Aldi has always been my go-to for inexpensive diapers, wipes, and guacamole (how about that combo? I always drove a half hour to stock up. Now, Aldi has finally opened a store just 5 minutes from home, and I did a happy dance.
Now, 3 out of 4 weeks a month, I go to Aldi for my weekly groceries (the 4th week, I still do a Walmart pickup)! I thought I would take you along this week and show you what I got, how much I spent, and the 7 meals I plan to make! Did I mention all 7 meals cost less than $50?
A Few Quick Aldi Tips
Don’t forget your quarter. One of the ways Aldi keeps their prices low is by having you rent a cart for 25 cents. You put in a quarter to unlock your quarter and get the quarterback when you return it. If you feel generous, you could leave your quarter behind and make someone’s day!
Bring your shopping bags. Like Sam’s Club and Costco, Aldi does not provide shopping bags. The cashier will load all your groceries back into a cart, and you bag all your groceries. The good news is you can sort groceries based on where they go if you want! Pantry staples in one bag, frozen in another, and so on!
Aldi sells mostly off-brand merchandise. This means that you won’t find too many name-brand items, but not to fear, the quality is still amazing. The same parent company as Trader Joe’s owns Aldi’s!
Check the specials aisle. Or don’t ;)! If you are trying to stay on budget, steer clear of the special aisle that is full of seasonal items. I got my kid’s bike helmets at Aldi! If you see something you like, grab it. It’s often limited stock, so it might not be there when you return!
Aldi Grocery List and Meal Plan
You know, every Friday, I love to finish off the week prepping for next week so I can enjoy the weekend with my family, knowing I am all ready to go. You can read more about my meal plan in this post.
The most critical step for meal planning for me is looking at our week first and then planning meals that work with our schedule. There’s nothing worse than planning a yummy meal and not eating it because you have to eat at the baseball field!
So, after I scheduled our week out, I planned 7 meals and then made my grocery list to match. Of course, besides the 7 dinners I planned, I also wrote down breakfast, lunch, and snack supplies.
Aldi Grocery Haul
My daughter and I took our quarter and reusable grocery bags to Aldi and got all our weekly groceries. We got frozen waffles, English muffins, and rice squares cereal for breakfast. Bread, applesauce pouches, Goldfish, and chocolate chip cookies for lunches, and found granola bars and peanut butter crackers for snacks. As well as some other staples like milk, eggs, butter, and garbage bags.
I also love to grab a few extra quick meals on hand just in case our schedule changes. So, I picked up some frozen mini corndogs and a box of macaroni and cheese.
I spent $123.10, and our weekly grocery budget is $125. Wahoo!
Weekly Menu Meal Plan
Dinner #1 – Cheese Ravioli with Vodka Sauce
A perfect meal for Meatless Monday. All you need is a jar of vodka sauce and ravioli. Each ravioli package has 2.5 servings, so I got 2 packages for our family of 5, and we had leftovers. I paired this simple dish with a French baguette, a salad, and fruit. It took about 15 minutes to make and serve!
Pasta sauce $2.89
Ravioli $2.98 *1.49 each
French bread $1.69
Salad and fruit on hand
Total for the meal – $6.56
Dinner #2: Pot Roast with Steamed Broccoli
It’s another perfect meal for a busy night. Throw the pot roast and sauce packet in the slow cooker in the morning. Then, before you serve it, steam up some broccoli and slice up some leftover French bread.
Pot roast sauce $2.49
Pot Roast $11.61
French bread (leftover from the night before)
Broccoli $1.19
Total for the meal – $15.29
Dinner #3 Sandwiches & Chips
If you are anything like us, generally, one night constitutes fast food. However, fast food doesn’t have to mean eating out. I like to plan for sandwiches, and this week, we will be eating them at the baseball diamond. The Aldi “pringle-like” chip is perfect because they are not crushed while transported.
Lunchmeat $2.49
Sliced Cheese $1.99
100% Whole Wheat bread $1.49
Chips $0.99
Condiments on hand and served with veggies & fruit
Total for the meal – $6.96
Dinner #4 Jambalaya and Corn Bread
A friend made us this meal once, and it was so easy; I love it for busy weeknights. Follow the directions on the Jambalaya package and add a drained can of kidney beans and sliced-up kielbasa sausage. Serve it with cornbread, fruit, and raw veggies!
Jambalaya $1.19
Kidney Beans $0.69
Kielbasa Sausage $2.29
Cornbread $0.47
Total for the meal – $4.64
Dinner #5 Make and Take Pizza & Breadsticks
By Friday night, we are ready for pizza and a movie. Aldi’s take-and-bake pizzas are extra-large and add in some breadsticks, and you have enough for your whole family without breaking the bank.
Pizza $5.99
Breadsticks $3.79
Total for the meal – $9.78
Dinner #6 Breakfast For Dinner
Breakfast for dinner is always a fan favorite, and there are so many variations of eggs and meats, not to mention sides like hashbrowns or sweet rolls. This week, I had supplies to make Resurrection rolls (recipe here), and I just learned you can bake bacon in the oven on a foil-covered cookie sheet for 20 minutes and then broil for the last 2 minutes to crisp! s
Bacon $3.49
Dozen eggs $1.08
Crescent rolls $1.49
Sometimes, I will add a fruit smoothie with spinach! Find my smoothie recipes here.
Total for the meal – $6.06
Dinner #7 Snacktray Supper
By Sunday night, Mom is ready for a break from the kitchen, so we gather up all the leftovers place them on a snack tray, and enjoy a family room picnic for dinner. It’s the whole family’s favorite meal of the week.
Total for the meal – $0
Total spent on 7 meals – $49.29
Do you need help organizing your meal plan?
Check out the meal grocery list and meal planner here.
I wrote this recipe along with the rest of my meal ideas for the week in the Simple Purposeful Living 52-week meal planner. Get yours here.
Why I love Meal Planning and shopping at Aldi
7 meals for under $50! Now, I know that doesn’t include the staples, fruits, and raw veggies I use as sides, but when we go out as a family of 5, we easily spend that much on one meal. Meal planning and eating at home do help save you money and help you stay on budget. Check out my meal planner if you want help getting started!
Do you meal plan or shop at Aldi? What are your favorite Aldi products? Sound off in the comments; I love a good recommendation!
