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Items from Aldi for fast weeknight meals

by Kristen

This post is not sponsored.  All opinions are my own. 

I am starting to enter the phase where I am just buying a lot of food.  My kids, they keep eating!  Plus, I have been trying to eat healthier myself, so we rarely eat out anymore.   Our weekly food haul is growing, and as my three sons get older, I think it will for the next several years.

I like to grocery shop at a variety of stores, primarily because I am often looking for unique ingredients for any particular recipe.  However, I do the bulk of my essential grocery shopping at Aldi.  You really can’t beat the prices at Aldi, plus I realize that I do prefer some of their basic products.  The frozen broccoli for example.  

There are a few items that I have started keeping around because I know I can use them when I want to throw together dinner, really fast.  I am going to share with you a few of my favorite products that I turn to for when I want to make something fast, and I am also going to list some recipe ideas with that product too.

Also, Check out my List of Favorite things to buy from Aldi. 

As we all know, product availability at Aldi changes. A lot.  I hope that I can keep this post updated, and I am sorry if you can’t find all of these products at your Aldi.  

Who doesn’t love making homemade pizzas with Naan?  It makes for an easy meal!  I often make mini pizzas for my kids out of whatever leftovers we have in the fridge.   Naan can be expensive at other grocery stores, but at Aldi Naan reasonably priced.

Barbecue Chicken Pizzas 

Breakfast Pizzas

Pepperoni and Veggie Pizzas

Ham and Cheese Paninis. 

Chicken Caeser Salad Flatbread

I had seen this sweet potato soup mix at Aldi since around Thanksgiving last year, and a genuinely hope it is here to stay.  My kids love this soup, and it is super easy to make.  All you do is add sweet potatoes and water.   You can switch it up too! They also carry a butternut squash soup mix, but it a little too sweet for me. 

Sweet Potato Soup with grilled cheese 

Sweet Potato Soup cooked with leftover chicken and frozen veggies 

Sweet Potato Soup with Roasted Corn 

Aldi carries chicken sausage in a bunch of different flavors!  I love keeping this around because it is precooked and will keep in the fridge for a few weeks.  This chicken sausage is so easy just to cut, heat and together with pasta, rice or salad.  My kids love it  Plus it contains no nitrates and contains no hormones.  It is also reasonably priced.

Chicken Sausage on a salad with berries and goat cheese

Chicken Sausage tossed with pasta and marinara sauce

Chicken sausage -vegetable rice bowls

Sausage and Peppers Polenta Bowls 

Sausage and Peppers Stuffed Shells 

Aldi has a vast assortment of Asian sauces that are all excellent!  My kids love Asian stir-fry, so I get these often.  Although these sauces have sugar, I still think that making homemade Asian food at home is much healthier than getting take-out.  Some of the other flavors that Aldi carries include sweet and sour, and orange chicken sauce.

Slow Cooker General Tso’s chicken- cut up pieces of chicken and place them in a slow cooker with the sauce.  Let cook for 4 hours.  Serve over rice with a side of veggies 

General Tso’s Tofu with rice and vegetables

I love the convenience of bagged salad kits during the week!  But I do think that $4.00-$5.00 is too much to pay for one.  Aldi has four salad kids that I love, and they are so much less expensive!   I love this Southwest chopped salad.  Not only do I like to dress it up a little bit for a meal, but on hectic nights I will throw this salad together to use as taco toppings.  It is so much faster than cutting all those veggies!

Chicken- Avocado and Roasted Corn Southwest chopped salad- Add cooked chicken, roasted corn and avocado slices to this bagged salad.   You can also add diced cherry tomatoes and olives!

Beef tacos with Southwest chopped salad taco toppings 

 

I generally prefer homemade soups from scratch.  However, I picked this up one day just in case I needed something fast, which happens around here.   This was a massive hit with the family, and it took 25 minutes from start to finish!  You can add whatever vegetable or meat you like., so it is a great meal you can make with leftovers!  I must admit, it was a little blander than the chili I usually make from scratch, but my husband and I just added some spice to our bowls.

Beef and Corn Chili- by adding one pound of ground beef and a bag of frozen corn

Chicken Chili- Add leftover shredded chicken to the soup mix

Sweet Potato-Quinoa Chili- Add a peeled, chopped sweet potato and 1/2 cup of drained quinoa to this soup mix.

This is the best rice ever.  I sometimes buy other brands of rice at other stores, and I keep coming back to this rice, and I find myself using jasmine rice in dishes that call for different types of rice.   It is not a secret that I love my Instant Pot.  I love making rice in my pot because it only takes 12 minutes!  It is super easy to throw together a quick casserole or a stirfry.

Shrimp Po Boy Rice Bowls

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole 

Burrito Bowls 

Coconut Curry Fried Rice 

Easy Weeknight Jambalaya 

These salmon burgers are a great way to switch up dinner!  They’re super easy to make!  I love making them in my countertop Griddler!  It is so much easier than grilling!

Salmon burger salad with roasted vegetables

Salmon Burger and sweet potato fries

Salmon burger with Asian Slaw

During busy nights, I make frozen vegetables. Often.  As much as I love fresh produce, I don’t always have time to prep fresh vegetables.  This frozen broccoli is the best-frozen broccoli out there.  I don’t have to wrestle my kids to eat this, especially when I put a little cheese on top.

After all these years quinoa can still be pretty spendy.  Aldi or Trader Joes is the only place I will buy it.  Aldi quinoa is reasonably priced, so I usually make sure I have some around.

Cheeseburger Quinoa Casserole 

Italian Quinoa Skillet 

Creamy Quinoa with Chicken and Peas 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Quinoa Casserole 

This organic Marinara sauce from Aldi is terrific.  There is no sugar and is just a delicious, simple sauce.   Not only do I love keeping it around for spaghetti, but I use it in other dinner recipes too.

Pork Parmesan 

Sheet pan Eggplant Parmesan 

Gluten-Free Pizza Casserole 

Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Zoodles 

Hawaiian Pizza Chicken

Supreme Pizza Chicken 

These mini butter croissants never last long in our house.  When I buy them they automatically become the favorite breakfast, snack, sandwich vessel and soup accompaniment.  They are a great price and are better then croissants I get from other stores.

Hot ham and cheese sandwiches 

Napa Cashew Chicken salad sandwiches 

Hawaiian Tuna Salad sandwiches 

 

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