ALDI Gluten-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week leans on ALDI's best deals: one 5 lb pack of Perdue drumsticks at $4.45 covers both Monday and Thursday, and one bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's at $3.24 glazes Monday's drumsticks and Wednesday's St. Louis ribs (3 lbs for $7.47). Tuesday's guajillo roast, braised in salsa and served over tortilla chips, is the priciest item at $12.98, but it is mostly hands-off and can be braised a day ahead. The Bite-Size Yellow Potatoes show up on Monday and Friday, the baby carrots on Wednesday and Friday, and the 4-pack of avocados is split between Tuesday and Thursday, so nothing in the cart goes to waste. Because everything needs to be gluten-free, check the labels on the BBQ sauce and the tortilla chips at the shelf, and look forward to a light meatless Friday of apple and blackberry bake with a potato and carrot hash.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Roasted Yellow Potatoes
Description: Drumsticks are baked until crisp-skinned and brushed with BBQ sauce at the end. Bite-Size Yellow Potatoes roast alongside until golden.
Sale items used: Perdue Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks, Bite-Size Yellow Potatoes, Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 3 lbs drumsticks (about 8 to 10 drumsticks), 1 bag (24 oz) potatoes, 1 bottle BBQ sauce (check the label for a gluten-free version, and use about half tonight, saving the rest for Wednesday).
Recipes:
- Roasted BBQ Chicken Drumsticks & Potatoes with Sautéed Broccoli
- Easy Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Sticky Sweet Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Tuesday
Meal: Slow-Braised Guajillo Roast Tortilla Chip Bowls with Salsa and Avocado
Description: The Fresh Guajillo Roast is seared and braised in the oven with salsa until tender, then sliced and served over Simply Nature Tortilla Chips with avocado. Check that the chips are labeled gluten-free.
Sale items used: Fresh Guajillo Roast, Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa, Simply Nature Tortilla Chips, Organic Avocados
Prep time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs roast, 1 jar salsa, 1 bag chips, 2 avocados from the 4-pack. Timing: braise the roast up to a day ahead and reheat gently; the braise takes about 2 hours hands-off.
Recipes:
- Guajillo Chile Pot Roast
- Guajillo Braised Chuck Roast

Wednesday
Meal: Sticky BBQ Baked Pork Ribs with Honey-Free Roasted Carrots
Description: St. Louis ribs are baked low and slow, then glazed with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce and finished under high heat. Organic Baby Peeled Carrots roast on the same pan.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh St. Louis Pork Ribs, Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce, Organic Baby Peeled Carrots
Prep time: 2 hours
Serving note: 3 lbs ribs, 1 bag (16 oz) carrots, remaining BBQ sauce from Monday. Timing: bake the ribs covered up to a day ahead, then glaze and finish just before dinner.
Recipes:
- Gluten-free BBQ Pork Ribs in the Oven
- Oven Baked Pork Ribs

Thursday
Meal: Pan-Fried Chicken Drumsticks with Tomato-Avocado Salad
Description: Drumsticks are pan-fried then covered to cook through, with a crisp, seasoned skin. Gourmet Medley Tomatoes and avocado are tossed into a fresh side salad.
Sale items used: Perdue Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks, Gourmet Medley Tomatoes, Organic Avocados
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs drumsticks (about 6 to 7 drumsticks), 1 pkg (12 oz) tomatoes, 2 avocados from the 4-pack (completing the pack).
Recipes:
- Spicy chicken drumsticks with avocado salad recipe
- Garlic Paprika Chicken Drumsticks with Avocado, Tomato & Greens Salad
- Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Friday
Meal: Baked Apple and Blackberry Crisp-Style Dessert Dinner Plate with Roasted Drumstick-Free Potato Hash
Description: Sliced SweeTango apples and Blackberries are baked with cinnamon into a warm fruit bake, served beside a skillet hash of Bite-Size Yellow Potatoes and carrots. It is a light meatless dinner finished with Autumncrisp Grapes on the side.
Sale items used: New York SweeTango Apple Tote, Blackberries, Bite-Size Yellow Potatoes, Organic Baby Peeled Carrots, California Autumncrisp Grapes
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs apples, 1 pkg (6 oz) blackberries, 1 bag (24 oz) potatoes, 1 bag (16 oz) carrots, 1 pkg (2 lb) grapes.
Recipes:
- Gluten-Free Blackberry-Apple Crisp
- Gluten Free Apple Blackberry Crisp
- Gluten-Free Apple Blackberry Crumble

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Perdue Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks (5 lbs): $4.45
- Smithfield Fresh St. Louis Pork Ribs (3 lbs): $7.47
- Fresh Guajillo Roast (2 lbs): $12.98
- Bite-Size Yellow Potatoes (x2 bags): $4.98
- Organic Baby Peeled Carrots (x2 bags): $2.78
- Gourmet Medley Tomatoes (x1 pkg): $2.79
- Organic Avocados (x1 4-Pack): $3.49
- New York SweeTango Apple Tote (2 lbs): $1.98
- Blackberries (x1 pkg): $1.69
- California Autumncrisp Grapes (x1 2-Lb. Pkg.): $4.99
- Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa (x1): $2.59
- Simply Nature Tortilla Chips (x1): $2.49
- Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce (x1): $3.24

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt, black pepper, cinnamon, cooking oil, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, honey-free sweetener of choice (optional), cornstarch (optional for the fruit bake)