Although I'm a private chef, I'm also a mother of two. Sometimes even I rely on frozen meals to get dinner on the table quickly.
Fortunately, the budget grocer Aldi has impressed me many times with its frozen meals. So, I tried as many as I could find to see which I'd like to add to my regular dinner rotation. Tabbaco Stand Up Pouches
Here's how Aldi's frozen meals stacked up.
Editor's Note: Item availability and prices may vary.
In my experience, frozen noodles can be mushy, and ricotta can be grainy in prepackaged meals like these. Still, at only $4 for a bag, I had to try these.
Fortunately, I ended up pleasantly surprised by the Priano meal — and the large size of the shells was a bonus.
The flavor was on point — the pasta didn't even need extra salt. I was also impressed by the smooth, creamy filling and the perfectly al dente pasta.
Verdict: This is quite possibly the best frozen meal I've ever tasted. And for $4, I will be buying it every time I shop at Aldi.
The Priano chicken Florentine and farfalle caught my attention. It reminded me of frozen pasta dishes from big-name competitors like Bertolli, so I was curious how it'd stack up.
In a pinch, something so quick and convenient can be great to stash in the freezer.
The garlic flavor tasted a bit too artificial for me, and I thought there was so much spinach in the dish that each bite had a bitter finish. The chicken was tender, but there wasn't nearly enough of it.
Verdict: Unless you are related to Popeye, skip this skillet meal and opt for one of Priano's other solid options.
Frozen seafood can be tricky to get right so the Specially Selected mussels had me skeptical at first.
Upon opening the package, though, I started to sing a different tune. They were vacuum sealed and smelled incredibly fresh.
I love mussels but don't make them very often because they're a total pain to prepare. I typically only order mussels at restaurants so I can avoid scrubbing, removing the beards, and worrying they'll be sandy.
Verdict: For under $4, these mussels make the perfect appetizer for an at-home date night. I am so glad that I tried them.
I appreciated that there were some wholesome ingredients in this bowl, like quinoa. Plus, with 17 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber, this seemed like a fairly healthy option for a last-minute lunch.
The bowl tasted fresh and the pieces of chicken breast seemed higher quality than they have in other single-serve frozen meals I've tried. But the bowl was very heavy on the sun-dried tomatoes and the taste was quite bland, in my opinion.
Verdict: I tried adding my own seasoning but this still didn't have enough flavor for me. I wouldn't buy it again.
I noticed right away that there was a generous amount of grilled chicken in the bag, which you don't always get in low-cost frozen dishes.
The Fusia chicken fried rice was very easy to prepare in a skillet on the stove.
The chicken was solid, but I thought the rice was mushy. I also didn't love that there were so many carrots.
Verdict: This one didn't make the cut for me. The tasty chicken doesn't outweigh the not-so-great texture of the rice itself.
Off the bat, I noticed the frozen pieces of chicken were inconsistently sized, so I knew I'd need to pull the smaller bites out of my air fryer sooner than the large ones.
For $8, I also would've liked for there to have been a few more pieces in the bag.
The breading was light and incredibly crispy. I would describe the dish as tasting like ginger chicken, not orange, but the hint of spice and the generous amount of sauce provided were a nice surprise.
Verdict: This was high enough quality that it's a good substitute if you want to avoid getting takeout, The only thing wrong with this meal was that it disappeared too quickly. Next time, I'll buy two bags.
My experience with Mama Cozzi's frozen pizzas has always been positive. Plus the photo of the veggie pizza on the package looked delicious.
Upon removing the pizza from the package, though, it presented more like a flatbread, with a crust somewhere between thin and rising-crust style. Still, I liked that the veggies looked like they had actually been grilled.
The tomato sauce was on the sweeter side and the vegetables had a nice smoky flavor. Sadly, I don't think this had enough cheese to fulfill a proper pizza craving. I had to add some mozzarella to convince my husband to try it.
Verdict: I'd rather just throw some of my own toppings on a plain frozen pizza from Aldi next time.
The chicken schnitzel box had instructions to deep-fry or pan-fry the patties. Baking was not an option.
This wasn't a deal-breaker but most freezer meals require very little babysitting with oven or microwave prep so it lost a few points in my book.
