Food & Drink

We Asked 4 Chefs What They Never Leave Aldi Without-and We're Taking Notes

By Kenn C. Bivins Parade - Food and Drink Stories

Updated May 11, 2026 8:08 AM

At this point, it's a given that when it comes to getting affordable groceries without sacrificing quality, Aldi is likely high on your list. This grocery store can be a one-stop shop for all your kitchen essentials, from tried-and-true pantry staples to chef-approved products you'd be hard-pressed to find cheaper anywhere else (not to mention the beloved Aldi Finds products).

When it comes to sussing out which Aldi items should actually make their way into your cart, though, it can be trial and error, meaning you're spending time and money to find the best products that are both tasty and a great value. If you're a busy home cook looking to get dinner on the table fast without putting in too much additional effort, it's nice to just grab what you need at Aldi and go. Plus, it also doesn't hurt to have a list of high-quality go-tos that you can rely on to deliver every single time. A more streamlined shopping trip? That sounds good to us.

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Luckily, we've done the hard part for you and consulted the experts who know and love Aldi so that you can speed through your grocery haul in record time and have more time in your day to do literally anything else.

Here are four chef-approved staples to look for on your next trip to Aldi.

Our Panel of Chefs

Barry Miles: Chef Barry Miles is a culinary advisor for Cargill and also has extensive experience in the food industry, working with restaurants across the country.

Rena Awada: Chef Rena Awada is the head chef and food blogger behind Healthy Fitness Meals, a platform dedicated to sharing wholesome, healthy recipes inspired by your favorite dishes.

JD Alewine: Chef JD Alewine, a former sushi chef and lover of all things Aldi, currently runs the food blog Them Bites with his wife, Maddy. Together, they create accessible, budget-friendly recipes that anyone can cook.

Rachel Kirk: Chef Rachel Kirk is a recipe developer with more than 10 years of experience creating delicious, easy-to-follow recipes for home cooks.

What 4 Chefs Never Leave Aldi Without

If you need some food inspiration before your next grocery store trip, look no further. Here's what four chefs love to stock up on at Aldi.

1. Aldi Emporium Selection Aged Reserve New York White Cheddar Cheese

You can never go wrong with a good go-to cheese, whether you're using it for sandwiches, quesadillas or simply just to enjoy by itself. According to Rachel Kirk, chef and recipe developer of Laughing Spatula, Aldi's Emporium Selection Aged Reserve New York White Cheddar Cheese ($2.75) perfectly fits the bill. "It's mildly flavored, not too sharp, but it still has a slight bite," she says. "It is my go-to for charcuterie platters because it is such a crowd-pleaser, but I've even used this as a shredded topping on soups and casseroles."

2. Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth

It's impossible to overstate the importance of chicken broth in the kitchen, and according to Chef Rena Awada, head chef and food blogger at Healthy Fitness Meals, Aldi's Simply Nature Organic Chicken Broth ($2.15) can't be beat. "It's the kind of pantry staple that quietly makes everything better," she says. "I use it as a base for soups and stews obviously, but also for braising vegetables, cooking grains, deglazing pans, anywhere you'd add water but want more depth." She also mentions that the price point for the quality makes it something "you want six of in the pantry at all times."

3. Aldi Fresh Atlantic Salmon Portions

Nothing beats throwing dinner together with minimal effort, and for JD Alewine, a former sushi chef turned food blogger at Them Bites, Aldi's Fresh Atlantic Salmon Portions make that possible. "When we're trying to be healthy, we love the Fresh Atlantic Salmon Portions," he says. "These are great to season and throw in the oven with a sheet pan full of veggies." Typically, you'll find them in vacuum-sealed packages sold by weight, priced at about $9 per pound.

4. Aldi USDA Choice Birria-Style Beef

Birria is everywhere these days, but actually making it from scratch can take up more time than you might have on a weekday. Luckily, Chef Barry Miles says Aldi's quick-and-easy USDA Choice Birria-Style Beef is the perfect option when the only thing you have time for is turning on the slow cooker. "Aldi's Birria-Style Beef makes this global flavor accessible to home chefs for the kind of meal that feels restaurant-quality but fits into real life," he says.

What To Look for When Shopping at Aldi

According to our panel of experts, the main thing to look for when shopping at Aldi is almost always something that you can use to add flavor to a dish without much extra effort on your part. This can include things like pasta sauces and seasoning blends or even prepared proteins.

3 Other Chef-Favorite Aldi Finds

Here are three more Aldi finds that chefs love to use.

Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce: Although you can find Rao's at pretty much any grocery store, our chefs agree that Aldi has this fan-favorite pantry find for the best price. If you can't find Rao's, our experts suggest choosing the Aldi Specially Selected Marinara Pasta Sauce as an alternative for half the price.
Dried Pasta: As far as pantry staples go, dried pasta is a must in any kitchen, and Aldi's extensive selection is worth stocking up on in all shapes and sizes. Not only will you find standard shapes like spaghetti and penne, but every now and then Aldi will add finds like Specially Selected Bronze-Cut Paccheri Rigati or Fusilloni. Our chefs say if you can find either one of those pasta shapes on shelves, you should definitely toss them into your cart.
Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pepperoni Deli Pizza: Realistically, any of Aldi's frozen pizzas are a great choice, but according to our experts, Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pepperoni Deli Pizza is one you'll want to reach for again and again. It's great on its own, but you can also jazz it up by adding additional toppings like onions, bacon or even broccoli.

Final Takeaways

Trying to navigate all the foodie finds at Aldi can take a little more time than you might otherwise have for grocery shopping. Sure, you could just fill your cart with everything that catches your eye (which is totally understandable), but why not save yourself some time and reach for chef-approved staples that'll do most of the heavy lifting?

Whether you're looking for a ready-to-cook protein, upgraded Italian favorites or something to add to your personal charcuterie board, happy shopping!

This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 6:54 AM.