ALDI Kosher Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Correction - reordering properly by per-person cost:

Why these meals: The chicken thighs at $2.49/lb are the standout deal this week and anchor two dinners without feeling repetitive - one night they become a skillet braise with mushrooms and rice, and another night they go into a hearty black bean bowl. The sun-dried tomato and basil chicken breast at $4.99/lb is a step up in price but still very reasonable, and it earns its own night as a sauteed skillet meal with mushrooms. Ground beef at $5.99/lb is used for one night of pan-seared beef and avocado rice bowls, giving the week a satisfying, filling option mid-week. Lamb steaks at $8.99/lb are the clear premium protein this week, and Friday's pan-seared lamb steak dinner is the one splurge night - it is the most expensive protein on the flyer by a meaningful margin, but at roughly $13.49 for 1.5 lbs it is still a reasonable treat for a Friday dinner for four. The dairy nights use pizza dough and gnocchi with cheese to keep costs low and add variety, and skipping the salmon (which would have pushed the total higher) kept the week's overall spend in a comfortable range.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Braised Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs with Baby Bella Mushrooms and Rice
Description: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are browned in olive oil in a skillet, then braised with sliced baby bella mushrooms, garlic, and chicken broth until tender and deeply savory. Served over ready-to-eat rice cups for a complete, satisfying weeknight dinner. (Meat)
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Baby Bella Mushrooms, Earthly Grains Ready-to-Eat Rice Cups
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of chicken thighs and 1 package (8 oz) of baby bella mushrooms; heat 2 rice cups (2 x 8.8 oz) alongside and serve family-style for 4.
Recipes:
- Braised Chicken and Mushrooms over Polenta
- Skillet Mushroom Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs & Rice

Tuesday
Meal: Cheese and Tomato Basil Flatbread Pizza with Mozzarella
Description: Mama Cozzi's pizza dough is stretched and topped with Reggano tomato, basil and garlic pasta sauce, then blanketed with shredded mozzarella and baked until golden and bubbling. This is a quick, crowd-pleasing dairy dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. (Dairy)
Sale items used: Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pizza Dough, Reggano Meat or Tomato, Basil & Garlic Pasta Sauce (use Tomato, Basil & Garlic variety), Happy Farms Shredded Mozzarella
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: One 16-oz dough ball makes one large flatbread pizza; use 1 jar (24 oz) of pasta sauce (about half the jar for the pizza, reserve the rest for another use) and the full 16-oz bag of shredded mozzarella for 4 generous servings.
Recipes:
- Tomato Basil Mozzarella Flatbread Pizza

Wednesday
Meal: Pan-Sauteed Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Chicken Breast with Mushrooms and Cucumber Salad
Description: Fresh Seasoned Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Boneless Chicken Breasts are sauteed in olive oil over medium-high heat until cooked through and lightly golden, then served alongside a crisp mini cucumber salad dressed with olive oil and lemon. The herb-seasoned chicken needs no extra marinade, making this a fast and flavorful weeknight plate. (Meat)
Sale items used: Fresh Seasoned Chicken (Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Boneless Chicken Breast), Mini Cucumbers, Baby Bella Mushrooms
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of seasoned chicken breast and 1 package (8 oz) of baby bella mushrooms sauteed alongside; use the full 16-oz package of mini cucumbers sliced for the salad, serving 4.
Recipes:
- Creamy Mushroom and Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Thursday
Meal: Ground Beef and Black Bean Skillet with Avocado and Rice
Description: Organic grass-fed ground beef is browned in a skillet with cumin, garlic, and black beans, then spooned over ready-to-eat rice and topped with sliced fresh avocado for a hearty, filling bowl. The creamy avocado and earthy beans balance the savory beef for a complete one-pan dinner. (Meat)
Sale items used: Fresh Family Pack Organic Grass-Fed 93% Ground Beef (Simply Nature, 4-lb pkg), Simply Nature Organic Black Beans, Avocados, Earthly Grains Ready-to-Eat Rice Cups
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of ground beef from the family pack (freeze the remainder), 1 can (15.5 oz) of black beans, 2 avocados (halved and sliced), and 2 rice cups (2 x 8.8 oz) for 4 servings.
Recipes:
- One-Pan Ground Beef and Rice

Friday
Meal: Pan-Seared Lamb Steaks with Avocado and Mini Cucumber Salad
Description: Fresh lamb steaks are seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and herbs, then pan-seared over high heat to a flavorful crust and a rosy interior, resting briefly before serving. A simple salad of sliced mini cucumbers and diced avocado dressed with olive oil and lemon rounds out the plate for a festive end-of-week dinner. (Meat)
Sale items used: Fresh Lamb Steaks, Avocados, Mini Cucumbers
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of lamb steaks (approximately one steak per person depending on thickness), 2 avocados, and 1 package (16 oz) of mini cucumbers for 4 servings.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $4.98
- Fresh Seasoned Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Boneless Chicken Breast (1.5 lbs): $7.49
- Fresh Family Pack Organic Grass-Fed 93% Ground Beef Simply Nature (1.5 lbs): $8.99
- Fresh Lamb Steaks (1.5 lbs): $13.49
- Baby Bella Mushrooms (x2 pkgs, 8 oz each): $2.58
- Earthly Grains Ready-to-Eat Rice Cups (x4 cups): $6.60
- Simply Nature Organic Black Beans (x1 can): $0.99
- Avocados (x4): $2.36
- Mini Cucumbers (x2 pkgs, 16 oz each): $3.38
- Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pizza Dough (x1): $1.19
- Reggano Meat or Tomato, Basil & Garlic Pasta Sauce (x1 jar): $1.69
- Happy Farms Shredded Mozzarella (x1 bag): $3.29

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Chicken broth (for Monday braise)
- Garlic (fresh or jarred)
- Cumin
- Salt and pepper
- Dried oregano or thyme
- Lemon (for salad dressing)