Did I try absolutely every Aldi cheese in search of the best Aldi’s cheese? No. But I did try 36 Aldi cheeses. It was quite an Aldi’s haul. And, while there’s certainly a few cheeses that slipped through the cracks (I’ll get to them eventually, promise), I think I have a pretty good idea of what cheese to buy at Aldi and which Aldi cheeses to skip (sorry, Aldi parmesan cheese, I’m talking about you).
Aldi is a wonderland for affordable cheeses. There are SO many and the variety is much wider than you might expect. Sure, you can buy a few different kinds of cheddar, but you can also buy multiple flavors of havarti, flavored cheese curds, funky artisanal cheeses you usually only see at the cheesemonger, and even Trader Joe’s-esque cheese hybrids! And they’re all so, so cheap! Some are just okay (the cheddar cubes and goat cheeses, for example). Some are bad (most of the fetas and the aforementioned parmesan). And some are really good and worthy of your cheese crisper (oh, sorry, do you put vegetables in your crisper? We all make our own choices).
If you’re shopping for an Aldi cheese board or just looking for some cheap and tasty snacking cheese, check out our ranking of the best Aldi cheese.
- Happy Farms Cheese Curds Cajun Cheddar
I don’t know why these cheese curds exist, but I’m glad they do. I was skeptical at first, but, look, cheddar cheese coated in Cajun seasoning is pretty good. And it has stuck with me. I’ve thought about these zesty, savory, slightly spicy cheese curds more than any other cheese on this list. If you want to add some intrigue to your Aldi cheese board, these curds will do the trick. Or batter and fry them for a chain restaurant-worthy appetizer.
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- Emporium Selection Asiago Cheese
I know I’ve said it twice already, but skip the Aldi parmesan—it just doesn’t have the salty, umami quality you want out of a parmesan. Instead, grate this asiago over pasta. It’s floral but meaty, complex, funky, salty, and pungent. It’s intense on its own, but it adds just the right amount of flavor when finely grated over some spaghetti or risotto or roasted broccoli.
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- Happy Farms Cheese Curds White Cheddar
If you’re from Wisconsin or Minnesota and you’re used to fresh, squeaky curds, stick to the local stuff. These curds do not squeak. But they are very creamy and perfect for snacking. Serve a bowlful of these as an appetizer with some thinly sliced toast (maybe something nutty or dotted with golden raisins). Or grab a handful on the way out the door as an alternative cheese snack to string cheese.
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- Emporium Selection Manchego D.O.P Cheese
Here’s a perfect cheese board cheese that no one will object to. It’s somewhere between crumbly and creamy (a bit creamier than other manchego cheeses I’ve had), salty, and mild. Everyone will like this cheese. If you want to get fancy, drizzle it with some top quality honey and scatter some Marcona almonds around.
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- Happy Farms Cubes Colby Jack Cheese
Cheese is the only food regularly sold in cubes. Personally, I love to eat dice-shaped foods and I think more foods should come in that form. But for now, I guess I’ll be satisfied with my six-sided cheese. This one, in particular, is very good. It’s fairly mild but it does have a touch of tang that keeps you coming back for cube after cube. It’s a great lunchbox snack for kiddos or happy hour snack with wine for grown-ups (hi, wine moms!).
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- Emporium Selection Crumbled Blue Cheese
I cannot believe the quality of this Aldi blue cheese. Seriously, this is right up there with cheese shop blue cheese. These blue cheese crumbles are SUPER creamy, which balances out the saltiness and funkiness. These will be the star of any salad, but may I recommend a mix of endive, pear slices, and walnuts?
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- Emporium Selection Jalapeño Havarti Cheese
Who would have thought that havarti and jalapeño would pair so well together? First, you get the saltiness of the cheese, then the sweet, grassy pepper flavor comes through, and finally the heat creeps up on the finish, leaving your tongue tingling. If you like pepper jack, this is the best Aldi cheese for you to try.
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- Emporium Selection Le Gruyère
I love gruyère. I love that mix of funky sweetness, nuttiness, and salt. I love the creamy, semi-firm texture. But it is not cheap—usually. Aldi’s gruyère comes in at a fraction of the typical price ($5.75 at the one closest to me). And it’s really good. The texture isn’t quite as good as the really premium stuff, but the flavor is on point. It is totally the best Aldi’s cheese for fondue or another good addition to that Aldi cheese board we’re building.
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- Emporium Selection Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Fresh mozzarella is typically expensive or bad. Well, Aldi mozzarella cheese is both cheap and good. It’s soft and tender and creamy with a fresh, milky flavor. I was really impressed by how moist it was considering it’s not sold in water. It’s great for a caprese salad and it’s also a great Aldi cheese to use for homemade pizza. I tore it up, threw it on some pizza dough, and baked a pizza that looked like it was straight from Napoli.
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- Emporium Selection DIll Havarti Cheese
I came into this taste test thinking I didn’t even like havarti, but it turns out if you flavor it, I’m all in on the Danish cheese. The dill flavor in this Aldi cheese is so incredible—it tastes like pickle cheese. The cheese itself is creamy and salty, and then the fresh dill flavor comes to play. This is unique and worth seeking out.
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- Emporium Selection Not Your Average Cheddar Cheddar & Parmesan
Clearly, this is Aldi’s take on Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar (one of the best Trader Joe’s cheeses). And that’s just fine. Trader Joe’s doesn’t own the idea of combining cheddar and parmesan. While the Aldi’s cheese version isn’t quite as good as TJ’s, it’s a close approximation and quite good. The savory, tangy cheddar flavors are balanced out by those funky-sweet parmesan notes. It’s another great Aldi cheese board addition—though it would also be great on a sandwich. It’s certainly the best Aldi cheddar cheese and it’s the Aldi cheese I’ll be coming back for.
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Best Weird
Best for Pasta
Best Cheese Curds
Best Cheese Board Cheese
Best Cheese Cubes
Best Blue Cheese
Best Spicy
Best for Fondue
Best Mozzarella
Best Herby
Best of the Best
Other Aldi cheeses we tried: Happy Farms Cubes Mild Cheddar, Emporium Selection Gourmet Spreadable Cheese Sharp Cheddar, Emporium Selection Fresh Sliced Mozzarella Cheese in Marinade, Emporium Selection New York White Cheddar, Emporium Selection Feta Chunk in Brine, Emporium Selection Fresh Sliced Mozzarella Cheese in Pesto, Emporium Selection Creamy Havarti Cheese, Emporium Selection Bread Cheese, Emporium Selection Bacon Bread Cheese, Emporium Selection Not Your Average Cheddar Double Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Honey, Emporium Selection Gouda Cheese, Emporium Selection Edam Cheese, Emporium Selection Fresh Mozzarella Cheese in Marinade, Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese, Emporium Selection Not Your Average Cheddar Cheddar + Gruyere, Emporium Selection Not Your Average Cheddar Australian Grassfed Cheddar Cheese, Happy Farms Cheese Curds Garlic Cheddar, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Cranberry Cinnamon, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Blueberry Vanilla, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Garlic & Herb, Emporium Selection Feta Chunk, Emporium Selection Crumbled Feta Reduced Fat, Emporium Selection Crumbled Feta Original, Emporium Select Feta Tomato and Basil
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