The 8 Best Aldi Groceries (All $5 or Less!) That We’ve Bought This Year
For many Kitchn editors, Aldi is on the shortlist of grocery stores we visit every week. So it’s no surprise that we’ve already amassed a basket-full of delicious — and budget-friendly — standouts. Just since January, we’ve stocked our freezers and pantries with peak-of-summer fruit and vegetables, added a fan-favorite yogurt to our list of staples, and stumbled upon a duo of bakery finds, including cinnamon rolls that rival the best homemade ones. (What’s ahead for the rest of the year is also very promising.)
Here are the best eight Aldi items we’ve been buying on repeat this year (so far). Bonus: They’re all $5 or less.
1. Aldi Specially Selected Ready to Roast Frozen Mediterranean Veggies, $2.79 for 16 ounces
It’s all about the veggie mix here. Yellow and red bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, and cherry tomatoes are chopped and mixed with a seasoning of garlic, oregano, cardamon, and vegetable powder, then frozen to preserve the peak-of-summer ripeness all year long. We love it roasted alongside fish and steamed quinoa, but try it tossed with hot pasta or folded into an omelet for some flavor-filled veggies any time of day.
2. Whole & Simple Southwestern Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl, $2.99 for 10.5 ounces
This hearty bowl tastes anything but frozen, and makes for a quick and filling lunch. Quinoa and brown rice are topped with hearty bite-sized pieces of chicken breasts and tender sweet potatoes. Black beans, corn, and bell peppers are scattered throughout the grains and it is all mixed with a bright and spicy chipotle sauce. It’s exactly the type of meal we’d make from scratch, but are grateful we don’t have to.
3. Specially Selected Dark Morello Cherries, $2.99 for 24 ounces
Cherry season is only a short few months during the summer, but Aldi sells them pitted, jarred in syrup, and recipe-ready in the dead of winter. Spoon the cherries straight from the jar onto oatmeal yogurt, or ice cream. Chop them and mix into muffins studded with chocolate chunks. Or try adding them to a salad (or, even better, cherry salsa anyone?).
4. Breakfast Best Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches, $5.19 for 4 sandwiches
These sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches are ready in under three minutes and perfect for all those busy mornings. The croissant is soft and slightly flaky, the pork sausage is savory and properly proportioned, the American cheese is gooey, and the scrambled egg is slightly chewy. It’s nothing fancy, but it is tasty, and it’s out-the-door, easy-peasy.
5. Earth Grown Extra Firm Organic Tofu, $1.69 for 14 ounces
You can give this tofu many treatments — tearing, freezing, grilling, etc. — and never tire of it. The best part is that no matter what flavors you want or the time of day, tofu is up to the challenge. Need proof? For breakfast, swap eggs for an easy tofu scramble; in the evening, try crispy tofu noodle bowls or slow cooker mapo tofu.
6. Specially Selected Chocolate Chip Brioche, $3.99 for 14.11 ounces
We’re big fans of Aldi’s brioche at Kitchn, so the chocolate chip version felt like an obvious choice. It makes a quick-yet-satisfying way to kick off the day’s events when warmed slightly in the microwave or toaster and slathered with your preferred spread — butter, jam, Nutella, even ice cream. If you have a leisurely morning on your hands, we highly recommend using this brioche to make some truly decadent French toast.
7. Specially Selected Indulgent Greek Honey Vanilla Yogurt, $3.89 for 32 ounces
Kitchn Staff Writer and Aldi superfan, Patty, purchased Aldi’s Specially Selected Indulgent Greek Honey Vanilla Yogurt on a whim and only had one regret: She wished she hadn’t waited so long to buy this fan favorite! This Greek-style yogurt is decadent, thick, and creamy. Its tangy flavor is balanced with the sweetness of honey and vanilla. Use it to build granola parfaits for breakfast or dessert, blend into smoothies, freeze into Popsicles, or garnish a cake.
8. Aldi Bake Shop Bakery Cinnamon Rolls, $3.95 for 8
Aldi’s Bake Shop Bakery cinnamon rolls are shocklingly close to homemade (as in, the closest of any store-bought cinnamon roll we’ve tried). The dough is plush and soft, the filling is packed with cinnamon flavor, and the icing is thick, rich, and sweet. Pre-made cinnamon rolls get stale quickly and become dry around the edges, but not these rolls. They remained soft even a few days post-purchase. Eat them on their own for breakfast, or round out the meal with sausage, eggs, and fresh fruit.
Tell us more about your favorite Aldi finds this year down in the comments.