Lidl Standard Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Butcher's Specialty fresh grass-fed ribeye steak: $7.99 each
- Butcher's Specialty fresh boneless/skinless chicken tenderloins: $3.49/lb
- Smithfield fresh twin pack pork tenderloin: $5.99 each
- Butcher's Specialty fresh ground beef patties, 80% lean: $2.49 for 4 ct.
- Fish Market fresh wild caught sockeye salmon skin on fillet: $11.99/lb
- Butcher's Specialty fresh bone-in pork loin assorted thin chops: $2.49/lb

Vegetables on sale:
- Raspberries: $1.99 for 6 oz.
- Sweetpops tomatoes: $3.99 for 1.5 lb.
- Zucchini: $0.99 each
- Peak Harvest red potatoes: $2.99 for 5 lb.
- Organic whole baby bella mushrooms: $1.99 for 6 oz.

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Ground beef patties, 80% lean: $2.49 for 4 ct. - feeds 4 people for $2.49 total (about $0.62/serving)
- Bone-in pork loin thin chops: $2.49/lb - 4 people need roughly 2 lbs, so about $4.98 total (about $1.25/serving)
- Chicken tenderloins: $3.49/lb - 4 people need roughly 2 lbs, so about $6.98 total (about $1.75/serving)
- Pork tenderloin twin pack: $5.99 each - one twin pack feeds 4 comfortably, so about $5.99 total (about $1.50/serving; the twin pack is strong value since both tenderloins are included)
- Ribeye steak: $7.99 each - 4 people need at minimum 2-3 steaks, so roughly $16-$24 total (about $4-$6/serving) - PREMIUM
- Sockeye salmon: $11.99/lb - 4 people need roughly 2 lbs, so about $23.98 total (about $6/serving) - PREMIUM

Four of the five dinners are built around the genuinely budget-friendly proteins this week. Ground beef patties are the standout deal at just $2.49 for a full pack of four, anchoring one easy weeknight. Bone-in pork chops at $2.49/lb are similarly excellent value, delivering a full pan-seared dinner for the whole family under $5 in protein. Chicken tenderloins and the pork tenderloin twin pack round out the economical nights with variety and a little more substance. For the one premium night, the ribeye was skipped in favor of sockeye salmon at $11.99/lb, which - while still a splurge - delivers far more impressive nutrition, a distinct flavor completely different from every other night on this plan, and a restaurant-quality experience at a fraction of what you'd pay at a restaurant. Skipping the ribeye also keeps the week's total well within a reasonable range since salmon requires no buns, no extra sides beyond what's already on the list, and portions stay naturally controlled by fillet size.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Smashed Ground Beef Burgers with Colby Jack and Tomatoes
Description: Juicy smash-style beef burgers are pressed thin and seared hard for crispy edges, then layered with melted Colby Jack cheese and fresh Sweetpops tomatoes on toasted hamburger buns. It is a fast, satisfying weeknight dinner that tastes far better than fast food at a fraction of the cost.
Sale items used: Ground beef patties (4 ct.), hamburger buns, Deli sliced Colby Jack cheese, Sweetpops tomatoes, Duc de Coeur spraying oil
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 patty per person (4 patties total), 4 buns, roughly 3 oz. Colby Jack slices divided across 4 burgers, and about 6 oz. of tomatoes sliced for topping
Recipes:
- Diner-Style Smash Burgers - Beginner Recipe

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Bone-In Pork Chops with Honey Mustard Glaze and Red Potatoes
Description: Thin bone-in pork chops are seasoned with French-style seasoning and seared until golden, then finished with a honey mustard pan glaze that caramelizes into something rich and tangy. Halved roasted red potatoes cooked in spraying oil round out the plate with a hearty, filling side.
Sale items used: Bone-in pork loin thin chops (2 lbs.), Peak Harvest red potatoes, Duc de Coeur honey mustard, Duc de Coeur French-style seasoning, Duc de Coeur spraying oil
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: About 2 chops per person (roughly 0.5 lb. per person), approximately 1.25 lbs. of red potatoes quartered and roasted, and 2-3 tablespoons of honey mustard used as a glaze across all 8 chops
Recipes:
- Oven Baked Pork Chops With Honey Mustard Glaze
- Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Potatoes

