ALDI Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's ALDI plan is built around familiar, kid-friendly foods like chicken tenderloins on Monday, cheesy sliders on Tuesday, pork chop strips on Wednesday, meatball subs on Thursday and steak rice bowls on Friday, so there's something every night that kids tend to happily eat. A single bottle of Burman's BBQ sauce at $2.99 does triple duty as a dip on Monday, a meatball coating on Thursday and a drizzle on Friday. One $1.49 package of provolone covers both Tuesday's sliders and Thursday's subs, and the bag of Honeycrisp apples stretches from Monday's finger-food plate to a side on Wednesday. Every dinner takes 25 minutes or less, and the mushrooms and peppers add some veggies without any fuss.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken Tenderloins with Honeycrisp Apple Slices and Green Grapes
Description: Chicken tenderloins are pan-fried until golden and served with BBQ sauce for dipping. Fresh apple slices and grapes on the side make it a fun finger-food plate.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Tenderloins, Burman's Premium BBQ Sauce, New York Honeycrisp Apples, California Green Grapes
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1.2 lbs chicken tenderloins, 1 bottle BBQ sauce, 1 bag (2 lbs) apples, 1 lb grapes. Seasoning and a little oil from the pantry.
Recipes:
- Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken Tenders
- Pan Seared Chicken Tenderloins
- Pan Fried Chicken Tenders

Tuesday
Meal: Cheesy Ground Beef Sliders on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Description: Ground beef is formed into small patties, pan-cooked, and topped with melted provolone. They are tucked into soft sweet rolls for kid-sized sliders.
Sale items used: Fresh 80/20 Ground Beef, L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Happy Farms Deli-Sliced Provolone
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb ground beef (8 small patties), 1 package sweet rolls, 1 package provolone. Salt and pepper from the pantry.
Recipes:
- Hawaiian Roll Cheeseburger Sliders: Easy Cheesy Recipe
- Easy Baked Cheeseburger Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
- Hawaiian Roll Cheeseburger Sliders

Wednesday
Meal: Baked Pork Chop Strips with Sauteed Baby Bella Mushrooms
Description: Thin-sliced pork chops are cut into strips, seasoned, and quickly pan-seared. Mushrooms are sauteed in the same pan for a mild, savory side.
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Thin-Sliced Boneless Pork Chops, Baby Bella Mushrooms
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1.2 lbs thin-sliced pork chops, 1 package (8 oz) mushrooms. Butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder from the pantry. Serve with leftover apple slices.
Recipes:
- Garlic Butter Mushroom Pork Chops Recipe
- Mushroom Pork Chops Recipe with Garlic & Butter
- Buttery Skillet Pork Chops with Baby Bella Mushrooms

Thursday
Meal: Bremer Meatball Hot Dog Bun Subs with Provolone
Description: Bremer Meatballs are heated through, tossed in BBQ sauce, and tucked into brioche buns. Provolone is melted on top for a gooey sandwich kids love.
Sale items used: Bremer Meatballs, Specially Selected Brioche Hot Dog Buns, Happy Farms Deli-Sliced Provolone, Burman's Premium BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Bremer Meatballs, 1 package brioche buns, provolone left from Tuesday's package (use half per night), BBQ sauce left from Monday.
Recipes:
- Easy Meatball Subs
- Homemade Italian Meatball Subs
- The Best Meatball Subs - with garlic bun!

Friday
Meal: Pan-Seared Beef Shaved Steak and Pepper Rice Bowls
Description: Beef Shaved Steak is quickly seared with multicolored peppers until tender. It is served over rice with mild seasoning and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
Sale items used: Beef Shaved Steak, Multicolored Peppers, Burman's Premium BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 2 packages Beef Shaved Steak, 1 pack (3) multicolored peppers, leftover BBQ sauce. Cooked rice from the pantry.
Recipes:
- Pepper Steak Rice Bowl
- 15-Minute Steak Bowl Recipe
- Easy Steak and Rice Bowls with Teppanyaki Sauce

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh Family Pack Chicken Tenderloins (1.2 lbs): $2.75
- Fresh Family Pack Thin-Sliced Boneless Pork Chops (1.2 lbs): $3.59
- Fresh 80/20 Ground Beef (1 lb): $5.29
- Bremer Meatballs (x1): $7.49
- Beef Shaved Steak (x2): $12.90
- New York Honeycrisp Apples (x1 bag): $1.99
- California Green Grapes (1 lb): $1.29
- Baby Bella Mushrooms (x1): $1.29
- Multicolored Peppers (x1 pack): $2.49
- L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (x1): $2.45
- Specially Selected Brioche Hot Dog Buns (x1): $3.39
- Happy Farms Deli-Sliced Provolone (x1): $1.49
- Burman's Premium BBQ Sauce (x1): $2.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil, butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cooked rice