I read some crazy thing saying that people in the San Diego area spend a minimum of $200 a week on groceries. So, awhile ago, I posted a $150 Aldi budget challenge to cover two weeks of meals. While that list was great and really helped me stay well-fed without breaking the bank, it was missing a couple of things. I want to eat the things that I love, have some variety, and have some balance. So, here’s the new list and here’s what I made with it. We even have a dessert!
Itemized Aldi Grocery List
| Meat & Fresh Produce | Qty | Est. Cost |
| Ground Turkey (roll) | 5 x 1 lb | $10.95 |
| Chicken Breasts or Thighs (whichever Family Pack is cheaper) | 1 pack (estimated 4.5 lbs) | $11.50 |
| Bacon | 1 pack | $3.99 |
| Ground Pork Sausage (Roll) | 1 roll | $2.49 |
| Turkey Deli Meat (16 oz Tub) | 1 tub | $4.49 |
| Canned Chunk Light Tuna | 2 cans | $1.70 |
| Green Cabbage | 2 large heads | $2.50 |
| Fresh Bagged Spinach (8 oz) | 2 bags | $3.18 |
| White or Baby Bella Mushrooms (8 oz) | 2 packs | $2.78 |
| Fresh Lemons | 2 lb bag | $2.99 |
| Green & Red Bell Peppers | 2 bags (1 of each) | $5.38 |
| Yellow Onions | 3 lb bag | $2.29 |
| Russet Potatoes | 10 lb bag | $4.49 |
| Carrots | 2 lb bag | $1.49 |
| Celery | 1 stalk | $1.29 |
| Garlic | 1 sleeve | $1.29 |
Dairy & Eggs | Qty | Est. Cost |
| Large Eggs | 3 dozen (36) | $4.50 |
| Shredded Cheddar Cheese | 1 x 16 oz bag | $3.75 |
| Shredded Mozzarella Cheese | 1 x 16 oz bag | $3.29 |
| Ricotta Cheese | 1 x 15 oz tub | $2.39 |
| Milk | 1 gallon | $2.89 |
| Butter | 1 lb (4 sticks) | $3.29 |
| Sour Cream | 1 x 16 oz tub | $1.75 |
| Pantry, Baking & Frozen | Qty | Est. Cost |
| Granulated White Sugar | 1 x 4 lb bag | $2.99 |
| All-Purpose Flour | 1 x 5 lb bag | $2.29 |
| Long Grain White Rice | 1 x 5 lb bag | $4.29 |
| Mayo | 1 jar | $2.89 |
| Dill Pickle Mustard | 1 bottle | $1.59 |
| Ziti or Penne Pasta | 2 x 16 oz boxes | $1.98 |
| Elbow Macaroni | 1 x 16 oz box | $0.99 |
| Marinara Sauce | 3 x 24 oz jars | $4.47 |
| Flour Tortillas | 2 x 10-count packages | $3.98 |
| Bread | 2 loaves | $2.90 |
| Cornbread Mix | 2 boxes | $1.38 |
| Baker’s Corner Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix | 1 box | $1.39 |
| Instant Ramen | 1 x 6-pack | $1.99 |
| Canned Black Beans | 3 cans | $2.37 |
| Canned Kidney Beans | 3 cans | $2.37 |
| Canned Pinto or Refried Beans | 2 cans | $1.90 |
| Canned Diced Tomatoes | 3 cans | $2.67 |
| Dry Brown/Green Lentils | 1 lb bag | $1.29 |
| Peanut Butter | 1 jar | $2.19 |
| Fruit Jam / Jelly | 1 jar | $2.19 |
| Pancake Mix | 32 oz box | $1.99 |
| Pancake Syrup | 1 bottle | $1.89 |
| Vegetable Cooking Oil | 32 oz bottle | $3.19 |
| Chicken Bouillon Cubes | 1 box | $1.29 |
| Frozen Chopped Spinach | 2 x 10 oz bags | $2.58 |
| Frozen Mixed Vegetables | 3 x 12 oz bags | $3.87 |
| Frozen Cut Corn | 1 bag | $0.97 |
| Taco Seasoning | 1 pack | $0.46 |
| Gravy | 1 pack | $0.50 |
What I’m Making
For breakfast, I’m going with the basics. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Maybe a breakfast casserole. My husband goes to work early, so I also plan to make some breakfast burritos and egg bites. That way there’s something grab-and-go. For lunch, I’m thinking turkey sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tuna melts, and quesadillas. Only simple and quick things to make. Now, to the main event.
This is what I’ll be making for dinner:
- Dump and Bake Ziti
- Cabbage Lasagna
- Dirty Cabbage and Rice
- Deconstructed Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Turkey Tacos and Black Beans
- Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
- Hearty Turkey Chili & Cornbread
- Cheesy Chili Mac
- Classic Chicken Pot Pie (handmade crust)
- Upgraded Instant Ramen
- Lentil & Potato Soup with Cornbread
- Chicken & Rice Casserole
- Fried Chicken Strips, Mac ‘n Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes
- Chicken & Vegetable Stir-Fried Rice
I am only cooking for three, but I chose these meals and the grocery list that I did because you can feed 4-6 people. I think that I mentioned this in the previous post, but you can really make it stretch, without changing the flavor, if you add half a cup of lentils per pound of ground turkey. That’s a great way to have leftovers, even with a larger family.
I also added the brownie mix and lemons to the grocery list to make it more balanced. Personally, I don’t eat a lot of sweets, but I like having the option. Besides, most people do enjoy a treat every now and then and the brownie mix gives you an option for dessert. If you don’t want to include the brownie mix, but still have a sweet tooth, you can also make simple 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies. The lemons are for lemonade and lemon-infused water, but, if you want to save a bit of money there, a box of black tea bags is only $1.49. That’s great for sweet tea!
To be transparent, I am using the prices that I saw when I went grocery shopping. From what I’ve read, Aldi does price changes on Wednesdays. That makes this budget imperfect, but it might be helpful information for anyone looking for markdowns. Especially on meat. Everything that I bought was full-priced, except for the pasta, but I went shopping around 3pm on a Thursday. If you get in there early enough, all of the sale items shouldn’t be sold out yet. Just keep that in mind.
I also made sure to include many things that are usually offered at the local food banks and pantries for people who don’t even have $150 to spend. It’s difficult right now for everyone and I hope this guide serves you and your family. No one wants to eat the same exact thing over and over, so I’ll be back soon with 14 more dinner ideas using the same ingredients.
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