Looking for a simple dinner solution to get through the rest of the summer? Here is a brand new set of freezer-friendly meals using ingredients from Aldi! Put together 12 meals in about an hour, and it’ll cost less than $70.
The heat is upon us and the last thing you want to be doing is heating up the kitchen everyday.
The less time I have to spend thinking about and preparing dinner, the more time I get to spend in the pool…or sneaking in a movie with the boys. Or running them to and from VBS or tennis camp, or gymnastics camp.
I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather spend time creating these amazing memories and moments to cherish forever, than sweat away in the kitchen.
I’d much rather spend an hour in the kitchen getting a bunch of meals pulled together, than not have to think about or worry about what’s for dinner at the end of an exhausting day of summer fun.
It’s about more than time too…it’s about money. I know, for me, the temptation to hit the drive thru is much higher in the summer months. And that gets expensive fast! I want your meals this summer to be simple and easy, and I know you do too…
When my long-time contributor and assistant Dana asked me if she could pull together a meal plan specific to the grocery store ALDI, I might have shouted and cheered and jumped up and down. It’s a sad, sad, sad thing that there isn’t an Aldi store in San Antonio, I miss it greatly. (Perhaps I’ll start a petition to get a store here!)
Anyways, she put together an amazing freezer-friendly plan, using ingredients from Aldi, and we’ve plugged it all into the amazing meal plan style that you’ve come to know and expect from $5 Dinners.
This meal plan is a little different from our other meal plans:
- Now with 12 meals. Short, simple and crazy delicious. Each meal still feeds 4 adults.
- Calls for ingredients from Aldi. BUT…
- It can really be used at ANY GROCERY STORE. (Note: the shopping list is written so it can be used at any grocery store. It doesn’t include Aldi brand names.)
- Delicious freezer-friendly grilling recipes mixed with some pasta and soup recipes for the freezer.
You can expect the same great shopping list, recipes list, printable labels, assembly instructions and access to exclusive video of yours truly assembling all the meals.
{It only took just over 1 hour to put together 12 meals for the freezer…and you can watch the video of the assembly process so you don’t feel alone in your efforts. I’m pretty sure you can find an hour somewhere in your busy week to get 12 meals put together! It’s SO SO SO worth it!}
See what Rachel emailed this past weekend about this new plan…
(Please note that I blacked out her complete name & location-clue information for security reasons! She did give me permission to share!)
Recipe List
- (2) Cheddar Stuffed BBQ Burgers
- (2) Grilled Chicken Fajitas
- (2) Italian Sausage Baked Pasta with Spinach
- (2) Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwiches
- (2) Italian Vegetable Soup
- (2) BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
*Note: the (2) designates that you’ll make that meal twice in this plan.
Total Cost $68.74
(A note about the prices: The prices at Dana’s store in the Chicago area were slightly different than the prices at the store I shopped at in Temple, TX. Both of our totals came in below $70. See photo of my receipt here.)
No-Stress Summer Meal Planning
Let us help take the stress out of getting dinner on the table for you. This brand new meal plan, that can be used at Aldi or any grocery store, has 2 packages available for you to make the process so much smoother and easier…
If you are new to my meal plans, I’d encourage you to take a peek at all the other options in the $5 Dinners E-Store before you checkout! Once you’ve chosen all the ones you need, you can checkout and get all the meal plans you need at once!
After you choose all the plans you want, you can checkout. Once your payment has been processed, you will immediately receive an email with links to download your plan.
NOTE: Please download these files directly to your computer within 72 hours, then you can add to your e-reader/phone/tablet. If you have issues with the download, PLEASE EMAIL ME! I’ll be able to help you out!
Interested in a weekly meal planning subscription service that takes all the headache and stress off your shoulders?! Sign up for a FREE 2-Week Trial at 5DollarMealPlan.com!
Disclaimer: I have no formal relationship with Aldi and am not paid by them to share these plans. I am not affiliated with them and am not endorsed by them. We created these plans to help ourselves (and you!) spend less money at the grocery store. Hope they help your family as much as they help our families!
Diana says
I am absolutely THRILLED to see this meal plan!! I hope there will be any more like it.
I just received mine and can’t wait to shop and try the recipes!
Thank You!!
Diana in Illinois (with an Aldi close by!)
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
You are most welcome Diana! Hope you enjoy the meals!
Erin
Deb says
I am forever constantly on a frugal and tight budget but go it alone with the shopping and planning. I am going to participate in your meal plan and am very excited. It will be wonderful when the kids ask, “What’s for dinner?” and I don’t have to get anxious — I will have answers!!
Thanks for the video; I’m on my way to watch it!
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
Yay! *clapping*
It’s so wonderful having things prepared and in order in the dinner-department!
Evelyn Phillips says
Just downloaded mine. Preparing them for vacation meals.
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
What a great idea!
Curious says
I’m sure you are well aware there is already a blogger out there that does Aldi exclusively. Why would you do this to her??? She does a fine job. What you have done is just arrogant and RUDE.
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
Hey there Curious,
A few years back, I started the 20 Meals from Costco for $150 meal plan series and this blogger (if it’s the same person) followed suit creating similar meal plans for Aldi. We have no formal partnership or agreement, but have continued to share different types and styles of plans for different stores.
