September is probably my favorite month. It marks the start of fall (my favorite season), the start of football and, September is Hunger Action Month in America. Last month, I received a ton of feedback from all of you about the menus, asking for printable recipes, and commenting about items not included on the grocery list in August. I apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused any of you, and have diligently worked on September’s menu to make sure I included everything you’ll need for the month, and also, for the first time, since I started posting these menu’s in January, printable recipes to accompany each recipe! Any new recipes for the month will have a printable version of the recipe at the bottom of the post to make it easier for you when making dinner!
I planned September’s menu a little bit different than in previous months. I didn’t do all of my “shopping” at Walmart, like in previous months. Instead, this month, I shopped around, and took full advantage of the sales from my local grocery stores as well as used Walmart for the essentials.
September’s menu also includes recipes for Labor Day, Grandparent’s Day on September 13th, and some fun recipes to celebrate food holidays, like National Cheese Pizza Day on September 5th and National Cheeseburger Day on September 18th.
I shopped at four different stores for the groceries this month – Walmart, King Soopers, Safeway and Sprouts, taking full advantage of the sale prices at each store. September’s menu is a little bit more expensive than other months, but still comes in under $200. This is how I divided up my grocery list for the month:
Walmart – $83.31
- 3 lbs onions – $1.94
- 3 heads garlic – $1.50 ($0.50 each)
- 3 bags salad mix – $4.44 ($1.48 each)
- 2 lb ground turkey – $5.16 ($2.58/lb)
- 1, 10-ct pkg hot dogs – $1.98
- 2, 12 oz pkg turkey bacon – $4.96 ($2.48 each)
- 6, 28 oz cans tomato sauce – $7.44 ($1.24 each)
- 1 pkg yeast – $1.18
- 3, 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes – $3.72 ($1.24 each)
- 1, 28 oz can tomato puree – $1.24
- 1 loaf bread – $1.68
- 3 bags tortilla chips – $6 ($2 each)
- 1 box no-boil lasagna noodles – $1.68
- 2, 8-ct pkg hamburger buns – $1.96 ($0.98 each)
- 1, 10-oz can coconut milk – $0.84
- 3, 24-ct pkg flour tortillas – $4.14 ($1.38 each)
- 1, 8 oz parmesan cheese – $2.44
- 1, 24-ct pkg American cheese – $3.14
- 1, 16 oz velveeta – $2.98
- 1, 32 oz ricotta cheese – $3.98
- 1, 5 lb frozen corn – $5.98
- 1, 5 lb frozen peas – $5.98
- 1, 32 oz frozen green beans – $1.98
- 2, 32 oz frozen broccoli – $3.96 ($1.98 each)
- 1 pkg frozen Italian herbs – $2.98
Safeway – $43.40
- 2 heads romaine lettuce – $1.98 ($0.98 each)
- 2, 16 oz carrots – $1 ($0.50 each)
- 6 lb ground beef – $11.94 ($1.99/lb)
- 1 lb chorizo – $1.84
- 2, 10 oz cans petite diced tomatoes – $1.68 ($0.68 each)
- 3, 16 oz boxes pasta (farfalle, elbows and penne) – $3 ($1 each)
- 2, 10 oz cans diced tomatoes with chiles – $1.68 ($0.68 each)
- 2 BBQ sauce – $2 ($1 each)
- 2, 10 oz cans beans (pinto and black) – $1.68 ($0.68 each)
- 1 qt half and half – $2.67
King Soopers – $46.01
- 1 london broil – $7.64 ($3.99/lb)
- 1, 10-ct box taco shells – $1
- 3, 32-oz organic chicken stock – $5.07 ($1.69 each)
- 1, 20-ct corn tortillas – $1.38
- 1 jar peanut butter – $1.49
- 1 18-ct eggs – $3.37
- 3, 16-oz shredded mozzarella cheese – $8.31 ($2.77 each)
- 2 lb butter – $3.98 ($1.99 each)
- 1, 8 oz cream cheese – $1.69
- 1, 10 oz frozen peas and carrots – $1
Sprouts – $22.12
- 3 lb rice – $2.07 ($0.69/lb)
- 3 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast – $5.64 ($1.88/lb)
- 1 butternut squash – $2.03 ($0.77/lb)
- 3 jalapenos – $0.64 ($0.98/lb)
- 3 bunches cilantro – $0.99 ($0.33 each)
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes – $2.64 ($0.88/lb)
- 2 lbs roma tomatoes – $1.76 ($0.88/lb)
- 3 red onions – $1.43
- 1, 5lb bag russet potatoes – $0.88
- 1 tube basil – $2.50
- 3 zucchini – $1.54
The grand total for the month was $185.84. Click each picture below and follow the links to the recipe for step-by-step instructions. To print the recipe, simply click the title of the recipe BELOW the picture, and save the free PDF file. If you love Mom’s Bistro, and these monthly menus, please click the little “P” in the top corner of the picture, and share on Pinterest!
