The 19 Aldi Essentials You Need to Meal Plan Like a Pro

I've been a meal planner for twenty years now, and while I know there are still people out there who wait until five o'clock to answer the "What's for supper?" question, I also bet more people are trying to meal plan like never before, trying to save both time and money.

Meal planning doesn't have to be rocket science, and once you learn the method that works best for you, it can become second nature. Every week when I come up with my blueprint for what will be cooking in my kitchen, I make my grocery list, with the first stop being Aldi!

Aldi can be your one-stop shop for everything on your weekly menu plan, saving you extra trips to the grocery, and keeping extra money in your wallet. Here are the 19 Aldi meal prep essentials that end up in my cart weekly.

Related: I've Been Meal Planning for 20 Years—Here's What I've Learned

What day should I shop at Aldi?

If you know, you know. Wednesdays are the day to get to Aldi as fast as you can. But if you're new to the Aldi game, let me explain.

Every Wednesday, Aldi releases their new weekly ad, which includes the specials for that week, as well as the new batch of Aldi Finds. Early Wednesday morning you can find die-hard Aldi shoppers (like me) at the doors when they open for that chicken that's 99 cents a pound.

Related: Our 15 Top January Aldi Finds

Why are Aldi's prices so low?

There are a few ways Aldi manages to keep their prices lower than their competitors, even in this age of inflation.

First off, ever wonder why you have to spend a quarter for a cart? This is how they keep staffing low because nobody has to go retrieve all those shopping carts from the parking lots numerous times daily. They pass those savings on to us!

Next, bringing your reusable shopping bags might seem inconvenient at first, but again, the cost Aldi saves allows their prices to be the best around. Plus, they do sell bags at the register if you need them, and you're always welcome to use empty boxes you find around the store too.

Ever wonder why Aldi doesn't carry very many name-brand products? This cost-saving measure is one of the ways they are most successful. Selling in-house brands that taste just as good as their pricey counterparts is something Aldi takes great pride in.

Related: 23 Aldi Finds You Shouldn't Sleep On

Why should I make a meal plan?

In a world where we are all trying to find ways to spend less and add hours to the day, meal planning is one way to achieve both. Okay, so it won't add time to your day, but it can certainly save you time.

Imagine knowing exactly what you will be making for supper before you even have breakfast on the table. Meal planning means that you have a clear plan of what you need to buy at the store, and can have meals planned out a week (or even a month) in advance, which saves a lot of stress at the end of a long, hard day.

Related: 30 One-Pot Meals To Add To Your Dinner Rotation

The 19 Best Aldi Meal Plan Essentials

With my trusty meal plan and shopping list in hand, here are the items that I fill my Aldi cart with on a weekly, or almost weekly, basis!

1. Fresh Produce

Every Aldi fan will tell you the store is known for fresh produce at rock-bottom prices. I think many people don't include as many fresh fruits and veggies in their meals because they can't afford them, but Aldi can help with that! Fresh broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms, peppers and so much more can add the whole rainbow to your meal plan.

Related: 30 Super Easy Crock Pot Vegetable Recipes

2. Frozen Meatballs

Over the past couple of years, I've fallen hard for recipes using frozen meatballs, especially those made in the Crock Pot, so you know these frozen ones show up on my meal plan frequently. They are so versatile and have amazing flavor, which means I can get back the time that I would have spent making meatballs. Stock up so you can make Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs, Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs and buy the Italian version for Crock Pot Italian Meatballs for pasta or a sub sandwich.

3. Specialty Breads

Growing up, my mom always had white bread and butter on the table with supper. Nowadays, I do the same thing, but the bread is much better thanks to Aldi. They have crusty baguettes, buttery croissants, sweet Hawaiian rolls, garlic bread, garlic knots, and naan, plus lots of other options.

4. Canned Fruit

During the summer months, many of our meals include fresh fruit from the garden or farmers' market. But here in Indiana, that's a little harder in winter, so I rely on canned fruit to add a little freshness to our meals. This is also where I find the jar of applesauce I need anytime I make pork chops!

5. Fresh Meat

Next to their produce bargains, fresh meat prices are the other well-known fact about Aldi. No matter if you are buying chicken, beef or pork they have it all! Ground beef and chicken are two staples on my grocery list this time of year because of all the casseroles and soups on my weekly menus.

