Cornmeal Polenta with Braised Green Beans

Ingredients

• 1 cup Cornmeal

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• 3 cups Vegetable broth

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• 10 oz Simply Nature Organic Frozen Cut Green Beans

  On sale at ALDI: Simply Nature Organic Frozen Cut Green Beans, 10 oz

  $1.69 $1.85

• 7.5 oz Happy Harvest Cut Green Beans

  On sale at ALDI: Happy Harvest Cut Green Beans, 15 oz

  $0.50 $0.81

• 12 oz Priano Marinara Sauce

  On sale at ALDI: Priano Marinara Sauce, 24 oz

  $2.19 $2.99

• 2 tbsp Olive oil

  pantry

• 2 cloves Garlic

  about $0.25

• to taste Salt

  pantry

• to taste Black pepper

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• 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes

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Prices are from ALDI the week of October 4, 2026. Sale prices change every week and differ by store.

Steps

1. Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a large pot, then slowly whisk in the cornmeal to avoid lumps, stirring constantly.
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often, until the polenta is thick and creamy, then season with salt and pepper.
3. While the polenta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add minced garlic, cooking until fragrant about 30 seconds.
4. Add both the frozen and canned green beans and the marinara sauce, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the beans are tender.
5. Divide the polenta among bowls and top with the braised green beans and sauce.

Why it’s cheap

3 of the 10 ingredients were on sale at ALDI the week of October 4, 2026, led by simply nature organic frozen cut green beans at $1.69 instead of $1.85.

The sale items rang up $1.27 under their regular prices.

Penny Meals prices a dinner by the share of each package you actually cook, adds an estimated shelf price for anything that wasn’t on sale, and counts pantry staples like oil and salt as free. That came to $1.10 a serving, or $3.30 for 3 servings.

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