Lidl Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Eggs are the standout budget anchor this week at under 50 cents per person for a hearty frittata, and the Eggland's Best sale (Aug 14-16) makes Thursday a great low-cost night. The Maruchan yakisoba packs at 89 cents each let you build a satisfying stir-fry-style noodle bowl for the whole family for under $4 in protein, and pairing them with sale roma tomatoes and Vidalia onions stretches the value further. The O'Sole Mio cheese and spinach manicotti is a genuinely convenient mid-week dinner at $3 per person, and two packages give everyone a full plate without any extra prep. The Buldak spicy ramen bag is a fun, filling Friday-style meal that costs about $1.70 for the whole protein base and pairs beautifully with a fried egg on top from the same carton you bought Thursday. DiGiorno frozen stuffed crust pizza earns the one premium slot at roughly $4 per person - it is the priciest per-serving choice this week, but it is still a reasonable splurge and requires zero prep, making it a smart pick for a busy weeknight. Skipping the large Filippo Berio olive oil tin ($28.99) and the O'Sole Mio penne meal kit ($8.99) kept the total from ballooning, since neither made sense as a single-week purchase for this plan.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Cheese and Spinach Manicotti Baked with Roma Tomatoes and Cheddar
Description: Two packages of O'Sole Mio cheese and spinach manicotti are baked according to package directions, then topped with sliced roma tomatoes and Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices melted over the top for a golden, bubbly finish. The combination of creamy ricotta-style filling, wilted spinach, fresh tomato, and sharp cheddar makes this a satisfying and hands-off weeknight dinner.
Sale items used: O'Sole Mio cheese and spinach manicotti (19 oz), organic tomatoes roma, Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices, 10 ct. (8 oz)
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 40 minutes bake
Serving note: Use 2 packages of O'Sole Mio cheese and spinach manicotti (19 oz each), 0.75 lb of organic tomatoes roma (roughly 3 medium romas, sliced), and 1 package of Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices (8 oz, 10 slices) layered on top before the final 10 minutes of baking. Serves 4 comfortably with about 3 manicotti per person.
Recipes:
- Baked Spinach and Cheese Manicotti - The Live-In Kitchen
- Baked Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Manicotti | Garlic & Zest

Tuesday
Meal: Sriracha Ketchup Yakisoba Noodle Bowls with Fried Eggs and Vidalia Onions
Description: Four packs of Maruchan yakisoba are cooked and tossed with sauteed Vidalia onions and a drizzle of Huy Fong sriracha ketchup for a tangy, spicy glaze that coats every noodle. Each bowl is topped with a fried egg for a protein boost and a rich yolk that acts as a natural sauce when broken.
Sale items used: Maruchan yakisoba, assorted varieties (4 oz) x4, Vidalia onions (3 lb.), Huy Fong sriracha ketchup (20 oz), Eggland's Best grade A large eggs, 12 ct.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 individual Maruchan yakisoba packs (4 oz each), half of the 3 lb. Vidalia onion pack (roughly 1.5 lb. onions, thinly sliced and sauteed), 3 tablespoons of Huy Fong sriracha ketchup, and 4 eggs (one fried per bowl). The sriracha ketchup is used as a flavor accent; the bottle will carry over to other meals.
Recipes:
- Vegetarian Yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles) - Vicky Pham
- 30 Minute Yakisoba - Jo Cooks

Wednesday
Meal: DiGiorno Frozen Stuffed Crust Pizza with Fresh Roma Tomato and Red Seedless Grapes on the Side
Description: Two DiGiorno frozen stuffed crust pizzas are baked according to package directions for a cheesy, crispy-crusted dinner that needs no prep beyond preheating the oven. A simple side of sliced fresh roma tomatoes and a small bunch of red seedless grapes rounds out the meal with brightness and freshness.
Sale items used: DiGiorno frozen stuffed crust pizza, assorted varieties (22.2-26.4 oz), organic tomatoes roma, red seedless grapes
Prep time: 5 minutes active, 22-25 minutes bake
Serving note: Use 2 DiGiorno frozen stuffed crust pizzas (each feeds 2 generously), 0.5 lb of organic tomatoes roma (sliced, served alongside), and 1 lb of red seedless grapes divided among 4 people as a side. Check package directions for exact bake time and temperature.