So what’s for dinner this month? On top of being Hunger Action Month, September is National Potato Month, so throughout the month, I will share 5 easy potato side dish recipes. Sign up for my newsletter and have the recipe link sent right to your inbox.
September 1
September 2
* make extra rice tonight for egg fried rice tomorrow
September 3 – Hunger Action Day
September 4
leftovers
September 5 – National Cheese Pizza Day
September 6
* make a double batch of spaghetti sauce tonight for meals later in the month
September 7 – Labor Day
grilled london broil – new
baked potatoes – new
September 8
leftovers
September 9
homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese croutons
September 10 – National Hot Dog Day
sweet potato fries – new
September 11
DIY nacho bar
September 12
ultimate 30-minute macaroni and cheese
September 13
* save leftover chicken for enchiladas on Tuesday
September 14
* use leftover spaghetti sauce
September 15
* use leftover chicken from Sunday
September 16
leftovers
September 17
September 18 – National Cheeseburger Day
oven baked french fries – new
September 19
restaurant style blender salsa and chips
September 20
mashed sweet potatoes – new
September 21
leftovers
September 22
black bean and corn quesadillas
restaurant style blender salsa and chips
September 23 – National Pancake Day
Breakfast for Dinner!
September 24
rice
* make extra rice for beefy bean and rice burritos on Sunday
September 25
*use leftover spaghetti sauce
September 26
turkey and bacon sloppy joes – new
September 27
To make these burritos, make my easy 20-minute tacos, and some rice and wrap them both up in a tortilla with some cheese!
September 28
butternut squash soup – new
September 29
September 30
leftovers
To download a printable version of the menu plan and the grocery list, click the grocery list below, and save the PDF version.
Looking for more meal inspiration? Try another months menu this month instead.
My husband and I have decided to almost follow your meal plan all month this time. I’m so excited about it and I hope the groceries comes in at max 300$. Here in Denmark groceries are really expensive so let’s see.
Now the work to split the shopping list up by week is my little evening fun.
Hi Lindsie,
For the Korean Beef and Rice on the 2nd, where do you get the Asian Spice Blend?
Any grocery store… I found it at Sam’s Club too.
I love love love this site! Shopping gives me such anxiety, let alone shopping on a budget for little boys. You have been such a blessing. Thank you for all the hard work you put into all these menus, recipes, and shopping lists. We have yet to find a recipe we don’t like. I know doing all that research takes a lot of time so thank you so much for doing it for the rest of us. Like I said, you are an amazing blessing!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Abby. It’s because of comments like this that makes me want to do this more, and more every month! In October, I will have both a monthly and a weekly grocery list with the menus!
Do you have the recipe for London Broil? I’m sure it’s simple, but I’ve never made it before and want to do it right!
Hi Kristy! You’re the second to ask, so I think there is an error with the link! I will send out an e-mail today after I send my hubby off to work with the recipes! Sorry for the inconvenience!
Wow! This is exactly what I have been looking for! Do you have a post that explains how you keep the fresh ingredients fresh. im curious how you store the produce to last all month. Thank you! I’m going to try next months menu!!
Hi Jessica!
I sure do! Click Here and see how I plan my menus, what I do for breakfast and lunch, and some other money savings tips! If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to email me at lindsie@momsbistro.net
Have a great day!!
This is awesome! just what I have been looking for! Question…How do you keep your fresh produce last the month? Lettuce etc…
I am sure I am missing it somewhere but how many people is each recipe supposed to be feeding? I have a family of 6 so wondering if I need to double these recipes? Thanks so much I am looking forward to trying your meal plans!
They feed 4!