ALDI Gluten-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan builds your dinners around ALDI's sale proteins so nothing goes to waste. Chicken thighs anchor two nights, a savory mushroom skillet on Monday and a sweet peach-glazed bake on Thursday, while the pork butt roast does double duty too, starting as an oven roast with Honeycrisp apples on Tuesday and returning as crispy carnitas tacos with grape salsa on Friday. Wednesday keeps things easy with a ground beef and mushroom rice skillet, using up that second package of sliced mushrooms alongside the family pack of grass-fed beef. Since the pork roast takes a couple hours in the oven, plan to start it early Tuesday afternoon (or the night before) so you're not waiting around at dinnertime, and you'll have perfectly tender leftovers ready to shred for Friday's tacos. With rice and corn tortillas rounding things out from your pantry, this is a gluten-free lineup that feels varied but stays simple to shop and prep all week.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Chicken Thigh and Mushroom Skillet
Description: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are pan-seared and simmered with sliced white mushrooms in a quick pan sauce. Served over rice for a simple, savory weeknight dinner.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Sliced White Mushrooms
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 1 (8-oz) pkg sliced white mushrooms, served over rice (pantry staple).
Recipes:
- Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms
- Garlic Mushroom & Bacon Chicken Thighs (Whole30)

Tuesday
Meal: Oven-Roasted Pork Butt with Apples
Description: Pork butt roast is slow-roasted with wedges of Honeycrisp apples until tender and juicy. A simple gluten-free dish full of fall flavor.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, New York Honeycrisp Apples
Prep time: 20 minutes active, roasts about 2.5 hours
Serving note: 2 lbs pork butt roast, 1 (2-lb) bag Honeycrisp apples (use half the bag, about 1 lb). Make-ahead note: start roast early afternoon or the night before and reheat, since total cook time exceeds 60 minutes.
Recipes:
- Cozy Oven Braised Pork Roast with Apples and Onions
- Roasted Pork Rack with Apples [Gluten-Free]
- One-Pan Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions

Wednesday
Meal: Ground Beef and Mushroom Rice Skillet
Description: Organic grass-fed ground beef is browned with sliced white mushrooms and simmered into a hearty, savory rice skillet. A quick, satisfying one-pan dinner.
Sale items used: Simply Nature Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, Sliced White Mushrooms
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs ground beef, 1 (8-oz) pkg sliced white mushrooms, served over rice (pantry staple).
Recipes:
- Ground Beef and Mushroom Skillet Dinner
- Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet (Kid-Friendly)
- Easy Mushroom and Ground Beef Skillet

Thursday
Meal: Baked Chicken Thighs with Peach Glaze
Description: Chicken thighs are baked until golden and topped with a quick glaze made from sliced California peaches. A bright, sweet-savory finish to a simple baked dinner.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, California Peaches
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 2 lbs California peaches (sliced and cooked into glaze).
Recipes:
- Chicken Thighs with Peaches (Sweet & Savory!)
- Peach Glazed Chicken Thighs
- Peach Glazed Chicken Thighs - Give it Some Thyme

Friday
Meal: Pork Carnitas Tacos with Grape Salsa
Description: Leftover-style pork butt is shredded and crisped in a skillet, then piled onto corn tortillas with a fresh California red grape salsa. A fun, flavorful end to the week.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, California Red Grapes
Prep time: 25 minutes (using pre-cooked pork)
Serving note: 2 lbs pork butt roast (shredded), 1 lb California red grapes (chopped for salsa), served with corn tortillas (gluten-free, pantry staple).

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (4 lbs): $9.96
- Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast (4 lbs): $7.96
- Simply Nature Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef (2 lbs): $11.98
- Sliced White Mushrooms (2 pkgs): $2.58
- New York Honeycrisp Apples (1 bag): $2.29
- California Peaches (2 lbs): $3.78
- California Red Grapes (1 lb): $1.29

Pantry staples needed:
- Rice
- Corn tortillas (gluten-free)
- Cooking oil
- Salt, pepper, and basic seasonings