The 35 Best Foods You Can Buy at Aldi
Table of Contents
As a grocery fanatic and food writer, friends always ask me where to shop and what groceries to buy. To their surprise, I advise them to start at Aldi. It’s unlike other grocery shopping experiences. If you’re a first-time visitor, come prepared with a quarter to rent a shopping cart (don’t worry — you’ll get it back!), put away your brand loyalties, and don’t be shocked when you have to bag your own groceries.
I have personally taste-tested hundreds of products across every aisle of Aldi, so when I recommend a product, you know that I’m speaking from the heart (er, belly). I have narrowed down my favorite Aldi buys to these 35 essentials. These groceries are as good as (or better than) the name brand, despite being a fraction of the price.
Pantry
1. Specially Selected Pita Chips, $2.29 for 9 ounces
Pita chips have an irresistible crunch; they’re perfect for scooping up dips and crumbling over salads. Aldi’s Specially Selected Pita Chips cost less than $3 (much smaller bags at grocery stores near where I live in Georgia cost almost twice as much). And that’s not even the best part! Aldi’s pita chips are sturdy, yet perfectly crisp, and sprinkled with just the right amount of seasoning. These chips come in Sea Salt and Parmesan, and Garlic & Herb varieties.
2. Choceur Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, $3.99 for 12 ounces
Aldi’s chocolate selection strikes again with another winner — this time with the classic combination of milk chocolate and peanut butter. These bite-size treats are so legendary, shoppers make a special detour just for them. While each bag contains about 30 cups with a milky chocolate coating and smooth peanut butter filling, it still won’t be enough.
3. PurAqua Belle Vie Sparkling Flavored Water, $3.19 for 12 (12-ounce) cans
Another Aldi must-buy is the Belle Vie flavored sparkling water from PureAqua. The cans of effervescent water come in all of the classic flavors — plain, lemon, lime, and grapefruit. You can also find fruity flavors like blackberry and seasonal varieties. This is one time where comparison shopping is easy — boxes of a popular name-brand sparkling water are often shelved right next to Aldi’s store brand for a higher price.
4. Milleville Honey Grahams Cereal, $2.25 for 12 ounces
Aldi carries a surprisingly wide variety of cereal, and I tested every single one to find my favorite. Milleville Honey Grahams cereal won me over because it tastes like a mash-up of two of my childhood favorites. It has the rippled texture and honey graham sweetness I grew up on with incredible precision, and a dusting of sugar that adds a Cinnamon Toast Crunch vibe too.
5. Specially Selected Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, $1.59 for 18 ounces
If you haven’t tried Aldi’s Specially Selected Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix yet, you are in for a treat. I taste tested all of the brownie mixes that Aldi carries and this one came out on top. With a double dose of chocolate (cocoa powder in the mix and chocolate chips in the batter), every square has that shiny, crackly top and perfect texture that straddles the line between chewy and cakey. Pro tip: If you are team fudgy brownie, just slightly underbake them.
6. Specially Selected Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $8.99 for 16.9 ounces
I taste tested every bottle of olive oil that Aldi sells and this bottle of Specially Selected Extra Virgin Olive Oil was the best-tasting and most versatile. This olive oil has a robust, slightly grassy flavor (a great quality when it comes to olive oil). It is packaged in an elegant, green glass bottle that appears much more expensive than its $9 price tag. The oil is mild enough to be used as an all-purpose cooking oil, but has just enough personality to step up to finishing-oil status.
7. Specially Selected Premium Marinara, $3.89 for 24 ounces
Aldi curates its grocery offerings, so customer choice is limited for many staples. That is, except for pasta sauces. I tested 16 of Aldi’s private-label pasta sauces and found one that could pass for homemade. The Specially Selected Premium Marinara sauce tastes of fresh tomato with depth of flavor from onions and garlic. Even though Aldi now carries another of our favorite pasta sauces, I often find myself reaching for this budget-friendly option instead.