I’m so sorry that you think this is arrogant or rude, as that is not my intention at all. When my assistant brought the idea to do a 12 meals plan for Aldi, I was thrilled as there are MANY people in the $5 Dinners community who don’t have access to warehouse store, or need to purchase in bulk. A meal plan like this, with the $5 Dinners style and amazing recipes, would be perfect for those who prefer just to shop at a regular grocery store.
And if you must know, I shared this idea from my assistant with the blogger way in advance and she was fine with it. There is plenty of room on the internet for all kinds of different meal plans, of different sizes, from different stores. 🙂
Erin
Lisa says
Wow! Good response Erin. Shocked at that reader’s opinion. Yep, there’s room for everyone on the internet, no need to get all fired up about it 🙂
Heather says
What is the blog you are talking about?
Jennifer says
I guess I missed how many people these meals serve? I would love to do this for my husband, daughter and I and save money too!
Jenn K says
They serve 4 adults each! 🙂
Stephanie says
Are these recipes dairy – free or easily adapted?
Jenn K says
Yes, they all include dairy free modifications as needed as well as gluten free modifications 🙂
Annie says
Just ordered this morning, we don’t have an Aldi(jealous because it looks like they have awesome prices!). I am going to Winco, which is probably the Pacific NW equivalent.
Just FYI, chicken bouillon was omitted on both ingredient lists, I’m guessing it was supposed to be on the pantry staples list 🙂
Celine says
I just moved my daughter to Colorado Springs, CO and our first shopping trip was going to be to Aldi. But they aren’t anywhere nearby! I assumed they were everywhere. I’ll sign your petition 🙂
URSULA SALAS says
In Colorado, your best shopping prices are really going to be at Walmart. King Soopers has great selections, but they are higher priced than Walmart is. (Safeway is near the top of pricing, so stay out of there!). If you have the options near you, you can also try a Sav-a-lot, although I’m not a fan of those stores in general.
Teresa says
I can’t wait to try this meal plan. I am meal planning for the very first time (way over due). We are getting our very first Aldi in town and Looking forward to shopping there also.
Karen Martin says
Discovered Aldi’s when caring for my mother in law. She would make daily requests for items and Aldi’s was nearby. Mother in law is now gone, but I continue to shop there for many items. I perused the various “Aldi” blogs after reading a previous comment here, and find that those sites complement what you’re doing. I don’t see the competitive edge, just additional great information. For example, I saw the Aldi brand of mandoline while shopping there today, and wondered if it was “good” because it was so cheap. One blogger reviewed it and says it’s fine. The more knowledge I gain, the merrier I become. Keep up the good work, Erin!
Tara H says
Just wondering…. What is Aldi? Or makes it different from a grocery store?
Cassandra says
Hi! An ALDI’s store is a discount grocery store that is very cost effective is how it delivers its products to the customer…first of all, you deposit a quarter in a chain receptacle to get a cart, the quarter is returned to you when the cart is replaced in the corral at the front of the store. Secondly, ALDI’s carries mostly (not all) their own generic brand products which provides substantial savings over the named brand, with similar quality. They focus on the basics of a grocery store; dry goods, dairy, produce(one of my favs!) bread, meats, and frozen. You get good prices with a carefully selected variety. For example, one brand of English muffins, not 3-4 like the regular grocery store. The final difference is check-out, they do not bag your groceries, you do, with your own bags or bags you purchase from them at nominal cost, which is paid with Debit card or cash only, no credit cards here folks! You get through check-out much quicker as they put your groceries back in the cart and you move over to the bagging table after paying. It is a very efficient, cost effective way of providing food at low cost. Hope you get one near you soon so you can try it out for yourself!
Dawn says
Hi! Recently downloaded the plan. I’m making this plan for my friend when she has a baby and want everything to be a quick and easy for her as possible.
Do you think I could cook the chicken for sandwiches in advance then freeze? Same for the chicken for the fajitas?
Mrs. [email protected] says
Aldi is by far our favorite store to shop at. Hopefully they will expand nationwide so more people can save money on the grocery bill.
Kelly says
Hi. I made these last week (yay!) and am pulling the slow cooker italian and vegetable soup out of the freezer for tomorrow’s dinner. The instructions on the printable say “add 4 cups of water/broth”. Which one is it? There’s 2 bouillon cubes in the freezer bag. Should I add 4 cups of chicken broth? Or 2 cups of water and 2 more cups of broth? Or just 4 cups of water? Thanks!
Laura M says
This meal plan was AWESOME!!! My mom and I worked on this meal plan together (nice bonding time) and we each had 6 meals in our freezer after 3 hours. Everything tasted wonderful and I would definitely do this one again 🙂 Thank you so much, Erin! Please keep the meal plans coming!
Ebony says
I’ve been subscribed to you for about 6 months now, and I JUST noticed today that you are in Temple, TX!!!! Me too!!! I knew there was a reason I liked you 🙂
Heather says
Please please please do more of these!! Our family of 3 ( 2 adults & a 5 year old) loved every.single.bite of these! My sometimes picky girl even asked for 2nds on EVERY single meal!!
We have all your cookbooks and use them often as well. Never have we had a less than fabulous meal using your recipes! Thank you so much for all your hard work.