I shop at Aldi for my family 4 on a budget of $125 a week. Here are my 12 favorite frozen foods to get.
I do most of the cooking for my family of four so I turn to Aldi's frozen section for easy meals.
For the main course, we pick up Specially Selected haddock fillets and Oakhurst chicken drumsticks.
Easy-to-prepare foods like the Four Seasons potato waffles and crinkle-cut chips make great snacks.
When it comes to whipping up quick lunches and dinners for my family of four, I turn to the UK's cheapest supermarket — Aldi. In particular, I love the chain's frozen-food section.
Some locations in the UK are small and don't have many frozen options, but my local Aldi has everyday basics like pizza or fish and fun options like bao-bun kits and mochi ice cream. My usual grocery budget is about $125 a week, and my grocery list features a number of frozen items.
Here are 12 of my favorite frozen foods to get at Aldi.
The Carlos pepperoni pizza is always a simple favorite.
Of course, pizza has to have a spot in our freezer. The Carlos thin-crust double-pepperoni pizza is ready to eat after just 14 minutes in the oven.
Get a few pizzas together and you've got a popular choice for any party-snack selection. We'll often pair pizza with a simple salad for a quick and no-fuss weekend lunch.
One pack of Carlos double-pepperoni pizza costs £1.40, or about $1.80.
The Four Seasons crinkle-cut ships serve as a versatile side for almost any meal.
The Four Seasons chips, or what Americans call french fries, are fluffy yet crispy. Their crinkle-cut shape adds a bit more novelty for the kids at meal times and keeps things interesting.
The chips only need about 12 minutes in the air fryer until they're nice and crispy.
A bag of the Four Seasons crinkle-cut chips costs £2.10.
The Four Seasons potato waffles are a warm, delightful snack.
The Four Seasons potato waffles are great for breakfast or as a snack.
They're versatile enough to pair well with pretty much anything, such as sausages, spaghetti hoops, or beans.
A pack of the Four Seasons potato waffles costs £1.50.
The chicken nuggets at Aldi come with dips.
Battered chicken nuggets from Aldi sort of resemble those sold by a major fast-food emporium.
These packs of 12 nuggets come with both BBQ and sweet-chili dips and contain plenty of pieces, even when you need to share. They're light but still taste as satisfying as if they'd come from a fast-food joint.
A pack of 12 chicken nuggets costs £2.
Fish and chips are a staple British treat, especially on weekends.
The Specially Selected haddock fillets have a crunchy, crispy beer batter on the outside and fluffy and flaky fish on the inside.
I also like that these haddock fillets are Marine Stewardship Council-certified, meaning they come from a sustainably managed fishery.
A pack of two Specially Selected haddock fillets costs £4.70.
The Oakhurst pre-marinated chicken drumsticks are tender and tasty.
The Oakhurst marinated chicken drumsticks, which come in smoky BBQ and hot and spicy flavors, are quick and easy to make in an air fryer and are great to serve at a party or for dinner. You can even use them when batch-cooking several meals.
For example, I prepare the chicken drumsticks with pasta or fried rice for the week. As they are pre-marinated, they always turn out really flavorsome and tender.
A pack of the Oakhurst chicken drumsticks cost £2.
It seems bao buns are having a moment.
Bao buns, which are like an Asian slider, seem to be popping up everywhere in the last few years. It was only a matter of time before meal kits started incorporating them.
The Street Eats Ready, Set ... Cook! bao bun kits include a couple of buns, marinated chicken, and a pouch of sauce. They're ideal as a light snack or starter and aren't too greasy.
A Street Eats bao-bun kit costs £3.50.
The Fishmonger tempura prawns are great for parties.
Shrimp is expensive these days, so I think The Fishmonger tempura version is a real bargain. We love tempura prawns because they're crispy, light, and delicious.
Pair them with some Marie-Rose dip (a blend of tomatoes, mayonnaise, and Worcestershire) or sweet-chili sauce and you've got a tasty treat or starter. I love that these can also go in the air fryer.
A pack of 12 tempura prawns costs £1.80.
Gianni's mochi balls are a crowd-pleaser at dinner parties.
Mochi ice-cream balls, another Japanese favorite, have also found their way into the freezer aisle. Gianni's mochi balls combine caramel and ice cream and wrap the combination in a layer of soft, sweet rice dough.
These aren't the cheapest dessert at Aldi, but I think they're worth the price with their luxurious texture and taste. The mochi balls also come in coconut and raspberry-cheesecake flavors.
A pack costs £3.50.
The Street Eats Ready, Set, ... Cook chicken gyros pack the Mediterranean flavor.
My family adores Mediterranean food because it always seems to come out well-grilled and seasoned. The Ready, Set ... Cook! gryos kit from Street Eats combines two fluffy flatbreads, cooked marinated chicken, and a pouch of delicious tzatziki sauce.
They're ready in just 12 minutes. All you need is some chips and salad to make it a meal.
A pack of two costs £3.70.
I think the Specially Selected Halloumi fries are great for vegetarians.
The Specially Selected Halloumi fries feature a light, crispy coating and take just 10 minutes in the oven.
I like to whip up an aioli with some olive oil and garlic and serve it with the fries.
A pack of the Specially Selected Halloumi fries costs £2.50.
Gianni's mango sorbet is a fragrant, light dessert.
A tub of Gianni's mango sorbet is refreshing and sweet yet tangy.
It's also super smooth, making each spoonful a delight. I'd even wager that it's too good to share.
A tub of Gianni's mango sorbet costs £2.
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