First Of Its Kind For Aldi: We Tried Those New Ready-To-Eat Meals

If you’re the kind of person who loves everything Aldi does and screams from the mountaintops for all to hear, you’re about to get even more stoked (if that’s actually possible). Aldi is launching a variety of ready-made meals for your cooking convenience, and we got our hands on the initial batch to give it a taste test. Yeah, we know you’re jealous, but hey, this is one of the perks of the job. Come January, however, you’ll be able to snag any one of the five single-serve meals or two family-style meals at your local Aldi, so get ready to bring in 2027 with a tasty bang.

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Now, if you really can’t wait until January of next year, starting September 25, 2026, this selection of meals will roll out to select markets, so you can do some research to figure out which ones and then plan a road trip. Either way, these ready-made meals are lurking over the horizon, so here’s a rundown of what to expect and a review of the three that yours truly tasted. 

7 Ready-Made Meals Packed With Protein

Aldi crafted a total of seven meals, with five of them being single-serve options and two larger family-style options. Single-serve options include Beef Bolognese Spaghetti, Beef Brisket Mac & Cheese, Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo, Chicken Burrito Bowl, and Butter Chicken & Rice. The two larger family meals are Chicken Bacon Mac & Cheese and Meat Lover’s Pizza Bake. The individual meals take just three minutes in the microwave to heat if you grab them straight from the fridge, while the family-style options are designed for a longer cook time in the oven. 

In terms of pricing, the individual portions are less than $8 each, and the family servings are less than $15, so you’re getting a hearty meal at a great price point. The packaging of the products is also noteworthy. The clear wrapping lets you actually see the ingredients you’re about to heat up, so you know exactly what you’re getting before you buy. The cardboard sleeve wrapped around the outside highlights the protein, which is a big selling point here. Every individual meal serves up anywhere from 30 to 46 grams of protein, so if you’re looking for a tasty way to get more protein into your diet, these meals do the trick. During a virtual tasting event held by Aldi suppliers, I selected three meals to sample: Butter Chicken & Rice, Chicken Burrito Bowl, and Beef Brisket Mac & Cheese. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed what each one offered, so let’s break them down.

Butter Chicken & Rice

I am a sucker for Indian food, so I was instantly excited to taste this dish. Well, let it be known that Aldi successfully pulled off a fantastic Indian dish. The basmati rice is soft and fluffy, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to the rich and creamy butter sauce. The use of chicken thighs adds a depth of flavor, and there’s a flavorful warmth that each bite left on my palate. Aldi did butter chicken proud.

Chicken Burrito Bowl

With this meal, chicken breasts are used, so the flavor is much leaner. The chunks of meat are coated in taco seasoning, so each one provides a punch of spicy (but not too spicy) flavor. Roasted bell peppers, black beans, a veggie mix, and rice all pull their weight alongside the chicken to add a clean flavor that won’t leave you feeling bloated. But, the best part of the whole thing is the creamy chipotle sauce that marries everything together seamlessly.

Beef Brisket Mac & Cheese

This meal is rich, creamy, decadent, savory, and sweet. The mac and cheese noodles are perfectly cooked in a creamy cheese sauce that doesn’t feel overwhelmingly rich. But, the pro move here is obviously to mix in the tender pieces of brisket for a truly blissful experience. The brisket is packed with savory flavor, but the barbecue sauce it’s slathered in is sweet, lending a wonderful sweet-and-savory bite to every forkful. For anyone who loves barbecue and mac and cheese, this meal will certainly scratch that itch.

Aldi Is Doing Things Right

These ready-made meals are certainly a step in the right direction. This is just the beginning of Aldi’s ready-made meal venture, and based on how delicious the three dishes I tried were, I can absolutely see these things flying off the shelves once they hit stores nationwide come January. Keep taking steps in the right direction, Aldi. Our taste buds are counting on you.