Delicious and Budget-Friendly: Easy & Healthy Aldi Meal Ideas

In today’s economy, feeding a family healthy, satisfying meals on a budget can feel almost impossible. Prices are climbing, and it can be discouraging to see your grocery bill eat away at your budget. But there is a solution. Aldi offers quality ingredients at prices that are consistently lower than most major grocery stores. Their weekly specials, fresh produce, and affordable pantry staples allow you to create balanced meals without breaking the bank. This article explores various easy, healthy, and affordable meal ideas centered around Aldi ingredients.

Why Aldi?

Aldi has become a go-to grocery store for many, and for good reason. As a mom to three boys (ages 9, 7, and 3), I know how important it is to include vegetables in every meal. Aldi’s affordable produce section makes it easy to stock up on nutrient-dense options like cucumbers, asparagus, and tomatoes. This meal plan is proof that you don’t need to sacrifice nutrition or flavor to stay within your budget. If you’re struggling to keep your grocery budget in check while feeding your family healthy meals, give this plan a try.

Strategies for Saving at Aldi

As you build your shopping experience, you can “hack” your strategy by creating a meal plan that lets you buy everything you need from one store. Psst! If you think shopping for deals means spending all day driving all over town, you’re wrong! Let me teach you how to shop quickly, and still get everything you need. Enrollment for my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp opens just a few times each year, and graduates save anywhere from $200 - $300 in the first month alone! It’s also no secret that I’m a big advocate of meal planning. I have TONS of free meal plans on the blog. Let’s change that.

What to Skip

A few store-bought items for things I typically make from scratch (like hamburger buns and spaghetti sauce). Spices, salt and pepper, olive oil, and vinegar. Flour. Ordinarily, I’d include this, especially if we were doing a lot of baking. But this week, we’re skipping the baking, and you only need a couple of tablespoons for the meatballs. Precautions for food allergies. My family is blessed to not have food allergies, so I don’t plan for them in my meal plans. However, ALDI has a fantastic gluten-free line of foods (and this ALDI meal plan is mostly gluten-free already), and if you’re dairy-free you’re used to subbing anyway. Have no fear though - I have NO DOUBT the ingredients you buy for this meal plan will provide extras you can use to cover breakfasts and/or lunches.

Sample Aldi Meal Plan & Cost Breakdown

Every main dish in this Aldi budget meal planner is something I make frequently with my family. Use the “Bonus Meal Ideas” section at the bottom to create your own breakfast and lunch menu. If you still don’t think this is enough food to cover breakfast AND lunches, buy a bag of apples and a container of oatmeal. Prices for this Aldi meal plan have been updated as of March 2024. They were taken from an Aldi location outside of Atlanta just before publishing. The total cost in your area may be different!! Look at other stores like Walmart and Costco! I did side-by-side cost comparisons of ALDI vs. Walmart and ALDI vs. Remember, you’ll likely have extras of some ingredients!

