ALDI Standard Meal Plan

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Oven-Baked Chicken Wings with Roasted Zucchini
Description: Crispy oven-baked chicken wings seasoned with garlic, paprika, and black pepper make a satisfying solo dinner with minimal cleanup. Sliced zucchini roasted alongside in the same oven soaks up the savory drippings and rounds out the plate beautifully.
Sale items used: Farmer Focus Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Whole Chicken Wings ($1.69/lb), Zucchini ($1.19/lb)
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes oven time
Serving note: Use approximately 1 lb of chicken wings (about 4-5 whole wings) for one person, costing roughly $1.69. Use about 0.5 lb of zucchini, costing roughly $0.60. Total oven time is 45 minutes at 425F - pat wings very dry before baking for maximum crispiness. Since total time is about 60 minutes, prep the zucchini while the wings start roasting and add them to the pan for the final 20 minutes.
Recipes:
- Oven Baked Chicken Wings (Crispy & Easy)

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Pork Belly with Glazed Carrots
Description: A thick slab of pork belly is scored, seared in a hot cast iron pan until the skin is crackly and golden, then finished in the oven with a honey-soy glaze. Baby peeled carrots roasted alongside caramelize into a sweet and savory side that perfectly balances the rich pork.
Sale items used: Fresh Pork Belly Slab ($2.99/lb), Organic Baby Peeled Carrots 16-oz bag ($1.49)
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 50 minutes total cook time
Serving note: Purchase approximately 0.5 lb of pork belly for one person, costing roughly $1.50. Use about half the 16-oz bag of carrots (roughly 8 oz) and save the rest for snacking or another meal. Since total cook time approaches 60 minutes, score and season the pork belly up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate uncovered to help the skin dry out for better crackling.
Recipes:
- Glazed Pork Belly Recipe
- Pan Seared Pork Chops With Glazed Carrots

Wednesday
Meal: Beef Shawarma Bowls with Hummus and Cucumber
Description: Thinly sliced shawarma beef is seasoned with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garlic, then quickly seared in a hot pan until deeply caramelized and fragrant. Served over rice or in a bowl with a generous scoop of hummus and sliced cucumber, this is a bold and satisfying weeknight meal.
Sale items used: Fresh Beef for Shawarma ($7.49/lb), Park Street Deli Hummus Mini Cups 12 oz ($3.45)
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 15 minutes cook time
Serving note: Use approximately 0.5 lb of shawarma beef for one person, costing roughly $3.75. One 12-oz container of hummus will provide multiple servings - use a generous portion tonight and enjoy the rest as a snack throughout the week with the leftover carrots. Slice one small cucumber from your pantry or pick one up inexpensively; it is not a sale item this week.
Recipes:
- Middle Eastern-Spiced Beef Shawarma Bowls Recipe
- Beef Shawarma Hummus

Thursday
Meal: Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Description: A single ahi tuna steak is coated in sesame seeds and seared in a screaming-hot pan for just 60 to 90 seconds per side, leaving the center silky and rare. Halved Brussels sprouts roasted with olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar provide a nutty, slightly charred contrast to the delicate tuna.
Sale items used: Ahi Tuna Steaks ($8.99/lb), Brussels Sprouts 1-lb pkg ($2.39)
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 25 minutes total
Serving note: Purchase approximately 0.5 lb of ahi tuna (one generous steak) for one person, costing roughly $4.50. Use about half the 1-lb bag of Brussels sprouts tonight and save the rest for a quick side dish later in the week. Tuna sears in under 3 minutes total - have everything else plated and ready before the fish hits the pan.
Recipes:
- Seared Ahi Tuna with Brussel Sprouts

Friday
Meal: Crispy Chicken Wings with Tzatziki Dipping Sauce and Watermelon
Description: A second round of chicken wings gets a different treatment tonight - tossed in a spicy dry rub and air-fried or broiled until shatteringly crispy, then served with cool, creamy tzatziki for dipping. Fresh wedges of watermelon on the side add a refreshing, summery finish to close out the week.
Sale items used: Farmer Focus Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Whole Chicken Wings ($1.69/lb), Park Street Deli Hummus or Tzatziki Snackers 3.5 oz ($1.39), Whole Seedless Watermelon ($4.49 each)
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 35 minutes cook time
Serving note: Use approximately 1 lb of chicken wings for one person, costing roughly $1.69. One 3.5-oz tzatziki snacker pack is a perfect single-serve dipping portion. Cut 2 to 3 generous wedges from the watermelon tonight and refrigerate the rest - a whole watermelon will provide fresh fruit all week long at just $4.49.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Farmer Focus Whole Chicken Wings (2 lbs total, used across Monday and Friday): $3.38
- Fresh Pork Belly Slab (0.5 lb): $1.50
- Fresh Beef for Shawarma (0.5 lb): $3.75
- Ahi Tuna Steaks (0.5 lb): $4.50
- Zucchini (0.5 lb): $0.60
- Organic Baby Peeled Carrots, 16-oz bag (x1): $1.49
- Brussels Sprouts, 1-lb pkg (x1): $2.39
- Whole Seedless Watermelon (x1): $4.49
- Park Street Deli Hummus Mini Cups, 12 oz (x1): $3.45
- Park Street Deli Tzatziki Snackers, 3.5 oz (x1): $1.39

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Garlic (fresh or powder)
- Paprika (smoked or sweet)
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Turmeric
- Black pepper and kosher salt
- Honey
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Balsamic vinegar
- Sesame seeds
- Cayenne or chili powder (for Friday dry rub)
- Rice or grain of choice (for shawarma bowl base)
- Cucumber (for shawarma bowl, not on sale this week)