Related: 55 Leftover Chicken Recipes To Remix Last Night's Dinner

6. Bagged Salad Mixes

Tossing a quick salad together is a great way to get a fresh side dish on the table any night of the week. To make that extra easy, it's key to have a couple of these bags of greens in the fridge.  Aldi has a basic green variety, a tasty Caesar and fun variations, like chopped salad with kale.

7. Frozen Vegetables

Aldi has several frozen vegetable options, including green beans, corn, peas, broccoli and mixed veggies perfect for a big pot of vegetable beef soup. All of them are flash-frozen at the peak of freshness and can be microwaved right in the bag to steamed perfection.

8. Canned Biscuits

We enjoy breakfast for dinner several times a month, so canned biscuits are often on my shopping list. Aldi's version look and taste just like the more expensive name-brand ones, and they also carry crescent rolls for all your holiday meals or special dinners.

9. Dried Herbs and Spices

One of the most important pieces to successful meal plan execution is taking stock of your fridge and pantry when you make your shopping list. There is nothing worse than starting to cook supper only to realize you are out of an ingredient you normally have on hand. Aldi's spice section is vast (and affordable) and has all your spice rack staples, including fun things like Everything Bagel Seasoning.

10. Frozen Potatoes

No matter if I need some French fries for burger night, hashbrown cakes for breakfast for dinner or tots for a tasty tater tot casserole, I can find them all at Aldi. Frozen potatoes have fallen victim to inflation over the last year, but Aldi's prices have stayed low while the bags have stayed the same generous family size.

Related: 30 Best Tater Tot Recipes For Breakfast, Brunch and Brinner

11. Shredded Cheese

I buy bags of shredded cheese every single week for casseroles, taco night, pasta bakes...so many things. Aldi has all the varieties I need at a lower price than even my local superstore. Prefer to shred your own? Don't worry, you can find blocks of cheese too.

12. Crackers

During soup season, one of my favorite things to serve alongside a bowl of one of our favorites is cheese and crackers, so I am constantly buying a few boxes. Plus, we need oyster crackers for chili night too. Aldi's store brands are as flavorful and buttery as the pricey name-brand ones.

13. Canned Soups

Speaking of soup season, I buy so much boxed broth and stock this time of year, I wish they sold it by the bucket! Oh, and all the cream of "whatever" soups I need for our favorite casseroles are cheaper here.

14. Canned Goods

Canned vegetables, beans and tomatoes, tuna, and even beets—I can find them all at Aldi. At these economical prices, I can afford to buy extra so I always have a few cans in the pantry for next time too.

15. Pasta and Pasta Sauce

Elbow macaroni for easy goulash or mac and cheese, spaghetti and sauce, Alfredo sauce that tastes like homemade and oven-ready lasagna for weeknight ease—this Aldi section is sometimes a little picked over because I'm not the only one who loves it.

16. Fresh Fish

Think you can't afford fresh salmon on a budget? Think again! Aldi has great seafood at great prices. This day the salmon and tilapia both looked gorgeous. If you have an air fryer but haven't tried making salmon in it yet, add it to your meal plan ASAP.

17. Rice

Rice is one of the best grocery store buys because you can do so much with it. It's a great "double duty" item to include in your meal plan. Serve Hawaiian meatballs over it one night and then later in the week add a can of Rotel for a quick side dish. They also have several versions of boxed rice mixes if you need something super quick.

18. Condiments

Think condiments have nothing to do with a meal plan? Then you must have never dealt with a toddler who didn't have ketchup to dip their fries in (or in my little guy's case, mustard). Plus I always need soy sauce and barbecue for so many tasty sauces and marinades too. You can find great prices on lots of condiments at Aldi, which means you can stock up so you're always prepared.

19. Convenience Foods

There is no shame in taking a little help from the store to get supper on the table, even when you have planned! Aldi has stepped up their game in this section lately with pork carnitas, Thai coconut chicken, mashed sweet potatoes and more. These heat-and-eat options are perfect for those extra hectic nights when you just can't do complicated.

Next Up: 32 Cheap and Easy Meals That Begin With A Can Of Black Beans