ALDI Dairy-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's ALDI plan covers five dinners with pork, chicken, shrimp and turkey, and it stays dairy-free by using olive oil and garlic instead of butter or cream. Monday's slow-roasted pork butt with apple pan sauce can be roasted ahead, and the same $1.99 bag of Gala apples comes back on Thursday with the cider-glazed chicken breasts. Chicken appears on two nights, Tuesday as skillet thighs with roasted grapes and Thursday as the baked breasts, while Wednesday's garlic shrimp with sauteed pears and Friday's turkey chili bowls break it up. Before you cook on Friday, check the label on the Chef's Cupboard mix to make sure it has no dairy ingredients.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pork Butt with Apple Pan Sauce
Description: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast is oven-roasted until tender and sliced, served with a pan sauce of apples simmered in chicken broth. Dairy-free and savory-sweet with a cozy fall flavor.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, New York Gala Apples, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth
Prep time: 20 minutes active, about 2.5 hours total
Serving note: 2 lbs Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, 3 Gala apples (from 1 bag of New York Gala Apples), 1 Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth. Make ahead: roast earlier in the day or the night before and reheat slices in the sauce.
Recipes:
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooked Pork with Apple Sauce
- Slow-Cooker Apple Cider Pork

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Garlic Chicken Thighs with Roasted Grapes
Description: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are pan-seared in olive oil, then finished with California Red Grapes that blister in the pan. Sweet, savory and ready fast.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, California Red Grapes
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 1 lb California Red Grapes.
Recipes:
- Chicken Thighs Braised in Mustard Grape Sauce
- Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs with Grapes and Olives
- Roasted Grape Chicken Thighs

Wednesday
Meal: Garlic Shrimp Skillet with Sauteed Pears
Description: Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp is sauteed quickly in olive oil and garlic, served alongside pan-seared Washington Bartlett Pears. Light, bright and done in minutes.
Sale items used: Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp, Washington Bartlett Pears
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp (feeds 4), 3 pears from 1 bag of Washington Bartlett Pears.

Thursday
Meal: Baked Chicken Breast with Apple Cider Glaze
Description: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts are baked in the oven and brushed with a reduced Nature's Nectar Apple Cider glaze. Serve with extra baked Gala apple slices.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Nature's Nectar Apple Cider, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken breasts, 1 Nature's Nectar Apple Cider (use about 1 cup for the glaze, the rest to drink), 2 apples from the same bag of New York Gala Apples used Monday.
Recipes:
- Apple Cider Chicken
- Cider-Glazed Chicken Breasts with Fall Vegetables
- Apple Cider Glazed Chicken

Friday
Meal: Hearty Chili Mix Bowls with Turkey Tenderloin
Description: Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins are diced and simmered with Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix in chicken broth. Check that the mix has no dairy ingredients before cooking.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins, Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins (feeds 4), 1 Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix, 1 Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth.
Recipes:
- Classic Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe
- Healthy Gluten Free Turkey Chili Recipe (Dairy Free)

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast (2 lbs): $3.98
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $4.98
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts (2 lbs): $3.98
- Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp (1 package): $6.99
- Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins (1 package): $7.99
- California Red Grapes (1 lb): $1.39
- Washington Bartlett Pears (1 bag): $2.99
- New York Gala Apples (1 bag): $1.99
- Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth (2): $3.78
- Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix (1): $3.29
- Nature's Nectar Apple Cider (1): $3.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Dairy-free seasonings (paprika, thyme)