The Ultimate $50 Aldi Haul (one week of cheap dinner ideas for a family of 4)
If you’ve never shopped at Aldi, you’re missing out – especially if you’re a big fan of cheap easy, almost LAZY, dinner ideas.
Let me show you a simple inexpensive Aldi meal plan to feed your family this week for $50 or less.
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I looked at my bank account on Sunday morning and realized: we have a problem.
Between unexpected bills and the rising cost of… well, everything, our grocery budget for the week was looking slim. I had exactly $50 cash in my wallet to feed two adults and two growing kids for five days.
No takeout. No fancy ingredients. Just real, filling food.
Naturally, I headed to Aldi. If you are trying to survive inflation without eating instant noodles every night, Aldi is the only place that makes the math work. Here is exactly what I bought and how I turned it into 5 nights of comfort food dinners.
🛒 The Receipt
Total spend: $42.50 (Leaving room for tax!)
The Proteins
- Ground Beef (3lb Family Pack): $11.99
- Smoked Sausage (Loop): $3.89
The Produce
- Potatoes (10lb Bag): $4.99
- Carrots (2lb Bag): $1.89
- Yellow Onions (3lb Bag): $2.29
Dairy & Pantry
- Milk (Gallon): $2.98
- Cheddar Cheese Block: $2.19
- Butter (Quarters): $3.50
- Pasta (2 Boxes): $1.96
- Tomato Sauce (2 Cans): $0.98
- Frozen Peas: $0.95
- Bread (Loaf): $1.29
Flour/Staples
What We Ate (The Real Life Menu)
The goal this week wasn’t “health food” or “low carb.” The goal was full bellies and comfort.
Monday: The “Poor Man’s” Shepherd’s Pie
This is the ultimate stretcher meal. I used 1 lb of the beef, but bulked it up with lots of chopped carrots, onions, and the frozen peas.
How to make it: Brown the beef with onions and carrots. Stir in some flour and beef broth (or water/bouillon). Pour it into a casserole dish. Top with a mountain of mashed potatoes (from that 10lb bag!) and bake until bubbly. It fed all of us with leftovers for lunch.
Tuesday: Creamy Potato & Sausage Soup
We had 10lbs of potatoes to use, so soup was a must. This felt like a splurge meal even though it cost pennies.
How to make it: I sliced the smoked sausage into coins and browned them in the pot. Removed them, then sautéed onions. Added diced potatoes and water/milk. Once the potatoes were soft, I mashed half of them right in the pot to thicken it. Stirred the sausage back in and topped with cheese.
Wednesday: Beefy Tomato Pasta Bake
Pasta night! I used the second pound of ground beef here.
How to make it: Brown the beef. Add the two cans of tomato sauce. Toss with cooked pasta. Pour into a baking dish and top with the rest of the cheddar cheese block. Bake until the cheese is golden. Serve with buttered bread on the side.
Thursday: Old Fashioned Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes
I used the final pound of beef to make simple oven-baked meatballs.
How to make it: I mixed the beef with some breadcrumbs (made from the heels of the bread loaf) and spices. Baked them at 400°F. While they baked, I made another big batch of mashed potatoes and glazed some carrots in butter and honey/sugar. It felt like a Sunday dinner on a Thursday.
Friday: “Clean the Fridge” Fried Potatoes & Onions
By Friday, we were out of meat, but we still had potatoes, onions, and cheese.
How to make it: I fried diced potatoes and onions in plenty of butter until they were crispy and brown. We melted cheese over the top and served it with toast. It’s simple, savory, and my kids actually cheered when I put it on the table.
📌 Save This Plan!
Budgeting is hard, but eating well doesn’t have to be. Pin this post to your “Cheap Eats” or “Family Dinner” boards so you can find it when money is tight!
