25+ Best ALDI Products To Always Have for Easy Dinners

Kirkwood Ground Turkey ($4.69) and Ground Chicken ($3.69)

When beef prices went through the roof, I switched and haven’t really looked back. Use the turkey in my reader-favorite Baked Turkey Tacos or in my Homemade Spaghetti Sauce in place of beef. I love using the chicken in Pinch of Yum’s Egg Roll Tacos too.

• Brown and sprinkle with taco seasoning (my current favorite is Penzey’s) for quick tacos, burritos, or taco bowls.
• Brown and simmer in jarred marinara for a fast pasta meal.
• Mix with breadcrumbs, seasoning, and egg for homemade meatballs.

Atlantic Salmon ($11/pound)

This fresh salmon cooks fast (about 12-15 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees, depending on thickness) and feels like an elevated meal without a lot of effort.

• Brush with teriyaki or barbecue sauce and roast in the oven.
• Air fry, and add to a bowl with an ALDI 90-second rice pouches and steamed veggies for a quick salmon bowl.
• Roast or air fry, cool slightly, and flake on top of main dish salads.

Earth Grown Extra Firm Tofu ($1.55)

I try to make at least one meatless dinner a week, and this tofu makes that easy. The extra-firm variety is key. It holds its shape and is less squishy than softer varieties.

• Make a batch of Crispy Tofu and serve over rice with teriyaki sauce and edamame.
• Crumble and pan-fry to add to stir-fries with frozen veggies and ALDI teriyaki sauce.
• Bake a batch into these kid-friendly Tofu Bowls with Peanut Sauce.

Never Any Chicken Apple Sausage ($2.99)

This is one of my favorite, underrated ALDI finds. The apple-chicken flavor combo works really well with roasted veggies. At less than $3, it’s a bargain too.

• Slice into coins and make my Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage and Veggies with Maple-Thyme Drizzle.
• Slice and saute with peppers and onions for a quick skillet dinner.
• Cook and serve with breakfast for dinner.

Shredded Seasoned Chicken Breast ($7.15)

This is a pricier shortcut but saves serious time (and hey, still cheaper than take-out). On nights when cooking a protein just isn’t happening, this saves the day.

• Heat and mix with barbecue sauce, pile on buns with slaw for sandwiches.
• Heat and put on flour tortillas with shredded cheese and salsa for quick tacos
• Use in pot pies (grab the ALDI pie crust) or stir into soups instead of cooking chicken from scratch.

Priano Bronze Cut Pasta ($1.89)

This is a bit more expensive than regular pasta, but it’s special for a reason: The slightly rougher texture of “bronze cut” means sauce clings to it better. ALDI has a few different shapes to choose from.

• Toss with Priano Marinara Sauce and shredded parm for a quick meatless meal.
• Cook and toss with jarred pesto, white beans, and a handful of baby spinach.
• Use as a base for a baked pasta dish like lasagna or baked rigotoni.

Reggano Pizza Sauce ($1.09)

At just over a dollar, this is one of the best deals at ALDI. Have a flat-ish bread product kicking around? Voila! Pizza night.

• Spread on flour tortillas with shredded mozzarella, and heat in a skillet for pizza quesadillas.
• Make French bread pizzas: Split an ALDI baguette, top with sauce, cheese, and favorite toppings, and broil until bubbly.
• Spoon onto ALDI naan bread and let everyone add their favorite toppings. Broil or bake until melty and bubbly.

Priano Marinara Sauce ($2.89)

A good jarred marinara sauce is a family dinner workhorse. I always have a jar in my pantry.

• Serve over ALDI bronze cut pasta with or without meat
• Spoon over baked chicken.
• Simmer with frozen meatballs for easy meatball subs.

Burman’s Simmer Sauce ($3.69)

These simmer sauces come in a couple different varieties, and they make it easy to cook an Indian-inspired dinner on a random Tuesday night. The method is the same across varieties: Brown a protein, add veggies and sauce, cover and simmer. Serve over rice.

• Brown chicken thighs, add the whole jar of simmer sauce, cover and cook for about 15 minutes. Serve over rice with ALDI naan on the side.
• Add a can of chickpeas and simmer for a meatless version.
• Stir in a spoonful of heavy cream, plain yogurt, or sour cream at the end for extra richness.

Burman’s Teriyaki Stir-Fry Sauce ($2.19)

A good shortcut sauce when you don’t have the time or energy to mix something up from scratch.

• Brush onto salmon before baking.
• Add to stir-fries.
• Drizzle over rice bowls (like my Meal Prep Bowls.)

Earthly Grains 90-Second Rice Pouches ($1.29)

Yes, I know how to cook rice. But on a weeknight with hungry people in your kitchen, 90 seconds instead of 30 minutes makes alllllll the difference. These pouches are a pantry hero.

• Serve as the base for any bowl dinner: tofu, chicken, shrimp, you name it.
• Heat, mix with soy sauce and fried eggs and veggies for fried rice.
• Add to soups to save time vs cooking rice from dry.

Simply Nature Beans ($.99)

At less than a dollar, canned beans might be the single best value on this list! They’re high in protein, high in fiber, shelf-stable, and endlessly versatile.

• Season and mash for quick black bean tacos or quesadillas.
• Add to a big pot of chili with ground turkey and canned tomatoes.
• Toss into a main dish salad or rice bowl for extra protein.

Specially Selected Pure Maple Syrup ($4.99)

Maple syrup for dinner? Yes, because it adds a subtle sweetness to savory recipes and because dinner for breakfast (aka “brinner”) is a legit meal that kids love.