8. Priano Bronze Cut Pasta, $1.49 for 1 pound
Pasta is the backbone of my pantry (and probably yours too). Luckily Aldi sells high-quality bronze-cut pasta for less than $2 per one-pound package. This pasta is made from durum wheat semolina flour and made into a dough that’s pushed through bronze die. This manufacturing insight is of importance in the kitchen because pastas like these tend to have a slightly coarser texture, which helps sauces cling to them. Aldi sells fettuccine, linguine, chitarra, conchiglie, rigatoni, and penne pasta shapes.
9. Moser Roth Chocolate Bars, $1.65 for 4.4 ounces
Aldi is my go-to destination for high-quality chocolates at an affordable price. The award-winning German chocolates are smooth and rich with the perfect level of sweetness. Available all year round, shoppers can choose from chocolate varieties including dark, milk, mint, and orange-infused.
10. Specially Selected Premium Blackberry Fruit Spread, $2.69 for 9.95 ounces
There’s no better jar of fruit preserves to buy at Aldi than the Specially Selected Premium Blackberry Fruit Spread. Its flavor rivals the small-batch jars of imported jams and jellies, at a fraction of the price. The blackberry fruit spread is made with 75 percent fruit for a well-balanced, not-too-sweet flavor. Stir it into a yogurt parfait, add to thumbprint cookies, and include it on a charcuterie spread.
11. Southern Grove Shelled Pistachios, $3.89 for 6 ounces
With their subtle green hue, buttery flavor, and nutty crunch, pistachios are among the best nuts to buy. While shell-on pistachios are my pick for snacking, Aldi makes it easy to splurge on the shelled variety when it’s just $4 per package. With zero shelling involved, its easier to add pistachios to sheet pan dinners, make-ahead lentil salad lunches, and sweet smashed cookies.
12. Chef’s Cupboard Turkey Stuffing Mix, $0.85 for 6 ounces
There’s been no bigger shock in all my years of taste testing grocery products than when a $1 box of stuffing mix from Aldi took the top spot among 20 competitors. Beating out name brands and boxes from high-end grocers, Aldi’s stuffing mix tasted the most like homemade with natural variety in bread size and texture and a well-balanced herby flavor.
13. Simply Nature Garlic Powder, $1.95 for 2.5 ounces
Why spend up to $6 at another grocery store when you can get the same (or better) quality garlic powder at Aldi for just $2.09? Aldi’s garlic powder is made from organic and non-GMO garlic cloves that are dried and ground into a fine powder. It’s ideal for adding to all-purpose seasoning blends, shaking over air-fryer roasted potatoes, and adding flavor to homemade snack mixes.
Refrigerated Foods
14. Emporium Selection Le Gruyère Cheese, $4.79 for 6 ounces
Aldi’s cheese selection is one of the reasons I started shopping at the discount grocer. For years I’ve relied on Aldi when serving cheese and charcuterie for parties and holidays. There’s one cheese that I love above all others for it’s creamy, nutty flavor, but hate how pricey it can be at other stores. Now I buy Emporium Selection’s Le Gruyère Cheese so that I can sprinkle shreds of the cheese over mac and cheese, bake into a classic quiche Lorraine, or serve French onion meatballs with abandon.
15. Friendly Farms Cottage Cheese, $2.29 for 24 ounces
Even haters have to admit that cottage cheese has had quite a moment. Everywhere we look cottage cheese is transforming itself into three-ingredient pancakes, adding more protein to omelets, and melting into the creamiest sauce for pasta. With so many uses, it’s essential to buy a big container of cottage cheese. This fan-favorite product comes in a 24-ounce container for just about $2.
16. Emporium Selection Aged Reserve White Cheddar, $2.59 for 10 ounces
This block of aged white cheddar cheese is not only an Aldi fan favorite, but it’s also been one of our favorite cheeses for years. It’s tangy enough to make it memorable, while still maintaining widespread appeal. With its creamy texture and classic cheddar flavor, this is an obvious addition to any cheese board, cheese sauce, casserole, or sandwich.
