I'm a private chef who tried 25 frozen meals from Aldi, and there are 16 I'd definitely buy again
I'm a private chef and Aldi fan — I can't believe I've missed out on some of these frozen meals.
Some of my favorite frozen dishes include orange chicken, seafood bowls, and meaty lasagna.
I thought some of the microwavable and skillet-ready prepared meals left something to be desired.
Although I'm a private chef, I'm also a mother of two. Sometimes even I rely on frozen meals to get dinner on the table quickly.
Fortunately, the budget grocer Aldi has impressed me many times with its frozen meals. So, I tried as many as I could find to see which I'd like to add to my regular dinner rotation.
Here's how Aldi's frozen meals stacked up.
Editor's Note: Item availability and prices may vary.
I wasn't expecting much from these Priano stuffed shells, but the price made them a must-try.
In my experience, frozen noodles can be mushy, and ricotta can be grainy in prepackaged meals like these. Still, at only $4 for a bag, I had to try these.
These cheesy delights were delicious.
Fortunately, I ended up pleasantly surprised by the Priano meal — and the large size of the shells was a bonus.
The flavor was on point — the pasta didn't even need extra salt. I was also impressed by the smooth, creamy filling and the perfectly al dente pasta.
Verdict: This is quite possibly the best frozen meal I've ever tasted. And for $4, I will be buying it every time I shop at Aldi.
I was interested to see how an Aldi skillet-pasta meal compared to national brands like Bertolli.
The Priano chicken Florentine and farfalle caught my attention. It reminded me of frozen pasta dishes from big-name competitors like Bertolli, so I was curious how it'd stack up.
In a pinch, something so quick and convenient can be great to stash in the freezer.
I didn't like this one.
The garlic flavor tasted a bit too artificial for me, and I thought there was so much spinach in the dish that each bite had a bitter finish. The chicken was tender, but there wasn't nearly enough of it.
Verdict: Unless you are related to Popeye, skip this skillet meal and opt for one of Priano's other solid options.
I was incredibly skeptical of the Specially Selected mussels.
Frozen seafood can be tricky to get right so the Specially Selected mussels had me skeptical at first.
Upon opening the package, though, I started to sing a different tune. They were vacuum sealed and smelled incredibly fresh.
The sauce could have been a bit richer for my taste, but the shellfish was tender and delicious.
I love mussels but don't make them very often because they're a total pain to prepare. I typically only order mussels at restaurants so I can avoid scrubbing, removing the beards, and worrying they'll be sandy.
Verdict: For under $4, these mussels make the perfect appetizer for an at-home date night. I am so glad that I tried them.
The Whole & Simple Mediterranean-style chicken and quinoa bowl was pretty big.
I appreciated that there were some wholesome ingredients in this bowl, like quinoa. Plus, with 17 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber, this seemed like a fairly healthy option for a last-minute lunch.
I didn't love the quinoa bowl, but it tasted very fresh for a microwaveable dish.
The bowl tasted fresh and the pieces of chicken breast seemed higher quality than they have in other single-serve frozen meals I've tried. But the bowl was very heavy on the sun-dried tomatoes and the taste was quite bland, in my opinion.
Verdict: I tried adding my own seasoning but this still didn't have enough flavor for me. I wouldn't buy it again.
I was excited to try the chicken fried rice from Aldi's Asian-inspired brand Fusia.
I noticed right away that there was a generous amount of grilled chicken in the bag, which you don't always get in low-cost frozen dishes.
The Fusia chicken fried rice was very easy to prepare in a skillet on the stove.
The flavor of the sauce was fine, but the texture was a miss.
The chicken was solid, but I thought the rice was mushy. I also didn't love that there were so many carrots.
Verdict: This one didn't make the cut for me. The tasty chicken doesn't outweigh the not-so-great texture of the rice itself.
After the rice, I wasn't optimistic about the Fusia orange chicken.
Off the bat, I noticed the frozen pieces of chicken were inconsistently sized, so I knew I'd need to pull the smaller bites out of my air fryer sooner than the large ones.
For $8, I also would've liked for there to have been a few more pieces in the bag.
This orange chicken was incredibly good.
The breading was light and incredibly crispy. I would describe the dish as tasting like ginger chicken, not orange, but the hint of spice and the generous amount of sauce provided were a nice surprise.
