ALDI Standard Meal Plan

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pork Butt Roast with Apple Cider Glaze
Description: A small pork butt roast is slow-roasted until tender and brushed with a glaze of reduced apple cider, garlic, and a little mustard. Served with sliced Gala apple on the side for a sweet and savory plate.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast ($1.99/lb), Nature's Nectar Apple Cider ($3.99), New York Gala Apples ($1.99 per 3-lb bag)
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 2.5 hours roasting
Serving note: Buy a 1.5 lb pork butt roast (assumed total weight), use about 0.5 lb for tonight's plate and save the rest, cooked, for lunches. Use 1/2 cup cider for the glaze and 1 apple. Start the roast by mid-afternoon, since it needs about 2.5 hours at 300F; it can be roasted a day ahead and reheated with the glaze.
Recipes:
- The Best Easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork Roast
- Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder Pot Roast with Apple Cider Glaze

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Chicken Thighs with Pan Sauce and Roasted Grapes
Description: Two boneless chicken thighs are seared in a skillet, then finished with a quick pan sauce of chicken broth and a splash of half & half. Red grapes roast alongside until jammy and sweet.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs ($2.49/lb), California Red Grapes ($1.39/lb), Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth ($1.89), Friendly Farms Half & Half ($2.39)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Buy 0.75 lb thighs (assumed total weight); cook about 0.5 lb (2 thighs) tonight and refrigerate the rest. Use 1 cup grapes (about 0.4 lb purchased), 1/2 cup broth, and 2 tbsp half & half.
Recipes:
- Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Grapes and Rosemary
- Pan-Roasted Chicken with Grapes and Rosemary
- Roasted Grape Chicken

Wednesday
Meal: Garlic Butter Skillet Shrimp with Sour Cream Apple Slaw
Description: Shrimp are sauteed in garlic butter until pink and juicy. Served with a crisp slaw of shredded Gala apple tossed in sour cream, lemon, and a pinch of salt.
Sale items used: Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp ($6.99), Friendly Farms Sour Cream ($1.75), New York Gala Apples ($1.99 per 3-lb bag)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use about 6 oz of the shrimp bag (the package is a flat price). Use 1 apple and 2 tbsp sour cream for the slaw, and save the remaining sour cream for Thursday's chili. Freeze any leftover shrimp.
Recipes:
- Garlic Butter Shrimp (20-Minute Recipe) - Healthy Recipes Blog
- Apple Slaw Recipe - Food Network

Thursday
Meal: Hearty Beef Chili with Sour Cream and Oyster Crackers
Description: Ground beef simmers with the hearty chili mix and broth into a thick, warming bowl. Topped with a dollop of sour cream and crushed oyster crackers.
Sale items used: Fresh 93% Grass-Fed Ground Beef ($5.99/lb), Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix ($3.29), Friendly Farms Sour Cream ($1.75), Savoritz Oyster Crackers ($1.59), Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth ($1.89)
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes simmering
Serving note: Buy 0.5 lb ground beef; the store sells it by the pound, but the 4-lb pack is too large, so cut a 0.5 lb portion if available, otherwise buy the smallest pack. Use about 1/4 of the chili mix, 1 cup broth, 2 tbsp sour cream, and a handful of crackers. Total time is about 60 minutes; the chili reheats well, so make it a day ahead if wanted.
Recipes:
- Classic Beef Chili
- Hearty Chili Recipe
- The Best Classic Chili

Friday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Chicken Breasts with Roasted Pears and Italian Cheese
Description: One chicken breast and pear wedges roast together on one pan until golden. Finished with shaved Italian cheese melted over the top.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts ($1.99/lb), Washington Bartlett Pears ($2.99 per 3-lb bag), Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge ($4.39)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Buy 0.5 lb chicken breast (assumed total weight, about 1 breast). Use 1 pear and about 2 tbsp shaved cheese. Roast at 425F for 25 minutes.
Recipes:
- One-Pan Chicken with Prosciutto Pears and Parmesan
- Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken with Pears
- Sheet Pan Italian Style Chicken

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast (1.5 lbs): $2.99
- Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (0.75 lb): $1.87
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts (0.5 lb): $1.00
- Fresh Grass-Fed Ground Beef (0.5 lb): $3.00
- Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp (x1 pack): $6.99
- California Red Grapes (0.4 lb): $0.56
- New York Gala Apples (x1 3-lb bag): $1.99
- Washington Bartlett Pears (x1 3-lb bag): $2.99
- Nature's Nectar Apple Cider (x1): $3.99
- Friendly Farms Sour Cream (x1): $1.75
- Friendly Farms Half & Half (x1): $2.39
- Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge (x1): $4.39
- Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth (x1): $1.89
- Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix (x1): $3.29
- Savoritz Oyster Crackers (x1): $1.59

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt, black pepper, olive oil, butter, garlic, Dijon or yellow mustard, lemon, chili powder, brown sugar or honey, dried thyme