17. Goldhen Pasture Raised Large Brown Eggs, $2.59 for 1 dozen
Aldi carries caged, organic, cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised eggs all at different price points. My pick is the pack of pasture-raised eggs, which sells for less than $3 a dozen and has the bright orange yolks I love. These eggs are the star of dishes like scrambled eggs and citrusy chess pie.
18. Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Take-and-Bake Pepperoni Pizza, $6.79 for 1 (16-inch) pizza
Aldi aficionados know that they have to shop on Thursday if they want to serve Mama Cozzi’s Take-and-Bake Pizzas for Pizza Friday. Shoppers love this house brand of pizza so much that some locations sell out of the pizza before the weekend begins. I tried every one of these XL pizzas and was blown away by the quality, flavor, and value. My favorite of the bunch was the pepperoni pizza, although there is a wide variety if you prefer different toppings.
19. Little Salad Bar Southwest Chopped Salad Kit, $2.99 for 12 ounces
Back in 2019 The Kitchn editors embarked on a mission to taste every salad kit we could get our veggie-loving hands on. While our editors enjoyed every one of Aldi’s offerings, Little Salad Bar’s Southwest Chopped Salad Kit was the ultimate favorite. The ready-to-eat salad is a mix of green and red cabbages, romaine lettuce, kale, carrots, and green onions (yum!) to be topped with tortilla strips, a four-cheese blend, and Greek yogurt jalapeño dressing. This taco salad-style mix won our hearts back then and hasn’t let go since.
20. Friendly Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, $2.19 for 64 ounces
My favorite from the entirety of Aldi’s offerings is the Friendly Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. I reach for it every morning — my coffee simply doesn’t taste as good with other brands of almond milk. Even if you don’t take almond milk in your cup of Joe, almond milk is still a great buy. It comes both sweetened and unsweetened, and in plain, vanilla, and chocolate varieties, so you can choose the carton that best suits your recipe. I reach for almond milk when I’m making oatmeal, chia pudding, vegan mac and cheese, pancakes, and smoothies.
21. Specially Selected Indulgent Greek Honey Vanilla Yogurt, $3.75 for 32 ounces
I purchased Aldi’s Specially Selected Indulgent Greek Honey Vanilla Yogurt on a whim and only had one regret: I wish I hadn’t waited so long to buy this fan favorite! This Greek-style yogurt is decadent, thick, and creamy. Its tangy flavor is balanced by the sweetness of honey and vanilla. Use it to build granola parfaits for breakfast or dessert, blend into smoothies, freeze into Popsicles, or use it to garnish a cake.
22. Little Salad Bar Ginger Vinaigrette, $3.49 for 11 ounces
I taste tested every single bottle of salad dressing that Aldi sells, and the Little Salad Bar Ginger Vinaigrette is the best one you can buy. This bottled dressing packs a punch with puréed ginger, carrots, savory tamari, and sweet apple juice.
23. Simply Nature 100% Grass Fed Organic Ground Beef, $5.49 for 1 pound
If buying grass-fed or organic ground beef is usually out of your budget, it’s time to try Aldi. Aldi’s Simply Nature 100% grass-fed organic ground beef is sold in recipe-ready one-pound packages. Plus they come vacuum-sealed, so I always buy an extra for the freezer.
24. Countryside Creamery Pure Irish Butter, $3.09 for 8 ounces
Just because it is a refrigerator staple doesn’t mean you have to settle for basic butter. Spring for the rich flavor of Aldi’s pure Irish butter for spreading on cinnamon-sugar apple muffins or turning into cowboy butter for dipping.
Bakery
25. Specially Selected Brioche Loaf, $4.19 for 17.6 ounces
The Specially Selected brioche loaves have been a favorite among Aldi shoppers for years. The sliced loaf comes in plain and chocolate chip varieties. With its soft texture, this brioche is perfect for French toast, grilled cheese, and BLTs.
