There's something special about comfort foods that instantly transports you back to childhood. From pepperoni-rich pizza bagels to your favorite brand of mac and cheese, classic comfort food brings back so many memories.
With the help of a popular Aldi hack or two, you can stock your pantry and freezer with these 15 budget-friendly favorites that taste just like the classics you grew up with.
Editor's note: Prices and availability may vary by store location.
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Baker's Corner Strawberry Gelatin Mix
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Price: $1.09
Did you ever make Jell-O in a mold with your mom or dad? You had to wait for the ice cubes to dissolve, then wait again for the gelatin to set. It was a whole process.
Relive the fun with Aldi's off-brand gelatin dessert, just over $1 for four servings.
Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pepperoni Pizza Bagels
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Price: $6.59
From the 1980s onwards, Bagel Bites were a huge hit for families wanting easy-to-make pizza at home.
If you remember those little round treats fondly, you can relive the taste with Mama Cozzi's Pizza Bagels. They're $6.59 for 36 bagels, topped with melty cheese and pepperoni.
Breakfast Best Frozen Homestyle Waffles
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Price: $1.65 (on sale from $2.39)
Childhood classics like Eggo waffles bring back memories of fall mornings getting ready for school with the scent of cinnamon and syrup in the air.
Aldi's waffles are frozen, but you can heat them in the toaster and top them with whatever treats you like. And at $1.65, they're an inexpensive way to revisit your childhood.
Bremer Frozen Chicken Pot Pie
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Price: $1.09
Sometimes nothing but a hearty, savory pie hits the spot. When you were a kid, these may have been homemade by a patient parent, but today, you can get a more convenient option.
Aldi's single-serving pot pies cook straight from frozen and are packed with chicken, veggies, and gravy. One reviewer said that for around $1, this was "one of the best meals you can get."
Bremer Original Meatballs
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Price: $8.15
These meaty treats were often served on toothpicks at parties in the '70s and '80s, sometimes with weird flavors like sweet and sour.
Today, you can get a 32-ounce pack of meatballs from Aldi for just over $8, to serve however you like. For true nostalgia, don't forget the toothpicks.
Simply Nature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter
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Price: $4.85
There are few foods that can evoke childhood memories like a PB&J. Having tasty, creamy peanut butter on hand is essential, and Aldi delivers.
Aldi's 16-ounce tub of organic creamy peanut butter is ideal for the eco-conscious shopper. As well as being organic, it's palm oil–free and unsweetened.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
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September marks the start of a new season and a new shopping mindset. As summer winds down, it's the perfect time to take advantage of transitional savings and post-summer sales. Look for deals on:
- Light layers and early fall fashion
- Outdoor clearance items
- Back-to-school essentials
- For grocery savings, grab peak-season produce, like apples, squash, grapes, and sweet potatoes
As retailers begin to roll out fall promotions, September is the sweet spot for scoring deals on both end-of-summer clearances and early autumn items. Shop now to get the best of both seasons.
Bremer Salisbury Steak
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Price: $3.95
Salisbury steak was a TV dinner classic and a budget-friendly way to enjoy "steak" (in reality, compacted ground beef) at home.
Aldi's modern alternative doesn't come with all the trimmings like the old-style TV dinner trays, but it is microwavable and topped with hearty gravy. Just add mashed potatoes and veggies.
Appetitos Loaded Potato Skins
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Price: $3.85
Potato skins were a popular starter throughout the '80s. If you went for dinner with your parents, you no doubt enjoyed these inexpensive savory treats at least once.
Today, Aldi can take you back to those family nights out. The store's loaded potato skins feature cheese and smoky bacon, and you can cook them straight from frozen.
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Park Street Deli Spinach Veggie Dip
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Price: $4.39 (on sale from $4.65)
Remember any grown-up parties in the '80s? You knew your parents' friends were trying to look classy if they had spinach dip ladled into a carved-out loaf of bread.
Aldi's 14-ounce tub of nostalgic dip costs less than $5, so you can feel fancy for less. You don't have to serve it in a bread bowl, but if you want to, a sourdough round costs just $3.65.
Lunch Buddies Chocolate Pudding Cups
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Price: $1.09
Smooth, creamy pudding cups were a childhood staple and one that's happily remained popular to this day. If you don't have the time or energy for a complex dessert, grabbing one of these sweet pots of delight from the fridge is the way forward.
Aldi sells a four-pack of chocolate pudding cups made with real milk for just over $1.
Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Frozen Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza
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Price: $3.29
If family nights in meant Jeno's frozen pizza and soda, you weren't alone. The novelty of getting takeout- or restaurant-style pizza at home means you may still see frozen pizza as a treat today.
Thankfully, that treat doesn't have to be expensive. Aldi's range of Mama Cozzi's pizzas is affordable and tasty, and includes a 16-inch thin pepperoni option for just $3.29.
Kirkwood Family Size Chicken Nuggets
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Price: $7.49
Chicken nuggets have been available in one form or another for decades, but you most likely have a fond relationship with them if you were a child in the '80s. McDonald's and other fast food joints brought the humble nugget into the spotlight.
They're just as popular today, and you can enjoy them in 3-pound bags from Aldi, large enough for the whole family.
Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill
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Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank when you use the right strategies. Here are three quick tips for reducing food expenses:
- Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
- Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
- Join your store's loyalty program so you don’t miss out on member discounts.
Even though something like choosing coupons in your grocery store app can feel like an annoying task, the savings can really add up.
Bremer Frozen Regular Corndogs
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Price: $3.95
Every trip to a fair or festival when you were a kid surely included cotton candy and a corn dog at some point. Battered and deep-fried hot dogs have been an outdoor treat since at least the 1930s, according to some sources.
Aldi's modern option is a little healthier, as you can microwave it instead of relying on the deep-fat fryer.
Millville Cinnamon Toaster Tarts
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Price: $2.15
If you spent your childhood or teen years dashing out of the house after enjoying a sweet and far-too-hot toaster pastry, Aldi's Pop-Tarts dupes are for you.
They're also more than $2 cheaper than the big brand alternative. One shopper recently said that toaster tarts are one reason why Aldi is their "fav affordable store in the world."
Cheese Club Macaroni and Cheese
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Price: $0.65
Instant Kraft Mac & Cheese was probably many people's introduction to cooking as a child. The "blue box" was easy to prepare and resulted in a satisfying meal that appealed to just about everyone.
Aldi now offers their own blue box mac 'n' cheese for less than $1. Or, for something more gourmet, you might want to try the time-limited Hot Honey Mac & Cheese for $1.70. One reviewer called this version "creamy, cheesy, and unexpectedly good."
Bottom line
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Recreating those nostalgic flavors doesn't have to mean spending hours in the kitchen or overspending at the store. Plus, as Aldi's private label products tend to cost significantly less than big brand alternatives, you can take a trip to the past for less, too.
Whether you're stocking up on pantry staples or freezer favorites, these finds make it simple to enjoy the classics while helping you save money on groceries.
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