ALDI Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week you get a different protein every night: chicken thighs on Monday, Italian sausage on Tuesday, turkey on Wednesday, pork belly on Thursday and tempura shrimp on Friday, so dinner never feels repetitive. Four of the five dinners take 30 minutes or less, and Thursday's pork belly is the one slow night, so season it Wednesday evening and it will be ready to roast. Organic zucchini shows up on both Tuesday and Thursday, and the Earthly Grains Instant White Rice covers Monday and Wednesday, which is why the list has two of them. The 2 lbs of Fresh Pork Belly Slab is only $5.98, which makes Thursday's showpiece dinner an easy one to say yes to.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Skillet Chicken Thighs with Indian Sauce, Instant White Rice and Naan
Description: Boneless chicken thighs are browned in a skillet, then simmered in Burman's Indian Sauce until cooked through. Serve over Earthly Grains Instant White Rice with warm Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan on the side.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Burman's Indian Sauce, Earthly Grains Instant White Rice, Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 1 Burman's Indian Sauce, 1 Earthly Grains Instant White Rice, 1 Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan.
Recipes:
- Indian Chicken with Naan
- Curried Chicken Thighs Recipe
- 30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken

Tuesday
Meal: Italian Sausage and Zucchini Cavatappi with Seasonal Harvest Pasta Sauce
Description: Mild Italian Links are browned in a skillet, sliced, and tossed with sauteed zucchini, cooked cavatappi and pasta sauce. Finish with Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese Cup.
Sale items used: Mild Italian Links, Organic Zucchini, Reggano Cavatappi, Specially Selected Seasonal Harvest Style Pasta Sauce, Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese Cup
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack Mild Italian Links (assumed one pack feeds 4 with the pasta), 1 lb Organic Zucchini, 1 Reggano Cavatappi, 1 pasta sauce, 1 Parmesan cup.
Recipes:
- Chicken Sausage Cavatappi Bolognese Recipe
- Italian Sausage Pasta with Zucchini
- Tomatoey Zucchini + Sausage Cavatappi

Wednesday
Meal: Turkey and Black Bean Skillet Bowls with Salsa and Guacamole
Description: Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey is browned in a skillet with Pueblo Lindo Black Beans and Park Street Deli Cantina Salsa. Spoon over Earthly Grains Instant White Rice and top with Park Street Deli Assorted Fresh Guacamole and Happy Farms Italian or Taco Blend Shreds.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey, Pueblo Lindo Black Beans, Park Street Deli Cantina Salsa, Park Street Deli Assorted Fresh Guacamole, Earthly Grains Instant White Rice, Happy Farms Italian or Taco Blend Shreds
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey, 1 black beans, 1 salsa, 1 guacamole, 1 Earthly Grains Instant White Rice, 1 Happy Farms Italian or Taco Blend Shreds.
Recipes:
- Taco Turkey & Black Bean Rice Bowl
- Turkey Burrito Bowls
- Lean Turkey Black Bean Quinoa Chipotle Burrito Bowls

Thursday
Meal: Oven-Roasted Pork Belly with Zucchini and Pears
Description: Pork Belly Slab is cut into thick pieces and roasted low then hot until the fat renders and crisps. Serve with roasted Organic Zucchini and sliced Washington Organic Pears on the side.
Sale items used: Fresh Pork Belly Slab, Organic Zucchini, Washington Organic Pears
Prep time: 90 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs pork belly, 1 lb Organic Zucchini, 1 Washington Organic Pears pack (2 lbs). Total time exceeds 60 minutes, so season the belly the night before and roast at 300F for about 70 minutes, then 450F for 15 minutes to crisp.

Friday
Meal: Oven-Baked Tempura Shrimp with Potsticker Sides and Garlic Bread
Description: Fremont Fish Market Tempura Shrimp are baked until crisp. Serve with pan-fried Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers and L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread.
Sale items used: Fremont Fish Market Tempura Shrimp, Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers, L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 Fremont Fish Market Tempura Shrimp, 1 Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers, 1 L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $4.98
- Burman's Indian Sauce (x1): $3.99
- Earthly Grains Instant White Rice (x2): $5.90
- Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan (x1): $4.99
- Mild Italian Links (x1): $2.95
- Organic Zucchini (2 lbs): $4.78
- Reggano Cavatappi (x1): $1.29
- Specially Selected Seasonal Harvest Style Pasta Sauce (x1): $3.99
- Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese Cup (x1): $2.79
- Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey (x1): $4.89
- Pueblo Lindo Black Beans (x1): $2.69
- Park Street Deli Cantina Salsa (x1): $2.49
- Park Street Deli Assorted Fresh Guacamole (x1): $2.99
- Happy Farms Italian or Taco Blend Shreds (x1): $2.79
- Fresh Pork Belly Slab (2 lbs): $5.98
- Washington Organic Pears (x1 pack): $2.99
- Fremont Fish Market Tempura Shrimp (x1): $6.99
- Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers (x1): $3.99
- L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread (x1): $3.49

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar or honey (optional for pork belly)