Thursday
Meal: Baked Hash Brown and Egg Frittata with Vidalia Onions and Cheddar
Description: Frozen hash brown patties are baked until crispy, then arranged in a baking dish as a base layer while whisked eggs, sauteed Vidalia onions, and Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices are poured over and baked into a set, golden frittata. The result is a hearty, satisfying dinner with a crispy potato crust, fluffy egg interior, and melted sharp cheddar on top.
Sale items used: Frozen hash brown patties (45.1 oz), Eggland's Best grade A large eggs, 12 ct., Vidalia onions (3 lb.), Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices, 10 ct. (8 oz)
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 30 minutes bake
Serving note: Use 8 frozen hash brown patties from the 45.1 oz bag (the large bag has approximately 18 patties, so well under half is used), 8 eggs whisked with salt and pepper, roughly 1 lb of Vidalia onions (sliced and sauteed, from the remaining portion of the 3 lb. pack), and the remaining Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices (up to 6 slices, torn and scattered on top). Note: the Eggland's Best egg sale runs Aug 14-16 and the frozen hash brown patty sale also runs Aug 14-16, so shop Thursday's ingredients on those days.
Recipes:
- Vegetarian Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole | Olivia's Kitchen
- Hash Brown Frittata - Ruchiskitchen

Friday
Meal: Buldak Spicy Ramen with Soft-Boiled Eggs and Roma Tomatoes
Description: One bag of Buldak spicy ramen noodles is cooked and divided among four bowls, with the included sauce stirred in and thinned slightly with a splash of hot water to stretch it across all four servings. Each bowl is finished with a halved soft-boiled egg and sliced fresh roma tomatoes to cool the heat and add freshness.
Sale items used: Buldak spicy ramen noodle bag, original or carbonara (22.9-24.7 oz), Eggland's Best grade A large eggs, 12 ct., organic tomatoes roma
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 full Buldak spicy ramen noodle bag (the large format is designed for multiple servings; divide noodles and sauce evenly across 4 bowls, adding 2-3 tablespoons of hot water per bowl to extend the sauce), 4 eggs soft-boiled for 7 minutes then halved, and 0.5 lb of organic tomatoes roma (sliced). Warn guests that Buldak sauce is quite spicy; have almond milk or cream cheese spread nearby to temper heat if needed.
Recipes:
- Easy Buldak Soup Ramen - CookingFlash
- Buldak Ramen: Spicy Korean Fire Noodles with Egg
- Buldak Ramen Recipe - Ultimate 20-Min Guide to Fiery, Delicious Noodles

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- O'Sole Mio cheese and spinach manicotti (19 oz) x2: $11.98
- Maruchan yakisoba, assorted varieties (4 oz) x4: $3.56
- Huy Fong sriracha ketchup (20 oz) x1: $2.99
- Eggland's Best grade A large eggs, 12 ct. x1: $2.49
- Vidalia onions (3 lb.) x1: $2.69
- Milbona extra sharp cheddar cheese slices, 10 ct. (8 oz) x1: $1.67
- DiGiorno frozen stuffed crust pizza, assorted varieties x2: $15.98
- Organic tomatoes roma (approx. 1.75 lb. total across Mon, Wed, Fri): $4.53
- Red seedless grapes (1 lb.): $1.29
- Frozen hash brown patties (45.1 oz) x1: $2.99
- Buldak spicy ramen noodle bag, original or carbonara x1: $6.79

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt and black pepper
- Cooking spray or neutral oil (for sauteing onions and frying eggs)
- Water (for boiling eggs and thinning ramen sauce)