Asda Cook-Once Weekly Cheap High-Protein Plan — 1,800 kcal
Maximum protein on a tight budget. This 7-day plan targets 1,800 kcal/day and averages 150g of protein, built around Asda's Just Essentials (formerly Smartprice) for an estimated £50–75/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
1801 kcal per person148g protein · 181g carbs per person
Breakfast468 kcal · 43g protein · 41g carbs · 15 min
Protein Waffles with Greek Yogurt and Berries
Made with whey protein powder, wholemeal flour, eggs.
Recipe
Ingredients
20g whey protein powder
40g wholemeal flour
2 eggs
80ml oat milk
80g low-fat Greek yogurt
50g frozen berries
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs, Milk. Check the label for: Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Whisk whey protein powder, wholemeal flour, eggs and oat milk into a smooth batter and leave it to stand for 2 minutes.
Cook in a preheated waffle iron until golden and crisp, in batches if needed. No waffle iron? Cook the batter as pancakes in a lightly greased non-stick pan, 1-2 minutes per side — they will not be crisp, but they taste the same.
Serve with low-fat Greek yogurt and frozen berries.
Lunch553 kcal · 40g protein · 59g carbs · 20 min
Grilled Chicken, Brown Rice and Roasted Peppers
Made with chicken breast, brown rice, mixed peppers.
Recipe
Ingredients
150g chicken breast
70g brown rice (dry weight)
¾ pepper
¾ tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Slice the mixed peppers, toss with half the olive oil and the crushed garlic, and roast for 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the brown rice according to its packet instructions.
Brush the chicken breast with the remaining oil and cook under a hot grill or on a griddle pan for 6-8 minutes per side, until cooked through. Rest briefly, then slice.
Serve the chicken over the rice with the roasted peppers.
Dinner549 kcal · 44g protein · 74g carbs · 30 min
Tuna and Sweetcorn Pasta Bake
Made with tinned tuna in spring water, wholemeal pasta, sweetcorn.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 standard tin of tuna, drained
80g wholemeal pasta (dry weight)
80g sweetcorn
175g tomatoes
25g reduced-fat cheddar
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Fish, Milk. Check the label for: Eggs. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than its packet instructions, then drain.
Drain the tuna, then mix it with the pasta, tomatoes and sweetcorn in an ovenproof dish.
Scatter the reduced-fat cheddar over the top and bake for 20-25 minutes, until bubbling and golden.
Snack231 kcal · 21g protein · 7g carbs · 5 min
Light Mozzarella and Tomato
Made with light mozzarella, beef tomato, basil leaves, optional to taste (excluded from nutrition estimate).
Recipe
Ingredients
80g light mozzarella
1 beef tomato
basil leaves, to taste
¾ tsp balsamic glaze
Allergens in this meal: Milk, Sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion light mozzarella and beef tomato as needed.
Combine light mozzarella, beef tomato and basil leaves, to taste in a bowl or lidded container, adding balsamic glaze just before eating.
Estimated cost: £50–75/week for 1 person from Asda. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
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Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
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 Protein Waffles with Greek Yogurt and Berries for quick breakfasts.
Cook and portion five lunches of Grilled Chicken, Brown Rice and Roasted Peppers.
Batch cook Tuna and Sweetcorn Pasta Bake and Turkey Mince and Sweet Potato Bake as the main dinner bases, then alternate them Monday to Friday.
Portion snacks in advance: Light Mozzarella and Tomato, Sliced Cooked Chicken Breast, Lean Beef Jerky, Tuna on Rye Crackers, and Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Crackers.
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 £50–75 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 150g 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.
