ALDI Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around ALDI's sale proteins, so you get a different one almost every night: pork roast on Monday, chicken breast strips on Tuesday, ground beef pasta on Wednesday, chicken thighs on Thursday, and shrimp rice bowls on Friday. Chicken shows up twice, but as crispy dippable strips and then as a honey-glazed skillet dinner, so it never feels repeated. Fruit does a lot of the work for kids, with Gala apples roasted alongside the pork, red grapes next to the chicken strips, and Bartlett pears sliced on the side Thursday. The 3-lb bag of apples and the bag of pears are each just $1.99 and $2.99, and the pork roast at $4.98 can be cooked ahead on Monday morning so dinner is easy. Most meals are mild, one-pan or finger-food style, and a few give kids a job, like stirring the Wednesday skillet pasta.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pork Butt Roast with Apples
Description: Pork Butt Roast is seasoned and roasted low and slow in the oven with Gala apple wedges until tender and juicy. The apples turn soft and sweet, a flavor kids love.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 15 minutes prep, about 3 hours roasting
Serving note: 2.5 lbs Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast and 2 apples from the 3-lb bag (the bag also covers Thursday). Make ahead: roast in the morning or the day before and reheat slices at dinner. Serve with simple buttered rice if you have it at home.
Recipes:
- Fall-Apart-Tender Slow-Roast Pork Butt
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples
- Slow-Cooker Apple Cider Pork

Tuesday
Meal: Baked Chicken Breast Strips with Sour Cream Dip
Description: Chicken Breasts are cut into strips, coated in breadcrumbs and baked until golden for a finger-food dinner. Kids dunk them in a mild sour cream dip alongside red grapes.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Friendly Farms Sour Cream, California Red Grapes
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, 1 container Friendly Farms Sour Cream, 1 lb California Red Grapes.
Recipes:
- Potato Chip Chicken Strips
- Sour Cream Baked Chicken
- Sour Cream and Onion Chicken Tenders

Wednesday
Meal: Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet Pasta
Description: Ground beef is browned in a skillet and simmered with pasta in a mild broth, then topped with melted Italian cheese. It is one creamy, comforting pan the kids can help stir.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth, Friendly Farms Half & Half
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, 1 Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge (grate about half), 1 Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth, 1 Friendly Farms Half & Half (use about 1/2 cup, rest for other uses), plus 12 oz pasta from the pantry.
Recipes:
- Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet Pasta Recipe
- Easy Cheesy Beef Pasta Skillet
- Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Thursday
Meal: Honey Garlic Skillet Chicken Thighs with Pears
Description: Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs are pan-seared until golden and finished with a mild honey glaze. Sliced Bartlett pears on the side add a juicy sweet crunch.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Washington Bartlett Pears
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs and 1 bag Washington Bartlett Pears (3 lbs). Serve with rice or buttered noodles from the pantry.

Friday
Meal: Buttery Shrimp Skillet Rice Bowls
Description: Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp is sauteed in a skillet with butter and a little garlic, then spooned over rice. It is a mild, quick Friday treat.
Sale items used: Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp, served over 2 cups dry rice cooked from the pantry. Package weight is not stated in the flyer, so use the full package.
Recipes:
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Rice Bowl: 30-Minute Savory Comfort
- Velvety Garlic Butter Shrimp Rice Bowl: A One-Pan Wonder
- Garlic Butter Shrimp and Rice

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast (2.5 lbs): $4.98
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts (2 lbs): $3.98
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $4.98
- Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef (1 lb): $5.99
- Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp (x1 package): $6.99
- New York Gala Apples (x1 bag): $1.99
- California Red Grapes (1 lb): $1.39
- Washington Bartlett Pears (x1 bag): $2.99
- Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge (x1): $4.39
- Friendly Farms Sour Cream (x1): $1.75
- Friendly Farms Half & Half (x1): $2.39
- Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth (x1): $1.89

Pantry staples needed:
- Pasta (12 oz), rice, breadcrumbs, butter, honey, garlic, salt, pepper, cooking oil