ALDI Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Your cart leans on two big buys that each cover two dinners: the Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts ($4.98) go into Monday's quesadillas and Wednesday's Parmesan tenders, and the Fresh Ground Beef Chub ($8.97) becomes Tuesday's cheeseburgers and Thursday's meatballs. The Parmesan wedge ($3.99) is split between Wednesday and Thursday, and the Gouda or Edam wedge ($2.99) does the same on Tuesday and Friday, so each cheese gets used twice. The $1.99 bag of Gala apples turns up on Monday, Thursday, and Friday as a crunchy side most kids will happily eat. Friday is a no-cook salami, cheese, and cracker board, so you finish the week with a night off the stove.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Chicken and Cheddar Quesadillas with Apple Slices
Description: Small pieces of chicken breast are pan-cooked in a skillet, then folded into tortillas with melty white cheddar and crisped until golden. Served with crunchy apple slices and baby carrots, it is an easy hands-on dinner kids can help assemble.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Emporium Selection Aged Reserved White Cheddar, New York Gala Apples (3-lb bag)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 lb chicken breasts (assumed total weight), 1 package (10 oz) Emporium Selection Aged Reserved White Cheddar, 8 small flour tortillas, 1 lb of the Gala Apples, and about 1 cup baby carrots.
Recipes:
- Apple Chicken Quesadillas
- Grilled Chicken Quesadillas With Apple And Cheddar
- Chicken Apple Quesadilla

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Cheeseburgers with Oven Potato Wedges
Description: Ground beef patties are cooked in a skillet and topped with melted slices of Gouda or Edam. They are served on buns with potato wedges baked until crisp.
Sale items used: Fresh Ground Beef Chub, Emporium Selection Gouda or Edam Wedge
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lb ground beef (assumed total weight) shaped into 4 patties of about 6 oz each, 4 oz from the Gouda or Edam Wedge sliced for the burgers (the remaining 3 oz is for Friday), 4 buns, and about 2 lb potatoes cut into wedges.
Recipes:
- Classic American Cheeseburgers with Potato Wedges Recipe
- Classic Cheese Burger with Potato Wedges
- Cheeseburger Potato Skillet

Wednesday
Meal: Parmesan Baked Chicken Tenders with Roasted Green Beans
Description: Chicken breast strips are dipped in egg, coated in breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan, and baked until crunchy for a dippable dinner. French green beans are roasted with a little oil alongside them.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese Wedge, French Green Beans (1-lb pkg)
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lb chicken breasts (assumed total weight) cut into strips, 4 oz from the Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese Wedge grated (the remaining 4 oz is for Thursday), and 1 package (1 lb) French Green Beans. Pantry items needed are 1 egg, about 1 cup breadcrumbs, and ketchup or ranch for dipping.
Recipes:
- Parmesan Chicken Tenders
- Sheet Pan Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Veggies
- Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Green Beans & Honey Mustard Dip

Thursday
Meal: Baked Beef Meatballs with Spaghetti and Marinara
Description: Ground beef meatballs are rolled by hand, baked until browned, and tossed with spaghetti and mild marinara. Grated Parmesan goes on top, with apple slices on the side.
Sale items used: Fresh Ground Beef Chub, Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese Wedge, New York Gala Apples (3-lb bag)
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lb ground beef (assumed total weight) rolled into about 20 meatballs, the remaining 4 oz of the Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese Wedge grated, 1 lb spaghetti, 1 jar marinara, and 1 lb of the Gala Apples sliced.
Recipes:
- Spaghetti and Baked Meatballs (Homemade Marinara)
- Spaghetti with Baked Meatballs Recipe
- Easy Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Friday
Meal: Salami, Cheese and Cracker Dinner Board
Description: A build-your-own board of sliced salami, cheeses, crackers, and breadsticks lets kids stack their own bites with no cooking at all. Apple slices and baby carrots round out the plate.
Sale items used: Specially Selected Assorted Salami, Emporium Selection Cheese Trio, Emporium Selection Gouda or Edam Wedge, Specially Selected Scalloped Crackers, Specially Selected Italian Breadsticks, New York Gala Apples (3-lb bag)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 package (8 oz) Specially Selected Assorted Salami, 1 package (6 oz) Emporium Selection Cheese Trio, the remaining 3 oz of the Emporium Selection Gouda or Edam Wedge cubed, 1 package (6.5 oz) Specially Selected Scalloped Crackers, 1 package (4.4 oz) Specially Selected Italian Breadsticks, the last 1 lb of the Gala Apples sliced, and about 1 cup baby carrots.
Recipes:
- My Favorite Salami and Cheese Platter Recipe
- Easy Salami and Cheese Board with Wine Pairings
- The Cheese Board Lunch Box

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts (2.5 lbs): $4.98
- Fresh Ground Beef Chub (3 lbs): $8.97
- Emporium Selection Aged Reserved White Cheddar, 10 oz (x1 package): $2.69
- Emporium Selection Gouda or Edam Wedge, 7 oz (x1): $2.99
- Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese Wedge, 8 oz (x1 package): $3.99
- French Green Beans, 1-lb pkg (x1): $2.89
- New York Gala Apples, 3-lb bag (x1): $1.99
- Specially Selected Assorted Salami, 8 oz (x1 package): $4.99
- Emporium Selection Cheese Trio, 6 oz (x1 package): $3.49
- Specially Selected Scalloped Crackers, 6.5 oz (x1 package): $1.99
- Specially Selected Italian Breadsticks, 4.4 oz (x1 package): $1.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Small flour tortillas (8)
- Hamburger buns (4)
- Spaghetti (1 lb)
- Jar of marinara sauce
- Breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- Potatoes (about 2 lb)
- Baby carrots
- Olive oil or cooking oil
- Butter
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning
- Ketchup or ranch for dipping