🛒 My Aldi €50 Pantry Haul: 7 Family Dinners That Last the Week
Feeding a family of three (two hungry teenagers included!) on a tight budget in Ireland isn’t easy — especially when prices seem to creep up every week. But Aldi has honestly been a lifesaver for me since moving here from Croatia five years ago.
This week, I challenged myself: Could I feed all three of us for a full week with just €50 of pantry-focused shopping?
Here’s what I bought — and what I cooked with it.
🧺 The Pantry-Friendly Aldi Shopping List (€50 Total)
Dry goods:
- 2x packs of pasta – €1.38
- 1x long-grain rice – €1.19
- 1x plain flour – €0.95
- 1x tinned chopped tomatoes (4-pack) – €1.65
- 1x passata – €0.75
- 1x tin of kidney beans – €0.55
- 1x tin of chickpeas – €0.55
- 1x stock cubes – €0.49
- 1x tomato purée – €0.39
- 1x curry powder – €0.79
- 1x frozen mixed veg – €1.29
- 1x porridge oats – €1.19
Fridge & Extras:
- 1x cheddar cheese block – €2.79
- 1x dozen eggs – €2.69
- 1x low-fat milk (2L) – €1.59
- 1x natural yogurt – €1.29
- 1x multipack baked beans (4 tins) – €1.79
- 1x frozen chicken portions (1kg) – €4.99
- 1x frozen fish fingers – €2.75
- 1x tinned tuna – €0.89
- 1x loaf of brown bread – €0.89
- 1x potatoes (2.5kg) – €3.29
- 1x bag carrots – €1.09
🧾 Total: ~€49.92
(Prices from Aldi, July 2025 — may vary by store)
🍽️ What I Cooked — 7 Dinners from My Pantry Haul
1. Chickpea & Veg Curry with Rice
Chickpeas, curry powder, frozen veg, chopped tomatoes, rice — done. Teen-approved (after I added cheese on top 🙃).
2. Cheesy Tuna Pasta Bake
Cook pasta, mix with tuna, passata, a little grated cheese. Bake it until bubbly.
3. Fish Finger Sandwiches with Beans
Classic comfort food. Toasted brown bread, crispy fish fingers, and baked beans on the side.
4. Oven-Roasted Chicken & Carrots with Rice
I roasted chicken portions and carrots in one tray. Rice with a bit of stock cube and garlic made it feel like a full meal.
5. Baked Potatoes with Beans & Cheese
Simple, cheap, filling. Kids top their own — less complaining that way.
6. Veggie Tomato Pasta
Chopped tomatoes + frozen veg + tomato purée = perfect for hiding the “boring” stuff. I sometimes add curry powder or a bit of paprika for flavour.
7. Egg Fried Rice (Irish-Mum Style)
Leftover rice, scrambled eggs, mixed veg. I splash in a little yogurt or cheese if it’s dry. Easy win.
🧠 Bonus Tip: Rotate Staples
I don’t always stick to the same items every week — but things like chopped tomatoes, pasta, and rice are non-negotiables in my pantry.
Next week I might swap tuna for lentils, or frozen chicken for sausages. The trick is buying flexible ingredients that mix and match.
