I hate paying full price for basics I know I’ll use, so I watch Kroger’s BOGO offers closely. These eight pantry staples are worth grabbing when the deal rolls around.
Prices were checked at a Kroger in Granbury, Texas on October 14; they vary by store and change with each week’s ad.
1. Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto with Italian Basil Pasta Sauce and Spread – $3.99
A jar of creamy basil pesto handles pasta, chicken, or vegetables when dinner needs an easy shortcut. At $3.99, it becomes a strong stock-up buy the next time a BOGO offer cuts the cost per jar in half.
Parting Thoughts: Keep this one on your BOGO watch list if versatile sauces earn their shelf space.
2. General Mills Rice Chex Cereal – $4.99
Breakfast cereal that also works for snacking and homemade Chex Mix gives you more options than a single-purpose box. The regular $4.99 price makes a future BOGO the right moment to buy two rather than settle for one.
Parting Thoughts: For a cereal with several pantry uses, the half-price math is worth waiting for.
3. Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal – $3.29
On rushed mornings, these maple and brown sugar oatmeal packets turn into a quick microwave breakfast. At $3.29 for 8 packets, a BOGO offer would be a practical chance to cover more mornings for the same outlay.
Parting Thoughts: Busy households should stock up when this familiar breakfast returns to BOGO.
4. Entennmann’s Little Bites Party Cake Mini Muffins – $5.69
Lunchbox packing gets simpler with individually portioned mini muffins ready to grab from the pantry. Since $5.69 is comparatively steep for an everyday snack, the next BOGO is the sensible time to replenish.
Parting Thoughts: Worth buying in pairs for packed lunches, but easy to skip at full price.
5. Bush’s White Chili Beans 15.5 oz – $2.39
For chili night, these prepared white beans provide a convenient canned base that can also stretch tacos or side dishes. At $2.39, they become much more compelling when a buy-two-get-one-free promotion returns.
Parting Thoughts: That multi-buy is a smart pantry play for anyone who regularly makes chili.
6. Barilla Cellentani Pasta – $1.99
Curly cellentani is a dependable dry-pasta option for weeknight meals and pairs neatly with the pesto elsewhere on this list. The $1.99 price is already modest, though I would buy multiples only when it joins another promotion or mix-and-match event.
Parting Thoughts: Consider it a solid filler for a qualifying sale rather than a must-hoard item at regular price.
7. Fritos Original Corn Chips – $5.49
Game-day spreads and quick Frito pie both put these sturdy corn chips to work beyond ordinary snacking. A $5.49 bag is pricey enough that waiting for another buy-two-get-two-free offer makes considerably better sense.
Parting Thoughts: The recurring multi-bag promotion is the value here, especially when you can use every bag.
8. Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken Dressing – $2.99
Holiday sides and everyday casseroles are easier with a shelf-stable stuffing mix ready for the stovetop. At $2.99, it is a reasonable pantry helper, but a future BOGO or qualifying multi-buy would make stocking several boxes worthwhile.
Parting Thoughts: Frequent casserole makers will get the most mileage from buying this during a promotion.
