November alas! If you’re like me and make your own Christmas gifts, I’m sure you’ve already started making your lists if not already started making your goodies. I’m still in the planning stages of Christmas, but I have already figured out this Thanksgiving thing. I am so excited to share this months menu with you, on top of the easy, kid-friendly recipes I always include in my monthly menus, I have also added a simple Thanksgiving Day menu with a bonus Thanksgiving only grocery list.
November’s menu has 30 days of kid-friendly dinners including a Thanksgiving dinner for only $200 with FREE printable weekly grocery lists and a bonus grocery list for the simple Thanksgiving menu.
This months menu is very similar to lasts months. I have included FREE printable versions of each recipe. Click the picture of the recipe for a FREE printable PDF version of the recipe to add to your collection. For step-by-step directions with pictures, click the text link below the recipe for more details. The new recipes for this month will be posted throughout the month of November. If you haven’t joined my e-mail list, enter your email at the top of the page and have all new menu plans and recipes sent right to your inbox.
How are you feeling about the weekly grocery lists? Do you like them? Would you prefer the monthly grocery list? Would you prefer both? Speak up in the comments at the bottom of the page, so that I can work on planning better menus for you to help make your life easier! I love planning menus, so let me take the stress out of your life so you can just shop and then cook yummy kid-friendly dinners that everyone, even the picky eaters will eat.
For November, I shopped around at different stores like I did in the past months. I did all of my shopping at Walmart, Sprouts, King Soopers and Safeway. And got a lot of good deals at both King Soopers and Safeway, using my Club Card at each store saved me so much money.
If you have a Costco or Sam’s Club membership, take a look at all of the weekly grocery lists, and make a list of the most popular items like the frozen veggies, chicken, ground beef, eggs and cheeses. Buy these items in bulk as you can either freeze them, or they will keep in the fridge at Costco or Sam’s Club and save even more money on your grocery bill. Using your club card, or your store card will save you even more money! Like this month at Safeway, with my club carb I get ground beef for $2.99 a pound and canned beans for $0.60 a can!
This is how my spending worked out for the month:
Week One – November 1 – 7 – $50.38
King Soopers -$20.74
salad mix – $1.49
romaine lettuce – $0.99 ea
2 jalapeños (about 1/4 lb) – $0.99/lb – $0.24
1 lb roma tomatoes – $0.99
spaghetti – $1
hot dog buns – $1
tortilla chips – $1
8 oz shredded cheese – $1.99 ea
bacon – $2.99
Sprouts – $2.48
1 lb pinto beans – $0.99
1 lb brown rice – $0.99
1 head garlic – 2/$1 – $0.5
Walmart – $16.68
1 red onion (about 1/2 lb) – $0.98/lb – $0.49
flour tortillas – $1.34
caesar salad dressing – $1.98
teriyaki sauce – $1.48
parmesan cheese – $2.44
18 ct eggs – $4.97
frozen green beans – $1.97
frozen broccoli – $1.97
Safeway – $10.48
28 oz crushed tomatoes – $1 ea
28 oz tomato sauce – $1 ea
28 oz tomato puree – $1 ea
ground beef – $2.99/lb – this was an exclusive deal with my club card
Week Two – November 8-14 – $27.32
King Soopers – $13.02
salad mix – $1.49
romaine lettuce – $0.99 ea
roma tomatoes (about 1/2 lb) – $0.99/lb – $0.48
diced tomatoes with green chiles – $1
pasta – $1
BBQ sauce – $1
8 oz shredded cheese – $1.99 ea
chicken breast – $1.69/lb
frozen peas and carrots – $1
Sprouts – $2.98
1 lb yellow onions – $0.48/lb – this really is the price per pound – I LOVE Sprouts veggie deals!
1 head garlic – 2/$1 – $0.50
russet potatoes – 5lb bag – 2/$3 – $1.50
1/2 lb cornmeal – $0.99/lb – $0.50
Walmart – $ 3.85
soy sauce – $1.88
frozen corn – $1.97
Safeway – $7.47
pinto beans – $0.60 ea
taco shells – $1
ground turkey – $2.88/lb – this was an exclusive deal with my club card
ground beef – $2.99/lb – another deal by using my club card
Week Three – November 15-21 – $49.78
King Soopers – $26.06
salad mix – $1.49 ea
1/2 head cabbage (about 1 1/2 lbs) – $0.69/lb – $1.03 – if you ask at your local Kroger, they will slice cabbage in half for you
hamburger buns – $1
bbq sauce – $1
pasta – $1 ea
cream cheese – $1 – this was part of a buy 5 and save $5 event
8 oz shredded cheese – $1.99 ea
chicken breast – $1.69/lb
Sprouts – $1.70
1/2 lb brown rice – $0.99/lb – $0.48
1 lb yellow onions – $0.48
1 head garlic – 2/$1 – $0.5
Walmart – $18.64
16 oz velveeta (store brand) – $3.43
10 ct flour tortillas – $1.34
18 ct eggs – $4.97
15 oz whole milk ricotta – $1.94
pepperoni – $2.98
frozen peas – $1.97
frozen broccoli – $1.97
Safeway – $3.38
1 lb carrots – 2/$1 – $0.50
ground turkey – $2.88 – an exclusive deal with my club card
Week Four – November 22 – 30 – $28.80
King Soopers – $9.09
1 jalapeno (about 1/8 lb) – $0.99/lb – $0.12
6 oz sliced cheese – $1.99
8 oz shredded cheese – $1.99
bacon – $2.99
frozen corn – $1
frozen peas and carrots – $1
Sprouts – $1.20
1 lb yellow onions – $0.48
1 head garlic – 2/$1 – $0.50
2 green apples (about 1/4 lb) – $0.88/lb – $0.22
Walmart – $7.85
fire roasted tomatoes – $0.98
32 oz chicken broth – $1.68
12 oz egg noodles – $0.98
10 ct english muffins – $1.63
chipotle in adobo – $1.26
pint cream – $1.34
Safeway – $10.66
butternut squash – $0.79/lb
carrots – 2/$1 – $0.50
petite diced tomatoes – $1
tomato sauce – $1
pinto beans, black beans and kidney beans – $0.60 ea – a deal with my club card
loaf of bread (store brand) – $1
ground beef – $2.99/lb
Thanksgiving Dinner – $43.82
King Soopers – $11.77
fresh poultry herbs – $1.99 ea
orange – $0.89 ea
turkey – $0.69/lb
Sprouts – $4.95
celery – $0.48 ea
1 lb yellow onions – $0.48
1 head garlic – 2/$1 – $0.50
green beans – $0.99/lb
russet potatoes – 5 lb bag – 2/$3 – $1.50
parsley – $0.50 ea
Walmart – $27.10
2 lbs baby carrots – $2.94
fresh cranberries – $1.98
mushrooms – $3.44
french fried onions – $2.28
fresh italian bread – $1
32 oz chicken stock – $1.63 ea
8 oz orange juice – $1.34
qt half and half – $2.16
2 lbs butter – $7.32
breakfast sausage – $2.98
This month I have included 4 new recipes, and a Thanksgiving dinner. Keep checking your email throughout November to get all of the new recipes as soon as they post. I will be sending out an email the week of Thanksgiving with all of the printable recipes for this simple Thanksgiving dinner in one place along with the grocery list.
November 1
Save any leftover CrockPot Spaghetti Sauce for meals later in the month.
CrockPot Spaghetti Sauce and Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
November 2
Quick and Easy 20-Minute Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
November 3
Use up those refried beans that we made last week in the October Menu or make a fresh new batch for this 15 minute dinner solution.
November 4
Use up any leftover meatballs from the CrockPot Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs from Sunday to make this quick 15-minute dinner.
November 5
Leftovers
November 6
National Nacho Day. In this weeks grocery list I included my favorite toppings for nachos; shredded cheddar cheese, jalapenos, roma tomatoes and leftover refried beans from the tostadas on Tuesday.
November 7
We used quinoa in the picture, but you get the point. Save the extra rice you make with dinner tonight for Egg Fried Rice on Monday.
30 Minute Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
November 8
Plus learn how to grind your own chicken in this easy homemade chicken nugget recipe.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veggies
November 9
Use up the leftover rice from the Teriyaki Chicken and Rice from Saturday. If you want, toss the extra chicken in this recipe to make it Chicken Fried Rice.
November 10
Use the leftover refried beans from last week for the side dish to this recipe.
Turkey Tacos and Refried Beans
November 11
Leftovers
November 12
Herb Roasted Chicken Breast and Creamy Parmesan Polenta
November 13
Just make some plain ‘ol pasta and serve it up along side a salad. Use the leftover spaghetti sauce from last week to make this easy dinner.
November 14
November 15
This recipe even has a homemade bbq sauce recipe.
