12 Walmart Great Value Brand Items That Live up to Their Name

It's all in the name. Great Value brand items are truly a great value and can help you save money at Walmart. That means you'll have more cash left in your wallet.

While you may already know about these affordable generics, the grocery line includes a few overlooked buys. From frozen foods to savory seasonings, keep your budget on track and add these underrated (but unbeatable) bargains to your shopping list.

These picks span the pantry, freezer, and beverage aisle, and several go head-to-head with pricier name brands on the same shelf. Most ring up for less than $4, making them easy additions to a weekly grocery run.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $2.08

Make movie night-in better with this classic butter-flavored popcorn. Instead of spending extra on pricey tickets and treats at the local multiplex, screen the streaming service you already pay for and snack on this inexpensive treat. 

A bag of popcorn could cost over $9 at an AMC Theater. But at Walmart, you'll pay a little over $2.

Great Value's Movie Theater Butter Popcorn comes in a 6.25-ounce microwave bag that makes about six servings at 180 calories each. 

The popcorn is made with 100% whole grain kernels and gets its flavor from real butter, along with palm oil and salt, and the brand notes it contains no artificial flavors or preservatives. 

Because it's ready in minutes, it works just as well for a weeknight snack as it does for a full movie night at home.

Price: $1.92

Skip the same bland tomato-based pasta sauce you always use and try this Great Value gem. The classic alfredo is made with real cheese, giving it a rich, creamy taste.

Walmart can help you make an Italian dinner for less. Mix the white sauce into a $0.98 box of penne, spaghetti, or fettuccine.

The 16-ounce jar is made with real parmesan and Romano cheese along with cream, giving it a thick, restaurant-style texture. 

Customer reviews on Walmart's site describe the sauce as creamy without tasting artificial, with several shoppers saying it holds up well in baked pasta dishes, casseroles, or as a lasagna layer, not just spooned over noodles. 

A larger 22-ounce jar is also available for households that go through sauce quickly.

Price: $3.98

Gluten-free doesn't have to be taste-free. These vanilla creme sandwich cookies have a sweet, decadent filling with a taste you'll savor. Compare $3.98 for this generic bargain buy to $4.99 for a slightly larger pack of gluten-free Golden Oreos.

The 10.5-ounce bag is made with whole oat flour, rice flour, and tapioca starch instead of wheat, and the cookies are certified kosher. 

Reviewers on Walmart's site say the texture and flavor taste close to a traditional sandwich cookie, without the gritty or cardboard-like quality some gluten-free snacks have. 

They work well for dunking in milk, crumbling over ice cream, or packing in a lunchbox for anyone avoiding gluten.

Price: $3.98

You might not expect to find this gourmet goodie at Walmart. This 6.35-ounce jar of Greek olives costs less than $4, while a smaller jar from Mezzetta sells for $4.09.

Add these Mediterranean-style olives to a green salad, quinoa, couscous, or a charcuterie platter.

The olives are a product of Greece and come already pitted, with about 12 servings per jar. They're also certified gluten-free, and the jar notes the olives may still contain occasional pits or pit fragments. 

Beyond salads and platters, they're a common addition to Mediterranean-style chicken or pasta dishes, and the briny jar liquid can double as a quick addition to a homemade vinaigrette.

Price: $1.64

Save time and money with this Great Value brand buy. Instead of starting from scratch, skip the prep steps and sprinkle this seasoning blend on ready-to-bake wings. The zesty flavor will take your favorite chicken recipe to a new level.

As a bonus, you don't have to use this $1.64 vpacket to season wings. You can also mix it into a marinade for steak, grilled shrimp, or braised tofu.

The 1-ounce packet is made with corn maltodextrin, garlic, parmesan cheese, and butter, and is meant to season about 2 pounds of wings. 

Reviewers on Walmart's site say the flavor is versatile enough for more than wings, using it on chicken strips, pork chops, mashed potatoes, and even homemade croutons. 

Because the packet is shelf-stable, it's an easy pantry staple to keep on hand for a last-minute dinner.

Price: $1.64

Do you want to make guac but don't have the time to shop for a long list of ingredients? For less than $1.70, you can get everything you need (minus the avocados) in this packet.

The 1-ounce packet is made with dried onion, garlic, sour cream, red bell pepper, and cumin, and calls for mixing with three ripe avocados to make a full batch, with about 16 servings per packet. 

Beyond a dip for tortilla chips, the mix works as a topping for tacos, fajitas, and quesadillas, or as a dip for sliced carrots and celery for a lighter option. 

Because it's shelf-stable, it's an easy way to keep guacamole night-ready without buying a full spice rack.