Read also: Ultimate Meal Guide

• Ground Beef 80/20, $3.99/lb: You’ll need two pounds of this to cover hamburgers and meatballs. My recipe for meatballs makes A LOT of meatballs, and we always have leftovers.
• Bacon, $3.79/lb: One pound of bacon is getting split between the Baked Potato Nachos and BLT’s.
• Chicken Leg Quarters, $0.89/lb: You need about 1 ¼ pounds of chicken leg quarters to equal 4 cups of shredded chicken. You’ll use this chicken in the Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad and Chicken Fried Rice. Depending on your package, you might have extra chicken for lunches, or to freeze for a future dinner!
• Cheddar Cheese, $1.79/8 oz: You need 12 ounces for this meal plan, so you’ll end up with an extra 4 ounces of cheddar cheese by the end of the week.
• Eggs, $1.29/dozen: This meal plan only calls for 2 eggs, so you’ll have several left over.
• Sour Cream, $1.69/16 oz: Sour cream is a topping for Tortilla Soup and Baked Potato Nachos, but you can also add it to your Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad too.
• Frozen Veggies, $1.19/16 oz: You’ll need one bag of mixed vegetables for Chicken Fried Rice, and one bag of corn for Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad and Tortilla Soup.
• Black Beans, 59¢/15 oz: You need one can of black beans for this Aldi menu, which will get split between Tortilla Soup and Southwestern Chopped Salad. Note: If you decide to cook dry beans instead, you can shave off a few cents per “can.” See the math when I compared dry vs canned beans!
• Chicken Broth, $1.89/32 oz: I normally make a big batch of chicken broth using leftover chicken bones, but since not everyone does that, I put chicken broth on the shopping list. You need the entire quart for Tortilla Soup.
• Ranch Dressing, $.89/16 oz: This is something else I personally typically make from scratch (here’s the recipe), but this might not be the case for everyone. We’re having salad 4 nights this week AND we’re using the dressing for dipping one night.
• Rice, $1.29/2 lbs: You only need 2 cups of cooked rice for one meal this week, so you’re definitely going to have leftovers with this purchase.
• Soy Sauce, $1.49/10 oz: Soy sauce is a staple in Chicken Fried Rice, and while you won’t use the entire jar, fried rice isn’t the same without it!
• Spaghetti Sauce, $.99/24 oz: I normally make my own spaghetti sauce. Whether I go all out for Hearty Spaghetti Sauce or keep it minimal with a 15-Minute Sauce, it’s just something I prefer to make myself. In case you don’t, it’s something to buy on this week’s Aldi run for Spaghetti and Meatballs.
• Sunflower Seeds, $1.99/10.5 oz: Sunflower seeds might not seem that important, but I like the crunch they add to salads.
• Canned Diced Tomatoes, 87¢/15 oz: We need one can of diced tomatoes for Tortilla Soup.
• Avocado, $1.59/each: This isn’t cheap for one avocado, but I’m including it because it’s a healthy fat for us.
• Carrots, $.99/lb: You need carrots throughout the meal plan this week, including the Spinach Salad, Green Salad, and Tortilla Soup.
• Cucumber, 49¢/each: We’re splurging on a cucumber to help bulk up the green salads this week.
• Garlic, 5 cloves: 79¢/6 oz: Not every ALDI has fresh garlic, so I went with the jarred minced garlic this time around. You’ll use it in the Tortilla Soup and Chicken Fried Rice.
• Green Onions, $.79/bunch: The green part of the onion is great in Tortilla Soup and Baked Potato Nachos, but don’t let the white part go to waste! I suggest adding any extra to the hamburgers.
• Iceberg Lettuce, $1.19/head: Any variety of lettuce will work in the meal plan, but I chose iceberg because it was on sale this week. If you find another variety or a pre-packaged mix that gives you just as much and costs less, feel free to go that route instead!
• Potatoes, $1.99/5 lbs: Russet potatoes are inexpensive year-round, so we’re using them in Baked Potato Nachos and as a side dish for the burgers.
• Spinach, $2.49/5 oz: Spinach is not cheap, but it’s very nutritious and a nice alternative to a typical Green Salad.
• Tomato, $1.49/16 oz: You need one tomato in this meal plan, for Baked Potato Nachos and BLTs. My ALDI doesn’t sell large slicing tomatoes individually, so you might have extras.

As you can see from the items above, you’ll have a few leftover ingredients from your shopping trip. For more tips for shopping at Aldi, check out my Ultimate Guide to Shopping at Aldi here.

Fall & Winter Aldi Dinner Ideas

Your family wants dinner every night. Every. single. But your food budget is tight-and so is your time. So many of you loved my ALDI Dinner Ideas for Spring & Summer blog post, I decided to deliver a Fall & Winter version full of comforting, colder-weather meal inspiration. In this round-up, you’ll find simple, delicious, and easy homestyle dinner ideas that lean on hot and hearty meals that are perfect for this time of year. As always, these dinner ideas focus on simple ingredients, easy preparation, and crowd-pleasing flavors. Also remember that these easy ALDI meal ideas are meant to be a starting point. Adjust them to include the foods and flavors your family likes best. These cheap ALDI meals range in price from about $7.00-28.00 for four servings. Total ingredient costs are calculated for approximately four servings. There may be seasonal or regional price fluctuations. You will likely have surplus ingredients from many of these ALDI dinner ideas, such as potatoes, bagged rice, eggs, lemons, and salad dressing that you can use for other meals.

Quick & Easy Aldi Dinner Options

Here are some quick and easy dinner ideas perfect for busy weeknights, all easily sourced from Aldi:

1. French Bread Pizzas: Homemade pizza is fast and easy when you start with a French baguette (a loaf of their unsliced Italian Bread works too). Cover a sheet pan with foil or parchment for easy cleanup, cut loaf in half, then slice it open horizontally, and toast under the broiler until slightly crisp. Then smother the cut sides with marinara sauce or spread with pesto, add cheese and your favorite toppings. Broil for 3-5 minutes more until it’s toasty and melty.
2. Baked Turkey Tacos: My Baked Turkey Tacos are a wintertime favorite around here. Aldi doesn’t carry pre-made enchilada sauce, so mixing up some tomato sauce with a bit of chili-lime seasoning stands in here. I top them with cheese (not pictured) but you can also serve them with salsa and avocado slices for texture and nutrition.
3. Breakfast for Dinner: Sweet, eggy brioche transformed into custardy French Toast is a fast, super-cozy meal any time of day, even dinner. Whirl up some berry smoothies with frozen fruit, yogurt, a splash of milk, and a drizzle of honey. If you haven’t tried it yet, cook your bacon in the oven. It comes out in perfectly flat slices (and contains most of the mess).
4. Baked Ravioli: This cozy dinner is like lasagna on easy mode. Set your oven to 350F and prepare a baking dish (13 x 9 or similar) by lightly spraying the bottom and sides with cooking spray. Then spread a scant cup of pasta sauce all over the bottom, add the frozen ravioli, and top with the rest of the sauce, shaking or stirring gently to make sure all the pasta is coated. Sprinkle a generous handful of shredded cheese on top, then cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more or until bubbly and very hot in the center.
5. Slow Cooker “Roast” Chicken: Did you know you can roast a whole chicken in your slow cooker? I’ve used this recipe in the past with success. Arrange the chicken on top of potatoes and carrots cut into 2-inch pieces while it cooks to infuse your veggies with that lovely roasted chicken flavor. Or roast them separately in the oven. If the texture of the chicken skin isn’t crispy enough for you after the cook cycle, place the chicken on a sheet pan under a hot broiler for a couple minutes to crisp it up.
6. Sheet Pan Schnitzel and Pierogi: Pork Schnitzel cutlets are a seasonal item only available for a limited time, so if you can’t find them, swap in kielbasa. Here’s a sheet pan shortcut that Real Mom team member Cheryll takes: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Arrange the pork schnitzel on the pan and place the frozen pierogi all around them, leaving a bit of room for air circulation. Then use a fork to create loose little birds nests of well-drained sauerkraut on top of the pierogi (you may have quite a bit left over, those jars are packed tight.) Drizzle olive oil (or melted butter) on top of everything and bake for 20 minutes. Flip cutlets, flip pierogi as best you can, and bake 10-15 minutes more or until the breaded pork is sizzling hot.
7. Kielbasa Sheet Pan Dinner: This One Pan Honey Garlic Kielbasa sheet pan dinner is one of our family favorites.
8. Butter Chicken: Sometimes a nicely spiced warm curry over rice is exactly what will hit the spot, and ALDI makes it easy with their Indian-inspired simmer sauces. Cut a pound of chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Saute a diced pepper and small onion in a drizzle of oil, then add the chicken and cook until lightly browned. Pour the jar of sauce over everything, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Taste before serving and add salt and pepper as needed.
9. Foil Packet Salmon: Baking salmon in a foil packet is a convenient, mess-free alternative to stovetop cooking, prevents the fish from drying out, and also helps contain the aroma. Prepare four large pieces of foil, and place a cut salmon fillet, lemon slices and thinly sliced sweet peppers in the middle of each one. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and herbs like oregano and basil and either drizzle with olive oil or dot with small pieces of butter. Fold in edges (not too tightly-you’ll want room for the salmon to steam inside), and bake on a sheet pan at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until salmon is cooked through.
10. Chicken Stir Fry: Wow your family with delicious make-your-own takeout flavor. The key is to have everything cut up and ready to go when you get the pan hot, and to use the biggest skillet you have. Cook the chicken pieces first, then remove them to a plate while you sauté the vegetables, then bring everything back together right before dressing it with a stir fry sauce (here’s a quick recipe for a stir-fry sauce my family likes). The 90-second rice pouches make it super-easy too.
11. Sausage & Spinach Pasta: I love a bowl of warm, hearty pasta on a cold day, and this Cozy Spinach and Sausage Pasta is so easy. If your ALDI doesn’t have bulk Italian sausage, as the original recipe calls for, just remove the casings from fresh sausage links like the ones shown here.
12. Chicken Tenders & Fries: Making your own chicken tenders is a budget-friendly way to serve a real crowd-pleaser. Dip tenders into flour, then beaten egg, then dredge in breadcrumbs and saute in a skillet with a little oil (or use an air fryer if you have one). For a flavor boost, marinate your chicken tenders in bbq sauce for 30 minutes before breading them or use it as a dip.
13. Slow Cooker 2-Packet Pot Roast: This is a simple meal that doesn’t take a lot of time to prep, but makes a big impact at the dinner table with my family. Whisk both seasoning packets into a cup of beef broth and pour over roast in the slow cooker. Arrange cut potatoes and carrots around the meat and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