CrockPot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
November 16
November 17
Use up the leftover chicken from Sunday night’s BBQ Chicken Sandwich and make these easy quesadillas.
20-Minute BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
November 18
November 19
Leftovers
November 20
November 21
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake
November 22
Simple CrockPot Game Day Chili
November 23
November 24
Leftovers
November 25
Breakfast For Dinner
I included bacon and eggs on the grocery list for this easy dinner. Or use up some of your pantry staples and make these easy and delicious buttermilk pancakes.
November 26
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy this simple Thanksgiving Dinner including all of the essentials. Check your email throughout the month of November for all of the easy and delicious Thanksgiving recipes to accompany this menu. Keep your eyes open for the Thanksgiving leftover recipes too.
Herb Roasted Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Brown Sugar Carrots
Cranberries
November 27
Leftovers
November 28
Turkey Sandwiches – NEW!
November 29
Turkey Noodle Soup – NEW!
November 30
15-Minute English Muffin Pizzas
If you’re looking for the FREE PDF Printable version of this months menu and grocery list, click the picture of the menu below, and download and print.
Click here to download all of this months recipes (not including Thanksgiving or the new recipes) in one file.
Want some more menu inspiration? Check out the menus from October and September.
Being able to download all the recipes in one fell swoop is my favorite feature this month!!! Also, I love the weekly grocery lists for weekly shopping, but I also liked the monthly list because it is easy to see what I may need to buy in bulk.
I am new to this sight via pinterest. Exactly what Melissa said!!
Lindsie, LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to download all the recipes at one time!! you save me oodles of time! I like the weekly grocery lists. I wish there was a way to custom group it. For example, group what is needed for Wednesday to Wednesday… but that would be so individual. 🙂 You truly are SO generous, amazing and such a gift to me! THANK YOU!!
What do you do for the DIY nacho bar? What kind of cheese do you use? What toppings are your favorite?
Hi Caren!
I added a list of a few popular items to the November menu post, but this is our favorite combo:
shredded mexican cheese
diced tomatoes
diced jalapenos
chorizo or ground beef (cooked as taco meat)
sliced olives
We’re pretty simple when it comes to nachos, but I’ve had them with sour cream and guac which is absolutely delicious, and even more smothering them with a yummy queso dip!
I’m super thankful for this site! However I’ve noticed if I just go off the pre made grocery list, there’s ingredients missing when I pull up the actual recipe and have to come up with alternatives. For example, Sundays Chicken Nuggets didn’t list zucchini. Not sure if I’m missing something? Maybe there’s an on-hand list I didn’t see? Thanks for all the your work you put into this! So far we have saved money and I greatly appreciate it!
Hey Brandie!
I miss things sometimes, or my mind tracks off to what is in my personal fridge and pantry, and I forget to add things to the list. I’m getting better though, and hopefully soon there will be no missing ingredients.
Thanks for bringing it up, I appreicate it. Lindsie =)
Do you happen to have a list of things that you normally keep in your pantry (flour, sugar, bread crumbs, etc)? Like an essentials list? Just wondering 🙂
I do! Search “pantry essentials” for a large list, but basically: all oils, vinegars, soy sauce, bread crumbs, flour, sugars, salt, pepper, spices (unless it’s a unique one) etc… does this make sense?
It does! thank you for the reply!
I wish my kids would eat half this stuff. It all sounds so good, but my children are ultra picky. They don’t do soups or salads, they won’t touch pasta unless it’s spaghetti, they don’t like BBQ sauce what so ever and forget Asian food…they’ll cry and refuse to even try it. My daughter loves her veggies but my son will barely eat them. I’ve all but given up getting them to eat healthier.
Ay! That must be frustrating! How old are your kiddos? Keep with what you know and introduce one or two new dishes a week. Start with a side dish to accompany one of their favorites. And serve food family style at the table. Kids seem to eat better when they can choose their own foods. And with dishes they already like, switch it up a little, like the pasta, just explain that you didn’t have regular spaghetti noodles, and you can show them how they are the same, and taste the same and maybe have them watch you cook them. If they want to, let them sample some foods while you’re cooking as a “taste test”. Anthony will get sassy at times when we eat other types of pasta than spaghetti too. And if they do like things with ground beef (maybe meatballs or tacos?), puree some veggies in a food processor until they are smooth, and then just cook that in with your meat. Good luck!
Hi,
I just found your site and I haven’t looked everything yet. My question is what size of a family these budget months are made? Thanks for the reply.
Hey!
It is for 4 people!