The 10 Must-Have Aldi Buys for Summer

Now that August is upon us, the clock is ticking to serve your favorite summer meals before the autumn chill blows in. Fire up the grill and slice into a ripe red tomato because all you need are a few items from the neighborhood’s quirkiest food market to complete the meal. Whether you’re a quarter-toting regular or an Aldi amateur, this little food market will help you close out the summer season with a bang.

Here are the 10 the best groceries to buy at Aldi before summer ends.

Aldi has all of your barbecue sauce needs covered. Brush brisket with the Texas-style sauce, or drizzle mustardy Carolina sauce onto your pulled pork sandwich. If ribs are on the menu, choose either the Memphis or Kansas City sauce. At just $2 a bottle, why not buy both?

S’mores are a summertime staple, and you can’t make that gooey graham dessert without chocolate. It’s no secret how much we adore Aldi’s chocolate. Grab a milk chocolate bar for the kids and try a bar that’s more sophisticated — dark chocolate with sea salt — for grown-ups.

It’s August, so you’ve served brats and hot dogs a time (or 10!) already. These chicken sausages come in summery flavors like Tomato & Basil and Tequila Lime. These sausages are from Aldi’s Never Any! private label, so they are made from vegetarian-fed chicken raised with no antibiotics or hormones. Try them sliced and tossed in pasta salad or served straight-up in a bun.

Caprese salad is summer’s easiest appetizer, but here’s one item that makes it even easier. Priano’s fresh mozzarella rounds are already dressed in a flavorful marinade, so all that’s left to do is add a ripe, red tomato.

It wouldn’t be summer without a BLT, but paper-thin slices need not apply. Stock up on thick and meaty rashers of Appleton Farms applewood smoked bacon while the tomatoes are ripe.

A pickle tub is exactly what your parties and picnics are missing. These Park Street Deli refrigerated pickles are crisper and snappier than their shelf-stable counterparts. Offer garlicky Kosher dill spears or deli-style half sours alongside smoky meats and sandwiches, adding briny crunch to the plate.

If we’ve learned anything at all this summer, it’s that we should be grilling our pizzas. Pick up Aldi’s cult-favorite Mama Cozzi’s pizza (the Tomato Mozzarella & Pesto Pizza feels right for this time of year), but make sure to do so before Friday night! You’ll find both fresh or frozen pizza — just make sure to pick a pizza that fits your grill.

The hardest choice to make at Aldi is which frozen treat to buy. I suggest you start with these fruity pops from the Sundae Shoppe. The bars are made with real fruit and cane sugar — no high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors. Cold and refreshing, these popsicles are just the right size at a modest 3 ounces each.

Add wine, sugar, and a splash of brandy to a mix of diced frozen fruit for a quick sangria. The white sangria blend is a mix of prepared oranges, strawberries, pineapple, and apples, while the red sangria blend has oranges, sweet and tart cherries, and blackberries. Both blends take just two minutes to prep (and a few hours to chill).

Here’s a summer splurge that won’t break the bank: brioche hot dog buns. These top-sliced rolls are just right for anything you’ll serve this season, from brats to lobster rolls. These buns are golden in color and richer in flavor than budget buns, thanks to the addition of eggs and butter in a brioche-style bread.

What are your Aldi summertime essentials?