14. Jammy Pork Chops: Here’s a quick kid-pleasing dinner: Cook pork chops on the stovetop in a little bit of oil. Then mix 1/2 cup jam with 2 tablespoons each mustard, vinegar, and soy sauce and pour over pork chops in the last few minutes of cooking. It creates a sweet, pretty glaze that your kids might just love.
15. Instant Pot Mac & Cheese: You’re only about 15 minutes and 10 bucks away from one of the most comforting and cheap ALDI meals: A big batch of Homemade Mac & Cheese. Save time with bagged shredded cheddar or grab a block to shred at home. Serve with side salads.
16. Spaghetti & Meatless Meatballs: These vegan “meatballs” won product of the year from Good Housekeeping, and it’s easy to see why-they’re delicious and easy to make. Serve them with pasta, sauce, cheese, and salad, and you won’t feel like you’re missing a thing. Try a homemade dressing recipe or your favorite store-bought.
17. Chicken Parmesan: Slice each breast in half, horizontally, to make four, thinner cutlets. Then pound them into a uniform thickness (use freezer bags to contain the spatter) and season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken into a beaten egg, dredge in breadcrumbs, and lightly fry in an oiled, oven-safe skillet until browned. Top each cutlet with a generous spoonful of sauce, a slice of mozzarella, and your favorite Italian seasonings and bake at 400 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
18. Chicken Pot Pie: Does your gang love chicken pot pie? Mine does! I love how it’s an all-in-one complete meal. Use my chicken pot pie recipe, and if you’re short on time, swap in some refrigerated biscuits as the topping. Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts if you prefer.
19. Quiche: These are enough ingredients to make two whole quiches, so freeze one (after it’s cooked completely) or take to a neighbor. Pancetta and peas are a classic Italian flavor duo, but the beauty of quiche (and its crustless cousin, the frittata) is that it’s a super customizable easy meal and can adapt to include any flavors you like or leftover ingredients you have on hand.
20. Tofu Sheet Pan Dinner: Imagine a stir fry dish that you don’t have to stir - or fry. Enter the magical tofu sheet pan dinner. All the components cook hands-free while you make the rice and sauce. And check out that price for a pound of tofu. If you haven’t given it a try yet, let this be your nudge! At my local ALDI, they keep it with the deli items.
21. Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese: Total classic. With the famously low prices at ALDI, we can splurge on the fancy bread and organic cheddar cheese.
22. Black Bean Burritos: Burritos loaded with protein-packed black beans give you energy for all the pumpkin patch visits, holiday light displays, leaf-raking or whatever’s on your schedule. Sauté the (rinsed and drained) black beans in some oil along with finely chopped onion (and peppers if you have them). Spoon filling into the center of your burrito shell, top with cheese, sliced avocado, and a spoonful of salsa, then fold. If you’ve never gotten the hang of how to fold a burrito, I have some pictures that might help, attached to this recipe that calls for ground beef and mushrooms. To make them warm and melty, mist the rolled burritos lightly with cooking spray and toast them on both sides in a medium-hot skillet.
23. Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff: Normally, beef stroganoff takes hours of cooking time to tenderize the meat, but braised under pressure, this one is ready to dish up in about 40 minutes. We love this recipe from Oh Sweet Basil (finish with a dab of sour cream!).
24. Tuna Noodle Casserole: Tuna noodle casserole is a cheap, easy, stick-to-your-ribs dinner that can be made on short notice from pantry staples. It’s also one more way to introduce kids to good-for-you fish. You could top it with crushed potato chips instead of breadcrumbs for bonus points from your picky eaters.
25. Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili: Real Mom team member Cheryll calls this hearty dinner her “potluck winning” chili, because the crock pot always comes home empty. The recipe is a spin on this one, but she uses readily available plain old chili powder instead of specialty dried peppers. The secret is roasting the spiced sweet potatoes separately and allowing them to cool completely before adding them to the chili, which both concentrates their flavor and protects them from breaking apart. The whole dish happens to be vegan, too.
26. Instant Pot Pasta: Instant Pot Beef and Pasta is one of the quickest and easiest ways to a healthy and hearty meal.

More Aldi Meal Inspiration

Looking for inspiration for dinner? Need some ideas for your next special occasion? Explore a range of recipes, categorized by time of day, holiday, special diet, and more. Check out our Featured Recipe choices as well to spruce up your meal plan for the week.

• Featured Recipe: Butternut Squash and Cranberry Chicken Meatloaf
• Featured Recipe: Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts
• Lunch & Dinner Recipes
• Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
• Appetizer & Side Dish Recipes
• Dessert Recipes
• Drink Recipes
• Recipe Collections
• Holiday Recipes

Check out the full collection.

Read also: Healthy Camping Food

When you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget but don’t want to sacrifice flavor, Aldi is your secret weapon. I’ve pulled together my favorite no-fuss recipes using Aldi ingredients, most of which stick to three to five ingredients, with a few flexible meals offering optional extras if you have them on hand. Whether you’re stocking up for the week or just trying to get dinner on the table after a busy day, these Aldi recipes are proof that a little creativity - and a short ingredient list - can go a long way. Looking for more easy, budget-friendly meals?

Read also: Delicious Keto Vegetarian Meals

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