thanksgiving

Aldi Has the Secret to the Best Thanksgiving Side Dish — And It’s Less than $1

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
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updated May 11, 2022
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

On the third Thursday of November, novice cooks, culinary pros, and everyone in between will find themselves tasked with turning a fridge of food into a holiday feast. It’s a feat that few of us face but once (or twice) a year. No wonder executing the traditional turkey dinner elicits the mix of excitement and trepidation that it does. Thankfully, there are tips and shortcuts galore to guide you through Thanksgiving prep, no matter which dish gives you greatest concern.

I’m a professional recipe developer and I still take shortcuts where I can. This year I resolved to take even more shortcuts so that I can actually focus on the parts of Thanksgiving that I love — being with my family. I wasn’t sure which shortcuts I’d definitely be taking … until I ran a stuffing mix taste test for the site. I tried every boxed stuffing mix that I could find. Of the 20 varieties I tasted, one of my favorites was a complete surprise, a total steal, and just down the street at my local Aldi. And now I absolutely have plans to use this little box instead of making my usual from-scratch recipe.

Related: You Can Get a Full Thanksgiving Meal for Under $30 at Aldi

Credit: Patty Catalano

Aldi Sells the Best Boxed Stuffing Mix You Can Buy

As much as I love finding deals and dupes from Aldi, I had little hope that this humble red box could compete with stuffings from high-end grocers. But if this taste test taught me anything, it’s don’t judge a stuffing by its box. Aldi’s Chef’s Cupboard Turkey Stuffing Mix took the top spot among all other traditional stuffing mixes (the grocer’s cornbread stuffing mix also ran away with the W in that category).

Find it in stores: Chef’s Cupboard Turkey Stuffing Mix, $0.69 for 6 ounces at Aldi

The stuffing was as close to homemade as you can get in a store-bought mix (and, again, I know because I tried them all). There was a natural variety in bread size and texture in both the traditional bread stuffing and cornbread options. Other mixes were too uniform, either offering large crouton-sized bites of bread or little more than spiced breadcrumbs. I didn’t add any fresh onion, celery, or herbs for the taste test, and the included seasoning was still savory, herby, and well-balanced. I prepared the buttery, moist stuffing using the stovetop instructions, but it would be equally delicious in a casserole dish and baked until the edges crisp and brown.

Have you tried Aldi’s turkey stuffing mix? Tell us in the comments below!

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