26. Bake Shop Bakery Cinnamon Rolls, $3.59 for 8
If you love breakfast, what better place to start your day than Aldi? The cinnamon rolls from Aldi’s bakery aisle taste more like homemade than any other store-bought cinnamon roll I’ve tried — without any mixing, proofing, or rolling required. These frosted, ready-to-eat rolls are plush and soft right from the package, and are even better after a few minutes in a warm oven.
27. Specially Selected Brioche Rolls, $4.69 for 12 rolls
Would you believe some of the best supermarket brioche comes from Aldi? The chain has turned this eggy, buttery bread into rolls, buns, and loaves. While it’s hard to choose a favorite, the Specially Selected Brioche Rolls are the most versatile in the bakery aisle. The simplest way to enjoy the buns is to serve them with soups and salads, but don’t sleep on serving them as breakfast sandwiches or with hamburgers and BBQ pulled pork.
28. Specially Selected Italian Loaf, $3.99 for 24 ounces
Look no further if you’ve been searching for a store-bought loaf that tastes just like homemade. This bread has a tender crumb and chewy crust, and has won a permanent place on my shopping list. Use it to make your next cinnamon toast or deli-style reuben sandwiches.
29. L’Oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, $2.75 for 12 rolls
Not only are these Hawaiian sweet rolls among our favorite Aldi bakery buys, but they’ve also been rated a fan favorite among the store’s devoted shoppers. The rolls are soft, sweet, and perfect for cheesy chicken sliders and side dishes.
30. Simply Nature Organic Thin-Sliced Graintastic or Seedtastic Bread, $3.69 for 20 ounces
These loaves of hearty sliced bread are a ringer for one of our favorite brand-name breads. Simply Nature Organic Graintastic and Seedtastic bread is full of grains and seeds that add texture and flavor to every slice. This bread is a fraction of the price of the name brand, so I rarely leave Aldi without it.
Frozen Foods
31. Breakfast Best Original or Maple Pre-Cooked Sausage, $8.59 for 32 ounces
Aldi’s pre-cooked frozen sausage patties are so good that one of The Kitchn’s contributors drives 45 minutes just to buy them. These 3 1/2-inch sausage patties are significantly larger than most other frozen sausage, and because they’re already cooked, they won’t shrink upon reheating. The sausages are juicy, flavorful, and might just be the missing ingredient for at-home breakfast sandwiches.
32. Friendly Farms Whipped Topping, $0.99 for 8 ounces
Homemade whipped cream is a sweet and simple luxury, but that won’t stop me from keeping a container of Aldi’s Friendly Farms Whipped Topping in my freezer. This stabilized whipped topping keeps its fluff better than the homemade version in fruity salads, icebox cakes, and towering strawberry trifles.
33. Whole & Simple Southwestern-Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl, $3.09 for 10.5 ounces
If you’re ever at a loss for what to make for workday lunches or quick heat-and-eat dinners, let me recommend Aldi’s Whole & Simple Southwestern-Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl. You’ll find hearty bite-size pieces of chicken breast, and chunks of sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, and bell peppers mixed with quinoa, brown rice, and a spicy chipotle sauce. It’s just like the bowl meals you make at home — except 100 times easier.
34. Kirkwood Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets, $7.99 for 24 ounces
No list of Aldi’s best groceries would be complete without mention of “Red Bag Chicken.” This bag of frozen breaded chicken breast fillets is so popular it even has its own Facebook group with over 25,000 members. We can confirm that it makes a great (and affordable) Chick-fil-A-style sandwich. Keep it in your fridge when you need a quick-fire solution to weeknight dinners.
35. Sundae Shoppe Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Premium Ice Cream Bars, $3.49 for 3 bars
Decadent ice cream bars coated in a thick layer of nutty milk chocolate have always been a favorite treat reserved for special occasions. Now that I know Aldi sells them for just $3.49, every day is a special occasion.
Did your Aldi favorites make the list? Sound off in the comments below.
