Lidl Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

No meat or seafood is on this plan, so there is no premium night this week.

Why these meals: Since you're shopping at Lidl for four vegetarians, I built the week around a few buys that work across several dinners. The 32 oz bag of Milbona shredded cheese at $4.99 goes into Monday's baked gnocchi, Wednesday's quesadillas and Friday's brioche bake, and the 18 ct carton of eggs at $2.49 covers Tuesday's fried rice and Friday's bake. The two packs of passata at $3.98 give you the sauce for Monday's gnocchi and Thursday's creamy bucatini, while the tomatoes on the vine and mini avocados add freshness in between. Friday ends the week with pears and blackberries alongside the brioche bake, so the last night feels like a treat.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Gnocchi with Passata and Melted Milbona Shredded Cheese
Description: Classic gnocchi is simmered in a quick tomato sauce made from passata and red onion, then topped with cheese and baked until bubbly. Served with a crisp iceberg and tomato side salad.
Sale items used: Lidl Preferred Selection classic gnocchi, Lidl Preferred Selection passata, Milbona shredded cheese, red onions, organic lettuce iceberg, tomatoes on the vine
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 packs gnocchi (35.2 oz), 1 passata (24.6 oz), 1/2 red onion, 8 oz shredded cheese, 1 iceberg head, 1 lb tomatoes on the vine (assumed 1 lb total, shared with Wednesday and Thursday use below).
Recipes:
- Gnocchi Bake {One Pan Recipe}
- Cheesy Gnocchi Bake (Vegetarian)
- Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Spinach Recipe

Tuesday
Meal: Veggie and Egg Fried Rice
Description: Day-old long grain rice is stir-fried in a hot pan with scrambled eggs and red onion for a savory, quick dinner. Finished with sliced avocado on the side.
Sale items used: enriched long grain rice, Green Valley large white eggs, red onions, mini avocados, 100% pure canola oil
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 2 cups uncooked rice (cook ahead for best texture), 6 eggs, 1/2 red onion, 2 mini avocados.
Recipes:
- Vegetable Egg Fried Rice Recipe
- Quick Egg Fried Rice {15 Minutes}
- Veggie Egg Fried Rice

Wednesday
Meal: Cheese and Tomato Quesadillas with Avocado
Description: Flour tortillas are filled with shredded cheese and sliced tomato, then pan-crisped in butter until golden. Served with plain yogurt for dipping and mashed mini avocado.
Sale items used: medium flour tortillas, Milbona shredded cheese, tomatoes on the vine, mini avocados, blended nonfat plain yogurt, Lidl Preferred Selection 100% Irish butter
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 8 tortillas, 8 oz shredded cheese, 1/2 lb tomatoes, 3 mini avocados, 1 cup yogurt, 2 tbsp butter.
Recipes:
- Cheesy quesadillas with tomato, red pepper and avocado salsa recipe
- Avocado & Cheddar Quesadillas
- Avocado Tomato Quesadilla

Thursday
Meal: Bucatini with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Description: Bucatini is tossed in a skillet sauce of passata, heavy whipping cream, and butter. Topped with a soft-cooked egg-free finish of fresh tomato and served with warm walnut bread.
Sale items used: Barilla Al Bronzo organic bucatini, heavy whipping cream, Lidl Preferred Selection passata, Lidl Preferred Selection 100% Irish butter, walnut bread, tomatoes on the vine
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack bucatini (16 oz), 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 passata (second can, 24.6 oz total used beyond Monday's), 1 tbsp butter, 1 walnut bread, 1/2 lb tomatoes.
Recipes:
- Silky Tomato And Cream Pasta Sauce With Bucatini
- Bucatini with Creamy Tomato Pan Sauce
- 4 Ingredient Bucatini with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce

Friday
Meal: Oven-Baked Egg and Cheese Breakfast-for-Dinner Brioche Bake
Description: Sliced brioche is layered with shredded cheese and a whisked egg and cream custard, then baked until puffed and golden. Served with fresh pear slices and blackberries.
Sale items used: Lidl Preferred Selection sliced brioche loaf, Green Valley large white eggs, heavy whipping cream, Milbona shredded cheese, Lidl Preferred Selection 100% Irish butter, bartlett pear, blackberries
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: 1/2 loaf (about 9 oz) brioche is enough but buy 1 loaf, 6 eggs, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 0 extra cheese beyond 0 oz (use leftover shredded cheese, about 4 oz), 1 tbsp butter, 2 pears, 12 oz blackberries.
Recipes:
- Egg, Sausage and Brioche Breakfast Casserole
- Easy Brioche Breakfast Casserole
- Baked Brioche Egg Cups

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Lidl Preferred Selection classic gnocchi (x2 packs): $2.98
- Lidl Preferred Selection passata (x2 packs): $3.98
- Milbona shredded cheese, family size, 32 oz (x1 pack): $4.99
- red onions, 2 lb (x1 pack): $1.59
- organic lettuce iceberg, 1 ct (x1): $2.49
- tomatoes on the vine (2 lbs): $2.98
- enriched long grain rice, 48 oz (x1 pack): $2.39
- Green Valley large white eggs, grade A, 18 ct (x1 pack): $2.49
- mini avocados, 6 ct (x1 pack): $1.99
- medium flour tortillas, 10 ct (x1 pack): $1.89
- blended nonfat plain yogurt, 32 oz (x1 tub): $2.79
- Lidl Preferred Selection 100% Irish butter, 8 oz (x1): $2.49
- Barilla Al Bronzo organic bucatini, 16 oz (x1 pack): $2.49
- heavy whipping cream, 32 fl oz (x1): $3.49
- walnut bread (x1): $2.49
- Lidl Preferred Selection sliced brioche loaf, 17.6 oz (x1): $3.49
- bartlett pear, 3 lb (x1 pack): $3.29
- blackberries, 12 oz (x1 pack): $3.59

Pantry staples needed:
- 100% pure canola oil (or any cooking oil)
- salt and pepper
- garlic powder
- soy sauce