ALDI Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around the ALDI sale items, starting with the Smithfield pork butt roast at $4.98, which becomes slow-roasted apple cider pork on Monday. The 3-lb bag of Gala apples ($1.99) does double duty, showing up in Monday's roast and again in Wednesday's sour cream slaw alongside the garlic butter shrimp. Chicken anchors two nights, thighs with roasted grapes on Tuesday and sheet-pan breasts with pears on Friday, so the same protein tastes completely different each time. The chicken broth is split between Tuesday and Thursday and the sour cream between Wednesday and Thursday, so nothing you open goes to waste.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pork Butt Roast with Apple Cider Glaze
Description: Pork Butt Roast is roasted low and slow in Nature's Nectar Apple Cider with sliced Gala apples until tender enough to shred. Serve the juices spooned over the meat with extra apple slices on the side.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, Nature's Nectar Apple Cider, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 15 minutes active, about 3 hours roasting
Serving note: 2.5 lbs Smithfield Fresh Pork Butt Roast, 1 Nature's Nectar Apple Cider, 3-lb bag New York Gala Apples (use about 3 apples tonight). Start the roast in the afternoon, or roast it the day before and reheat in its juices.
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: Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs are seared in a skillet, then finished with red grapes, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth and Friendly Farms Half & Half into a quick pan sauce. Serve with the sauce spooned over.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, California Red Grapes, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth, Friendly Farms Half & Half
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, 1 lb California Red Grapes, 1 Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth (use half), 1 Friendly Farms Half & Half (use about 1/2 cup).
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: Toss 'n Serve Shrimp are sauteed in a hot skillet with garlic and butter. Serve with a crisp slaw of shredded Gala apple and sour cream dressing.
Sale items used: Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp, Friendly Farms Sour Cream, New York Gala Apples
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp (package size not stated on the flyer, so one package is assumed to feed 4), 1/2 of the Friendly Farms Sour Cream, about 2 Gala apples from the 3-lb bag.

Thursday
Meal: Hearty Beef Chili with Sour Cream and Oyster Crackers
Description: Ground beef is browned and simmered with the Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix and the rest of the chicken broth. Top bowls with sour cream and crunchy oyster crackers.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix, Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth, Friendly Farms Sour Cream, Savoritz Oyster Crackers
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef (bought by the pound, not the 4-lb pack), 1 Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix, remaining half of the Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth, remaining Friendly Farms Sour Cream, 1 Savoritz Oyster Crackers.
Recipes:
- Classic Beef Chili
- Hearty Chili Recipe
- The Best Classic Chili

Friday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Chicken Breasts with Roasted Pears and Italian Cheese
Description: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts are roasted on a sheet pan alongside Bartlett pear wedges until golden. Shave Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge over the top before serving.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Washington Bartlett Pears, Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts, 1 bag Washington Bartlett Pears (use about 3 pears), 1/2 of the Emporium Selection Italian Cheese Wedge.
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 (2.5 lbs): $4.98
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $4.98
- Fremont Fish Market Toss 'n Serve Shrimp (x1 package): $6.99
- Fresh Family Pack 93% Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef (1 lb): $5.99
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts (2 lbs): $3.98
- Nature's Nectar Apple Cider (x1): $3.99
- New York Gala Apples (x1 3-lb bag): $1.99
- California Red Grapes (1 lb): $1.39
- Washington Bartlett Pears (x1 3-lb 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
- Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix (x1): $3.29
- Savoritz Oyster Crackers (x1): $1.59

Pantry staples needed:
- Butter
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Cooking oil
- Onion