10 Must-Have Aldi Items For First-Time Shoppers

In 1976, the doors opened on the first Aldi store in the United States. The German chain has since expanded to 38 states and more than 2,400 outlets. Aldi is particularly popular in this neck of the woods, but if you've never visited one before, it's worth knowing that this store does a few things differently. For a start, you need a quarter to unlock your cart (don't forget to take it out of the slot when you return it), and it's wise to take your own shopping bags or invest in a few of the store's reusable ones.

Aldi stores also have what's known as "the middle aisle," where you can browse a wide range of heavily discounted items. Some are amazing, others are bonkers, but they're always worth a look, as are the red-tagged reductions. While many Aldi fans cite its small footprint for their love of the store, the food is really where it's at. Aldi's food selection garners praise for both low prices and high quality, especially when it comes to the fruit and veggies.

Some of the brands on Aldi's shelves will likely be unfamiliar to new customers, so knowing what to pick up and what to sidestep can feel like a bit of a minefield. We've got you! From frozen chicken breasts to chocolatey treats, here's our list of must-have items for your first trip to Aldi. All prices and availability were correct at the time of writing, but contact your local store to double-check and avoid missing out.

We're still waiting for this discontinued Aldi bar to make a comeback, but in the meantime, we'll happily chow down on the three bars in Aldi's Choceur Choco Changer range. There are two milk chocolate options — one with brownie and salted caramel, the other with nougat, honeycomb, and sea salt — and a dark chocolate bar with salty fudge and almond. Do they taste all the sweeter for being part of Tony's Open Chain, a sustainability initiative launched by Tony's Chocolonely? We think so.

Buy Choceur Choco Changer bars for $3.59.

Look on social media for first-time Aldi purchase recommendations, and every third or fourth comment will say "sourdough." The only tricky bit is choosing which variety. Currently, Aldi has around a half-dozen, but we love the Everything sourdough. This may be a small batch loaf, but it's big on flavor thanks to the inclusion of garlic, onion, poppy, and toasted sesame seeds. Buy extra loaves and freeze them if you can, because the fam will devour them in a flash.

Buy Specially Selected Everything Sourdough for $3.49.

If you're like us and have cheese with everything, Aldi has got you covered. Its range of block cheeses includes no fewer than four types of cheddar, including this creamy white kind that's a snip at $3 for 10 ounces. It's aged for more than a year and brings a flavor punch to everything from sandwiches to mac 'n' cheese. You can grate the whole thing when you get it home and pop it in separate freezer bags so it doesn't hog all the space in your fridge.

Buy Emporium Selection Aged Reserve White Cheddar Cheese for $2.99.

Sticking with the cheese theme, this bougie version of what we think is the ultimate comfort food comes from the store's own Specially Selected range and is a must for first-time Aldi shoppers. The sauce is an unctuous blend of Monterey Jack, cheddar, Asiago, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, which all come together to elevate the pasta to an entirely new level. One 12-ounce box contains two servings -– assuming you want to share.

Buy Specially Selected Gourmet Macaroni & Cheese with Italian Five Cheese Sauce for $2.45.

Aldi's meat is one of the main reasons why many shoppers return to the store again and again. It doesn't take long for new customers to see why, and a great example is the store's house-brand Simply Nature grass-fed ground beef. It contains no added antibiotics or growth hormones, as well as minimal fat. If that's not enough to have you getting out the sous vide setup for juicy home-made burgers, the price point is a winner.

Buy Simply Nature Organic Grass Fed 85% Lean Ground Beef for $5.99.

With glowing reviews online, Aldi's Priano premium pasta is a must-grab for first-time shoppers. There are two types of tortelloni to choose from: ricotta and cheese (Provolone, Grana Padano, and Gorgonzola), and mushroom and cheese — our fave — featuring champignon and porcini blended with ricotta and Provolone. Cooked in just eight minutes, either (or both) variety makes for a quick and tasty lunch or a delicious dose of carbs for a family dinner, all for less than two bucks.

Buy Priano Premium Mushroom & Cheese Tortelloni for $1.65.

Shoppers on a budget sometimes cut back on meat protein to save a few dollars, but it's back on the menu for some, thanks to Aldi. Hot-foot it to the frozen section and pick up a 2-pound bag of wild-caught pink salmon from Fremont Fish Market. Each fillet is wrapped individually with the skin already removed, so you don't have to bother. Flake them into a warming bowl of pasta or serve it loaded with flavor, cowboy style. The choices are limitless!

Buy Fremont Fish Market Wild Caught Pink Salmon for $12.65.

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate in cup form has always felt like Reese's territory, but Aldi's Choceur dupe gives those cups a run for their money. Even customers who don't have a sweet tooth can't get enough and urge people to pick up a couple of bags. The cups themselves are deeper than the orange-packaged rival and come in generous 12-ounce bags. Keep them in the fridge for maximum enjoyment, but we think they won't last too long for good reason.

Buy Choceur Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups for $5.49.

Several foods contain surprising amounts of sodium but bacon doesn't have to be one of them. If you're a sucker for a crispy strip or two, Aldi's low-sodium bacon can help you scratch that culinary itch without sending your salt levels sky high. Sold under the store's own Appleton Farms brand, these bacon slices contain 35% less sodium and are hardwood smoked, so there's no compromise on flavor. Whether you decide the oven or air fryer is easier for cooking this bacon, you'll enjoy it.

Buy Appleton Farms Lower Sodium Bacon for $4.35.

Is there anything as culinarily flexible as chicken breast? It goes with just about everything, can be cooked a zillion ways, and can taste the business when cooked properly. Newcomers to Aldi can happily stock up on them, too, thanks to these 3-pound bumper bags of frozen chicken breasts. The packaging says up front that they contain a brine solution (ideal for adding juiciness and flavor), but you won't find any steroids, hormones, or artificial preservatives or flavors.

Buy Kirkwood Chicken Breasts for $9.89.