ALDI Gluten-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week gives you five different cuts across five dinners, all built on ALDI sales: pork butt roast on Monday, chicken breasts on Tuesday, ground beef on Wednesday, chicken thighs on Thursday, and turkey tenderloin on Friday. Fruit does much of the flavoring, with Gala apples ($1.99 a bag) roasted alongside Monday's pork, Bartlett pears in Tuesday's pan sauce, and red grapes ($1.39 per lb) with Friday's turkey. Monday's roast needs about 2.5 hours, so cook it the night before or that morning and just reheat the slices at dinner. Potatoes and rice keep the meals filling and gluten-free, but check that the broth label says gluten-free before you make Thursday's soup.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pork Butt with Roasted Gala Apples
Description: Pork butt roast is oven-roasted low and slow with Gala apple wedges and pantry spices until tender and sliceable. Served with roasted potatoes for a hearty fall dinner.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 20 minutes active, about 2.5 hours total
Serving note: 2 lbs pork butt roast, 2 apples, 1.5 lbs potatoes. Total time exceeds 60 minutes, so roast it the night before or in the morning and reheat slices before serving.
Recipes:
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples
- Cider Braised Pork Shoulder with Apples
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork Loin Recipe

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts with Pear and Rice
Description: Chicken breasts are seared in a skillet and finished with sliced Bartlett pears and a splash of Friendly Farms Half & Half for a quick pan sauce. Served over steamed white rice.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Washington Bartlett Pears, Friendly Farms Half & Half
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken breasts, 2 pears from the 3-lb bag, 1/2 cup Half & Half, 1.5 cups dry rice.
Recipes:
- Pan-Seared Chicken with Pear Slaw Recipe
- One Pan Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Pan Seared Chicken Breast

Wednesday
Meal: Skillet Ground Beef and Potato Hash with Sour Cream
Description: Browned ground beef is crisped in a skillet with diced potatoes and onion, then topped with a dollop of Friendly Farms Sour Cream. A simple, filling one-pan dinner.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, Friendly Farms Sour Cream
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb ground beef (from the per-lb price, not the 4-lb pack), 2 lbs potatoes, 1 container sour cream (about 1/2 cup used).
Recipes:
- Creamy Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
- Easy Ground Beef and Potato Skillet
- Ground Beef Potato Hash

Thursday
Meal: Chicken Thigh and Rice Soup in Organic Chicken Broth
Description: Boneless skinless chicken thighs simmer with carrots, celery, and rice in Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth for a comforting brothy soup. Shred the thighs into the pot before serving.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs chicken thighs, 2 cartons broth plus water as needed, 1 cup dry rice. Check that the broth label is gluten-free.
Recipes:
- Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe (Gluten-Free)
- Chicken and Rice Soup
- Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice Soup (Gluten Free)

Friday
Meal: Garlic Butter Turkey Tenderloin Medallions with Grapes
Description: Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins are sliced into medallions and pan-seared, then tossed with warmed California Red Grapes for a sweet and savory finish. Served with a side of roasted potatoes.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins, California Red Grapes
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1 package turkey tenderloins, 1 lb grapes, 1 lb potatoes.
Recipes:
- 30-Minute Turkey Tenderloin: The Trick to Stress-Free Thanksgiving
- Baked Turkey Breast Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Marinade
- Turkey Tenderloin Recipe (With Herb Butter)

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast (2 lbs): $3.98
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts (2 lbs): $3.98
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (1.5 lbs): $3.74
- Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef (1 lb): $5.99
- Kirkwood Fresh Turkey Tenderloins (1 package): $7.99
- New York Gala Apples (1 bag): $1.99
- Washington Bartlett Pears (1 bag): $2.99
- California Red Grapes (1 lb): $1.39
- Friendly Farms Half & Half (1): $2.39
- Friendly Farms Sour Cream (1): $1.75
- Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth (2): $3.78

Pantry staples needed:
- Potatoes (about 4.5 lbs total)
- White rice
- Onions, garlic, carrots, celery
- Butter, olive oil
- Salt, pepper, paprika, thyme