Inside: Need inspiration from ALDI? I am a long time ALDI shopper and here are some of my very favorite things to buy.
I love ALDI. You love ALDI.
We love the simplicity of shopping. We like the no frills atmosphere. We love the fact that we can checkout without feeling like we’ve just been ripped off. I am right?
There are some things I have put in my cart since I started shopping there about 10 years ago. There are new favorites that have emerged over the years. And then there are brand new surprises I find on my weekly travels.
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? Get the 4 week ALDI meal plan with recipes and shopping lists prepared for you.
Tanimura & Antle Artisan Martuce
I’ve been throwing this handmade lettuce in my basket since the beginning. Each container has four small heads of lettuce and they look so pretty tossed in a salad.
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Tasty Choices Potatoes with golden honey in size
These little spatulas are great for boiling and buttering – or, my current favorite: simmer, crumble, coat with oil and seasonings, and bake until they’re a little crispy around the edges. The fact that they are pre-washed means that I save valuable time when preparing dinner.
SimplyNature Graintastic BreaHey
This loaf is more expensive than other whole wheat breads at ALDI, but it is so soft and delicious. Think Dave’s Killer Bread a la ALDI. And it has 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, spread some melted butter on top of these little buns and warm in the toaster oven. Your whole family will love you even more than they already do.
liveGfree Sweet Chili Chips Brown Rice
Crunchy, warm and so good we call them “fake Doritos”.
Savoritz wholemeal crackers
This is another OG item from ALDI. They are biscuits made with only three ingredients: whole wheat, oil and salt.
Sunday Medjool Dates
I like these for adding natural sweetness to smoothies (keep some in the fridge in a bowl of milk for easier blending) and energy balls. Don’t forget to take out the pits first!
Specially selected House Italian Vinaigrette
I’m particularly into salad dressings and I prefer the homemade kind, which is our official house dressing, white balsamic vinaigrette. But this taste is very close to home. Pour it over a big bowl of these Artisan greens, toss really well, then close your eyes and you’ll think you’re in a restaurant that has really good salad dressing. FYI: It’s quite garlicky, so watch out!
Priano Bronze Cut pasta
I recently learned why this pasta is so great: Pasta in bronze it is made by pressing pasta dough through a brass plate, which cuts and shapes it. The result is a rougher exterior, which means the sauce tends to stick to it better. This ALDI brand comes in a few different shapes.
Want a month’s worth of family dinners? Get the 4 week ALDI meal plan with recipes and shopping lists prepared for you.
Specially selected Premium vodka sauce
I love the taste of this creamy sauce. But since it’s slightly chunky (which my family doesn’t like), I whiz it in the blender until smooth. Then I serve it over bronzed rigatoni with grated parmesan and pepper for an easy meatless meal.
Stonemill pure vanilla extract
If you haven’t noticed, the vanilla price is quite steep. If I don’t have a bottle of homemade vanilla on hand, I get this small one, priced around $5.
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 are putting you off, I have two words for you: 99 cents! I know some people spend more on gourmet spices, and that’s great – but that’s not me. ALDI carries commonly used spices (like paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and parsley) for under a dollar, and I’m here for it!
Burman’s Simmer Sauces
These simmering sauces couldn’t be simpler to use: Brown chunks of your favorite protein (like chicken) plus some veggies (like peppers) in a pan, add the whole jar of sauce to a simmer, cover and cook. At the end, I add a shower of salt and a 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 meal much faster. Just 90 seconds in the microwave. It 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 informed me of this, which is similar to that of Ghiradelli.
Choceur Chocolate
And speaking of chocolate, ALDI’s European chocolate selection is *chef’s kiss*.
Kirkwood Ground Turkey & Chicken
I also regularly buy ground turkey and ground chicken at ALDI to make roast turkey tacos, meatballs, and other recipes.
Extra hard tofu is grown on Earth
I try to make at least one or two meatless dinners every week, so this is key. The super stable 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 to refrigerate it for a quick dinner in a pan: Cut it into bite-sized pieces along with sweet potatoes and vegetables, bake in a pan and pour sauce over it.
Countryside Creamery Sweet Cream Butter
I bake a lot and get all my butter at ALDI. The price is always good. It comes in salted and unsalted.
Deutsche Kuche Pork Schnitzel
THIS IS VERY GOOD. And it also comes in a chicken variety. But it’s seasonal, so grab it when you can (I currently have a stack in my basement freezer). I like to serve them with egg noodles, vegetables 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. Certainly not as good as my homemade pierogies. But as someone who grew up eating the stuff my Eastern European grandma made, I have to say it’s still pretty good!