Verdict: This was high enough quality that it's a good substitute if you want to avoid getting takeout, The only thing wrong with this meal was that it disappeared too quickly. Next time, I'll buy two bags.
The packaging made Mama Cozzi's stone-baked veggie pizza look very appealing.
My experience with Mama Cozzi's frozen pizzas has always been positive. Plus the photo of the veggie pizza on the package looked delicious.
Upon removing the pizza from the package, though, it presented more like a flatbread, with a crust somewhere between thin and rising-crust style. Still, I liked that the veggies looked like they had actually been grilled.
The pizza was OK.
The tomato sauce was on the sweeter side and the vegetables had a nice smoky flavor. Sadly, I don't think this had enough cheese to fulfill a proper pizza craving. I had to add some mozzarella to convince my husband to try it.
Verdict: I'd rather just throw some of my own toppings on a plain frozen pizza from Aldi next time.
I've found the Deutsche Küche line from Aldi to be hit or miss, but I was excited to try the chicken schnitzel.
The chicken schnitzel box had instructions to deep-fry or pan-fry the patties. Baking was not an option.
This wasn't a deal-breaker but most freezer meals require very little babysitting with oven or microwave prep so it lost a few points in my book.
The schnitzel came out tender and juicy — likely because of the cooking method.
The chicken schnitzel was definitely improved with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of salt. My kids appreciated how well the breading stayed on the patty.
Verdict: I think these would make for great sandwiches, but this was the most expensive item I purchased. I feel $10 for a box of six pieces of chicken is a little pricey.
The Specially Selected shrimp and scallops with champagne sauce came in terracotta dishes.
The shrimp-and-scallop bowls came in a pack of two. Both servings came in terracotta dishes, which felt like a cute touch for an already elegant-sounding meal.
The smaller portion size probably puts the shrimp and scallops in more of the appetizer category for most, but I'm already looking forward to reusing the dishes to recreate it.
I served the bowl with salad and baguette, and it worked as a delightful dinner.
The champagne sauce was delicious and truly tasted homemade. The bay scallops and shrimp remained tender through the baking process, and this meal was very enjoyable. The bowl paired well with a simple salad and baguette.
Verdict: I highly recommend buying these Specially Selected seafood pots if you can find them.
These breaded chicken-breast filets are famous for being an Aldi staple that rivals Chick-fil-A.
Red Bag Chicken, or "RBC" for short, is a cult favorite that possesses its very own Facebook appreciation group. They are famously used to create dupes of Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwiches.
One thing to keep in mind is that they take significantly longer to prepare than a lot of frozen chicken — it took me about 40 minutes to achieve a crispy texture.
This chicken was worth the wait.
Aldi's RBC is fantastic and the price and cook time were worth it. The chicken filets tasted beautifully seasoned, with a delightful crunch, juicy meat, and a slightly sweet finish.
Verdict: Don't be like me and pass these over because of the price. RBC is worth every bit of $8 for the five or six pieces per bag.
The Earth Grown black-bean chipotle burgers are vegan.
I wanted to make sure that I sampled something from Aldi's meatless category, and I have a penchant for all things chipotle so I opted for the Earth Grown black-bean chipotle burgers.
I prepared these black-bean burgers in a skillet, but I bet they could easily hold up on a grill.
Both the texture and flavor of the black-bean burgers impressed me.
When it comes to meat-free frozen food, mushiness can be an issue. But with chunks of whole black beans and corn, the bite of the burger made the cut even for my skeptical husband.
The Southwestern flavor was apparent, and they had a great kick of spice.
Verdict: These chipotle black-bean burgers made for a quick and undeniably satisfying vegetarian meal. For $3 for four patties, I think the burgers are a great freezer staple.
There are so many frozen lasagnas out there, but I'd never tried the Bremer option from Aldi.
This was a generously sized 38-ounce lasagna for $7. It stood out to me because the box says it uses freshly made pasta, which I've never seen in a dish like this one.
The bistro lasagna with meat sauce was a hit with my family.
There was something comforting about the flavor of this dish that took me back to childhood. The tomato sauce was sweet and mild, the meat was tender, and the noodles were thick and al dente, no mush in sight.
Verdict: Was it a gourmet experience? nah. Was it a cheesy, meaty meal that required absolutely no effort on my part and no prompting for my 5-year-old and 8-year-old to consume? Yes. I'll be buying this one again.
