Kitchn Love Letters

The $2 Aldi Grocery I’m Stocking in My Freezer for Fall

published Sep 18, 2023
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Aldi grocery store freezer section
Credit: Heather McClees

Cozy fall flavors make me excited to get back into the kitchen after months of cooking outside. It’s when I swap tender summer squash for the orange-hued and hearty winter variety. Yet all too often I’ll buy a bowling pin-shaped butternut squash and there it continues to sit on my counter for weeks. Despite knowing all of the tips and tricks for peeling and cutting the versatile veg, sometimes the task requires too much effort.

That’s why I started keeping a super-smart shortcut in my freezer at the first glimpse of fall: frozen butternut squash cubes. Aldi’s Simply Nature frozen organic butternut squash is the secret ingredient I need to make all my favorite fall dishes — with a fraction of the effort. Here’s what makes this frozen vegetable such a fall favorite.

Credit: Patty Catalano

What’s So Great About Simply Nature Organic Butternut Squash?

Pumpkin may be the most recognizable sturdy squash, but butternut squash has a far superior flavor, IMO. While breaking down a whole butternut squash requires a sharp peeler and a large, sharp knife, this fall I’m skipping all that drama for precut butternut squash cubes at Aldi. 

Each bag of butternut squash contains 10 ounces of pure butternut squash — no seeds or tough skin to be found. Aldi’s Simply Nature butternut squash is organic and non-GMO, too. And for just $2 per bag, it’s a deal you can’t afford to pass up. 

The squash is cut into bite-sized pieces and par-cooked. That means whether you steam it in the bag, add it to a roasting pan, or stir it into soup, your cooking time will be significantly reduced.

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: Brett Regot/Kitchn

What’s the Best Way to Serve Simply Nature Organic Butternut Squash?

I serve a sheet-pan dinner weekly, and during the fall butternut squash provides the color and caramelization I’m looking for. With Aldi’s frozen butternut squash, sausage, sliced mushrooms, and store-bought gnocchi, my sheet pan dinner is ready in a flash.

Of course, fall is also soup season. There’s no need to thaw these cubes of sweet squash when butternut squash soup is on the menu. Add them to a Dutch oven with apple and onion and cook until the squash is thawed and the onion is golden. Then add spices and broth and simmer until you’re ready to eat. 

Autumn is also one of my favorite times to entertain, and there’s nothing like impressing your friends with a homemade butternut squash risotto. Grab a couple of bags of the frozen squash to stir into the impossibly creamy risotto to give it that special touch of fall flavor. 

Find it in stores: Simply Nature Organic Butternut Squash, $1.59 for 10 ounces 

What Aldi groceries are you stocking in your freezer this fall? Tell us about it in the comments below.