Wednesday
Meal: Chicken Tenderloin Pasta with Vegetable Herb Sauce and Baby Bella Mushrooms
Description: Tender chicken strips are sauteed with sliced baby bella mushrooms in olive oil, then tossed with Barilla pasta and finished with a savory vegetable and herb pasta sauce and freshly grated Pecorino Romano. It is a hearty, Italian-inspired bowl that feels elevated but comes together in about 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Chicken tenderloins (2 lbs.), Barilla pasta (1 box from 2 for $3.00 deal), Duc de Coeur pasta sauce vegetable and herb, Organic whole baby bella mushrooms (1 pack, 6 oz.), Lidl Preferred Selection DOP Pecorino Romano cheese, Olive oil
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: About 0.5 lb. of chicken per person, 1 box of pasta (16 oz.) cooked and divided into 4 bowls, one full jar of sauce distributed across all servings, and Pecorino Romano grated generously at the table
Recipes:
- Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
- One Pan Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Thursday
Meal: Pork Tenderloin with Zucchini, Mushrooms, and Cherry Wine Vinegar Pan Sauce
Description: A whole pork tenderloin is roasted and sliced, then served with sauteed zucchini and baby bella mushrooms finished with a splash of cherry wine vinegar for a bright, slightly tangy pan sauce. The second tenderloin from the twin pack can be saved for lunch or used as leftovers, making this pack exceptional value.
Sale items used: Smithfield pork tenderloin twin pack (use 1 of 2 tenderloins), Zucchini (2 each), Organic whole baby bella mushrooms (1 pack, 6 oz.), Duc de Coeur wine vinegar with concentrated grape must cherry, Duc de Coeur French-style seasoning, Olive oil
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: One pork tenderloin (roughly 1 to 1.25 lbs.) sliced into 4 portions, 2 zucchini sliced into rounds and divided equally, and the full 6 oz. mushroom pack sauteed and shared across all 4 plates
Recipes:
- Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Mushroom Pan Sauce
- Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce
- Pan-Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions With Mushroom Sauce

Friday
Meal: Baked Sockeye Salmon with Lemon, Tomatoes, and Zucchini
Description: Skin-on sockeye salmon fillets are baked with a squeeze of lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, and sliced Sweetpops tomatoes and zucchini for a light, vibrant end-of-week dinner that feels like a restaurant meal at home. The bright natural flavor of wild-caught salmon needs very little help, and the fresh produce keeps things colorful and fresh.
Sale items used: Sockeye salmon skin on fillet (2 lbs.), Lidl Preferred Selection 100% lemon juice, Sweetpops tomatoes, Zucchini (2 each), Olive oil, Duc de Coeur French-style seasoning
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: About 0.5 lb. of salmon per person (4 fillets or portioned from a larger fillet), 2 zucchini sliced and divided across 4 plates, and the remaining Sweetpops tomatoes (about 1 lb.) halved and scattered around the fish before baking
Recipes:
- Baked Salmon and Zucchini Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Ground beef patties, 80% lean (1 pack, 4 ct.): $2.49
- Hamburger buns (1 pack, 12 oz.): $1.19
- Deli sliced Colby Jack cheese (1 pack, 7.5 oz.): $1.49
- Sweetpops tomatoes (2 packs, 1.5 lb. each): $7.98
- Bone-in pork loin thin chops (2 lbs.): $4.98
- Peak Harvest red potatoes (1 bag, 5 lb.): $2.99
- Duc de Coeur honey mustard (1 bottle, 8 oz.): $2.49
- Duc de Coeur French-style seasoning (1 jar): $1.99
- Duc de Coeur spraying oil (1 can, 6.7 fl. oz.): $3.49
- Chicken tenderloins (2 lbs.): $6.98
- Barilla pasta (1 box from 2 for $3.00 deal, buying 1 box): $1.50
- Duc de Coeur pasta sauce vegetable and herb (1 jar, 14.8 oz.): $1.79
- Organic whole baby bella mushrooms (2 packs, 6 oz. each): $3.98
- Lidl Preferred Selection DOP Pecorino Romano cheese (1 wedge, 8 oz.): $6.49
- Olive oil (1 bottle, 16.9 fl. oz.): $3.99
- Smithfield fresh twin pack pork tenderloin (1 twin pack): $5.99
- Zucchini (4 each): $3.96
- Duc de Coeur wine vinegar cherry (1 bottle, 8.4 fl. oz.): $2.49
- Sockeye salmon skin on fillet (2 lbs.): $23.98
- Lidl Preferred Selection 100% lemon juice (1 bottle, 6.8 fl. oz.): $0.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic (fresh or powder)
- Butter (for pan sauces and finishing)