ALDI Dairy-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around a few big buys that each show up twice, all dairy-free: the 3 lbs of chicken thighs at $6.87 cover both Monday's pan-seared dinner and Wednesday's sheet-pan roast, and the New York Gala Apples at $1.99 turn up in both of those meals too. Tuesday is your treat night with the $19.49 beef tenderloin, roasted alongside Campari tomatoes, and the other half of those tomatoes goes into Friday's soup. Thursday's $15.24 Butterball turkey does double duty, since the leftover meat and homemade stock become Friday's light turkey and vegetable soup, and the mashed potatoes use olive oil and broth instead of butter or milk. One thing to do ahead: move the frozen turkey to the fridge by Monday morning so it is fully thawed for Thursday.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Gala Apple and Onion Pan Sauce over Rice
Description: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are seared in olive oil until golden, then finished in a quick sauce of sliced Gala apples, onion, Dijon mustard, and cider vinegar. Serve over fluffy white rice for a savory-sweet weeknight dinner.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lb Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (assumed total weight, about 6 oz per person) and 3 New York Gala Apples from the 3-lb bag. Serve over 1.5 cups uncooked rice (pantry), cooked.
Recipes:
- Apple Cider Chicken Thighs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Skillet Chicken Thighs with Apple Cider Pan Sauce
- Autumn Apple Chicken

Tuesday
Meal: Oven-Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Campari Tomatoes and Crispy Potatoes
Description: A Fresh USDA Choice Beef Tenderloin is rubbed with garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper, then roasted at high heat until medium-rare and rested before slicing. Campari tomatoes join the pan for the last 15 minutes, alongside olive oil roasted potatoes.
Sale items used: Fresh USDA Choice Beef Tenderloin, Campari Tomatoes on the Vine
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lb Fresh USDA Choice Beef Tenderloin (assumed total weight, about 6 oz per person), roasted 30 to 40 minutes to 130 to 135 F, then rested 10 minutes. Use 8 oz (half the 1-lb package) of Campari Tomatoes on the Vine and 1.5 lb pantry potatoes, cubed. Save the other half package of tomatoes for Friday.
Recipes:
- Beef Tenderloin & Garlic-Roasted Vegetables

Wednesday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs with Squash or Sweet Potatoes and Gala Apple Wedges
Description: Boneless skinless chicken thighs, Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, and apple wedges roast together on one hot pan with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme. The pan juices caramelize the apples and vegetables into an easy one-pan dinner.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lb Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (assumed total weight), 1 package Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes (use whichever is stocked), and 2 New York Gala Apples from the 3-lb bag, cut in wedges. Roast on a preheated pan at 425 F for 35 to 40 minutes.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Chicken and Butternut Squash (with Apples and Honey)
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- Sheet Pan Autumn Chicken with Squash & Apples

Thursday
Meal: Herb-Roasted Whole Turkey with Cranberry Sauce, Green Beans, and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Description: A Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium) is rubbed with Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs, olive oil, and salt, then roasted until golden and rested before carving. It is served with Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, and dairy-free mashed potatoes made with olive oil and broth.
Sale items used: Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium), Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs, Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans
Prep time: 4 hours (mostly hands-off roasting)
Serving note: One Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium), assumed 12 lb total weight, roasted at 325 F for about 3 to 3.5 hours plus 30 minutes of rest. Use 1 package Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs, 1 package Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, 1 package Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, and 1.5 lb pantry potatoes for the mash. Timing: move the frozen turkey to the refrigerator by Monday morning to thaw (about 3 days for 12 lb). After dinner, pull all the leftover meat and simmer the carcass for stock for Friday.
Recipes:
- Easy Roast Turkey (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Pan-Roasted Turkey, Gravy & Cranberry Sauce
- Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Friday
Meal: Turkey, Campari Tomato and Vegetable Soup with Small Pasta
Description: Leftover roasted turkey meat simmers in the homemade turkey stock with chopped Campari tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and small pasta. It is a light, brothy dinner that is a complete change from Thursday's roast.
Sale items used: Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium), Campari Tomatoes on the Vine
Prep time: 45 minutes (plus stock simmered Thursday night)
Serving note: About 1.5 lb of cooked turkey meat from Thursday's bird (no extra purchase), the remaining 8 oz (half package) of Campari Tomatoes on the Vine, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 onion, and 1.5 cups small dairy-free pasta (pantry), in about 2.5 quarts turkey stock. Make-ahead: simmer the carcass for 1.5 hours Thursday night and refrigerate the strained stock, so Friday takes about 45 minutes.
Recipes:
- Leftover Turkey Vegetable Soup
- Ground Turkey Soup
- Leftover Turkey Vegetable Soup

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium) (12 lbs assumed): $15.24
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (3 lbs): $6.87
- Fresh USDA Choice Beef Tenderloin (1.5 lbs): $19.49
- New York Gala Apples (1 bag, 3 lb): $1.99
- Campari Tomatoes on the Vine (1 pkg, 1 lb): $2.49
- Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes (1 package): $2.49
- Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans (1 package): $2.49
- Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce (1 package): $1.59
- Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs (1 package): $1.95

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil, salt, black pepper
- Garlic, onions (about 2), carrots (2), celery (2 stalks)
- Potatoes (about 3 lb total)
- Long-grain white rice
- Small dairy-free pasta
- Chicken or turkey broth (dairy-free)
- Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar
- Dried thyme