Thai Salad on Thursday. This eliminates a cooking step mid-week. * Sauce Prep: The peanut dressing for the Thai Salad can be made ahead of time and stored in a jar in the refrigerator for several days.Cook Once, Eat Twice (or Thrice)
This meal plan is designed with leftovers in mind. * Chicken Linguini: This recipe makes 12 servings. For a family of four, this provides dinner for one night and lunch for everyone the next day, plus another full dinner. You can freeze half of the finished dish immediately for a ready-made meal in a future week. * Chicken with Artichokes: With eight servings, this recipe also provides ample leftovers. The flavours often meld and improve overnight, making it an excellent next-day lunch. * Lunch Strategy: By planning for leftovers, you eliminate the need to buy separate, often expensive, lunch items like deli meats or pre-made salads. This is a hidden savings category that can easily add another $20-$40 back into your weekly budget.Smart Ingredient Utilization
This plan strategically uses overlapping ingredients to minimize waste and cost. For example, pickled onions are used in the Asian Burgers, Vegetarian Chili, and Vegetarian Spaghetti. Garlic is a staple in multiple recipes. When you create your own plans using a tool like the eezly recipe search, look for recipes that share common, affordable ingredients to maximize the value of each item you purchase.Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.
Comparison
| Day | Dinner Recipe | Cost Per Serving | Total Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Asian Burgers | $3.89 | 5 |
| Tuesday | Chicken Linguini | $2.26 | 12 |
| Wednesday | Vegetarian Chili | $6.74 | 4 |
| Thursday | Thai Salad with Chicken | $4.38 | 4 |
| Friday | Chicken & Dressing | $4.42 | 6 |
| Saturday | Chicken with Artichokes | $5.23 | 8 |
| Sunday | Vegetarian Spaghetti | $8.83 | 6 |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a family of four in Ontario spend on groceries per week?
The cost can vary significantly based on diet, location, and shopping habits. However, this meal plan demonstrates that with careful planning, a week's worth of diverse family dinners can be achieved for approximately $165. This figure covers seven evening meals. To budget for a full week including breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, a common guideline is to aim for $250-$300, but this can be reduced significantly by utilizing leftovers from dinner for lunches.
What is the cheapest grocery store in Ontario?
There is no single "cheapest" grocery store for every item, every week. As of June 2026, for this specific meal plan, Food Basics offered the best prices on many key items like chicken and ground beef. However, the lowest overall basket total of $165.36 was achieved by shopping at five different stores: Food Basics, Foodland, Independent, Metro, and Zehrs. The best strategy is to use a real-time price comparison tool like eezly to see which stores in your area have the best prices for the specific items on your list this week.
How can AI help me save money on groceries?
AI-powered platforms like eezly automate the process of price comparison, which used to require manually checking multiple flyers. The AI tracks nearly 200,000 products across 2,700 stores in Canada, processing millions of prices weekly. It can instantly find the lowest price for every item on your list and calculate the cheapest total basket across different store combinations. It can also generate optimized meal plans based on your budget and dietary needs, using recipes with ingredients that are currently on sale.
What are some cheap dinner ideas for a family in Ontario this week?
Based on real-time pricing for June 2026, some of the most affordable dinner options include Chicken Linguini at just $2.26 per serving and Asian Burgers at $3.89 per serving. Both recipes use affordable proteins and pantry staples. Generally, meals based on pasta, seasonal vegetables, and proteins like chicken thighs or ground meat tend to be more budget-friendly than those requiring large cuts of beef or out-of-season produce.
Does this $165.36 meal plan include breakfast and lunch?
No, this specific meal plan and its $165.36 total cost are for seven evening meals. However, it is designed to generate significant leftovers, particularly from the Chicken Linguini (12 servings) and Chicken with Artichokes (8 servings) recipes. By using these leftovers for lunches throughout the week, you can dramatically reduce your overall weekly food spending without having to purchase separate lunch items.
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