Price: $7.88

Did you know Great Value's line includes ready-to-heat-and-eat entrées? This 32-ounce box of frozen beef-stuffed bell peppers is an affordable alternative to a from-scratch meal. 

It's also better priced than similar brand-name products. At $7.88, the generic is over $1 less than Stouffer's family-size pack.

The peppers are filled with beef and seasoned rice and topped with a tomato-herb sauce, and the box provides about four servings at 230 calories and 9 grams of protein each. 

Stouffer's comparable family-size stuffed peppers box, also 32 ounces, has sold for $9.84 at Walmart, making the Great Value version a lower-cost option for the same portion size. 

Either version can go straight from the freezer to the oven or microwave for a quick dinner.

Price: $4.87

Pass on the pricey barista-blended beverages and try these Great Value single-serve cups. Use the individual pods with your Keurig or a similar coffee maker. You'll have a steaming spiced blend in minutes. 

Start your morning off right, or curl up with a hot mug of chai at night.

The 12-count box holds 0.55-ounce single-serve cups compatible with pod brewing systems, and Walmart reviewers frequently compare the flavor favorably to pricier café-style pods like Café Escapes, which sell for roughly $17 to $21 for a similar count. 

Some shoppers say they prefer the Great Value version even over more expensive brands, both hot and served over ice as an iced chai latte. An 18-count box of the powdered mix version is also available for a lower per-serving cost.

Price: $4.12

You don't have to pay specialty store prices for herbal tea. Walmart's Great Value line includes this 40-count lemon and ginger blend. Celestial Seasonings' 20-pack sells for $3.12, helping you save money on groceries. Double that price to equal the generic's size, and you'll pay over $6 for 40 tea bags.

The Great Value blend combines lemon and ginger and can be served hot or iced, according to the packaging. 

The box holds 40 tea bags rather than the more common 20-count size, so it lasts roughly twice as long before needing a refill, which adds to the savings beyond the per-box price. 

It's a straightforward option for anyone who drinks herbal tea regularly and wants to avoid restocking every week or two.

Price: $2.64

Even though the name says "apple pie," you don't have to bake with this spice. Use the seasoning blend to make a batch of cookies, cupcakes, or pancakes. 

Or, get creative and sprinkle the sweet cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg mix on top of a whipped cream-covered cup of hot cocoa.

The 2-ounce bottle blends just three spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, with no fillers listed on the label. 

Beyond desserts, it's suited for savory-sweet uses like oatmeal, French toast, sweet potatoes, and fruit salads, and it can also be stirred into coffee or hot cider for a spiced flavor without buying a separate blend. 

Because the bottle is shelf-stable, a little goes a long way across multiple recipes.

Price: $2.97

Great Value's lineup of bargain products extended into the frozen dessert aisle. If you don't need an entire cheesecake, this two-piece pack is perfect for a sweet after-dinner treat. 

The indulgent turtle flavor features a rich caramel, roasted pecan, and chocolate topping. Thaw this frozen treat and serve it with a side of vanilla ice cream.

Each 6-ounce package holds two individual slices of New York-style cheesecake baked on a honey graham crust, then topped with caramel, chocolate chips, and roasted pecans. 

The slices are individually portioned, so they're an easy way to satisfy a dessert craving without committing to or storing a full cheesecake. 

Great Value also sells a four-slice cheesecake sampler with turtle, strawberry swirl, chocolate swirl, and classic New York flavors for anyone who wants to try more than one variety.

Price: $7.42

Yes, you can find generic seafood at Walmart. Save money on apps and serve this $7.42 12-ounce bag of cooked shrimp. Each pack includes between 110 and 150 peeled, deveined, tail-off pieces.

That count corresponds to Great Value's extra small cooked shrimp, which runs 100 to 150 pieces per pound, already peeled, deveined, and tail-off for easy serving. 

The shrimp is sold frozen and just needs to be thawed before eating, making it a fast option for shrimp cocktail, salads, or pasta dishes. 

Great Value also sells the same shrimp in small, medium, and larger sizes, so shoppers can pick a count that better fits a specific recipe.

Great Value brand buys are budget-friendly bargains that can help you spend less. While this line features affordable essentials, it includes more than the basics. 

The savings don't stop at the register. Use the best cash back credit cards to score points and perks on eligible purchases.

Several of the items above, including the pasta sauce, seasoning packets, and shrimp, also come in larger sizes or multipacks, which can lower the cost per ounce further for households that go through them regularly. 

Great Value spans nearly every aisle, from frozen entrées to spices to seafood, so swapping in even a handful of these picks on a routine shopping trip can add up to meaningful savings over the course of a month without switching stores.