No matter how committed you are to cooking every meal from scratch, plans can change. For days when you get home late from work, have kids who don’t want to eat the meal you prepared, or simply don’t have the energy to cook, keeping a few frozen dinners on hand is often a good idea. Knowing which freezer meals are worth stocking can help you maximize your grocery budget.
Aldi is famous for a few things. Its prices are hard to beat, weekly drops of new Aldi Finds keep shopping exciting for customers, and the European chain has a wide selection of frozen foods that range from party-worthy appetizers to easy proteins. To determine which frozen finds you should add to your cart when strolling the store’s aisles, we turn to two Aldi experts.
Gabrielle Palmeri (@dietitian.gabrielle), a food-focused content creator and registered dietitian, is adept at identifying fiber-rich, protein-packed frozen meals at Aldi that still taste delicious, and Ashley Williams, the Aldi superfan behind the “Oh Hey Finds” on Instagram and TikTok, regularly shares her recommendations for what to snag from the supermarket chain. Luckily for shoppers everywhere, both content creators are sharing their all-time favorite frozen meals from Aldi with Food & Wine.
Kirkwood Mexi Cali Style Chicken Patties
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Palmeri likes to stash convenient proteins in her freezer to make meal prep easier. One of her go-to items from Aldi is the vegetable-packed Kirkwood Mexi Cali Style Chicken Patties, made with roasted red peppers, cilantro, jalapeños, red onion, and pepper jack cheese. “These chicken patties are one of my favorite finds because each patty provides 27 grams of protein and has a simple ingredient list,” the dietitian explains. Palmeri also loves that these patties are surprisingly versatile. She serves them on a sandwich, slices them over a salad, or pairs them with vegetables and a high-fiber carbohydrate for a satisfying meal.
Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Chicken Fried Rice
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Although it’s easy to default to takeout when you’re craving fried rice, keeping a frozen version on hand is more affordable. Aldi’s Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Chicken Fried Rice rings in at under $4 for a single-serving package and features brown rice, grilled chicken breast, a sweet-and-savory sesame sauce, carrots, edamame, and scrambled egg.
Related: 7 Frozen Appetizers From Aldi That Taste Like Restaurant Favorites
Palmeri says, “Finding a convenient frozen meal that provides both protein and fiber while still having relatively straightforward ingredients can be challenging, which is why this one stood out to me — and [it] includes vegetables right in the dish.” The frozen fried rice packs 21 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving. You can heat this meal in the microwave, making it perfect for a quick office lunch.
Fremont Fish Market Seafood Boil
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Aldi offers an impressive selection of frozen seafood options, ranging from Snow Crab Clusters to Maryland Style Crab Cakes. Palmeri is a fan of the Fremont Fish Market Seafood Boil, which comes with raw shrimp, corn on the cob, mussels, red skin potatoes, and Andouille sausage, all tossed in a Cajun-style seasoning blend. “You’re getting protein, carbohydrates, and even some vegetables in one bag,” Palmeri says. “I love that you can keep something this flavorful in the freezer for an easy dinner.” Other Aldi shoppers have shared their love for this find on TikTok.
Specially Selected Mussels in Garlic Butter Sauce
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When you’re craving a brothy bowl of mussels — without the restaurant price tag — grab one of Palmeri’s other Aldi favorites, the Specially Selected Mussels in Garlic Butter Sauce. According to the dietitian, “Mussels are a great source of protein and are particularly rich in nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron.” The whole-shell mussels are simmered in butter sauce packed with garlic and parsley, yielding plenty of savory flavor in just a few minutes. Each two-serving package rings in at under $3, and this protein can be served over pasta or with a side of sourdough bread for dunking.
Whole & Simple Mediterranean Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl
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“I have been highlighting Aldi finds on my [social media accounts] for nine years and definitely have my favorites,” says Williams. The content creator’s short list of Aldi finds includes the Whole & Simple Mediterranean Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl, which is always stocked in her freezer.
This is another single-serving, microwaveable meal, and it comes complete with white and red quinoa, brown rice, chopped chicken breast, spinach, red bell peppers, onions, and sun-dried tomatoes, all seasoned with chicken broth, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. “Not only are [these bowls] flavorful and easy to grab for a mid-workday lunch, but they’re also packed with protein, making them a nutritious option ready in minutes,” Williams explains.
Related: The 3 Best Grocery Chains for Buying Frozen Meals
Mama Cozzi’s Breakfast Pizzas
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Aldi’s popular line of Mama Cozzi’s Breakfast Pizzas is a perennial favorite with many of its shoppers, and Williams is no exception. “The pork belly crumbles and bacon-topped variety is my favorite — the biscuit crust base adds to the bite of nostalgia you get!” the content creator says.
Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Biscuit Crust Breakfast Pizza features a country-style gravy instead of tomato sauce, a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, pork belly crumbles, bacon bits, green peppers, and onions, served atop a biscuit crust. Like many of Aldi’s frozen foods, the breakfast pizzas are intermittently in stock as Aldi Finds. If you spot them, you might want to stock up, because they tend to sell out quickly.
Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs
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Thanks to their versatility, Aldi’s Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs have earned Williams’ seal of approval. The meatballs are made with a blend of ground pork and beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and onion powder. Each 32-ounce bag comes with 64 meatballs for just $8.25, and as the package notes, they’re ready to eat in two minutes. Williams reports that “they are quick and tasty for meatball subs, soups, or pasta!” Keep a pack of these in your freezer at all times, and last-minute splurges on takeout may become much less frequent.
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