ALDI Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around what's on sale at ALDI, so you get a different dinner every night from just a handful of buys. The Tyson chicken breasts (4 lbs for $6.76) anchor two nights, Monday's skillet chicken with blistered grape tomatoes over spaghetti and Friday's orange chicken stir-fry, and the California Navel Oranges ($2.69 for the bag) show up twice as well, in Wednesday's shrimp taco salsa and Friday's sauce. Tuesday's thin-sliced pork chops with Honeycrisp apples cook in just a few minutes per side, so that night stays quick. Thursday's turkey and pumpkin stew is the one longer cook, so move the frozen turkey ($2.48 for 2.5 lbs) to the fridge on Wednesday night and dinner will be ready to simmer.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Skillet Chicken Breasts with Blistered Grape Tomatoes over Spaghetti
Description: Chicken breasts are seared in a skillet until golden, then sliced and served over spaghetti. The Cherub Grape Tomatoes are blistered in the same pan with garlic and Italian seasoning to make a quick, juicy sauce.
Sale items used: Fresh Chicken Breasts (Tyson), Cherub Grape Tomatoes
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Fresh Chicken Breasts (Tyson) and 1 pkg (10 oz) Cherub Grape Tomatoes, with 1 lb pantry spaghetti (serves 4).
Recipes:
- Spaghetti with Sauteed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes
- Skillet Chicken with Blistered Tomatoes
- Garlic Tomato Basil Chicken

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Fried Thin-Sliced Pork Chops with Brown Sugar Honeycrisp Apples and Mashed Potatoes
Description: The thin-sliced pork chops cook in just a few minutes per side in a hot skillet. They are topped with apples and onion cooked down in butter, brown sugar and thyme, and served with buttery mashed potatoes.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Thin-Sliced Boneless Pork Chops, New York Honeycrisp Apples
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Fresh Family Pack Thin-Sliced Boneless Pork Chops and 1 bag (2 lbs) New York Honeycrisp Apples (use about 4 apples), with 2 lbs pantry potatoes and 1 onion (serves 4).
Recipes:
- Pan Seared Pork Chops
- Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples
- Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Wednesday
Meal: Seared Garlic Shrimp Tacos with Avocado, Orange and Pomegranate Salsa
Description: Shrimp are seared in a hot skillet with garlic, chili powder and lime, then tucked into warm corn tortillas. A fresh salsa of diced avocado, orange segments and pomegranate seeds adds creamy, tart and sweet contrast.
Sale items used: Fresh Patagonia Delight Shrimp, Organic Avocados, California Navel Oranges, California Pomegranates
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs Fresh Patagonia Delight Shrimp (peel and devein if not already done), 1 four-pack Organic Avocados (all 4), 2 California Navel Oranges from the bag, and 1 California Pomegranate, with 12 pantry corn tortillas (serves 4).
Recipes:
- Shrimp Tacos with Citrus Avocado Salsa
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa
- Shrimp Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa

Thursday
Meal: Slow-Simmered Turkey and Pumpkin Stew with Carrots
Description: Farmer's Choice Turkey is simmered with onion, carrots, canned pumpkin and cumin in chicken broth until tender and savory. It makes a cozy, spiced one-pot dinner.
Sale items used: Farmer's Choice Turkey, Frozen, ALDI Canned Pumpkin
Prep time: 80 minutes
Serving note: 2.5 lbs Farmer's Choice Turkey, Frozen, thawed overnight in the fridge and trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces, plus 1 can ALDI Canned Pumpkin, with 4 carrots, 1 onion and 4 cups pantry chicken broth. Because this runs over an hour, thaw the turkey the night before, and the stew can be made a day ahead and reheated.
Recipes:
- Autumn Pumpkin and Turkey Stew Recipe
- Curried Pumpkin and Turkey Stew
- Slow Cooker Turkey Stew Recipe

Friday
Meal: Orange Chicken Stir-Fry with Broccoli over Rice
Description: Thinly sliced chicken breast and broccoli are stir-fried in a hot skillet, then coated in a glossy sauce made from fresh Navel orange juice, zest, soy sauce and ginger. It is served over rice with orange wedges on the side.
Sale items used: Fresh Chicken Breasts (Tyson), California Navel Oranges
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs Fresh Chicken Breasts (Tyson) and about 6 California Navel Oranges from the bag (4 for juice and zest, 2 for wedges), with 1 lb pantry broccoli florets and 2 cups pantry rice (serves 4).
Recipes:
- Orange Chicken Stir Fry
- Orange Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry Recipe
- Orange Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh Chicken Breasts (Tyson) (4 lbs): $6.76
- Fresh Family Pack Thin-Sliced Boneless Pork Chops (2 lbs): $5.98
- Fresh Patagonia Delight Shrimp (1.5 lbs): $13.49
- Farmer's Choice Turkey, Frozen (2.5 lbs): $2.48
- Cherub Grape Tomatoes (x1 pkg, 10 oz): $1.99
- Organic Avocados (x1 four-pack): $2.99
- California Pomegranates (x1): $1.29
- California Navel Oranges (x1 four-lb bag): $2.69
- New York Honeycrisp Apples (x1 two-lb bag): $1.99
- ALDI Canned Pumpkin (x1): $1.59

Pantry staples needed:
- Spaghetti (1 lb), rice, corn tortillas, potatoes
- Onions, carrots, broccoli florets, garlic, fresh ginger, limes
- Chicken broth, soy sauce, cornstarch
- Brown sugar, butter, olive oil
- Salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, thyme, cumin, chili powder