I bought a large bag of Specially Selected shrimp-and-crab ravioli for $2.50
Aldi seasonally sells fresh pasta versions of both crab and lobster ravioli, but they are pricier than this frozen option and only feed two people. This Specially Selected bag was hefty and served four.
With a quick fresh tomato sauce, these ravioli made for a good meal.
I didn't find chunks of shrimp or crab, but the ricotta filling had a nice fresh flavor and lacked the fishiness that sometimes ruins frozen seafood products.
This ravioli also cooked really nicely, unlike some other brands that stick together and tear during the boiling process, leaving you with pathetic, empty pasta pouches.
Verdict: You can't beat the elegance of a nice seafood pasta. Adding some whole shrimp to round out the dish can supply a date-night-worthy dinner for an incredibly low price.
I'd never actually seen plain frozen eggplant cutlets before.
Preparing, breading, and frying eggplant is a pain. I'd hoped that since these were plain and not frozen into premade eggplant Parmesan, the texture and flavor would be superior.
I found these cutlets to be greasy.
When the cutlets came out of the oven they seemed like they'd been deep-fried in oil that wasn't hot enough. Unfortunately, they were a bit soggy.
Verdict: If you are an eggplant enthusiast, these might work for you in a pinch if you drain them on paper towels after baking. Perhaps air-frying would help these crisp up. I'll probably just skip them next time.
The coconut-top-crusted flounder looked delicious, and fish from Aldi rarely disappoints me.
The basic fresh and frozen seafood offerings at Aldi are typically fantastic — I think the chain is the best place to buy a side of salmon or fish sticks.
Aldi also has some unique options, like this crusted flounder. I was excited to try it.
I was pleased that the crust wasn't overly sweet, but the filets lacked crunch.
The flounder was tender, mild, and nicely flavored. I've experienced enough coconut-encrusted seafood to know that some can be cloyingly sweet — these were not.
The fish had a nice tropical edge to it, and adding a couple of simple sides turned them into a really nice meal.
Verdict: I'd grab a box of these again, but next time try using an air fryer in pursuit of a crunchier result.
The Whole & Simple gnocchi with pesto has 13 grams of protein per serving.
The Whole & Simple gnocchi with pesto was pretty small and could serve as a meal for one or a side dish for two.
The gnocchi with pesto had a good flavor for a frozen meal.
Although the sauce was a little gummy, it reminded me of Aldi's jarred pesto, which has a well-rounded, basil-heavy flavor.
One package could easily serve as a side dish for two and was improved immensely with some salt, pepper, Parmesan, and a splash of half-and-half.
Verdict: This gnocchi was decent, and for $4, I couldn't complain about this comforting and versatile frozen dish.
I was really excited about the Specially Selected Maryland-style crab cakes.
I truly love crab cakes and order them when I have the chance, as making them at home is rather laborious.
Fortunately, these Specially Selected Maryland-style crab cakes have big chunks of crab, minimal yet flavorful filling, and are not remotely fishy.
At $5.89 for a box of two, these crab cakes are an incredible value.
After a quick sauté in butter, these crab cakes had a gorgeous golden crust. These Maryland-style crab cakes are really good… not just for being frozen or for the price, but for crab cakes in general.
Verdict: These are a new freezer staple for me. Aldi also has Boardwalk-style crab cakes that I can't wait to try.
I was excited to try Mama Cozzi's Thin & Crispy tomato, mozzarella, and pesto pizza.
Generally, the frozen pizza offerings from Aldi are pretty darn good, so I was pretty optimistic about this one topped with pesto and fresh tomatoes.
The thin crust meant it cooked quickly in the oven directly on the rack.
The pizza was pretty bland, on the small side, and the pesto tasted oddly bitter.
This pizza wasn't awful, but it was on the dry side due to the lack of sauce and cheese.
It didn't have much flavor or cheese, and I found it to be a bit small.
Verdict: This is a skip. In the future, I'll stick to either the frozen Mama Cozzi's rising-crust varieties or the huge take-and-bake pizzas in the deli section.
I was intrigued by the Barber Foods raw stuffed chicken breasts with crème Brie and apple.
Barber Foods isn't an Aldi-exclusive brand, but I'd never seen these before. Since they come raw, they require about 35 minutes in the oven.
I honestly expected them to be similar to the brand's other frozen stuffed chicken, which are filled with ham or broccoli and cheese. Those are kid-friendly but don't exactly qualify as epicurean. Either way, my expectations were low.
