3 Cheap Pantry Staples I Never Leave Walgreens Without (They’re All $5 or Less!)

Ali Domrongchai
Ali DomrongchaiAssociate Editor, Groceries
Ali Domrongchai, a Southern-raised, Brooklyn-based food writer, grew up around her family's Thai restaurant that sparked her initial love for food. (Fun fact: her grandparents briefly ran a Thai grocery store in the 70s). In this space, her curiosity on the role that food plays in building community lead her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Studies with a focus on the ways in which pad Thai affects the Thai American experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joins The Kitchn as an Associate Editor for the Groceries vertical. Before this role, she held staff positions at Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Allrecipes. Her words and recipes have also been featured in Cook's Country, Simply Recipes, and EatingWell. Oh, and most importantly, she can’t go more than a few hours without a sweet treat.
published Sep 7, 2024
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Walgreens brand name logo on the side of a building.
Credit: Aaron of L.A. Photography / Shutterstock

Walgreens, once a convenience store, has evolved into a surprising hot spot for groceries. These days, it’s not just about picking up prescriptions or greeting cards; The Walgreens Nice! store brand, which has been around since 2011, and the retailer’s just-launched Nice! For You line, contain over 300 products across the food and beverage category. 

The new Nice! For You line hit shelves nationwide earlier this summer and doesn’t contain artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, synthetic dyes or high-fructose corn syrup (similar to Target’s Good & Gather line). It contains pantry staples, like evaporated milk and honey, and refrigerated items, such as shredded cheese and eggs. 

I’m a novice to going to Walgreens for more than ChapStick and medicine, so I headed to the store to check out the ever-expanding line for myself. I was delightfully surprised with the variety and most importantly the price points! Here are the three items I’ll continue to seek out at my local Walgreens.

Credit: Ali Domrongchai

1. Nice! For You Pure Vanilla Extract, $4.99

Pure vanilla extract is derived from vanilla beans, which are a member from the orchard family, and takes the cake as the second most expensive spice in the world (with saffron being the first). Finding a good vanilla extract for under $6 an ounce can be a challenge, so I was thrilled to discover Walgreens offers a high-quality vanilla extract for under $5. It’s made with the same ingredients (vanilla bean extractives in water and alcohol) as my favorite, more expensive vanilla from Heilala Vanilla. 

At just $2.79 for an ounce, I’m excited to have a convenient and budget-friendly option to snag, especially with the height of the baking season on the horizon.

Credit: Ali Domrongchai

2. Nice! Magic Trail Mix, $3.49

Aptly named, I’d compare this trail mix from Walgreens to as close to magic as possible. It has the best of everything I like: chocolate chips, peanut butter, chips, M&M’s Chocolate Candies, raisins, and peanuts for a hit after hit bite. I used to pick out all of the chocolate bits in trail mix, but with this one, every bite is a winning combination. 

The trail mix comes in a 9-ounce bag for $3.49, which I’ll be rebuying on repeat going forward (I’m actually munching on it as I write this!).

Credit: Ali Domrongchai

3. Nice! Sweetened Condensed Milk, $2.49

I’m a huge fan of sweetened condensed milk. When I saw Walgreens has a 14-ounce can for just $2.49, I had to stock up. Normally, I shell out anywhere between $4 to $5 dollars for the same-size can in NYC, so this is an especially fantastic find.

I’ve already added it to my coffee, and it’s wonderfully sweet and creamy; it’s everything you’d want in a sweetened condensed milk. Next up, I’m planning on mixing it with powdered sugar to make a glaze for some blueberry muffins. 

What are your favorite items from Walgreens Nice! and Nice! For You lines? Tell us in the comments below.

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