Lidl Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: You'll get a lot of mileage out of a few Lidl buys this week. The 5 lb bag of jumbo russets ($2.29) covers Thursday's potato and sweet corn frittata and Friday's chicken soup, and the 3 lb pack of Granny Smith apples ($2.49) goes into Tuesday's apple sauerkraut and Wednesday's slider plate. Chicken anchors two nights, as drumsticks on Monday ($2.97 for the 3 lb family pack) and as the whole young chicken simmered into soup on Friday ($7.96), so those dinners feel very different. In between, Tuesday's Smithfield pork loin ($3.58) and Wednesday's meatball sliders on Hawaiian sweet rolls keep the middle of the week easy and family-friendly. Thursday's eggs-and-avocado frittata gives you a night without meat, and on Friday you can simmer and shred the chicken ahead of time so dinner comes together quickly.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Roasted Chicken Drumsticks with Sweet Potatoes and Yellow Onions, Green Beans on the Side
Description: Chicken drumsticks are seasoned with poultry seasoning and roasted at high heat alongside chunks of sweet potato and wedges of yellow onion until the skin is crisp and the edges caramelize. Cut green beans are warmed on the stovetop for a simple side.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, family pack; sweet potatoes, 1 lb; yellow onions, 3 lb; cut green beans, 14.5 oz; poultry seasoning, 1.05 oz
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: 3 lb drumsticks (about 10-12 pieces), 2 lb sweet potatoes (2 packs), 2 yellow onions from the 3 lb bag, 1 can cut green beans (14.5 oz), 1 tsp poultry seasoning. Roast at 425 F for about 40 minutes, turning once.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks, Potatoes & Green Beans
- Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
- Herb Roasted Chicken Drumsticks & Potatoes Recipe

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Seared, Oven-Finished Smithfield Pork Loin with Apple Sauerkraut, Bread Dumplings and Brown Gravy
Description: A half boneless pork loin is browned in a skillet, finished in the oven, and sliced thin so it stays juicy. It is served with sauerkraut simmered with Granny Smith apples, steamed bread dumplings and a quick brown gravy.
Sale items used: Smithfield half boneless pork loin; Alpenfest white wine sauerkraut, 28.5 oz; Granny Smith apples, 3 lb; Alpenfest bread dumplings, 6 ct, 7 oz; brown gravy mix, 0.87 oz
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: 2 lb pork loin (assumed total weight), 1 jar sauerkraut (28.5 oz), 2 Granny Smith apples from the 3 lb pack (the other apples are used Wednesday), 1 package bread dumplings (6 ct, about 1-2 per person), 1 packet brown gravy mix. Sear 5 minutes per side, then roast at 400 F for about 25-30 minutes until the center reaches 145 F, and rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipes:
- Pork Loin, Sauerkraut and Dumplings Recipe
- Pork Loin with Sauerkraut and Apples
- Instant Pot Pork Loin and Sauerkraut Recipe

Wednesday
Meal: Baked Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls with Bavarian Cheese Slices
Description: Frozen meatballs are baked until hot, tucked into Hawaiian sweet rolls with melted Bavarian cheese slices, and briefly returned to the oven so the cheese melts. Crunchy baby carrots, celery sticks and sliced Granny Smith apple round out the plate.
Sale items used: frozen meatballs, Italian style and homestyle, 26-28 oz; Hawaiian sweet rolls, 12 oz; Lidl Preferred Selection Bavarian cheese slices, 7 oz; Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz; Peak Harvest celery; Granny Smith apples, 3 lb
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1 package frozen meatballs (26-28 oz), 1 package Hawaiian sweet rolls (12 oz), 1 package Bavarian cheese slices (7 oz), half the baby carrots (8 oz), 2 celery stalks, 2 more Granny Smith apples from the same pack. Bake the meatballs at 400 F for about 20 minutes, assemble the sliders, then bake 5 more minutes.
Recipes:
- Meatball Sliders
- Easy From Scratch Meatball Sliders Recipe on Hawaiian Rolls
- Easy Cheesy Meatball Sliders Recipe (on Hawaiian Rolls)

