ALDI Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: The chicken wings at $2.29/lb and the marinated pork strips at $4.99 for the whole pack are the two standout deals this week, anchoring two very affordable nights. Ground turkey at $7.99 for a generous 48 oz package is a workhorse protein that stretches across a full dinner with room to spare, and the grass-fed ground beef at $5.99/lb gives you a quality burger night without breaking the bank. Salmon at $8.99/lb is the only premium protein on this flyer worth picking up, and it earns its one night because it cooks in under 15 minutes and pairs beautifully with the zucchini and grape tomatoes also on sale. The Fresh 93/7 Ground Beef Burgers were skipped in favor of the grass-fed ground beef since both are ground beef and using both on the same week would be redundant and costly. Produce like zucchini at $1.19/lb, grape tomatoes at $1.99, and peaches at $1.39/lb add color and freshness across the week at very little cost, keeping the overall total in a reasonable range.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Chicken Wings with Zucchini and Grape Tomatoes
Description: Seasoned chicken wings are baked in the oven at 425 degrees until the skin is golden and crispy, then served alongside roasted zucchini coins and halved grape tomatoes that soften and caramelize in the same pan. It is a hands-off, one-pan dinner that delivers big flavor at the lowest protein cost of the week.
Sale items used: Farmer Focus Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Whole Chicken Wings, Zucchini, Cherub Grape Tomatoes 10 oz pkg
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes oven time
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of chicken wings for 4 people. Slice 1 lb of zucchini into coins and halve the 10 oz pkg of grape tomatoes, toss both with oil and seasoning, and spread on the same sheet pan for the last 20 minutes of baking.

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps with Avocado
Description: Ground turkey is browned in a skillet with garlic, soy sauce, ginger, and a splash of sesame oil, then spooned into crisp lettuce cups and topped with sliced mini avocado for a fresh, satisfying bite. The 48 oz package of ground turkey makes this a very filling meal with a light, bright flavor profile.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh 85/15 Ground Turkey 48 oz, Bagged Mini Avocados (6-pack)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 24 oz (1.5 lbs) of the ground turkey for 4 people, saving the remaining 24 oz for another use or freezing it. Use 4 of the 6 mini avocados, sliced, as a topping. Use pantry lettuce leaves as wraps.

Wednesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Atlantic Salmon with Zucchini and Peach Salsa
Description: Salmon portions are seared skin-side down in a hot skillet until the skin is crisp, then flipped briefly to finish, and served with a quick fresh salsa made from diced peaches, grape tomatoes, and a squeeze of lime. The sweet-savory peach salsa is a natural match for the rich salmon and makes this feel like a restaurant-quality plate at home.
Sale items used: Fresh Atlantic Salmon Portion, Peaches, Cherub Grape Tomatoes 10 oz pkg
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Purchase 2 lbs of salmon for 4 people (approximately four 0.5 lb portions). Use 1 lb of peaches (roughly 2-3 peaches) diced for the salsa along with half the 10 oz pkg of grape tomatoes, halved. This is the premium night.
Recipes:
- Pan-Seared Salmon with Peach Basil Salsa
- Pan-Seared Salmon with Peach and Corn Salsa

Thursday
Meal: Stovetop Grass-Fed Ground Beef Bolognese on Sourdough Toast
Description: Grass-fed ground beef is browned with onion, garlic, and canned tomatoes, then simmered into a quick, rich meat sauce that is ladled over thick slices of toasted sourdough bread for an open-faced, hearty dinner. The crusty sourdough soaks up the sauce beautifully and turns a simple weeknight meat sauce into something memorable.
Sale items used: Simply Nature Fresh Organic 85/15 Grass-Fed Ground Beef 1 lb, Specially Selected Sliced Sourdough Round 24 oz
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of grass-fed ground beef, which means purchasing 2 packages (2 lbs total, with 0.5 lb leftover for another use). Toast 2 thick slices of sourdough per person, using roughly half the 24 oz loaf for 4 people.
Recipes:
- Thirty a Week Beef Bolognese & Herby Garlic Sourdough
- Healthy Bolognese on Toast: a recipe

Friday
Meal: Sauteed Smithfield Marinated Pork Strips with Peaches and Sourdough
Description: The pre-marinated pork strips are sliced and sauteed in a hot skillet until cooked through and lightly browned, then served with pan-seared peach halves that pick up the savory drippings and turn jammy and sweet. Thick slices of toasted sourdough round out the plate and soak up the pan juices for a satisfying end-of-week dinner.
Sale items used: Smithfield Fresh Marinated Pork Strips 16 oz, Peaches, Specially Selected Sliced Sourdough Round 24 oz
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: The 16 oz pack of pork strips feeds 4 people. Use 1 lb of peaches (roughly 2-3 peaches), halved and pitted, seared cut-side down in the same skillet after the pork. Use the remaining half of the sourdough loaf from Thursday, toasting 2 slices per person.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Farmer Focus Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Whole Chicken Wings (2 lbs): $4.58
- Kirkwood Fresh 85/15 Ground Turkey 48 oz (x1 pack): $7.99
- Bagged Mini Avocados (6-pack) (x1 pack): $2.89
- Fresh Atlantic Salmon Portion (2 lbs): $17.98
- Zucchini (1 lb): $1.19
- Cherub Grape Tomatoes 10 oz pkg (x2 pkgs): $3.98
- Peaches (2 lbs): $2.78
- Simply Nature Fresh Organic 85/15 Grass-Fed Ground Beef 1 lb (x2 packs): $11.98
- Specially Selected Sliced Sourdough Round 24 oz (x1 loaf): $3.49
- Smithfield Fresh Marinated Pork Strips 16 oz (x1 pack): $4.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or neutral cooking oil
- Garlic (fresh or minced)
- Soy sauce
- Fresh or ground ginger
- Sesame oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Red pepper flakes or chili garlic sauce
- Lime (for peach salsa)
- Onion
- Canned crushed or diced tomatoes
- Dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- Butter (for toasting bread and searing salmon)
- Lettuce leaves (for wraps on Tuesday)