Lidl Gluten-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week leans on Lidl's sale proteins to keep dinners simple and naturally gluten-free: chicken drumsticks at $2.97 for the 3 lb pack on Monday, a Smithfield pork loin at $3.58 on Tuesday, and ground beef at $9.99 for Thursday's stuffed potatoes. Chicken shows up twice, as drumsticks on Monday and as the whole organic bird in Friday's soup, while Wednesday's frittata uses the $2.11 dozen eggs for an easy meatless break. Your produce does double duty too: russet potatoes land on both Tuesday and Thursday, celery carries over from Wednesday to Friday, and green beans appear on Thursday and Friday, so everything you buy gets used up. Since the meals are built from whole ingredients, just glance at the label on your poultry seasoning to make sure it is gluten-free.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Roasted Chicken Drumsticks with Sweet Potatoes and Baby Carrots
Description: Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks roast on one pan with sweet potato wedges and baby carrots until the skin is crisp and the vegetables are caramelized at the edges. A simple rub of poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, and canola oil keeps it easy and naturally gluten-free.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, family pack; sweet potatoes, 1 lb; Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: 3 lbs chicken drumsticks (about 12 drumsticks), 4 lbs sweet potatoes (4 x 1 lb), 1 pack (16 oz) baby carrots. Roast at 425 F for about 40-45 minutes, turning once.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Vegetables
- Herb Roasted Chicken Drumsticks & Potatoes Recipe
- Juicy Roasted Chicken Drumsticks with Potatoes and Carrots

Tuesday
Meal: Roasted Pork Loin with Granny Smith Apples, Yellow Onions, and Mashed Russet Potatoes
Description: Smithfield half boneless pork loin is seared, then roasted on a bed of sliced Granny Smith apples and yellow onions until just cooked through and sliceable. It is served with mashed russet potatoes made with pantry butter or spread, salt, and pepper.
Sale items used: Smithfield half boneless pork loin; Granny Smith apples, 3 lb; yellow onions, 3 lb; jumbo russet potatoes, 5 lb
Prep time: 65 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs pork loin, 3 lbs apples (about 2 lbs roasted with the pork, 1 lb sliced raw for dessert), 1.5 lbs yellow onions, 2 lbs russet potatoes. Total time runs just over an hour: put the potatoes on to boil while the pork roasts, and let the pork rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipes:
- Pork Loin Roast with Apples, Onions, & Potatoes
- Roasted Pork Loin (Juicy & Tender!)
- Roast pork loin with sweet potatoes and apples

Wednesday
Meal: Smoked Cheese, Corn, and Celery Frittata with Sliced Avocado
Description: Eggs are whisked with whole kernel sweet corn, diced celery, and chopped smoked cheese, cooked on the stovetop, then finished in the oven until set and golden. Each plate gets sliced avocado for a creamy, cool contrast.
Sale items used: Hillandale jumbo white eggs, grade A, 12 ct; smoked cheese assortment, 8 oz; whole kernel sweet corn, no salt added, 15.25 oz; Peak Harvest celery; avocados, 4 ct
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 12 eggs, 8 oz smoked cheese assortment, 1 can (15.25 oz) corn, drained, 3 stalks celery from 1 celery (the rest is used Friday), 4 avocados (1 per person).
Recipes:
- Mexican Breakfast Frittata with Avocado and Corn Salsa
- Summer Harvest Frittata - Gluten-free + Dairy-free
- Smoky Ham Cheese Potato Frittata

Thursday
Meal: Ground Beef and Onion Stuffed Baked Russet Potatoes with Bavarian Cheese and Green Beans
Description: Jumbo russet potatoes are baked until fluffy, then split and loaded with browned ground beef cooked with plenty of sauteed yellow onion. They are topped with melted Bavarian cheese slices and served with warm cut green beans.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh ground beef, 85% lean, 32 oz; jumbo russet potatoes, 5 lb; yellow onions, 3 lb; Lidl Preferred Selection Bavarian cheese slices, 7 oz; cut green beans, 14.5 oz
Prep time: 70 minutes
Serving note: 32 oz ground beef, 3 lbs russet potatoes (4 jumbo, 1 each), 1.5 lbs yellow onions, 7 oz Bavarian cheese slices, 1 can (14.5 oz) green beans. Bake the potatoes at 425 F for about 55-60 minutes; brown the beef and onions while they bake. Pierce and microwave the potatoes for 6 minutes first to cut the oven time if you are short on time.
Recipes:
- Shepherd's Pie Stuffed Baked Potatoes
- Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Potatoes
- Cowboy Baked Potatoes

Friday
Meal: Whole Chicken Vegetable Soup with Celery, Carrots, and Green Beans
Description: Farmer Focus fresh organic whole young chicken is gently simmered in water with celery and baby carrots until tender, then the meat is pulled from the bones and returned to the pot. Cut green beans go in at the end, and poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper bring the flavor.
Sale items used: Farmer Focus fresh organic whole young chicken; Peak Harvest celery; Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz; cut green beans, 14.5 oz
Prep time: 90 minutes
Serving note: Assume a 4 lb whole chicken, the rest of the celery from Wednesday, 1 pack (16 oz) baby carrots, 1 can (14.5 oz) green beans. Make ahead: simmer the chicken and strain the broth the day before, then reheat with the vegetables on Friday for a 20 minute dinner.
Recipes:
- Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe
- Classic Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe
- Chicken Vegetable Soup

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, family pack (3 lbs): $2.97
- Smithfield half boneless pork loin (2 lbs): $3.58
- Farmer Focus fresh organic whole young chicken (4 lbs): $7.96
- Butcher's Specialty fresh ground beef, 85% lean, 32 oz (x1 pack): $9.99
- Hillandale jumbo white eggs, grade A, 12 ct (x1): $2.11
- sweet potatoes, 1 lb (x4): $1.96
- Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz (x2): $1.78
- Peak Harvest celery (x1): $0.95
- yellow onions, 3 lb (x1): $1.49
- jumbo russet potatoes, 5 lb (x1): $2.29
- Granny Smith apples, 3 lb (x1): $2.49
- avocados, 4 ct (x1): $2.99
- smoked cheese assortment, 8 oz (x1): $2.99
- Lidl Preferred Selection Bavarian cheese slices, 7 oz (x1): $2.99
- whole kernel sweet corn, no salt added, 15.25 oz (x1): $0.99
- cut green beans, 14.5 oz (x2): $1.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt and black pepper
- Poultry seasoning
- Canola oil
- Butter or dairy-free spread (for the mashed potatoes)
- Paprika (optional, for the beef)