My assumption that these would be mediocre was wrong.
These were good. I could actually taste the Brie, cranberries, and apples.
Plus, the chicken tasted like actual chicken breast, not the spongy pressed type reminiscent of some frozen nuggets.
Verdict: I'd get these again for sure. My boys, husband (not a big Brie guy), and I all gave this meal two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
Earth Grown meatless meatballs are vegan.
I was excited to try another one of Aldi's vegan offerings. These "meat" balls are made with textured soy protein and have 14 grams of protein per serving.
They could be a decent option for meatless Monday.
The meatless meatballs had a decent texture after being pan-fried, but I believe they would stay better intact if baked.
With a well-rounded, herby flavor, these could work for a meatless Monday dinner and certainly be great for vegetarians in search of high-protein meal options.
Verdict: Although we didn't go wild over these, three out of my four family samplers would be willing to try the meatless meatballs again baked in the oven.
I made Kirkwood Parmesan-herb-encrusted chicken tenders in my air fryer.
Many people enjoy Kirkwood's chicken breasts and call them dupes for Chick-fil-A, so I was excited to try the brand's Parmesan-herb-encrusted chicken tenders.
This chicken benefited greatly from being paired with a little lemon or ranch.
These chicken tenders came out of the air fryer with a proper deep-fried flavor, a satisfying crunch, and well-adhered breading.
The Parmesan made them a little tangy up front, but not in an objectionable way. The meat was nice and moist, too.
Verdict: I'd use these in a sandwich with pickle and Sriracha mayo or as the base for a speedy chicken Parmesan with jarred marinara and melted mozzarella or provolone.
The Bremer Alfredo chicken skillet meal seemed promising.
The Bremer chicken Alfredo skillet contains some of the kid-friendliest veggies, like carrots and peas. I was optimistic that my family would like this one.
As far as frozen skillet meals go, this was a good one.
The sauce had a nice garlic flavor that wasn't overpowering or artificial-tasting.
I was surprised that the penne turned out perfectly al dente. The chunks of chicken breast were tender, and the peas, carrots, and broccoli did not turn to mush in the pan.
Verdict: I would buy this skillet meal again, but should note that one bag was not enough for four servings — if you're feeding the family, buy two bags to be safe.
Kirkwood Buffalo-style chicken wings caught my eye.
I was skeptical as I'd never tried pre-cooked, pre-sauced, bone-in frozen wings. Even so, Kirkwood has impressed me so far.
The wings and drums were on the small side, but the sauce's flavor and spice level were pretty spot on.
I threw these in my air fryer, and although I let them cook for longer than the instructions directed, another five minutes could have improved the texture and crisp factor.
The Buffalo sauce tasted authentic and had a nice level of spice and tang, but I can't say I was fully blown away. I wish the wings had been larger.
Verdict: If the wings came "naked" with a frozen sauce pouch to thaw and add after the chicken cooked, these could easily become a freezer staple for football season.
In a pinch could definitely satisfy a wing craving, just don't expect deep-fried restaurant quality here.
The Whole & Simple chicken, cilantro, and lime burritos came individually wrapped.
The burritos have 10 grams of protein per serving and contain ingredients like cheddar, brown rice, black beans, corn, bell pepper, and tomatillos.
These chicken burritos missed the mark for everyone in my family who sampled them.
I was disappointed by these flavors because cilantro and lime are usually delicious together.
Sadly, we thought these burritos were small and bland, and the tortilla-to-filling ratio was very unbalanced.
Verdict: It was convenient that the burritos were individually wrapped, but the positives stopped with the packaging.
I was excited to try the Specially Selected premium jumbo sea scallops.
These were a welcome surprise because it's rare to find frozen scallops that are not "wet pack."
Those bright-white offenders are typically treated with sodium tripolyphosphate (always check the package's ingredient list). I find they're impossible to sear and taste terrible.
The jumbo sea scallops were delicately sweet, delicious, and so convenient.
I cooked these scallops in a cast-iron skillet over high heat — all they needed was some salt, pepper, and grapeseed oil to develop a beautiful golden crust.
Overall, I was impressed by their deliciously sweet flavors.
Verdict: The scallops in my bag weren't consistent size-wise, so some cooked faster than others, but I can forgive that — the scallops were another amazing frozen seafood find from Aldi.
This story was originally published on May 2, 2023, and most recently updated on November 4, 2024.
Read the original article on Business Insider