Lidl Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's flyer leans heavily Greek and Mediterranean, which is actually great news for flavor variety on a budget. Bone-in chicken thighs at $0.99/lb are the star of the week - incredibly cheap and perfect for pan-searing or braising with the Greek pantry items on sale. Dulano chicken sausage at $1.99 a pack and boneless country style ribs at $2.99 anchor two more economical nights, keeping those four everyday dinners well under $7 in protein each. Ground turkey at $3.99 rounds out the economical proteins with a completely different flavor direction. For the one premium night, fresh sea scallops and shrimp at $8.99 is the best value among the premium seafood options - it beats squid rings, Indian squid, and octopus on price while delivering the most crowd-pleasing plate. Skipping the octopus at $12.99 and the frozen squid options keeps the week's total comfortably in range. The orzo, thin spaghetti, and Greek pantry staples on sale this week add big flavor for very little money, making the whole plan feel more generous than the numbers suggest.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Bone-In Chicken Thighs with Orzo and Greek Tomato Sauce
Description: Bone-in chicken thighs are seasoned and seared skin-side down until golden, then finished in a bright Greek tomato sauce with olives and a splash of the pan drippings. Orzo is cooked alongside and stirred into the sauce to soak up every bit of flavor before serving.
Sale items used: Fresh bone-in chicken thighs, Eridanous orzo pasta, Eridanous Greek tomato sauce, Eridanous whole marinated olives, Eridanous extra virgin olive oil spray
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Buy 2.5 lbs of bone-in chicken thighs (about 4 to 5 pieces at $0.99/lb = $2.48), 1 pack Eridanous orzo pasta, 1 jar Eridanous Greek tomato sauce, 1 jar Eridanous whole marinated olives. Spray pan with olive oil spray before searing.
Recipes:
- One Pot Chicken and Orzo
- One Pot Greek Chicken and Orzo

Tuesday
Meal: Sauteed Dulano Chicken Sausage with Marinated Roasted Red Peppers and Spaghetti
Description: Sliced chicken sausage is sauteed until browned, then tossed with marinated roasted red peppers, a pinch of crushed red pepper, and thin spaghetti for a fast weeknight pasta with a smoky, slightly spicy kick. A finish of shredded Parmesan ties the dish together.
Sale items used: Dulano chicken sausage, Eridanous marinated roasted red peppers, Combino thin spaghetti, Shredded Parmesan cheese, Crushed red pepper, Eridanous extra virgin olive oil spray
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack Dulano chicken sausage (sliced into coins), 1 jar Eridanous marinated roasted red peppers, 1 box Combino thin spaghetti (serves 4 generously), 1 bag shredded Parmesan cheese. Spray pan lightly with olive oil spray before browning sausage.

Wednesday
Meal: Braised Boneless Country Style Ribs with Vidalia Onions and Avocado Salad
Description: Boneless country style ribs are browned in a hot pan and then braised low and slow with sliced Vidalia onions until tender and deeply savory. A simple side salad of organic spring mix and sliced avocado dressed with balsamic vinegar rounds out the plate.
Sale items used: Fresh boneless country style ribs, Vidalia onions, Avocados, Organic spring mix, Lidl Preferred Selection aged balsamic vinegar of Modena, Eridanous extra virgin olive oil spray
Prep time: 30 minutes active, about 75 minutes total - start the braise early; the ribs can rest covered while you assemble the salad
Serving note: 1 pack fresh boneless country style ribs (serves 4), 1 bag Vidalia onions (use about half the 3 lb bag), 1 pack avocados (4 ct, one per person), 1 bag organic spring mix, 1 bottle Lidl Preferred Selection aged balsamic vinegar of Modena (use a small drizzle; bottle keeps for future use).

Thursday
Meal: Skillet Ground Turkey with Feta, Sundried Tomatoes, and Capers over Spaghetti
Description: Lean ground turkey is browned in a skillet with Vidalia onion, then finished with sundried tomatoes, capers, and crumbled barrel aged feta for a bold Mediterranean-style sauce. Served over thin spaghetti with a drizzle of olive oil spray, this is a hearty and flavor-packed dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Fresh ground turkey 85% lean, Eridanous barrel aged feta cheese in brine, Eridanous sundried tomatoes in brine, Eridanous capers, Vidalia onions, Combino thin spaghetti, Eridanous extra virgin olive oil spray
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack fresh ground turkey (85% lean, serves 4), 1 pack Eridanous barrel aged feta (crumble generously over top), 1 jar Eridanous sundried tomatoes in brine, 1 jar Eridanous capers, use remaining Vidalia onions from Wednesday's bag, 1 box Combino thin spaghetti (second box needed for this night).
Recipes:
- Greek Pasta (Easy One Pot Recipe)
- Greek Ground Turkey

Friday
Meal: Seared Fresh Sea Scallops and Shrimp with Halloumi and Spring Mix Salad
Description: Fresh sea scallops and shrimp are patted dry and seared in a very hot pan with olive oil spray until golden on the outside and just cooked through, then plated over a bed of organic spring mix with sliced avocado and grilled halloumi cheese alongside. The halloumi is sliced thick and pan-grilled until golden and squeaky, adding a salty, savory contrast to the sweet seafood.
Sale items used: Fresh sea scallops & shrimp, Eridanous halloumi grilling cheese, Organic spring mix, Avocados, Eridanous extra virgin olive oil spray, Lidl Preferred Selection aged balsamic vinegar of Modena
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack fresh sea scallops and shrimp (serves 4), 1 pack Eridanous halloumi grilling cheese (slice into 8 planks, 2 per person), 1 bag organic spring mix (second bag for this night), 1 pack avocados (4 ct, one per person). Use remaining balsamic vinegar as a light drizzle dressing.
Recipes:
- Blackened Shrimp and Halloumi Salad

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh bone-in chicken thighs (2.5 lbs at $0.99/lb): $2.48
- Dulano chicken sausage (x1 pack): $1.99
- Fresh boneless country style ribs (x1 pack): $2.99
- Fresh ground turkey, 85% lean (x1 pack): $3.99
- Fresh sea scallops & shrimp (x1 pack): $8.99
- Eridanous orzo pasta (x1 pack): $1.09
- Eridanous Greek tomato sauce (x1 jar): $2.29
- Eridanous whole marinated olives (x1 jar): $1.99
- Eridanous marinated roasted red peppers (x1 jar): $2.99
- Combino thin spaghetti (x2 boxes): $1.96
- Shredded Parmesan cheese (x1 bag): $2.69
- Crushed red pepper (x1): $0.99
- Vidalia onions (x1 bag, 3 lb): $2.69
- Avocados (x2 packs, 4 ct each): $6.98
- Organic spring mix (x2 bags): $5.98
- Lidl Preferred Selection aged balsamic vinegar of Modena (x1 bottle): $4.85
- Eridanous barrel aged feta cheese in brine (x1 pack): $6.99
- Eridanous sundried tomatoes in brine (x1 jar): $2.49
- Eridanous capers (x1 jar): $1.29
- Eridanous halloumi grilling cheese (x1 pack): $3.99
- Eridanous extra virgin olive oil spray (x1): $4.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic (fresh or powder)
- Water for boiling pasta