Cheapest UK Supermarket for Meal Prep: Full 2025 Comparison

What We Are Comparing

The comparison is based on a standard one-person, one-week high-protein meal prep basket: 1 kg chicken breast, 12 eggs, 500 g 0% Greek yogurt, 1 kg rolled oats, 1 kg brown rice, 4 tins tuna in spring water, 500 g frozen broccoli, 200 g baby spinach, 300 g salmon fillets, and 500 g wholemeal bread. This basket provides approximately 5–6 days of main protein sources for 1,600–2,000 kcal/day eating.

Prices are own-brand or equivalent where possible, using in-store or online prices as of early 2025. Individual prices fluctuate with promotions.

Supermarket Rankings: Cheapest to Most Expensive

Approximate total for the standard basket at each supermarket:

• 1st — Aldi: ~£28–32. Consistently the cheapest on almost every staple in the basket. The only limitation is that Aldi does not always stock fresh salmon, so this may push some shoppers to supplement elsewhere.
• 2nd — Lidl: ~£29–33. Very similar to Aldi and competitive on most items. Lidl's Deluxe range offers slightly better quality for a small premium. Lidl tends to have slightly better fish and seafood availability than Aldi.
• 3rd — Iceland: ~£30–34. Iceland's frozen protein range is its strongest suit. Frozen chicken breast and salmon are genuinely cheap, and Iceland's multi-buy deals are excellent. Fresh produce range is much more limited, which is a drawback.
• 4th — Asda: ~£35–40. Solid own-brand range that is cheaper than Tesco on several items. Asda Rewards (the loyalty scheme) can narrow the gap with Aldi for frequent shoppers.
• 5th — Tesco: ~£38–45 (or ~£34–40 with Clubcard). Tesco's Clubcard prices bring it much closer to Asda and occasionally within £5 of Aldi on a full basket. Without Clubcard, it is noticeably more expensive.
• 6th — Morrisons: ~£40–46. Own-brand quality is good, and the butcher and fishmonger counters offer fresh options not found elsewhere. However, it is consistently more expensive than Aldi and Lidl on staples.
• 7th — Sainsbury's: ~£43–50. Highest cost in the comparison. The Taste the Difference range is genuinely excellent, but for meal-prep staples, the own-brand range simply does not match the value of Aldi or Lidl.

Where Each Supermarket Stands Out

Aldi and Lidl win on price but have narrower ranges and limited online delivery. They are best for shoppers who can visit in person weekly and are comfortable with slightly less variety.

Iceland is the standout for frozen protein. Their frozen chicken breast, salmon, and prawns are exceptional value, and the quality of their frozen fish is underrated. If you are happy to meal prep entirely from frozen protein, Iceland can be cheaper than Aldi.

Tesco and Asda win on range, online service, and loyalty scheme value. For busy professionals who shop online, Tesco with Clubcard is the pragmatic choice — the price gap versus Aldi shrinks to 10–15% on a full basket with Clubcard Prices active.

Morrisons is best for shoppers who want a mix of budget staples and fresher or higher-quality items. Its Market Street butcher counter means you can buy chicken thighs and lean mince freshly prepared, which some meal preppers prefer.

The Hybrid Strategy: Maximum Savings

The most cost-effective approach for dedicated meal preppers is to use two supermarkets: Aldi or Lidl for the core staples (chicken, eggs, oats, rice, frozen veg, tinned tuna) and Tesco, Asda, or Morrisons for specific items that the discounters do not stock reliably (fresh salmon, certain vegetables, specialist health foods).

This hybrid approach typically brings the weekly total to £30–36 — significantly cheaper than a pure Tesco shop and only slightly more than a pure Aldi shop, with the full range of a larger supermarket when needed.

Use our free meal plan generator to build a complete week of meals around your preferred supermarket. Select Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, or Iceland and the generator creates a plan with ingredients available at that store.