5 Great Foods at Aldi: Stretching Your Grocery Budget

Aldi stores are a haven for shoppers trying to stretch their grocery budgets. Aldi prices are low but shoppers can be intimidated by the lack of name brand items. When you are used to buying Kellogg's, Heinz and Ore Ida you might not know what to think of an Aldi store full of house brands you've never encountered.

After trial and error, I have discovered a great assortment of Aldi brand items that my family loves. Some Aldi brand items are just ok, some are good and a few are great. Those are the ones I would buy at Aldi even if I weren't trying to save money on my grocery budget.

Orange Chicken is a top choice for my entire family and I've heard many others say the same. The Aldi version of this Chinese Food classic is stocked in the frozen food case. This large box includes the breaded chicken nuggets which are not processed chicken pieces but actual pieces of chicken. The Aldi Orange Chicken package also includes a sauce package and rice. It is designed to serve four but families with big eaters will need two packages. Aldi Orange chicken is best when cooked in the oven although it also has directions for microwave preparation. For a great side item look for Crab Rangoon at Aldi also. While it is not quite as great as some other frozen brands we've tried, the Aldi version is good.

The frozen food department at Aldi is also the place to find a bag of uncooked, breaded chicken breasts. The package contains an average of eight chicken breasts. Like most Aldi items, the breasts are not uniform in size but that is often helpful in families with some big eaters and some kids who don't eat as much. Aldi's breaded chicken breasts are best prepared by frying in oil. They are great served out of the pan or as fried chicken sandwiches. For added flavor they can be tossed in hot sauce and put on a bun for a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. My personal favorite use is to top with pasta sauce and melted cheese. I then serve this version of Chicken Parmesan with a side of pasta for a great, easy and grocery budget friendly meal from Aldi.

Frozen Mixed Berries are another great find at Aldi when you are trying to stretch your grocery budget. The berries are flavorful and reasonably priced. Aldi's great price on these frozen berries allows shoppers to purchase a healthy addition to desserts and fruit dishes at a reasonable price.

Aldi brand Canned Corn is another favorite of my family. I have heard mixed reviews on the Aldi corn but I am very picky about the crispness and taste of corn. Aldi's corn is the first canned corn that I have really enjoyed. Like many Aldi products, the can of corn occasionally contains a discolored kernel or piece of cob but the taste and budget savings more than make up for the inconvenience of removing a few missed discolored kernels. Truthfully, I would make a special trip to Aldi just to purchase the corn even if the price were higher.

The fifth item on this list of five great foods at Aldi's is the bagged dried pineapple. These are usually stocked in the first aisle of Aldi near the snacks and baking items. The dried pineapple at Aldi's has mango on it which gives it an amazing flavor. While not a low-calorie snack, Aldi has found a winner with this product. Our family discovered this Aldi favorite when we heard from friends how good it was. One try was all it took for the Aldi dried pineapple to find a permanent home on our grocery lists, no matter how tight our budget gets.

Aldi grocery stores are a great place to shop and help stretch the grocery budget. Shoppers need not be overwhelmed by trying new brands. Many of the products at Aldi are as good as or better than the name brands we all know and love.