ALDI Vegetarian Meal Plan

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Black Bean and Avocado Rice Bowl with Cheddar
Description: A hearty and satisfying rice bowl built on a base of ready-to-eat rice topped with seasoned black beans, sliced fresh avocado, and shredded cheddar cheese. Finished with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of cumin from your pantry, this bowl comes together in under 10 minutes with zero cooking stress.
Sale items used: Earthly Grains Ready-to-Eat Rice Cup, Simply Nature Organic Black Beans, Avocado, Happy Farms Cheddar (Mexican or Sharp)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 rice cup (8.8 oz), about 3/4 cup drained black beans (roughly half the 15.5 oz can, saving the rest for the week), 1 avocado ($0.59 each), and about 1.5 oz shredded or sliced cheddar from the 11 oz block. Leftover black beans can be refrigerated for use later in the week.
Recipes:
- Mexican Rice Breakfast Bowl

Tuesday
Meal: Priano Stuffed Shells Baked with Tomato Basil Garlic Sauce and Mozzarella
Description: Tender cheese-stuffed pasta shells are baked in a rich tomato, basil, and garlic sauce and blanketed with melted mozzarella for a cozy Italian-style dinner. For one person, half the package bakes up beautifully in a small oven-safe dish and the rest can be frozen for another week.
Sale items used: Priano Stuffed Shells (20 oz pkg), Reggano Tomato Basil and Garlic Pasta Sauce (24 oz jar), Happy Farms Shredded Mozzarella (16 oz bag)
Prep time: 15 minutes prep, 40 minutes bake time
Serving note: Use approximately half the 20 oz package (about 10 oz, roughly 5 to 6 shells), cover with about 3/4 cup of pasta sauce, and top with about 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella. Freeze the remaining shells in a zip bag for a future meal. Make-ahead note: assemble the dish in the morning and refrigerate, then bake straight from the fridge adding 5 extra minutes to bake time.
Recipes:
- Easy Stuffed Pasta Shells
- Vegetarian Stuffed Shells with a Spicy Homemade Tomato Sauce

Wednesday
Meal: Reggano Cheesy Skillet Dinner with Sauteed Baby Bella Mushrooms
Description: A creamy, cheesy skillet pasta dinner gets a savory vegetarian upgrade with a side of golden-sauteed baby bella mushrooms cooked in butter and garlic. The boxed skillet dinner is quick and satisfying, and the mushrooms add a meaty, umami-rich element that makes this feel like a complete restaurant-quality meal.
Sale items used: Reggano Cheesy Skillet Dinner (assorted variety, 11.6-12.8 oz box), Baby Bella Mushrooms (8 oz pkg)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Prepare the full Reggano Cheesy Skillet Dinner box as directed (it is sized for 1 to 2 servings, so enjoy the full box or save half for lunch). Saute the entire 8 oz package of baby bella mushrooms in butter with garlic from your pantry as a topping or side. Note: check the box label to confirm the variety chosen is vegetarian (avoid any meat-flavored varieties).

Thursday
Meal: Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Parmesan Romano and Peach Arugula Salad
Description: Pillowy gnocchi are pan-fried in olive oil until golden and crispy on the outside, then showered with freshly grated Parmesan Romano cheese for a simple but impressive dinner. On the side, sliced ripe peaches tossed with fresh arugula and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic from your pantry create a bright, summery salad.
Sale items used: Priano Gnocchi (17.6 oz pkg), Reggano Parmesan or Parmesan and Romano Cheese (8 oz), Peaches
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use the full 17.6 oz package of gnocchi (it is a single-serve-friendly size). Grate or shave about 2 tablespoons of Parmesan Romano over the finished gnocchi. For the salad, use 1 peach (assumed weight about 0.5 lb at $1.39/lb, approximately $0.70 worth); arugula is a pantry-adjacent green - substitute any salad greens you have on hand. Remaining Parmesan Romano keeps well refrigerated for the rest of the week.

Check the label: many hard cheeses are set with animal rennet.

Recipes:
- Pan-Fried Gnocchi Salad

Friday
Meal: Homemade Vegetarian Pizza with Spicy Pizza Sauce, Mozzarella, and Baby Bella Mushrooms
Description: A crispy homemade pizza built on fresh ALDI pizza dough, spread with zesty spicy pizza sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and savory sauteed baby bella mushrooms for a Friday night treat that beats delivery. For one person, use half the dough to make a personal-size pizza and freeze the remaining dough half for next week.
Sale items used: Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pizza Dough (16 oz), Reggano Spicy Pizza Sauce (14 oz jar), Happy Farms Shredded Mozzarella (16 oz bag), Baby Bella Mushrooms (8 oz pkg)
Prep time: 20 minutes prep, 15 minutes bake time
Serving note: Use half the 16 oz dough ball (about 8 oz) for a personal pizza; freeze the other half wrapped tightly in plastic. Spread about 1/3 cup spicy pizza sauce, top with about 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, and use the full 8 oz package of baby bella mushrooms (sliced and lightly sauteed first so they do not make the crust soggy). Make-ahead note: let the dough come to room temperature for 30 minutes before stretching for best results.
Recipes:
- The Best Foolproof Mushroom Pizza Recipe
- Vegetarian Mushroom Pizza Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Earthly Grains Ready-to-Eat Rice Cup x1: $1.65
- Simply Nature Organic Black Beans x1 can: $0.99
- Avocado x1: $0.59
- Happy Farms Cheddar 11 oz block x1: $2.79
- Priano Stuffed Shells 20 oz pkg x1: $4.89
- Reggano Tomato Basil and Garlic Pasta Sauce 24 oz x1: $1.69
- Happy Farms Shredded Mozzarella 16 oz x1: $3.29
- Reggano Cheesy Skillet Dinner x1 box: $2.79
- Baby Bella Mushrooms x2 pkgs (8 oz each, one for Wednesday, one for Friday): $2.58
- Priano Gnocchi 17.6 oz x1: $1.89
- Reggano Parmesan or Parmesan and Romano Cheese 8 oz x1: $2.79
Check the label: many hard cheeses are set with animal rennet.
- Peaches (approx 0.5 lb for 1 peach at $1.39/lb): $0.70
- Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pizza Dough 16 oz x1: $1.19
- Reggano Spicy Pizza Sauce 14 oz x1: $1.09

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil (for pan-frying gnocchi and pizza prep)
- Butter (for sauteing mushrooms)
- Garlic (fresh or powder, for mushrooms and rice bowl)
- Cumin (for rice bowl seasoning)
- Salt and black pepper
- Balsamic vinegar (for peach arugula salad)
- Arugula or mixed salad greens (for Thursday salad)
- Lime or lime juice (for rice bowl)