$20 Aldi Grocery Challenge (26 Servings of Food)

Can you really feed your family with just $20 from Aldi?
I decided to try the challenge and see how many meals I could create using simple, budget-friendly ingredients. With a few pantry staples and affordable finds like pasta, tortillas, canned chicken, and pork tenderloin, this small grocery haul turned into several easy family meals.

Below you can watch the quick video of the haul and see how the meals came together, along with the recipes you can make from the same ingredients.

In this video I take on a $20 Aldi grocery challenge to see how many meals I can make for my family using simple, budget-friendly ingredients. With just a few pantry staples and affordable Aldi finds like pasta, tortillas, canned chicken, and pork tenderloin, I turn one small grocery haul into several easy family dinners.

Budget meal challenges like this are a great way to stretch your grocery budget while still cooking meals that taste good and keep everyone full. If you're looking for cheap family dinner ideas, Aldi grocery hacks, or budget meal inspiration, this quick video shows how far a small grocery trip can go.

Keep scrolling for the full ingredient breakdown and the recipes made from this haul.

Easy Chicken Taco Quesadillas

Ingredients

• 1 can chicken, drained and rinsed
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• ¼ cup water
• 2 corn tortillas (per quesadilla)
• 2 Tbsp shredded cheese per quesadilla
• Small drizzle of oil for the pan (you can also use butter or cooking spray, whatever is on hand)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine rinsed chicken, taco seasoning, and ¼ cup water. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated.

2. Heat a small drizzle of oil in a skillet over medium heat.

3. Place 1 corn tortilla in the pan.

4. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp shredded cheese on the tortilla.

5. Add a layer of the seasoned chicken mixture.

6. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp cheese on top of the chicken.

7. Place a second tortilla on top, cover the pan, and cook 2–3 minutes.

8. Flip the quesadilla, cover again, and cook 2–3 minutes until golden and crispy.

   • If the first side isn’t crispy enough, cook another 1–2 minutes before flipping again.

Quick Tip

Covering the pan helps the cheese melt faster while the tortillas crisp up.

Easy Pantry Spaghetti (Budget Friendly)

Ingredients

• 1 package penne pasta
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup shredded taco cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional flavor boosters (if you have them):
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Minced onion
• Basil, oregano, or rosemary

Instructions

1. Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions.

2. While the pasta cooks, add the spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes to a pan and heat over medium-low heat.

3. When the pasta is almost done, reserve ½ cup of pasta water.

4. Drain the pasta and return it to the large pasta pot.

5. Add the sauce and tomato mixture plus the ½ cup pasta water to the pasta.

6. Stir until everything is well combined.

7. Add ½ cup shredded cheese and stir until melted into the sauce.

8. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Optional Add-Ins (If You Have Them)

These add extra flavor and richness:

• ¼ block cream cheese (makes the sauce creamy)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1–2 cloves minced garlic

Pork Tenderloin & Red Potatoes

Ingredients

For the Pork Tenderloin
• About 1.5 lb pork tenderloin ($4.49 at $2.99/lb)
• Salt and pepper (ours was pre-seasoned)
• Butter (helps keep the pork tender while cooking)

Optional Flavor Additions
• Sliced lemon
• Minced garlic
• Lemon pepper seasoning

For the Red Potatoes
• 5–6 red potatoes, washed and cut into quarters
• ½ stick butter
• Salt and pepper

Optional Seasonings
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Basil
• Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Prepare the Potatoes

1. Wash potatoes and cut them into quarters (or similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly).

2. Add potatoes to a pot with:
   • ½ stick butter
   • ⅓ cup water
   • Salt, pepper, and any optional herbs.

3. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

Cook until potatoes are fork tender. This usually takes about 20–25 minutes.

3. Prepare the Pork Tenderloin

1. Place the tenderloin on tin foil on a baking sheet.

2. Season with salt and pepper (and any optional seasonings).

3. Slice butter and place on top of the pork.

4. Add lemon slices or garlic if using.

5. Wrap the foil completely around the pork.

4. Bake the Pork

Bake at 425°F for about 20–25 minutes per pound.

The internal temperature should reach 145°F.

For a slightly crispier top, open the foil during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

5. Rest the Pork

Once the pork reaches 145°F, remove it from the oven, re-cover the foil, and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

6. Finish the Potatoes

Once the potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork, they are ready to serve.

Optional Quick Dipping Sauce

Mix together:

• Mayo (3 Tbsp)
• Dijon mustard (1Tbsp)
• A drop of yellow mustard ( 1 tsp)
• Salt and pepper
• Optional minced garlic

Add a small amount of water until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Easy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 package cavatappi pasta
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 jar Aldi Alfredo sauce
• 1 can chicken, drained and rinsed
• ¼–½ cup shredded taco cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼–½ cup reserved pasta water

Optional Flavor Boosters

• Diced onion
• Minced garlic
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder or onion powder

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook cavatappi pasta according to package instructions.

Before draining, reserve ¼–½ cup of pasta water.

2. Start the Chicken

In a small pot or pan, heat a small drizzle of oil over medium-high heat.

If using onion or garlic, add them and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

Add:
• drained chicken
• salt and pepper
• any Italian seasonings

Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Make the Alfredo Sauce

Add to the pan:

• 1 jar Alfredo sauce
• 1 can cream of chicken soup

Stir until combined and bring to a gentle simmer.

Reduce heat to medium or medium-low.

4. Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add ¼–½ cup reserved pasta water to the sauce.

Drain pasta and return it to the large pasta pot.

Pour the sauce mixture over the pasta and stir until well combined.

Add ¼–½ cup shredded cheese and stir until melted.

Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Optional Add-Ins (If You Have Them)

These can make the sauce even richer:

• Greek yogurt
• Cream cheese
• Sour cream
• A dash of Worcestershire sauce

Final Meal Cost Breakdown

With just $20 from Aldi, I was able to make four different meals that stretch into multiple servings. Here’s the full breakdown of what each recipe cost and how many meals it made.

Recipe	Total Cost	Servings	Cost Per Serving
Chicken Taco Quesadillas	$4.20	6 quesadillas	$0.70
Pantry Spaghetti	$4.56	8 bowls	$0.57
Pork Tenderloin & Red Potatoes	$5.25	4 plates	$1.31
Chicken Alfredo Pasta	$5.09	6 bowls	$0.85