7-Day Budget Meal Plan for April 13–19: Affordable Weekly Menu

A flexible, budget-friendly 7-day meal plan that takes the guesswork out of dinner. All ingredients are sourced from Aldi to keep shopping simple and affordable. The plan includes recipes and an itemised shopping list for easy planning and preparation.

Welcome to Savvy Bites’ Aldi-only 7-day dinner plan. If you’re in the USA, most of these ingredients should also be available at your local Aldi. With lockdowns and extra time spent at home, many of us are cooking more than ever—sometimes out of necessity, sometimes for comfort. This plan includes seven recipes designed to be economical, straightforward, and tasty. Depending on household size you may have leftovers, or you may choose to support local takeout some nights.

Why Aldi

I don’t work for Aldi or have any affiliation; I simply prefer shopping there because it saves time and money. In the past I used to split my shopping across multiple stores, which cost more in time and impulse buys. Using my chef training I started developing recipes that rely entirely on Aldi ingredients so a single shop covers everything. The results have been practical and popular.

About the meal plan

Meal planning has been essential to me since childhood. Growing up in a single-parent household on a fixed income taught me how to stretch ingredients, avoid waste, and feed people well on a tight budget. Those lessons shaped these plans: practical, budget-aware, and designed to get the most from the least. If you’re new to meal planning, these menus and shopping lists will help you save time, reduce trips to the store, and cut food waste.

The recipes

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Tender chicken in a tangy-sweet sauce with vibrant peppers and pineapple—quick and family-friendly.

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Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Spinach and Artichokes

A 30-minute dish combining pesto, baby spinach, marinated artichokes, and gouda for a quick, comforting meal.

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Easy Chicken Thai Noodle Soup with Red Curry

A fragrant, warming soup with red curry paste, coconut milk, and fresh herbs—comforting and quick to prepare.

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Sweet Potato Curry

A hearty, flavourful curry with sweet potato and spinach—great for meal prep and freezing.

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Vegetable Pasta Bake

A comforting, family-friendly pasta bake loaded with colourful vegetables and gooey cheese.

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Shopping list

To reduce trips outside, this meal plan is designed so a single Aldi shop supplies everything. The list is organised by category so you can collect fresh produce, pantry staples, and dairy/meat items without backtracking. Most recipes use fewer than 15 ingredients each; pantry items like soy sauce or ketchup are included if you need them. Before shopping, quickly check your cupboards and fridge to avoid duplicate purchases.

Each recipe link above includes step-by-step instructions and helpful tips.

Print Shopping List

Larder / Store Cupboard

• 1 box cornflour
• 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube (or use water)
• 1 bottle cider vinegar (or regular vinegar)
• 1 bottle soy sauce (dark or light)
• 1 bottle ketchup
• 500g demerara sugar
• 1 tin pineapple slices or pieces (keep the juice)
• Vegetable oil for frying (500ml)
• 1 bag rice (basmati or brown)
• 500g gnocchi
• 1 jar marinated grilled artichokes
• 1 bag spinach (for pantry/long-life bagged use)
• 1 bottle white wine (optional)
• 1 jar dried oregano
• 1 jar dried basil
• 1 jar Thai red curry paste
• Honey (or brown sugar)
• 1 pack rice noodles
• 2 tins coconut milk
• 1 tin sweet corn (or frozen)
• 1 jar pesto
• 1 bottle olive oil
• 1 small pack cashews
• 500g pasta

Fresh Fruit & Veg

• 1 bulb garlic
• 4 yellow/brown onions
• 2 red onions
• 1 inch piece ginger
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• 1 yellow pepper
• Mixed peppers (for colour)
• 1 bunch basil
• 2 limes
• 250g mushrooms
• 500g sweet potatoes
• 1 bag spinach
• 1 bunch coriander

Meat & Dairy

• 4 boneless skinless chicken pieces
• Extra mature gouda or similar
• 300ml single cream
• 500g cheese (preferably mozzarella)
• 300ml double cream