The chicken schnitzel was definitely improved with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of salt. My kids appreciated how well the breading stayed on the patty.
Verdict: I think these would make for great sandwiches, but this was the most expensive item I purchased. I feel $10 for a box of six pieces of chicken is a little pricey.
The shrimp-and-scallop bowls came in a pack of two. Both servings came in terracotta dishes, which felt like a cute touch for an already elegant-sounding meal.
The smaller portion size probably puts the shrimp and scallops in more of the appetizer category for most, but I'm already looking forward to reusing the dishes to recreate it.
The champagne sauce was delicious and truly tasted homemade. The bay scallops and shrimp remained tender through the baking process, and this meal was very enjoyable. The bowl paired well with a simple salad and baguette.
Verdict: I highly recommend buying these Specially Selected seafood pots if you can find them.
One thing to keep in mind is that they take significantly longer to prepare than a lot of frozen chicken — it took me about 40 minutes to achieve a crispy texture.
Aldi's RBC is fantastic and the price and cook time were worth it. The chicken filets tasted beautifully seasoned, with a delightful crunch, juicy meat, and a slightly sweet finish.
Verdict: Don't be like me and pass these over because of the price. RBC is worth every bit of $8 for the five or six pieces per bag.
I wanted to make sure that I sampled something from Aldi's meatless category, and I have a penchant for all things chipotle so I opted for the Earth Grown black-bean chipotle burgers.
I prepared these black-bean burgers in a skillet, but I bet they could easily hold up on a grill.
When it comes to meat-free frozen food, mushiness can be an issue. But with chunks of whole black beans and corn, the bite of the burger made the cut even for my skeptical husband.
The Southwestern flavor was apparent, and they had a great kick of spice.
Verdict: These chipotle black-bean burgers made for a quick and undeniably satisfying vegetarian meal. For $3 for four patties, I think the burgers are a great freezer staple.
This was a generously sized 38-ounce lasagna for $7. It stood out to me because the box says it uses freshly made pasta, which I've never seen in a dish like this one.
There was something comforting about the flavor of this dish that took me back to childhood. The tomato sauce was sweet and mild, the meat was tender, and the noodles were thick and al dente, no mush in sight.
Verdict: Was it a gourmet experience? nah. Was it a cheesy, meaty meal that required absolutely no effort on my part and no prompting for my 5-year-old and 8-year-old to consume? Yes. I'll be buying this one again.
Aldi seasonally sells fresh pasta versions of both crab and lobster ravioli, but they are pricier than this frozen option and only feed two people. This Specially Selected bag was hefty and served four.
I didn't find chunks of shrimp or crab, but the ricotta filling had a nice fresh flavor and lacked the fishiness that sometimes ruins frozen seafood products.
This ravioli also cooked really nicely, unlike some other brands that stick together and tear during the boiling process, leaving you with pathetic, empty pasta pouches.
Verdict: You can't beat the elegance of a nice seafood pasta. Adding some whole shrimp to round out the dish can supply a date-night-worthy dinner for an incredibly low price.
Preparing, breading, and frying eggplant is a pain. I'd hoped that since these were plain and not frozen into premade eggplant Parmesan, the texture and flavor would be superior.
When the cutlets came out of the oven they seemed like they'd been deep-fried in oil that wasn't hot enough. Unfortunately, they were a bit soggy.
Verdict: If you are an eggplant enthusiast, these might work for you in a pinch if you drain them on paper towels after baking. Perhaps air-frying would help these crisp up. I'll probably just skip them next time.
The basic fresh and frozen seafood offerings at Aldi are typically fantastic — I think the chain is the best place to buy a side of salmon or fish sticks.
Aldi also has some unique options, like this crusted flounder. I was excited to try it.
The flounder was tender, mild, and nicely flavored. I've experienced enough coconut-encrusted seafood to know that some can be cloyingly sweet — these were not.
The fish had a nice tropical edge to it, and adding a couple of simple sides turned them into a really nice meal.
Verdict: I'd grab a box of these again, but next time try using an air fryer in pursuit of a crunchier result.
The Whole & Simple gnocchi with pesto was pretty small and could serve as a meal for one or a side dish for two.
