Don’t Overlook These 4 Seemingly Boring Aldi Items: You’ll Regret It

Every trip to Aldi comes with surprises — you never know when you’ll find a random pack of cringeworthy chicken nuggets or a literal pack of ice cubes. But in the midst of the latest Aldi Finds and kind of wild flavor combinations (I’m still not over the mac and cheese pizza), there are also plenty of basic, kind of boring items that are also well worth picking up.

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In fact, as an Aldi regular, I’d argue that some of the chain’s most bland-seeming products can offer the biggest surprises. So, the next time you’re browsing the store shelves and come across one of the following four “boring” staples, I suggest adding them to your cart. 

Coffee

Aldi may not have a reputation for being a store that sells exceptional coffee, but as someone who drinks plenty, the budget-friendly beans and ground coffee you’ll find here are both perfectly drinkable. Some options, like Aldi’s own Barissimo line, strike a solid middle ground. They’ll deliver a smooth, balanced cup of joe and go easy on your budget. 

And don’t overlook the coffee, either. I love grabbing a couple of bottles of Barissimo Iced Coffee in medium roast to keep on hand. Every cup is smooth and utterly drinkable, and I find myself reaching for it regularly over name brands like Starbucks or Stok, which are also often available at Aldi.

Cheese

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Aldi is one of the best places to pick up cheese. Yes, the bags of shredded cheese are affordable and perfectly fine. But the shining star of Aldi’s refrigerated section is the cheese that’s sold in block form (or logs, if you’re a goat cheese person like me).

Aldi’s blocks of cheese are far cheaper than your typical grocery store and often excellent in taste and quality. I love perusing what’s available for mild and bold takes on cheddar, standout Parmesan, and some seriously rich-tasting Brie. You’ll also find some unique and seasonally-inspired combinations; I’m personally still thinking about the champagne-infused mild white cheddar I tasted back in January that has yet to reappear.

Frozen Chicken

I love a good frozen food from Aldi, but there’s undeniably one basic, kind of boring pick that blows everything else out of the water: the red bag chicken. Aldi’s red bag chicken is so popular that it has something of a cult following online (where it’s known as RBC by its devoted fans). And I completely understand why, because the red bag chicken nuggets are the only ones my kid will eat.

This frozen aisle gem, which is officially sold under the Kirkwood Red Bag name and packaged in red bags (to inspire thoughts of Chick-fil-A, I can only assume). You’ll find breaded chicken breast fillets, chicken nuggets (or chunks), and spicy chicken patties, and they’re all excellent. They can be turned into entire meals, sandwiches, and used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The chicken is always incredible no matter how you cook it — and it’s cheap, too.

Chocolate

If you’ve never checked out Aldi’s chocolate selection, you’re missing out. Sure, you can find big brand names like M&M’s hanging out in the store’s aisles, but the real gems are the “boring-looking” private label options that are tucked alongside other generic snacks (at my store, they’re hanging out next to the private label version of Goldfish crackers). 

Aldi’s private label chocolates are actually European concoctions that are imported from places like Germany and Belgium — so you’re not getting some basic chocolate. It’s high-quality stuff that’s absolutely decadent in its taste and wonderfully creamy. Don’t pass it by, because it blows your average Hershey’s bar out of the water and stays within budget.