7 Aldi Freezer Finds That Make 15-Minute Dinners Possible

I keep my freezer stocked all year long, but it’s packed when my family is trying to get back into a routine. I love cooking, but I’m a busy parent, so I rely heavily on what’s in my freezer after a holiday long weekend or at the end of summer break.

I shop for freezer staples at Aldi because it’s affordable, and I can pick up everything I need to simplify breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I look for breakfast items that my kids can heat themselves, work-from-home lunches for me, and dinner shortcuts—all in the store’s ample freezer section. 

1. Grilled Chicken Breast Strips 

I know I could meal-prep grilled chicken, but I can buy this already-cooked chicken ($8.25 for a 22-ounce bag) for less than a package of chicken breast. I keep a bag of these chicken strips in my freezer as a shortcut for chicken fajitas and chicken Caesar wraps, or to turn a salad kit into a satisfying desk lunch.

2. Frozen Hash Browns

Something about a hash brown patty will always feel nostalgic to me. I love that I can throw these in the air fryer while scrambling some eggs and have breakfast ready before I finish a cup of coffee. This breakfast staple can be eaten as-is or topped with a fried egg and avocado as an alternative to toast at breakfast. Each package has 20 hash browns for just $5.49, the price of eight patties at other grocery stores.

3. Beer-Battered Cod Fillets

One of my family’s staple quick dinners is shortcut fish tacos made with frozen battered fish, a quick coleslaw, and grilled tortillas. Aldi’s Fremont Fish Market beer-battered fillets ($5.19) have a coating that’s flavorful and crispy, and the fish is moist and tender. I can get all the other components for the tacos at Aldi, too.

4. Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl

My best friend recommended Whole & Simple bowls to me a few months ago, and they’ve become one of my staple work-from-home lunches. The bowl ($4.05) heats up in minutes and can be zhuzhed up with fresh herbs or crumbled feta. Having this bowl in the freezer has kept me from ordering more expensive delivery on more than one occasion!

5. Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets 

Maybe you’ve heard of this Kirkwood chicken referred to as “the red bag chicken” by Aldi fans. These are comparable to breaded chicken made by Just Bare or Costco’s Kirkland brand, and at $8.79 for a 24-ounce bag, they cost about the same price per ounce. We often eat these on buns with lettuce, tomato, and special sauce as a copycat fast-food chicken sandwich, but I’ve also turned them into a riff on chicken Parmesan and used them for a hearty weeknight dinner salad.

6. Mama Cozzi’s Rising Crust Pizza 

Over the years, I’ve tested and reviewed a lot of Mama Cozzi’s pizza products, but my tried-and-true favorite remains the rising crust pizzas ($4.95). I keep two on hand for emergency dinners, like canceled plans or unexpected sleepover friends. The cheese is classic and easy to dress up with toppings already in our fridge: turkey pepperoni, sausage, peppers, onions, extra veggies and Parmesan.

7. Buttermilk & Vanilla Protein Waffles 

I am decidedly not a breakfast person, so having protein waffles ($4.19) in our freezer that my kids can toast is hugely helpful for weekday mornings. While they’re most often eaten with a pat of butter and maple syrup, I have occasionally turned them into quick bacon and egg breakfast sandwiches or even weeknight chicken and waffles.

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