• Mix with soy sauce and garlic for a quick maple-soy glaze for salmon or chicken
• Whisk into a sauce for my Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage dinner
• Serve with Protein Pancakes or Protein Waffles for breakfast for dinner.

Pueblo Lindo Flour Tortillas ($1.95)

A kitchen staple, at less than two bucks. And a way to stretch dinner a little further.

• Make tacos with any protein: ground turkey, shredded chicken, shrimp, black beans.
• Cook up quesadillas: Fill with cheese and leftover protein and cook in a skillet until golden brown.
• Use as a base for personal pizzas.

Specially Selected Brioche Buns ($3.99)

These soft, slightly sweet buns make any burger or sandwich feel a little more special.

• Use for burgers (beef, turkey, chicken, or veggie) for elevated burger night.
• Toast and top with red bag chicken, lettuce, and sauce for a restaurant-style chicken sandwich.
• Use for breakfast-for-dinner egg sandwiches.

I created a free 5-Day ALDI Fall & Winter Dinner Plan with five simple, family-approved dinners and a done-for-you shopping list using ingredients you can find at ALDI.

This is for you if you…
✔️ Want easy dinners you don’t have to think about
✔️ Shop at ALDI (or want to start!)
✔️ Have picky eaters or busy nights
✔️ Don’t want to waste food or money

Artisan Lettuce ($2.99)

Yes, this takes more time than pre-washed greens. But these four heads of lettuce are much tastier and prettier, and they tend to last longer in the fridge too.

• Top with shredded chicken, black beans, or any protein for main dish salads.
• Use the green crunchy lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps.
• Put the leaves on BLT sandwiches.

Tasteful Selections Honey Gold Bite-Size Potatoes ($2.99)

These little spuds are pre-washed, which saves precious time on a weeknight. They look cute too.

• Par-boil, smash, drizzle with olive oil, and roast until crispy around the edges.
• Halve and toss onto a sheet pan with a protein and veggies.
• Boil and butter for a simple, comforting side dish.

Fremont Fish Market Frozen Breaded Fish ($4.69)

A box of frozen fish fillets is a reliable backup dinner: Easy, fast, and my family likes it.

• Bake, cut fillets in thirds, and put in flour tortillas with shredded cabbage for quick fish tacos.
• Serve with fries and malt vinegar for classic fish-n-chips.
• Put on buns with tartar sauce for quick fish sandwiches.

Fremont Fish Market Frozen Shrimp ($6.49)

Shrimp cooks in about 3-4 minutes, making it one of the fastest proteins you can put on a weeknight dinner table.

• Saute with garlic and olive oil, and toss with lemon juice and pasta.
• Stir fry with vegetables and teriyaki sauce and put over rice.
• Cook and add to flour tortillas with avocado and lime for quick shrimp tacos.

Earth Grown Frozen Meatless Meatballs ($4.99)

This is a simple way to go meatless. See if your gang even notices. (There is a meat version too.)

• Simmer in jarred marinara and serve over spaghetti for classic spaghetti and meatballs.
• Pile onto toasted sub rolls with marinara or pizza suace and mozzarella for meatball subs.
• Serve on slider buns with marinara for meatball sliders.

Kirkwood Chicken Breast Fillets ($7.99)

This ALDI fan favorite has a cult following. There are entire dedicated Facebook pages for “ALDI Red Bag Chicken”!

• Bake, melt slices of mozzarella over the top, and serve with pasta and marinara for chicken parm.
• Slice and serve over romaine, add croutons and parm for chicken Caesar salads.
• Serve on brioche buns (also on this list!) with lettuce and your favorite sauce for fancy chicken sandwiches.

Simply Nature Organic Frozen Mixed Vegetables ($1.59)

At less than two bucks, this is a great nutritional bargain and a way to always have veggies on hand.

• Stir into fried rice with egg and soy sauce.
• Add to soups and stews in the last few minutes of cooking.
• Steam and serve as a simple side dish with any protein.

Season’s Choice Frozen Edamame ($2.49)

Good to keep in the freezer for nights when your dinner needs a little protein boost.

• Add to rice bowls alongside my Crispy Tofu or another protein.
• Add to stir-fries.
• Serve as a quick side with a sprinkle of salt.

Season’s Choice Frozen Strawberries ($4.29)

Weird to have frozen berries on a dinner list? I regularly blend up smoothies when we’re having a lighter meal like sandwiches or frozen pizza. They’re also a breakfast-for-dinner staple.

• Heat and serve over Protein Pancakes in place of syrup.
• Thaw and spoon over yogurt for a simple dessert.
• Blend into smoothies for a breakfast-for-dinner smoothie bar night.

Mama Cozzi’s Frozen Pizza ($4.49)

Open my freezer, and you’ll probably find a frozen pizza in there, just waiting for an especially hectic night. No judgements here.

• Serve with a big salad on the side.
• Top with extra veggies before baking to add more nutrition.
• Use it as an easy Friday Pizza Night and call it a day.

L’Oven Fresh Garlic Bread ($3.49)

Behold the magic of garlic bread: It turns a boring dinner into something better. It’s not leftovers. It’s leftovers with garlic bread! It’s soup from a can with garlic bread! You get the picture.

I created a free 5-Day ALDI Fall & Winter Dinner Plan with five simple, family-approved dinners and a done-for-you shopping list using ingredients you can find at ALDI.

This is for you if you…
✔️ Want easy dinners you don’t have to think about
✔️ Shop at ALDI (or want to start!)
✔️ Have picky eaters or busy nights
✔️ Don’t want to waste food or money