ALDI Low-Carb Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around ALDI's sale items and stays low-carb, with chicken drumsticks anchoring Monday and Thursday at just $3.56 for the 4 lbs, so you buy once and cook them two different ways. One $2.59 jar of Simply Nature salsa covers both of those nights, and the 4-pack of avocados at $3.49 splits between Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday's slow-baked St. Louis ribs ($7.47 for 3 lbs) need about 2 hours in the oven, so rub them in the morning and let them cook while you do other things. Wednesday's guajillo roast ($9.74 for 1.5 lbs) sears in about 30 minutes, and the $1.39 bag of baby carrots is split between Monday and Wednesday. Friday is an easy 10-minute cold plate of blackberries and tomatoes, so you end the week with no cooking at all.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Oven-Baked Salsa Chicken Drumsticks with Roasted Carrots
Description: Drumsticks are baked until the skin is crisp, then topped with Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa for the last 10 minutes. Served with oven-roasted Organic Baby Peeled Carrots.
Sale items used: Perdue Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks, Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa, Organic Baby Peeled Carrots
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs drumsticks, 1 jar salsa (about half used), 8 oz carrots (half of one 16-oz bag). Save the rest of the salsa for Thursday.
Recipes:
- Oven Roasted Drumsticks and Carrots Easy Sheet Pan Meal
- Baked Chicken Drumsticks With Potatoes
- Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks w/ Marinade (Low Carb)

Tuesday
Meal: Slow-Baked St. Louis Pork Ribs with Dry Rub and Tomato Salad
Description: Ribs are rubbed with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper, then baked low and slow until tender. Served with a fresh Gourmet Medley Tomatoes salad dressed with olive oil and vinegar.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh St. Louis Pork Ribs, Gourmet Medley Tomatoes
Prep time: 150 minutes
Serving note: 3 lbs ribs, 12 oz tomatoes (1 pkg). Total time is over 60 minutes: rub the ribs the night before or in the morning, then bake at 300F for about 2 hours. Ribs reheat well.
Recipes:
- Low Carb St. Louis Ribs Recipe
- Dry Rub Ribs
- Oven Baked St Louis Style BBQ Ribs Recipe / Video

Wednesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Guajillo Roast Slices with Avocado and Carrot Sticks
Description: Fresh Guajillo Roast is sliced thin against the grain, seasoned and seared quickly in a hot skillet to keep it tender. Served with sliced avocado and raw carrot sticks.
Sale items used: Fresh Guajillo Roast, Organic Avocados, Organic Baby Peeled Carrots
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs roast, 2 avocados (half of one 4-pack), remaining 8 oz carrots.

Thursday
Meal: Skillet Garlic Chicken Drumsticks with Avocado-Salsa Topping
Description: Drumsticks are pan-fried then covered and cooked through in a skillet with garlic and paprika. Topped with diced avocado mixed with the leftover Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa.
Sale items used: Perdue Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks, Organic Avocados, Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs drumsticks, 2 avocados (the rest of the 4-pack), remaining salsa from Monday.
Recipes:
- Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa (Keto)
- Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa
- Low Carb Garlic Chicken with Lemon

Friday
Meal: Blackberry-Glazed Pork Ribs Sheet-Pan Dinner with Tomato Salad
Description: Ribs are not repeated; instead this night is a fresh cold plate of Blackberries and tomatoes. Please see shopping list.
Sale items used: Blackberries, Gourmet Medley Tomatoes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serving note: 1 pkg blackberries, 1 pkg tomatoes.
Recipes:
- Blackberry Glazed Ribs
- Barbecue Ribs with Blackberry Sauce

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Perdue Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks (4 lbs): $3.56
- Smithfield Fresh St. Louis Pork Ribs (3 lbs): $7.47
- Fresh Guajillo Roast (1.5 lbs): $9.74
- Gourmet Medley Tomatoes (x2 pkgs): $5.58
- Organic Avocados (x1 4-pack): $3.49
- Organic Baby Peeled Carrots (x1 16-oz bag): $1.39
- Simply Nature Organic Assorted Salsa (x1): $2.59
- Blackberries (x1 6-oz pkg): $1.69

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, garlic, vinegar