This 5-day carnivore meal plan and shopping list is my go-to when I just need something simple, basic (and relatively budget-friendly) to get me through the week. It focuses on beef, bacon, butter, and eggs (BBBE), which are the foods I enjoy most and make me feel best.
In my current situation with no traditional kitchen and limited space, I rely on these easy and satisfying meals to keep carnivore doable. It’s great for beginners or anyone wanting to simplify their diet and meal prep.
Why I Shop at Walmart for Carnivore
Even though we have two other grocery stores in my town, I typically go Walmart for my carnivore groceries. It’s consistently affordable – at least compared to other shops around these parts. The variety is decent, with many different cuts of meat available, and quality is pretty good.
Of course, shopping at Walmart will never beat going to a local butcher or buying your meat directly from a farm. But that’s not something I can afford at this point in my life, and I’m sure many of my readers are in the same boat.
Sometimes local grocery stores have meat sales that make it worth a stop. Otherwise, I shop at Walmart to stay within my budget and still maintain this way of eating.
5-Day Carnivore Diet Grocery List
Here’s the grocery list I used for this plan, broken down by category. I’m not including amounts of each item, because that will vary depending on how many people you’re feeding.
To make the meal plan work, you’ll need enough ribeyes for a single dinner + enough ground beef, chuck roast, and burgers to make dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day. Burgers are served twice – each time making enough for dinner and lunch. Bacon and eggs are served for lunch twice.
Meat & Protein
- Ground beef (80/20)
- Thin-cut ribeye steaks
- Chuck roast
- Hamburger patties (or more ground beef if you want to make them yourself)
- Bacon
- Eggs
I buy pre-made hamburger patties, either fresh or frozen, to make my life easier. But you can also buy ground beef in bulk and make your own if you like.
Fats & Dairy
- Butter
- Heavy cream (optional)
- Cheddar cheese (optional)
I buy heavy cream to drink with my coffee. I’ll also sometimes use it to mix with scrambled eggs or seasoned ground beef for extra fat and flavor.
I use cheese to top burgers, melt into seasoned ground beef, or eat in omelets. These ingredients are optional if you’re avoiding dairy or just don’t want to use them.
Seasonings
- Himalayan pink salt
- Chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, etc. (optional)
- McCormick Garlic & Herb seasoning blend (optional)
Salt is necessary on the carnivore diet. Walmart sells Himalayan pink salt (a mineral salt) pretty inexpensively. I’d recommend it, though sea salt works if you’re in a pinch. Other seasonings are completely optional, depending on what you like and/or can tolerate.
5-Day Carnivore Meal Plan (2 Meals a Day)
Here’s a sample meal plan using the ingredients listed above. If you use the shopping list, you can always move the meals around and serve them on days it makes sense for you.
The meal plan is for two solid meals a day. I personally drink coffee with heavy cream for “breakfast” every morning, my first meal when I start getting hungry around noon, and my second meal around 6:00 PM.
Day 1
- Meal 1: Bacon, egg, and cheese omelet (or just bacon and eggs if you prefer)
- Meal 2: Grilled hamburgers topped with bacon and/or cheese (if desired)
Day 2:
- Meal 1: Leftover grilled hamburgers topped with bacon and/or cheese (if desired)
- Meal 2: Grilled ribeye steaks topped with butter (extra bacon and/or fried eggs if needed)
Day 3:
- Meal 1: Bacon and eggs, cooked with extra butter
- Meal 2: Seasoned ground beef (topped with cheddar cheese and/or fried eggs if desired)
I season my ground beef with chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, etc. to make it taste similar to “taco meat.” Season yours as you see fit. If you’re very strict, you may just want salt and butter. Personally, I like it heavily seasoned.
Day 4:
- Meal 1: Leftover seasoned ground beef (topped with cheddar cheese if desired)
- Meal 2: Chuck roast cooked in crockpot topped with butter
I season my chuck roast with the McCormick Garlic & Herb seasoning blend. I put it in the crock pot with NO extra liquid – just by itself. Then I cook for 6-8 hours on low, until tender. Again, season as you see fit.
Day 5:
- Meal 1: Leftover chuck roast with butter
- Meal 2: Grilled hamburgers topped with bacon and/or cheese (if desired)
If you buy enough burgers, this should also make lunch for the next day!
Tips for Sticking to Carnivore on a Budget
To keep costs down on the carnivore diet, buy in bulk when possible. Buying the larger packages of burgers, ground beef, etc. costs less overall than the smaller packages.
Choose less expensive meats like ground beef and chuck roast. If you can’t afford ribeyes, look for cheaper cuts like chuck eye steak (similar to ribeye). Sirloin is alright, but add extra fat since it’s such a lean cut. Chicken thighs or leg quarters and bone-in pork chops are often dirt cheap, and they can add variety too.
Always look for mark-downs. I found this huge package of 12 pre-made burger patties on sale for almost 50% off today. The best-by date is today, but I’ll freeze them or cook them tonight. That saved over $10, and now I have enough burgers to feed my partner and me for FOUR meals.
Most importantly, don’t believe the hype. You don’t need everything grass-fed, pastured, organic. You can buy regular grocery store meat, store brand cheese and butter, and eggs in the styrofoam carton. The nutritonal difference between these products and the grass-fed, organic versions is negligible. And eating this way will make you healthier than 99% of the population (in my opinion).
Download the Shopping List & Meal Plan (PDF)
Here’s a printable PDF of my shopping list and meal plan. No, I don’t want your email address! Just download it and enjoy! But if you do want to subscribe to the blog, you can do so in the sidebar. —>
Remember, carnivore can be easy, affordable, and sustainable. Walmart is a solid option for budget-friendly meat, eggs, butter, and spices. Keep it simple, and you’ll be less likely to fail.
Good luck out there!
PS. If you liked this post, check out the grocery haul video below where I buy all the foods on the list and go over the meal plan:
