Tesco Higher-Protein Weekly Muscle Gain Plan — 3,500 kcal
Muscle building, at a higher daily calorie target. This 7-day plan targets 3,500 kcal/day and averages 255g of protein, built around Tesco's Stockwell & Co (cupboard staples: tins, cereals, tea, baking) for an estimated £120–165/week. Meals lean on lower-fat protein — chicken breast, white fish, egg whites, low-fat dairy — so each meal carries more protein for the calories it costs, leaving room to hit the day's target without relying on volume alone.
Adjust Household PortionsCurrently 1 person · 1 cook portions
Your 7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
3500 kcal per person236g protein · 377g carbs per person
Breakfast531 kcal · 31g protein · 47g carbs · 10 min
Soft Boiled Eggs with Wholemeal Toast
Made with eggs, wholemeal bread, butter.
Recipe
Ingredients
3 eggs
3 slices of wholemeal bread
7g butter
black pepper, to taste
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Eggs, Milk. Check the label for: Sesame, Soybeans. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Bring a small pan of water to a gentle simmer.
Lower whole eggs into the water and simmer for 5-6 minutes, until the white is set but the yolk stays runny, then cool briefly under cold water and peel.
Toast wholemeal bread, then serve with the eggs and butter and black pepper, to taste.
Lunch729 kcal · 53g protein · 83g carbs · 15 min
Sardine and Wholemeal Pasta Salad
Made with tinned sardines, wholemeal pasta, cherry tomatoes.
Recipe
Ingredients
1¼ standard tins of sardines, drained
100g wholemeal pasta (dry weight)
14 cherry tomatoes
2 generous handfuls baby spinach (about 60g)
1¼ tbsp lemon juice
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Fish. Check the label for: Eggs. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the pasta according to its packet instructions, then drain and cool slightly.
Drain sardines.
Rinse baby spinach, then slice or chop cherry tomatoes.
Arrange sardines, the cooked wholemeal pasta, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach in a bowl and finish with lemon juice.
Dinner1037 kcal · 63g protein · 132g carbs · 20 min
Teriyaki Tofu with Brown Rice and Broccoli
Made with firm tofu, brown rice, broccoli.
Recipe
Ingredients
275g firm tofu
125g brown rice (dry weight)
1 small head of broccoli (about 275g)
3 tbsp plus 2 tsp teriyaki sauce
1¼ tsp sesame seeds
3 spring onions
Allergens in this meal: Sesame, Soybeans. Check the label for: Cereals containing gluten. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Cook the rice according to its packet instructions, then drain if needed.
Meanwhile, cook the tofu in a non-stick pan over medium heat, stirring, until browned and hot through. Add a small head of broccoli and spring onions and cook until tender.
Fold the cooked rice through the pan, stir in teriyaki sauce, and heat through before serving with sesame seeds scattered over.
Snack272 kcal · 12g protein · 11g carbs · 3 min
Peanut Butter with Celery Sticks
Made with peanut butter, celery sticks.
Recipe
Ingredients
2¾ tbsp peanut butter
6 celery sticks
Allergens in this meal: Celery, Peanuts. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion celery sticks as needed.
Combine peanut butter and celery sticks in a bowl or lidded container.
Snack401 kcal · 22g protein · 51g carbs · 5 min
Roasted Spiced Chickpeas
Made with tinned chickpeas, smoked paprika, cumin.
Recipe
Ingredients
1¼ standard tins of chickpeas, drained
1¼ tsp smoked paprika
¾ tsp cumin
1¼ tsp olive oil
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan).
Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then pat them dry with kitchen paper.
Toss with the olive oil, smoked paprika and cumin, spread on a baking tray in a single layer and roast for 25-30 minutes, shaking halfway, until crisp.
Leave to cool on the tray; they crisp up further as they cool.
Snack229 kcal · 26g protein · 12g carbs · 3 min
Cottage Cheese with Cucumber
Made with cottage cheese, cucumber.
Recipe
Ingredients
200g cottage cheese
¾ cucumber
Allergens in this meal: Milk. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Slice or portion cucumber as needed.
