Quebec Meal Plan: A Family Grocery Budget for July 2026

Key Facts

• A Bunless Burgers meal for four can be made for a total cost of $25.77 in Quebec this week. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• The cost per serving for a homemade Bunless Burger meal is approximately $6.44. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• Lean Ground Beef, a key ingredient for the Bunless Burgers, is available for $10.00 at Maxi. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• An Asian Burgers recipe for five servings has a total ingredient cost of $32.39, or $6.48 per serving. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• Key ingredients for the Asian Burgers recipe can be found at competitive prices, such as Hoisin Sauce for $9.00 at Maxi and Crushed Red Pepper for $2.79 at Maxi. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
• By shopping for specific deals, you can source Marble Cheddar Cheese for $1.79 at Metro and Romaine Lettuce for $3.99 at Metro. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)

This plan is designed to be both affordable and realistic, combining specifically priced feature meals with low-cost staples to keep your weekly grocery bill in check. By leveraging price comparison data, you can make informed decisions before you even enter the store, ensuring you get the most value from every dollar. We will walk you through breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for seven days, focusing on minimizing waste and maximizing flavour. All prices cited in this article are sourced from eezly's live pricing database, which uses AI to compare prices across every major Canadian grocery banner.

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This Week's Family Meal Plan for Quebec (July 8-14, 2026)

A successful budget meal plan balances cost, nutrition, and convenience. This sample plan for a family of four is built around two feature dinners with ingredient costs tracked in real-time, supplemented by inexpensive and versatile meals for the rest of the week. The total estimated grocery cost for this entire plan is approximately $165, which works out to about $5.89 per person, per day. This demonstrates that with careful planning, you can feed your family a varied and satisfying menu without exceeding your budget.

Flexibility is key; feel free to swap days or substitute ingredients based on your family's preferences and what you may already have in your pantry. The lunch suggestions heavily feature leftovers, which is a critical strategy for reducing food waste and stretching your budget. If your family members are not fond of leftovers, the components can often be repurposed. For example, leftover burger patties can be crumbled into a pasta sauce for another night's dinner.

Here is a look at your week at a glance, designed to provide structure while still allowing for real-life adjustments.

Source: Dinner costs for Monday and Thursday are based on eezly's real-time price tracking as of July 2026. All other meal costs are estimates based on typical staple prices in Quebec.

Your Complete Grocery List and Price Breakdown

To execute the meal plan above, you will need a specific set of ingredients. This shopping list is divided into two parts: items with real-time prices sourced from the eezly database for our feature recipes, and a list of general staples needed for the other meals. This approach allows you to see exactly where your money is going and which stores offer the best value for key items this week.

By targeting the specific deals identified by eezly, you can significantly lower the cost of your feature meals. For instance, planning your shopping trip to include a stop at Maxi for the Lean Ground Beef ($10.00) and Dill Pickles ($3.50), and another at Metro for the Marble Cheddar Cheese ($1.79) and Romaine Lettuce ($3.99) ensures you get the lowest possible price for the Bunless Burger ingredients. This strategy, known as "multi-store shopping" or "cherry-picking," is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your grocery bill, and it's made simple with a comprehensive price-tracking tool. Explore more current offers on the eezly deals page.

Priced Ingredients for Feature Recipes

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026.

General Staples for the Week (Estimated Costs)

This list includes common items to complete the rest of the week's meals. Prices are estimates and will vary by store and brand.

