The $50 Aldi Challenge: A Full Week of Healthy Dinners for a Family Of 4
A week’s worth of HEALTHY meals for a family of 4 for under $50? You bet! My Aldi meal planning challenge total came in under $40!
I love lazy dinners and cheap meals – especially when they are healthy meals I can feel good serving.
Thankfully, if you shop at Aldi, healthy meals can be cheap AND lazy, too! Check out the meal ideas and the grocery shopping list below.
Welcome to Life Hacks for Moms - we hope you enjoy all our tips and tricks for busy moms! Please note that we use affiliate links and ads to generate income at no cost to you.Thanks for visiting - and please feel free to share!
Let’s be real: checking out at the grocery store lately feels a bit like a jump scare. With inflation affecting everything from eggs to olive oil, sticking to a family food budget is harder than ever.
So, I decided to put my meal planning skills to the ultimate test. Can I feed a family of 4 healthy, filling dinners for an entire work week (5 nights) for under $50?
The answer is yes—but you need a strategy, you need a plan, and most importantly, you need Aldi.
The “Pantry Staples” Rule: To keep this under $50, I am assuming you already have the basics in your kitchen: Olive oil (or butter), salt, pepper, and basic spices (garlic powder, Italian seasoning, soy sauce).
The Strategy: How to Stretch the Budget
To make this math work, we aren’t just buying random cheap items. We are using three specific chef strategies:
- The “Filler” Veggies: We are buying carrots and onions in bulk. These will go into almost every meal to bulk up the volume without adding much cost.
- Protein Extension: We aren’t eating 8oz steaks. We are using ground meat, eggs, and beans mixed with starches to make sure everyone leaves the table full.
- Zero Waste: Leftover ingredients from Monday are strictly assigned to Thursday or Friday.
The $50 Aldi Shopping List
Prices are estimates based on current averages. Prices may vary by your location!
Produce Aisle
- Bag of Yellow Onions (3lb) ~$2.50
- Bag of Carrots (2lb) ~$1.90
- Bag of Russet Potatoes (5lb) ~$3.90
- Baby Spinach (Bag) ~$1.80
- Garlic (3 pack) ~$1.50
Meat & Dairy
- Ground Turkey (1 lb) ~$4.20
- Chicken Drumsticks (Family Pack, ~5lbs) ~$6.50
- Large Eggs (1 Dozen) ~$3.20
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese Block (8oz) ~$2.20
Pantry & Dry Goods
- Black Beans (2 cans) ~$1.60
- Long Grain White Rice (3lb bag) ~$2.80
- Pasta (Penne or Rotini – 2 boxes) ~$2.20
- Marinara Sauce (24oz jar) ~$1.80
- Flour Tortillas (pack of 10) ~$1.95
- Frozen Mixed Veggies (Steamer bag) ~$1.10
Total Estimate: ~$39.05
(This leaves you about $10 of “wiggle room” for tax or higher prices!)
The Meal Plan: 5 Dinners for 4 People
Monday: Hidden Veggie Turkey Bolognese
We are stretching one pound of turkey to feed four people by bulking up the sauce with finely diced carrots and onions.
- Ingredients: 1lb Ground Turkey, 1 box Pasta, Jar of Marinara, 2 Onions (diced), 3 Carrots (diced small), Garlic.
- Prep Tip: Sauté the onions and carrots until soft before adding the turkey. It makes the sauce sweeter and much more filling!
Tuesday: Crispy Chicken Drumsticks w/ Roasted Potatoes
Chicken on the bone is always cheaper. We are roasting it alongside potatoes for an easy sheet-pan meal.
- Ingredients: 8 Chicken Drumsticks (save the rest for later!), 4-5 Potatoes (cubed), Carrots (sticks), Oil & Spices.
- Prep Tip: Roast the veggies and chicken at 400°F for about 40-45 minutes.
Wednesday: Black Bean & Rice Burritos
Meatless Wednesday! These are hearty, cheesy, and super cheap.
- Ingredients: 10 Tortillas, 2 cans Black Beans (drained/rinsed), 2 cups Cooked Rice, ½ block Cheese (shredded), Spinach.
- Prep Tip: Season your beans with cumin or taco seasoning if you have it in the pantry. Mix the rice and beans together, roll them up with cheese, and toast the burritos in a pan for a crunch.
Thursday: Kitchen Sink Fried Rice
Better than takeout and uses up your odds and ends.
- Ingredients: Remaining Cooked Rice (cold works best!), Frozen Mixed Veggies, 4-5 Eggs (scrambled), Diced Onion, Soy Sauce.
- Protein Boost: If you have any leftover chicken from the family pack, shred it and throw it in here!
Friday: Cheesy Potato & Egg Hash
Breakfast for dinner is a budget lifesaver. This is savory, comforting, and filling.
- Ingredients: Remaining Potatoes (diced small), Remaining Onions, Remaining Eggs, Remaining Cheese, Spinach (wilted in at the end).
- Prep Tip: Fry the potatoes and onions until crispy, make little “wells” in the pan, crack the eggs into them, cover and steam until eggs are set. Top with cheese.
Prep Tips for Success
- Grate your own cheese: Blocks of cheese are cheaper than bags of pre-shredded cheese, and they melt better!
- Cook rice in bulk: Cook the whole bag of rice on Monday. Use some for the burritos and store the rest in the fridge—cold rice makes the best Fried Rice on Thursday.
- Don’t toss the scraps: If you have leftover carrots or celery, chop them up and freeze them for a future soup.