Put cucumber in a bowl or lidded container, adding cottage cheese just before eating.
Snack301 kcal · 29g protein · 41g carbs · 5 min
Tuna on Rye Crackers
Made with tinned tuna in spring water, rye crackers, lemon juice.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 standard tin of tuna, drained
6 rye crackers
1¼ tsp lemon juice
Allergens in this meal: Cereals containing gluten, Fish. Worked out from generic ingredient names — always read the product label.
Method
Drain tuna.
Top rye crackers with tuna and lemon juice and serve.
Estimated cost: £120–165/week for 1 person from Tesco. Calories and macros remain per person, while shopping quantities are scaled for the household.
0 of 88 items tickedSaved on this device
Protein
Carbs & Grains
Vegetables
Dairy & Eggs
Fruit
Herbs & Spices
Condiments & Oils
Extras
Sponsored #ad - container setup
Container setup for this plan
This plan has about 19 prep-friendly meals. Start with 10 main containers, 4 small sauce or snack tubs, and 2 freezer tubs.
Use 2 five-container glass packs to provide at least 10 main meal spaces, then add the separate small tubs shown above.
RecommendedMid-range glass setup
Best for regular weekday lunches, reheating at work, curry, chilli, pasta, and repeat washing.
Material
Glass
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 Tool This Plan Assumes
The protein and calorie figures on this plan are calculated from weighed portions. Estimating by eye is where most high-protein plans quietly drift, so a set of digital scales is the difference between following this plan and approximating it. Any scale works — this is simply a cheap, accurate one.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability can change on Amazon UK.
Kitchen scaleBudget
Salter Arc Digital Kitchen Scale
A slim, add-and-weigh digital scale with a 3kg capacity, useful for portioning rice, protein and vegetables precisely rather than guessing by eye.
Best forWeighing portions accurately for calorie or macro tracking
Good to knowNo liquid measurement mode; for sauces and liquids, a scale with an Aquatronic function is more useful.
The largest UK grocer. Widest range of the mainstream stores, with Clubcard pricing doing much of the value work.
Value rangeStockwell & Co (cupboard staples: tins, cereals, tea, baking)
Loyalty pricingClubcard Prices
What Tesco is good for here
Deepest own-brand range across price tiers, so most recipes can be built up or down in cost.
Strong free-from and speciality shelves for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan weeks.
Clubcard Prices frequently cover chicken, mince and dairy — the high-cost items in a protein-led plan.
Worth knowing before you shop
Non-Clubcard prices are noticeably higher; the card is effectively required to hit the budget estimate.
The Stockwell & Co economy tier has been shrinking, so some value lines have moved up a tier.
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 Tesco's Stockwell & Co (cupboard staples: tins, cereals, tea, baking) 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)
Switch to Tesco's value range across the board rather than mid-tier lines
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
Add extra egg whites (3–4) to a breakfast instead of whole eggs — protein without the extra fat
Swap a carb portion for extra chicken breast or white fish on higher-hunger days
Use 0% fat Greek yogurt or quark instead of standard yogurt for the same volume, far more protein
🥦 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 muscle gain plan cost per week?
This plan is designed for Tesco and is estimated at £120–165 per week for one person at typical UK prices, depending on what you already have at home. Clubcard Prices can reduce this further.
How much protein does this plan provide per day?
This plan averages 255g 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 muscle gain plan?
Plenty of muscle gain plans share the same 3,500 kcal target — the difference here is that the meal selection is biased toward lower-fat protein sources rather than just hitting a protein number however it can.
Can I print this muscle gain 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 3,500 kcal/day, the Tesco shopping list, and your chosen household portion sizes.
Is this plan suitable for meal prep?
Most recipes in this plan scale well and reheat easily. Soups, stews, and grain dishes are ideal for making in larger batches to save time midweek.
Is this plan suitable for beginners?
Yes. Recipes are rated Standard (20–30 min/day) and use ingredients available at Tesco — no specialist equipment or advanced technique is needed.
