Inside: Need ALDI inspiration? I’m a longtime ALDI shopper and here are some of my very favorite things to buy.
I love ALDI. You love ALDI.
We love the shopping simplicity. We love the no-frills vibe. We love that we can checkout without feeling like we’ve just been robbed. Amiright?
There are some things I’ve put in my cart since I started shopping there about 10 years ago. There are new favorites that have cropped up over the years. And then there are brand new surprises I spot on my weekly trips.
And that, my friends, is part of the ALDI shopping adventure.
Here are some of my current favorites. And I’d love to hear yours. Leave a comment with your favorite, especially if it’s not on my list–I’m always looking for hot tips!
Want a month’s worth of family dinners figured out for you? Grab my 4-Week ALDI Meal Plan with recipes & done-for-you shopping lists.
Tanimura & Antle Artisan Lettuce
I’ve been tossing this artisan lettuce in my cart from the start. Each container has four little lettuce heads, and they look so beautiful tossed together in a salad.
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Tasteful Selections Honey Gold Bite-Size Potatoes
These little spuds are awesome for boiling and buttering–or, my current favorite: par-boiling, smashing, topping with oil and seasoning, and roasting until a little bit crispy around the edges. The fact that they’re pre-washed means I save precious time during dinner prep.
SimplyNature Graintastic Bread
This loaf is pricier than the other whole grain breads at ALDI, but it’s so soft and flavorful. Think Dave’s Killer Bread a la ALDI. And it’s got four grams of fiber per slice (that’s a lot!). Also comes in a “Seedtastic” version.
Specially Selected Naan Flatbread
If you’re serving an Indian-inspired dish like Butter Chicken, brush some melted butter on top of these little flatbreads and heat in the toaster oven. Your whole family will love you even more than they already do.
liveGfree Sweet Chili Brown Rice Crisps
Crunchy, hot-n-sweet, and so good we call them “fake Doritos”.
Savoritz Woven Whole Wheat Crackers
This is another OG item from ALDI. They’re Triscuit knock-offs made with just three ingredients: whole wheat, oil, and salt.
Sundate Medjool Dates
I love these for adding natural sweetness to smoothies (keep a few in the fridge in a dish of milk so they blend more easily) and energy balls. Don’t forget to take out the pits first!
Specially Selected House Italian Vinaigrette
I’m particular about salad dressings and prefer the homemade kind, namely our official house dressing, White Balsamic Vinaigrette. But this one tastes pretty darn close to homemade. Drizzle it on a big bowl of those Artisan greens, toss really well, then close your eyes and you’ll think you’re at a restaurant that has really good salad dressing. FYI: It’s quite garlicky, so be warned!
Priano Bronze Cut Pasta
I recently learned just why this pasta is so great: Bronze cut pasta is made by pressing pasta dough through a bronze plate, which cuts and shapes it. The result is a rougher exterior, which means that sauce tends to cling to it better. This ALDI brand comes in a few different shapes.
Want a month’s worth of family dinners figured out for you? Grab my 4-Week ALDI Meal Plan with recipes & done-for-you shopping lists.
Specially Selected Premium Vodka Sauce
I love the flavor of this creamy sauce. But since it’s slightly chunky (which my family doesn’t love), I whirl it in the blender until it’s smooth. Then I serve it on the bronze cut rigatoni with shredded parmesan and pepper for an easy meatless meal.
Stonemill Pure Vanilla Extract
If you haven’t noticed, the price of vanilla is quite steep. If I don’t have a bottle of homemade vanilla on hand, I pick up this little one, priced around 5 bucks.
SimplyNature Ginger Paste
Peeling and mincing ginger is not on my list of favorite things to do. So I keep this paste in the fridge when a recipe calls for ginger. So much easier.
Stonemill Spices
If spice prices stop you in your tracks, I’ve got two words for you: 99 cents! I know some people spend more for gourmet spices, and that’s cool–but that’s not me. ALDI carries commonly used spices (like paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and parsley) for less than a dollar, and I am here for it!
Burman’s Simmer Sauces
These simmer sauces couldn’t be simpler to use: Brown pieces of your favorite protein (like chicken) plus some veggies (like bell peppers) in a skillet, add the whole jar of simmer sauce, cover, and cook. At the end, I add a shower of salt and a glug of heavy cream to give it a little extra oomph.
SimplyNature 90 Second Grain Pouches
We eat a lot of rice, and these pouches have come to the rescue many nights. They also make eating a proper lunch a lot quicker. Just 90 seconds in the microwave. Comes in a few different varieties.
Specially Selected Pure Maple Syrup
The price of this has gone up in the years I’ve been an ALDI shopper, but it’s still a pretty good deal for the real deal.
Specially Selected Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix
I’m picky about brownie mixes, but my friend Regan from This Baking Life tipped me off to this one, which is similar to Ghiradelli’s.
Choceur Chocolate
And speaking of chocolate, ALDI’s selection of European chocolate is *chef’s kiss*.
Kirkwood Ground Turkey & Chicken
I regularly buy both ground turkey and ground chicken at ALDI to make my Baked Turkey Tacos, meatballs, and other recipes.
Earth Grown Extra Firm Tofu
I try to make at least one or two meatless dinners every week, so this is a staple. The extra-firm variety works great for stir fries and bowls. I use it to make my Crispy Tofu and Tofu Bowls.
Never Any Apple Chicken Sausage
I like having this tucked in the fridge for a quick sheet pan dinner: Cut it into bite-sized pieces along with sweet potatoes and veggies, roast on a baking sheet, and drizzle with sauce.
Countryside Creamery Sweet Cream Butter
I bake a lot, and I get all my butter at ALDI. The price is always good. Comes in salted and unsalted.
Deutsche Kuche Pork Schnitzel
THIS IS SO GOOD. And it comes in a chicken variety too. But it’s seasonal, so snatch it up when you can (I currently have a stack in my basement freezer). I like to serve these with egg noodles, veggies, and a creamy homemade lemon sauce.
Bremer Pierogies
This is a staple in our freezer for nights when the dinner plan goes off the rails. Sure, they’re not as good as my homemade pierogies. But as someone who grew up eating the ones my Eastern European grandma made, I have to say they’re still pretty good!
Hi! I’m Sally, a registered dietitian and mom.
I believe that EVERY mom can feel successful and confident about feeding her kids. Join my subscriber community and I’ll send you my best kid-tested recipes.
