Aldi superfans share how they use the grocery chain's 2022 'fan-favorite' products
For loyal Aldi shoppers, love of the grocery chain and its brands runs deep. For the fourth year in a row, Aldi asked their customers to share their Aldi love, surveying over 100,000 Aldi fans to find out their favorite products.
The result is a comprehensive list of which products you should add to your shopping cart on your next Aldi run, from take-and-bake pizzas to versatile chicken tenderloins, perfect for adding to weeknight dinners.
But what is it about Aldi that shoppers love? Cristina Gonzalez, an Aldi shopper who lives in Boca Raton, Fla., loves the grocery store so much she started a Facebook group, Aldi Addicts, where she and nearly 30,000 other Aldi fans share recipes, product finds and more. With four Aldi stores close to her home, Gonzalez says she sometimes frequents the chain several times a week.
"I love Aldi so much," Gonzalez tells Yahoo Life. "I've been regularly shopping there for at least six years."
Not sure what to buy at Aldi? Yahoo Life chatted with Gonzalez and other Aldi superfans about how they incorporate some of this year's Aldi fan favorites into their own weekly cooking routines.
Hall of Fame: Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Take-and-Bake Deli Pizza
Gonzalez says these grab-and-go pizzas, found in the deli section, are essential in her home.
"Mama Cozzi's pizza is a must for our pizza Fridays," she says. "The taste is amazing and the price certainly beats ordering pizza from a restaurant."
Aldi shares that the pizzas are fan-favorite award winners three years in a row, a distinction Aldi fan Kathleen Vito says is well-deserved. "It's my go-to for a quick dinner for my husband and myself," she says. "I get one every trip. It goes directly on the oven rack, is ready in minutes and is just the right size for us and cheaper than driving to our neighborhood pizzeria and buying a small pepperoni pizza for two."
Get Up and Go: Specially Selected Indulgent Greek Yogurt
Available in honey and honey-vanilla varieties, this Greek yogurt is a two-time winner in the 2022 lineup.
LeeAnn Walters-Young lives in Ohio and says she's seen people on social media use the yogurt to make a key lime dessert by adding lime drink powder. "I've picked it up once in a pinch and used it as a substitute for sour cream when the stores were out," she shares.
What's for Dinner: Specially Selected Ravioli
"The Specially Selected ravioli is a great budget buy," says Gonzalez. "I can grab a pack for under $5, add my favorite marinara sauce and voilà: I have a high-end-tasting meal for under $10."
"That's a definite win for my budget and my taste buds," she adds.
Best for Boards: Emporium Selection Aged Reserve White Cheddar
Making summer charcuterie boards? This fan-favorite Aldi cheddar cheese was voted the best addition to any snack tray. And, according to Vito, who lives in Maryland, it's for good reason.
"It's just as good at Cabot's and again, [costs] much less in price," she says. "We eat it sliced with crackers, diced in salads and shredded up for cheesy mashed potato and tomato pie."
Pantry Staple: Simply Nature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil can quickly become a pricey addition to any pantry, but Vito says the Aldi version gets the job done just as well in her kitchen.
"I like the olive oil due to its quality and price," she says. "It's less expensive than even the Walmart brand."
"I also like the smaller bottles, as it stays fresher once you open it," she adds. "In order to get a lesser price per ounce, you have to get the big bottle at Walmart."
Produce Pick: Fresh Strawberries
Strawberries are a summertime staple, but they're sometimes hard to keep fresh in the refrigerator. Luckily, shoppers like Gonzalez have learned a way to stretch those berries a bit longer ... and it incorporates another of her favorite Aldi buys.
"My daughter loves strawberries and unfortunately for a while, they would go bad within a couple of days of buying them," she says. "I recently started storing them in my old Specially Selected pasta sauce jars and it's made a world of difference in how long they last. I bought some last week and they are still perfect."
Catch of the Day: Fresh Atlantic Salmon
Yes, Aldi even sells fish, fresh in the meat department. Their fresh salmon was voted "catch of the day" in the survey, and Gonzalez agrees it's a fantastic buy.
"I sometimes cook it with butter, salt and pepper," she says. "Other times, I pop it in the air fryer with some Príano Pesto (another Aldi brand)."
Her go-to salmon sides? "I prefer mashed potatoes, mixed veggies or broccoli," she says.
Meating Your Needs: Kirkwood Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins
Not a fan of fish? Aldi boneless skinless chicken tenderloins are another fan favorite. Walters-Young says the fresh chicken tenderloins are a must-have in her kitchen: one she's found many uses for.
"I love using them for this homemade Hibachi-style meal," she says. "We like to use them as they cook up quicker — we use a ramen-style noodle and frozen veggies from Aldi and use some of their Asian-inspired sauces as well."
Walters-Young says she also relies on the chicken to add to chicken pot pies or chicken dishes in her slow-cooker. "I like to use them in my crockpot for 'crack chicken'" she says. "It's Aldi cream cheese, dry ranch seasoning, chicken and shredded cheddar cheese ... the crack chicken is perfect with those tenderloins."
Other winners in the Aldi fan-favorite survey include pairing Specially Selected Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries for a "dynamic duo," snacking on Simply Nature Organic White Cheddar Puffs (a Pirate's Booty dupe), clinking glasses filled with Giambellino Peach Bellini or PurAqua Sparkling Flavored Water and spoiling Fido with Heart to Tail Dog Treats.
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