Recipes

$26 Grocery Week Challenge

by StudioLink Recipe.
November 03, 2025
View the Studiolink

Eat healthy without breaking the bank! The $26 Grocery Week Challenge gives you 5 days of real, wholesome meals using just 8 simple ingredients. Quick, budget-friendly, and delicious – you’ll save money, eat better, and feel amazing.

Total for 5 Days: $25.99
Average cost per meal: ≈ $1.73 (3 meals per day)

Typical weekly food spend: $60–$100+
Your savings: $40–$75 per week

Ingredients:

0.5x
1x
2x
4x
 
Day 1 - Peanut Butter Banana Oats
  •   1/2 cup Oats
  •   1 cup Water
  •   1/2 Banana - Sliced
  •   1/2 tbsp Peanut Butter
  •   Directions: Boil water in a small pot. Add oats, cook 5-7 minutes until soft and creamy. Stir peanut butter while still hot. Slice banana on top and serve.
 
Chicken & Veggie Rice Bowl
  •   1 cup Cooked rice
  •   4 oz Chopped chicken thigh
  •   1 cup Frozen Vegtables
  •   Directions: Cook chopped chicken thigh in a pan 6-8 minutes until golden. Add frozen mixed veggies, cook 5 minutes until hot. Serve cooked rice. Add salt, pepper, or sauce if you like.
 
Black Bean Stir-Fry
  •   1 cup Cooked Rice
  •   1/2 cup Black beans
  •   1 cup Mixed Vegetables
  •   Directions: In a pan, heat black beans and veggies. Add rice, stir together 5 minutes until hot. Season to taste and serve warm.
 
Day 2 - Overnight Oats
  •   1/2 cup Oats
  •   1/2 Banana
  •   1 tsp Peanut butter
  •   1/2 cup Water
  •   Directions: In a jar or bowl, mix oats, banana (mashed), peanut butter, and water. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Eat cold in the morning or warm slightly.
 
Chicken Fried Rice
  •   1 Scrambled egg
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1/2 cup Vegetables
  •   1/4 cup Chopped chicken
  •   Directions: Heat a pan, scramble egg. Add rice, veggies, and chopped chicken. Stir-fry 5-7 minutes until hot.
 
Black Bean Bowl with Egg
  •   1/2 cup Bean
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1 Fried egg
  •   Directions: Heat black beans in a small pot or microwave. Serve over rice. Top with a fried egg and season to taste.
 
Day 3 - Hard-Boiled Eggs + Banana
  •   2 Boiled eggs
  •   1 Sliced banana
  •   Directions: Place eggs in a small pot, cover with water. Boil 8-10 minutes, then cool and peel. Serve with banana.
 
Chicken & Veggie Bowl
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1/2 cup Vegetables
  •   4 oz Chicken
  •   Drizzle Peanut butter over if desired
  •   Directions: Heat chicken with veggies in a pan for 5 minutes. Serve over rice. Optional: drizzle peanut butter for flavor.
 
Veggie Fried Rice
  •   1 Scrambled egg
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1 cup Vegetales
  •   Directions: Scramble egg in a pan. Add rice and veggies. Stir-fry 5 minutes, season as you like.
 
Day 4 - Peanut Butter Banana Oats -Repeat
  •   1/2 cups Oat
  •   1 cup Water
  •   1/2 Sliced banana
  •   1 tbsp Peanut Butter
  •   Directions: Boil water in a small pot. Add oats, cook 5-7 minutes until soft and creamy. Stir peanut butter while still hot. Slice banana on top and serve.
 
Chicken & Bean Bowl
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1/2 cup Bean
  •   4 oz Chicken
  •   Directions: Combine rice, black beans, and cooked chicken. Add a splash of water and heat 3-5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, or sauce.
 
Egg & Veggie Stir-Fry
  •   1 Scrambled egg
  •   1 cup Vegetables
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   Directions: Scramble egg in a pan. Add frozen veggies and rice. Stir-fry 5 minutes until hot and serve.
 
Day 5 - Overnight Oats
  •   1/2 cup Oats
  •   1/2 Banana
  •   1 tsp Peanut butter
  •   Directions: In a jar or bowl, mix oats, banana (mashed), peanut butter, and water. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Eat cold in the morning or warm slightly.
 
Chicken Fried Rice
  •   1 Scrambled egg
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1/2 cup Vegetables
  •   1/4 cup Chopped chicken
  •   Directions: Heat a pan, scramble egg. Add rice, veggies, and chopped chicken. Stir-fry 5-7 minutes until hot.
 
Black Bean Veggie Bowl.
  •   1 cup Rice
  •   1/2 cup Beans
  •   1 cup Mixed vegetables
  •   Directions: Heat black beans and veggies. Mix with rice. Season and enjoy.

Prep Tips:
 Cook all 1 lb of rice at once and store in fridge. Bake or pan-sear all chicken thighs with salt + pepper; slice and store. Hard-boil 4 eggs for grab-and-go meals. Keep all cooked foods in separate containers for easy assembly.

Notes:
 Add optional flavor: soy sauce, lemon, hot sauce, or garlic. Each meal takes under 15 minutes once prepped. Great for students, busy workers, or anyone eating on a budget.

Ingredient List:

Brown rice (1 lb) — $2.50 → 8 servings ($0.31 each)

Chicken thighs (1.5 lb) — $6.00 → 6 servings ($1.00 each)

Eggs (12) — $3.99 → 6 servings ($0.66 each)

Black beans (2 cans) — $2.00 → 4 servings ($0.50 each)

Frozen mixed veggies (1 bag) — $2.50 → 5 servings ($0.50 each)

Bananas (5) — $1.75 → 5 servings ($0.35 each)

Oats (1 lb) — $2.75 → 7 servings ($0.39 each)

Peanut butter (small jar) — $3.50 → 10 servings ($0.35 each)

Total for 5 Days: $25.99
Average Cost per Meal: ≈ $1.73

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