Asda Very Cheap Batch Cook High-Protein Plan — 1,800 kcal
Maximum protein on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 152g of protein, built around Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) for an estimated £60–85/week. Meals are chosen to hold up after a few days in the fridge or freezer — stews, chillies, tray bakes and grain bowls — rather than anything that goes soggy or dries out on reheating.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
1802 kcal per person170g protein · 187g carbs per person
Breakfast556 kcal · 35g protein · 68g carbs · 15 min
Wholemeal Pancakes with Low-Fat Yogurt
Made with wholemeal flour, eggs, semi-skimmed milk.
Recipe
Ingredients
80g wholemeal flour
2 eggs
150ml semi-skimmed milk
100g low-fat yogurt
50g blueberries
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs, Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Whisk wholemeal flour, eggs and semi-skimmed milk into a smooth batter and leave it to stand for 2 minutes.
Lightly grease a non-stick pan, then cook small pancakes for 1-2 minutes per side.
Serve with low-fat yogurt and blueberries.
Lunch451 kcal · 46g protein · 48g carbs · 25 min
Chicken and Sweet Potato Meal Prep Bowl
Made with chicken breast, sweet potato, baby spinach.
Recipe
Ingredients
175g chicken breast
1 medium sweet potato
2 generous handfuls baby spinach (about 60g)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
Method
Cut the medium sweet potato into even chunks and boil in lightly salted water until tender, then drain and cool slightly.
Cook the chicken breast in a non-stick pan over medium heat until cooked through. Add garlic powder for the final minute and cook until fragrant. Rest briefly before slicing if needed.
Rinse and dry baby spinach.
Arrange chicken breast, medium sweet potato and baby spinach in a bowl and finish with olive oil.
Dinner600 kcal · 52g protein · 71g carbs · 35 min
Lean Turkey Mince Stuffed Peppers
Made with turkey mince lean, mixed peppers, brown rice.
Recipe
Ingredients
200g lean turkey mince
4 mixed peppers
80g cooked brown rice
½ of a standard tin of tomatoes
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Halve the mixed peppers lengthways, remove the seeds and core, and arrange cut-side up in an ovenproof dish.
Cook the lean turkey mince with onion and garlic in a non-stick pan over medium heat, breaking it up, until browned.
Stir in cooked brown rice and tomatoes and season to taste.
Spoon the filling into the pepper halves and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
Snack195 kcal · 37g protein · 0g carbs · 5 min
Sliced Cooked Chicken Breast
Made with chicken breast.
Recipe
Ingredients
125g cooked chicken breast
Method
Have cooked chicken breast to hand.
Warm the cooked chicken breast through in a non-stick pan or oven until piping hot.
Estimated cost: £60–85/week for 1 person from Asda. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
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Carbs & Grains
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Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Tins & Jars
Extras
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 21 prep-friendly meals. Start with 17 main containers, 5 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 2 10-container sets to provide at least 17 main meal spaces, then add the separate small tubs shown above.
RecommendedFull glass batch setup
Best when you already prep most weeks, cook lunches and dinners, or want a longer-term storage system.
Material
Glass or premium leak-resistant sets
Price and availability
Check Amazon UK before buying
This plan includes saucy or reheated meals, so choose containers with secure, leak-resistant lids. If using plastic, check that it is suitable for reheating and follow the product instructions.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
The One Appliance This Plan Assumes
This is a batch plan built around slow-cooked meals — the kind of cooking a slow cooker does unattended while you are out. A 3.5L bowl suits the portion counts here. If you already own one, you need nothing else for this plan.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
Slow cookerBudget-to-mid range
Crock-Pot Slow Cooker, 3.5L
The classic entry-level Crock-Pot: two heat settings, a removable ceramic bowl for easy cleaning, and a size that suits most households cooking 3-5 portions at once.
Best forA standard household batch cooking stews, curries and casseroles
Good to knowNo timer or digital display on this entry model, so you set it and check back manually.
This plan uses repeated weekday bases so the Sunday prep instruction matches the actual meals.
Prepare five portions of Wholemeal Pancakes with Low-Fat Yogurt for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion five lunches of Chicken and Sweet Potato Meal Prep Bowl.
Batch cook Lean Turkey Mince Stuffed Peppers and Tuna and Sweet Potato Fishcakes with Salad as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
Portion snacks in advance: Sliced Cooked Chicken Breast, Tuna on Rye Crackers, Pea Protein Green Smoothie, Lean Beef Jerky, and Smoked Salmon on Cucumber Slices.
Cool everything quickly and get it into the fridge within one to two hours.
Refrigerate only the portions you will eat within two days — freeze the rest straight away, and move each one to the fridge the night before you need it. Freezing the later part of the week is a food-safety step, not a freshness preference.
Typically the cheapest of the big four on a like-for-like basket, with a genuinely low economy tier.
Value rangeJust Essentials (formerly Smartprice)
Loyalty pricingAsda Rewards (cashback to a wallet rather than instant discounts)
What Asda is good for here
Just Essentials is usually the lowest-priced option in its category, which suits very cheap weeks.
Large multipack meat and frozen ranges that suit bulk batch cooking.
Good value on rice, pasta, oats and tinned pulses — the backbone of a budget prep plan.
Worth knowing before you shop
Just Essentials lines sell out quickly and availability is inconsistent.
Rewards pays into a wallet rather than reducing the shop at the till, so it will not lower this week's bill.
Retailer details checked 2026-07-20. Ranges and loyalty schemes change — the weekly cost estimate above is based on the plan's budget tier, not on live prices at this store.
Swaps & Suggestions
💰 Make it cheaper
Buy Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) range for rice, pasta, oats and tins — nutritionally identical to standard lines, at the lowest price point in store
Replace fresh salmon with tinned mackerel or sardines in brine (saves ~£2–3/week)
Buy dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) and cook in bulk rather than tinned — cheaper per portion
Use frozen chicken breast instead of fresh (saves ~£1.50/week, same protein)
Swap fresh berries for frozen mixed berries (same nutrients, fraction of the cost)
💪 Increase protein
Cook an extra portion of mince or beans into the weekly batch — cheap to add, keeps well
Add tinned beans or lentils to a batch-cooked chilli or curry for extra protein at low cost
Portion cooked chicken thighs into the freezer in 100g bags to add to any meal without extra cooking
🥦 Make it vegetarian
Replace chicken with Quorn fillets or diced firm tofu
Swap beef mince for tinned green lentils or plant-based mince
Use halloumi or feta instead of meat in lunch salads
Substitute eggs or cottage cheese for fish-based meals
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cheap high protein plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Asda and is estimated at £60–85 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Asda Rewards (cashback to a wallet rather than instant discounts) can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 152g of protein per day across the week, based on the meals actually selected — well above general UK guidance of roughly 0.8–1.6g per kg of bodyweight for active adults.
How is this different from a generic cheap high protein plan?
Plenty of cheap high protein plans share the same 1,800 kcal target — the difference here is that meals are filtered for how well they hold up over several days, not just for taste on day one.
Can I print this cheap high protein meal plan or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Use the export / print PDF button on the plan page. The printable version summarises all 7 days at 1,800 kcal/day, the Asda shopping list, and your chosen household portion sizes.
Is this plan suitable for meal prep?
Yes — this plan is specifically designed for batch cooking. Prep everything on Sunday in 60–90 minutes and portion into containers for the week ahead.
Is this plan suitable for beginners?
Yes. Recipes are rated Batch cook (prep on Sunday) and use ingredients available at Asda — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