* Produce: Berries ($4.99), Bananas ($2.00), Bag of Carrots ($2.99), Bag of Potatoes ($4.99), Bag of Yellow Onions ($2.99), Garlic ($1.50), Bagged Salad Mix ($4.99), Steamed Vegetables (frozen, $3.99)
* Dairy & Eggs: 2L Milk ($5.50), Large Yogurt Tub ($5.99), Block of Cheese ($6.00), Butter/Margarine ($5.99), Dozen Eggs ($3.99)
* Pantry: Rolled Oats ($3.50), Cereal ($4.99), Granola ($5.99), Bread ($3.79), Peanut Butter ($5.99), Lentils (dried, $3.49), Crusty Bread ($3.00), Deli Meat ($7.00), Naan Bread ($3.99), Jarred Pizza Sauce ($3.50), Dry Pasta ($2.50), Jarred Pasta Sauce ($3.50)
* Meat: Ground Meat for pasta ($6.00), Chicken Thighs (value pack, $12.00)

Estimated Total for Staples: ~$106.84
Grand Total Estimated Grocery Bill: ~$165.00

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Where to Shop in Quebec for the Best Prices

Knowing what to buy is only half the battle; knowing where to buy it is how you maximize savings. In Quebec, your primary choices fall into three categories: discount banners, conventional supermarkets, and warehouse clubs. According to eezly's tracking across banners like Maxi, Super C, IGA, Metro, and Provigo, prices for the exact same item can vary significantly from one store to another.

For this week's meal plan, the data points to a mixed-basket strategy for the best results. Maxi offers the best prices on several key pantry items for our feature recipes, including the Lean Ground Beef, Hoisin Sauce, and spices. Metro, a conventional supermarket, surprisingly has the lowest price on cheese and a specific cut of ground beef this week. Meanwhile, IGA is the go-to for the Kumato tomatoes. This illustrates a crucial point for budget-conscious shoppers: loyalty to a single store can cost you money. The best deals are scattered across different flyers and banners each week.

Discount banners like Maxi and Super C are generally your best bet for consistently low prices on pantry staples, canned goods, and popular national brand products. Their "no-frills" approach keeps overhead low, and they pass those savings on to you. Conventional supermarkets like Metro and IGA often have a wider selection of fresh produce, higher-quality meats, and specialty items. While their base prices may be higher, their weekly flyer specials can often beat the discounters, as seen with the cheese deal at Metro. Finally, warehouse clubs like Costco are excellent for buying items you use frequently in large volumes, such as paper products, cooking oils, and large packs of meat or cheese. However, this requires a membership fee and the discipline to use everything you buy before it expires.

Your optimal strategy is to build your shopping list first, then use a tool like eezly to quickly check which local store has the best price on each major item. A few minutes of planning can easily save you 15-30% on your total bill.

Detailed Recipe Breakdowns & Prep Tips

To help you save time in the kitchen, here are more detailed instructions for the feature meals, along with tips for preparation. Prepping ingredients in advance—a practice known as "mise en place"—can turn a hectic weeknight dinner into a simple 20-minute assembly job.

Recipe 1: Bunless Burgers with Side Salad

This low-carb, high-protein meal is perfect for a summer evening. By serving the patties over a bed of fresh greens instead of on a bun, you save on the cost of buns and create a lighter, healthier meal.

Cost Breakdown:

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026.

Instructions:

• Gently form the ground beef into four equal-sized patties, about 1-inch thick. Avoid overworking the meat. Season generously with salt and pepper.


• Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes per side for medium, or until cooked to your desired doneness. In the last minute of cooking, top each patty with a slice of cheddar cheese and let it melt.


• While the burgers cook, wash and chop the romaine lettuce. Slice the tomatoes.


• To serve, create a bed of lettuce on each plate. Top with a cheese-covered patty, sliced tomatoes, and dill pickles. Drizzle with your favorite dressing.

Recipe 2: Asian-Inspired Burgers

This recipe introduces a complex, savoury flavour profile to your standard burger night. The hoisin and five-spice powder create a delicious umami taste that pairs well with simple steamed vegetables.

Cost Breakdown:

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026.

Instructions:

• Finely mince the shallots. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, minced shallots, Chinese five-spice powder, crushed red pepper, and hoisin sauce. Mix gently with your hands until just combined.


• Form the mixture into five equal-sized patties.


• Cook on a grill or skillet over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.


• Serve with a side of steamed rice or frozen vegetables for a complete meal. These are also excellent served in lettuce cups.

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