ALDI Gluten-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan builds on the ALDI sale items that stretch furthest. The 4-lb family pack of chicken thighs at $9.16 covers Monday and Tuesday, one night roasted with Campari tomatoes and green beans and the other glazed with mandarins over rice, so the two dinners taste nothing alike. The 10-lb Butterball turkey at $12.70 anchors Thursday's herb-rubbed roast and then becomes Friday's turkey and rice soup, so the whole bird gets used. Wednesday's bone-in ribeye roast at $17.98 is the centerpiece of the middle of the week, served with butter-roasted squash or sweet potatoes. Everything is built to be gluten-free, but read the labels on the Stonemill poultry spices and the instant mashed potatoes, and pick up certified gluten-free tamari for Tuesday's glaze.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs with Campari Tomatoes and Green Beans
Description: Boneless chicken thighs roast on one pan with Campari tomatoes and green beans, seasoned with poultry herbs. The tomatoes burst and make a light pan sauce to spoon over the chicken.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Campari Tomatoes on the Vine, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 1 pkg (1 lb) Campari tomatoes, 1 bag green beans, and about one-third of 1 jar Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs (check the label for no gluten-containing ingredients). Roast at 425F for 25 to 30 minutes.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Italian Chicken (Whole30, Paleo, Gluten Free)
- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Meal
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Roasted Veggies (GF)

Tuesday
Meal: Mandarin-Glazed Skillet Chicken Thighs over Rice
Description: Chicken thighs are seared in butter, then simmered in a glaze of fresh mandarin juice, mandarin segments, and gluten-free tamari. It is served over plain steamed rice for a bright, citrusy contrast to Monday.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Mandarins, Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters (Salted or Unsalted)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, the whole 3-lb bag of Mandarins (about 1 lb juiced for the glaze, 1 lb segmented into the pan, 1 lb served fresh as dessert), and 2 tbsp butter. From the pantry: 1.5 cups uncooked rice and 2 tbsp certified gluten-free tamari.
Recipes:
- Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs
- Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs Recipe
- One Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice (Dutch Oven or Cast Iron)

Wednesday
Meal: Bone-in Ribeye Roast with Butter-Roasted Squash or Sweet Potatoes
Description: A bone-in ribeye roast is seared, then oven-roasted to medium-rare and rested before slicing. Frozen organic squash or sweet potatoes roast alongside, tossed in melted butter.
Sale items used: Fresh USDA Choice Bone-in Ribeye Roast, Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters (Salted or Unsalted)
Prep time: 70 minutes
Serving note: about 2 lbs bone-in ribeye roast, 2 bags squash or sweet potatoes, and 3 tbsp butter. Total time is over 60 minutes, so take the roast out of the fridge 30 minutes ahead. Sear, then roast at 450F for 15 minutes and 325F for about 35 minutes to 130F, and rest 15 minutes while the squash or sweet potatoes finish.
Recipes:
- Ribeye Roast
- Roasted Squash and Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries
- Steak and Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Butter

Thursday
Meal: Herb-Rubbed Roast Whole Turkey with Roasted Apples, Cranberry Sauce, and Mashed Potatoes
Description: A whole turkey is rubbed with butter and poultry herbs, then roasted with apple wedges in the pan and in the cavity. It is served with whole berry cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
Sale items used: Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium), New York Gala Apples, Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, Chef's Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes, Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters (Salted or Unsalted), Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs
Prep time: 3 hours 15 minutes (about 20 minutes hands-on)
Serving note: assumed 10 lb turkey, the whole 3-lb bag of apples (1 lb in the cavity, 2 lbs in wedges around the bird), 1 can cranberry sauce, 1 package instant mashed potatoes (use a gluten-free labeled or plain potato version), 3 tbsp butter, and one-third of 1 jar poultry spices. Total time is over 60 minutes, so thaw the bird in the fridge starting Monday (about 24 hours per 4 to 5 lbs). Roast at 325F for about 2.5 to 3 hours, then rest 30 minutes. Serve about 2 lbs of meat and save the rest, with the carcass, for Friday and the freezer.
Recipes:
- Apple and Herb Roasted Turkey
- Easy Roast Turkey (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Classic Herb-Roasted Turkey

Friday
Meal: Leftover Roast Turkey and Rice Soup with Green Beans
Description: The Thursday turkey carcass simmers into a light broth, then leftover turkey meat, rice, and green beans cook in it. It is a brothy, spoonable meal that is a clear change from the roast night before.
Sale items used: Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium) leftovers from Thursday, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: no extra turkey is bought (Thursday's assumed 10 lb bird supplies the carcass and about 1.5 lbs leftover meat), 1 bag green beans, and the last third of 1 jar poultry spices. From the pantry: 3/4 cup uncooked rice, onion, garlic, salt, and water. Simmer the carcass 30 minutes for broth, strain, then cook the rice and green beans in it for about 15 minutes with the turkey meat.
Recipes:
- Turkey and Rice Soup
- Healthy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup with Vegetables
- Gluten-Free Leftover Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Frozen Whole Turkey (Butterball Premium) (about 10 lbs): $12.70
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (4 lbs): $9.16
- Fresh USDA Choice Bone-in Ribeye Roast (2 lbs): $17.98
- Campari Tomatoes on the Vine (x1 pkg): $2.49
- Mandarins (x1 bag): $2.69
- New York Gala Apples (x1 bag): $1.99
- Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans (x2 bags): $4.98
- Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes (x2 bags): $4.98
- Chef's Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes (x1): $1.85
- Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce (x1): $1.59
- Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters (Salted or Unsalted) (x1): $1.99
- Stonemill Poultry Spices or Herbs (x1): $1.95

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic and onion
- Long-grain white rice
- Certified gluten-free tamari