Thursday
Meal: Skillet Potato, Sweet Corn and Smoked Cheese Frittata with Sliced Avocado
Description: Diced russet potatoes are pan-fried until golden, then topped with sweet corn, smoked cheese and beaten eggs and finished in the oven until set. A sliced avocado on the side adds creamy contrast to the smoky, savory frittata.
Sale items used: Hillandale jumbo white eggs, grade A, 12 ct; jumbo russet potatoes, 5 lb; whole kernel sweet corn, no salt added, 15.25 oz; smoked cheese assortment, 8 oz; avocados, 4 ct
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 8 eggs from the dozen (4 left over), 2 large russets from the 5 lb bag (about 1.5 lb, diced; the rest goes into Friday's soup), 1 can sweet corn (drained), 1 package smoked cheese assortment (8 oz, shredded or diced), 4 avocados (1 per person). Bake the frittata at 375 F for about 12-15 minutes.
Recipes:
- Easy Sweet Potato & Corn Frittata
- Sweet Corn Frittata with Avocado and Herbs
- Sweetcorn frittata with avocado salad

Friday
Meal: Whole Chicken Soup with Carrots, Celery and Russet Potatoes, with Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits
Description: A fresh whole young chicken is gently simmered with onion, celery and carrots until tender, then the meat is pulled from the bones and returned to the pot with diced russet potatoes. The soup is served with warm jumbo buttermilk biscuits for dunking.
Sale items used: Farmer Focus fresh organic whole young chicken; Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz; Peak Harvest celery; yellow onions, 3 lb; jumbo russet potatoes, 5 lb; jumbo buttermilk biscuits, 16 oz
Prep time: 95 minutes
Serving note: 1 whole young chicken (assumed 4 lb), the remaining 8 oz baby carrots, 3 celery stalks (the rest of the bunch), 1 yellow onion (the last from the bag), 2 russets from the same bag, 1 package jumbo buttermilk biscuits (16 oz). Simmer the chicken about 60 minutes, then shred and add the potatoes for the last 20 minutes. Make-ahead: simmer and shred the chicken the night before or that morning, refrigerate it in its broth, then reheat and add the vegetables and potatoes at dinner time to cut the evening cook time to about 35 minutes.
Recipes:
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Biscuits Soup Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, family pack (3 lbs): $2.97
- sweet potatoes, 1 lb (x2 packs): $0.98
- yellow onions, 3 lb (x1 pack): $1.49
- cut green beans, 14.5 oz (x1 can): $0.50
- poultry seasoning, 1.05 oz (x1): $0.49
- Smithfield half boneless pork loin (2 lbs): $3.58
- Granny Smith apples, 3 lb (x1 pack): $2.49
- Alpenfest white wine sauerkraut, 28.5 oz (x1): $1.99
- Alpenfest bread dumplings, 6 ct, 7 oz (x1 pack): $2.49
- brown gravy mix, 0.87 oz (x1): $0.19
- frozen meatballs, Italian style and homestyle, 26-28 oz (x1 package): $4.49
- Hawaiian sweet rolls, 12 oz (x1 package): $1.69
- Lidl Preferred Selection Bavarian cheese slices, 7 oz (x1 package): $2.99
- Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz (x1 bag): $0.89
- Peak Harvest celery (x1 bunch): $0.95
- Hillandale jumbo white eggs, grade A, 12 ct (x1 carton): $2.11
- jumbo russet potatoes, 5 lb (x1 bag): $2.29
- whole kernel sweet corn, no salt added, 15.25 oz (x1 can): $0.99
- smoked cheese assortment, 8 oz (x1 package): $2.99
- avocados, 4 ct (x1 pack): $2.99
- Farmer Focus fresh organic whole young chicken (4 lbs): $7.96
- jumbo buttermilk biscuits, 16 oz (x1 package): $1.49

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil (olive or canola)
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Dried thyme
- Butter or margarine
- Water