6 (Healthy!) Slow Cooker Staples You Should Pick up at Aldi

It’s slow cooker season! So grab yours out of the pantry, dust it off, and pull up all those slow cooker recipes you’ve been saving. While you’re thinking about your slow cooker, go ahead and put an Aldi stop at the top of your to-do list. See, Aldi has some of the best prices on some key slow cooker staples. You’re gonna need to buy these things soon anyway, so why not pick them up on the cheap?

Here are six healthy slow cooker staples to get at Aldi right now — before the weather takes a turn!

Slow cooker oats are ultra-creamy and super easy to make. (If your slow cooker has a timer setting feature, then you’ll have an even easier time!) Add your favorite healthy ingredients — like blueberries and apples — to the slow cooker with the oats and water (or your favorite milk). And yes, you can get those fruits at Aldi, too.

When I saw Aldi’s price on organic quinoa, I almost did a double-take. Less than $3 for organic quinoa? I picked up three of these bags, because I was worried the price would change. (It hasn’t!) Quinoa is a power-packed seed that cooks up like a grain and is an excellent source of plant-based protein, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and several B vitamins. It’s nutty, chewy, cooks in less time than rice (plus has double the fiber of brown rice), and is perfect for slow cooker meals. I love mixing quinoa with frozen veggies and canned tomatoes for a soup or stew, but it’s also great as an alternative breakfast cereal if you’re tired of oats (or try it combined with oats!).

Honestly, if you only buy one thing at Aldi for slow cooker meals, make sure it’s the canned beans. Organic canned beans are the perfect protein and fiber source for slow cooker meals, and excellent if you’re looking to eat less meat or just want to up the plant protein and fiber in your diet. Beans are also high in iron, magnesium, and potassium. Whether you prefer hearty kidney beans, creamy pinto beans, or nutty black beans, Aldi has a great selection of beans (for less than a dollar a can!). Keep your eyes peeled for lentils, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), and other varieties.

Diced canned tomatoes are a no-brainer pantry staple. Rich in potassium, vitamin C, and fiber, tomatoes are also low in calories and fat, and have no added sugars. They help enhance any stew, soup, or savory recipe and are super cheap! Pick up several cans of Aldi’s organic diced canned tomatoes for less than $2 each and your slow cooker meals will never be drab or boring.

Veggie stock keeps for months in the pantry and up to 10 days in the fridge after you open it. It’s best to buy low-sodium broth options when possible, but if you can’t find it, you can just dilute higher-sodium options with some water to balance things out. Aldi’s vegetable stock is a basic, no-frills stock that gets the job done, has no oil or sugar added, and is less than $1.50. Hard to beat that!

Here’s a neat little trick: If you use more herbs and spices, you can use less salt and still have a flavorful dish. Aldi’s Simply Organic line is top-notch and always on my radar when I visit my local store. Buy oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, basil, thyme, rosemary, ginger, pepper, and cumin for starters. This is a great way to stock your kitchen if you’re low on spices and don’t want to buy in bulk or spend tons of money. 

What are your favorite slow cooker staples to pick up at Aldi?