This is the final week and meal plan before Christmas. Many of us had plans to meet friends and attend parties, but current coronavirus concerns may have changed your plans. This Aldi meal plan focuses on quick, easy and enjoyable recipes that fit a tight schedule and budget. It’s a seven-day flexible meal plan using only Aldi ingredients to simplify shopping and keep costs down. The plan includes recipes and an itemised shopping list to make weeknight dinners straightforward and stress-free.
The recipes are designed to be simple, thrifty and pantry- and leftover-friendly. They’re comforting without being indulgent, offering balanced meals that are easy to prepare — exactly the kind of food many of us need right now.
Table of Contents
There won’t be a meal plan next week — chances are you’ll be working through leftovers. The plans will return in the new year alongside more healthy, budget-friendly recipes, meal plans and some new projects I’m excited about.
Budget Meal Planner
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Why Aldi
For anyone new here: I don’t work for Aldi and I have no official affiliation. I’m simply a fan. I used to do a main shop at Aldi and then visit other stores for extras — which cost time and money. With my chef training I challenged myself to create recipes using only Aldi ingredients. The result is a practical, affordable approach to everyday cooking that many readers have found helpful.
About the Aldi budget meal plan
Meal planning has been part of my life since childhood. Growing up in a single-parent household with limited funds taught me to buy only what was needed and to avoid waste. Combined with a culinary education and ten years in professional kitchens, I’ve learned to stretch ingredients and make satisfying meals on a budget. These meal plans share that experience in a usable format.
Each weekly plan includes six recipes that use ingredients available at Aldi, plus a shopping list and tips to make the most of every ingredient. The structure gives you flexibility — you can order a takeaway one night or enjoy leftovers another — while keeping shopping and cooking simple.
Now more than ever, easy recipes with affordable, accessible ingredients are valuable. I enjoy creating these plans and hope they help you put dinner on the table with less worry.
The Details
This is a flexible budget meal plan with most recipes scaled for a family of four. Some dishes yield enough for leftovers or lunches the next day. While no single plan will suit everyone, this layout aims to be broadly useful and adaptable to different schedules and tastes.
The shopping list is comprehensive and covers everything needed for the week. Because all ingredients are from Aldi, you’ll find several condiments, sauces and spices repeated across recipes — check your pantry before you shop to avoid buying duplicates.
The plan is realistic and forgiving: there’s room for snacks, a treat or a night out, and you can swap meals to suit your week. If you use these plans, please let me know — reader feedback helps decide whether to continue sharing them.
The recipes
- Baked Tomato Gnocchi
- 30 Minute Sausage Pasta
- Squash & Chickpea Curry
- Chinese Lemon Chicken
- Crispy Chilli Beef
- Shredded Chicken Chilli
Click to print the meal plan and shopping list (PDF available on the original site).
Thanks for reading and cooking along. If you try any of these recipes or have questions, I’d love a comment and rating. You can also follow SavvyBites on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram to see updates, pins and behind-the-scenes content.