4 Totally Basic Items That Are So Much Better At Kroger

At a typical grocery store like Kroger, you have a lot of choices. You can go with name-brand products (and their slightly higher cost, typically), or you can opt for a “value” alternative like one of Kroger’s many in-house brands. But, if you’re a regular Kroger shopper, you probably have your favorites, just like I do.

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Some basic grocery goods are simply better at Kroger. In fact, it’s Kroger’s in-house brands that make all the difference for certain products. They’re not only reasonably-priced, for the most part, but also noticeably better in taste and quality. So, if you’re wondering whether you should opt for store-brand or a bigger name during your next Kroger visit, here are four essential items that are far, far better when you go with Kroger.

Chocolate Milk

Kroger’s very own chocolate milk is so tasty that it actually has a cult following (don’t take my word for it — someone did the research!). It’s not your average half-gallon of chocolate milk by any means. It’s not watered down like some store brands and features a richer, more cocoa-focused flavor than even popular picks like Nesquik. But it’s also not so sweet that it tastes like a dessert-worthy treat.

If you’re going to pick up chocolate milk, make sure you grab the Kroger’s brand. It’s even available in different formulations, including whole, 1 percent, and 2 percent.

Pasta Sauce

As a college student in the Midwest, I lived on Kroger’s in-house pasta sauce bottles. Private Selection was the “fancy” and “expensive” pick, while Kroger’s own branded sauce was my everyday go-to. And I still maintain that Kroger’s two pasta sauce lines are excellent — they’re way better than alternatives I’ve picked up at Walmart and most West Coast grocery stores. Kroger’s name-brand line and the Private Selection sauces both seem to feature more tomato in the red sauces, and the flavors never taste watered down by any means. Instead, every sauce is thick, creamy, and great at truly coating pasta.

You have a wealth of options, too. Whether you’re searching for basic marinara, vodka sauce, or an Arrabbiata, they’re all richer than your average store brand pick.

Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips are a pantry staple, and you’ve got a couple of excellent options to choose from when you’re shopping at Kroger. No, I’m not talking about Tositos or any other popular brand. Once again, Kroger’s very own brands shine here, and they’re one of the best basic items you can pick up in-store. Specifically, Kroger’s Traditional Gold Kettle Style Tortilla Chips and Kick of Lime White Corn Tortilla Chips are excellent picks. 

Both of these tortilla chips hold up under the weight of dips and offer just the right balance of crunch and salt. Plus, if you’re a fan of traditional restaurant-style tortilla chips, the Traditional Gold Kettle Style will blow you away. I can easily put away half a bag without realizing it, just like a basket in a Mexican restaurant. And if you prefer a little kick of lime, the lime-y White Corn chips are perfectly balanced and not overpowering.

Ice Cream

Lastly, if there’s one ice cream you should keep in your freezer, it’s Kroger’s very own. Costco may be renowned for having perhaps the best-ever vanilla ice cream, but I’d argue that Kroger’s own brand and the Kroger-owned Private Selection brand come pretty close. Private Selection ice cream has a bit more richness and a lineup of more unique flavors (English Toffee is the one flavor I can never have enough of). But Kroger ice cream, too, is creamy, well-flavored, and impressively addictive.

The difference? It’s probably the fact that both Kroger and Private Selection ice cream are made in Kroger’s very own plants. It’s on par quality-wise with larger national brands like Breyer’s or Edy’s (Dreyer’s in some parts of the country), but since so many have reduced the dairy content of their ice cream, Kroger’s very own in-house brands stand out as an exceptional and well-priced pick.