Although the sauce was a little gummy, it reminded me of Aldi's jarred pesto, which has a well-rounded, basil-heavy flavor.
One package could easily serve as a side dish for two and was improved immensely with some salt, pepper, Parmesan, and a splash of half-and-half.
Verdict: This gnocchi was decent, and for $4, I couldn't complain about this comforting and versatile frozen dish.
I truly love crab cakes and order them when I have the chance, as making them at home is rather laborious.
Fortunately, these Specially Selected Maryland-style crab cakes have big chunks of crab, minimal yet flavorful filling, and are not remotely fishy.
After a quick sauté in butter, these crab cakes had a gorgeous golden crust. These Maryland-style crab cakes are really good… not just for being frozen or for the price, but for crab cakes in general.
Verdict: These are a new freezer staple for me. Aldi also has Boardwalk-style crab cakes that I can't wait to try.
Generally, the frozen pizza offerings from Aldi are pretty darn good, so I was pretty optimistic about this one topped with pesto and fresh tomatoes.
The thin crust meant it cooked quickly in the oven directly on the rack.
This pizza wasn't awful, but it was on the dry side due to the lack of sauce and cheese.
It didn't have much flavor or cheese, and I found it to be a bit small.
Verdict: This is a skip. In the future, I'll stick to either the frozen Mama Cozzi's rising-crust varieties or the huge take-and-bake pizzas in the deli section.
Barber Foods isn't an Aldi-exclusive brand, but I'd never seen these before. Since they come raw, they require about 35 minutes in the oven.
I honestly expected them to be similar to the brand's other frozen stuffed chicken, which are filled with ham or broccoli and cheese. Those are kid-friendly but don't exactly qualify as epicurean. Either way, my expectations were low.
These were good. I could actually taste the Brie, cranberries, and apples.
Plus, the chicken tasted like actual chicken breast, not the spongy pressed type reminiscent of some frozen nuggets.
Verdict: I'd get these again for sure. My boys, husband (not a big Brie guy), and I all gave this meal two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
I was excited to try another one of Aldi's vegan offerings. These "meat" balls are made with textured soy protein and have 14 grams of protein per serving.
The meatless meatballs had a decent texture after being pan-fried, but I believe they would stay better intact if baked.
With a well-rounded, herby flavor, these could work for a meatless Monday dinner and certainly be great for vegetarians in search of high-protein meal options.
Verdict: Although we didn't go wild over these, three out of my four family samplers would be willing to try the meatless meatballs again baked in the oven.
Many people enjoy Kirkwood's chicken breasts and call them dupes for Chick-fil-A, so I was excited to try the brand's Parmesan-herb-encrusted chicken tenders.
These chicken tenders came out of the air fryer with a proper deep-fried flavor, a satisfying crunch, and well-adhered breading.
The Parmesan made them a little tangy up front, but not in an objectionable way. The meat was nice and moist, too.
Verdict: I'd use these in a sandwich with pickle and Sriracha mayo or as the base for a speedy chicken Parmesan with jarred marinara and melted mozzarella or provolone.
The Bremer chicken Alfredo skillet contains some of the kid-friendliest veggies, like carrots and peas. I was optimistic that my family would like this one.
The sauce had a nice garlic flavor that wasn't overpowering or artificial-tasting.
I was surprised that the penne turned out perfectly al dente. The chunks of chicken breast were tender, and the peas, carrots, and broccoli did not turn to mush in the pan.
Verdict: I would buy this skillet meal again, but should note that one bag was not enough for four servings — if you're feeding the family, buy two bags to be safe.
I was skeptical as I'd never tried pre-cooked, pre-sauced, bone-in frozen wings. Even so, Kirkwood has impressed me so far.
I threw these in my air fryer, and although I let them cook for longer than the instructions directed, another five minutes could have improved the texture and crisp factor.
The Buffalo sauce tasted authentic and had a nice level of spice and tang, but I can't say I was fully blown away. I wish the wings had been larger.
Verdict: If the wings came "naked" with a frozen sauce pouch to thaw and add after the chicken cooked, these could easily become a freezer staple for football season.
Bottom Gusset Pouches With Zipper In a pinch could definitely satisfy a wing craving, just don't expect deep-fried restaurant quality here.