Aldi’s Top 10 Best Bargains for the Traditional Foods Kitchen

You’ll be surprised what you can buy at Aldi! In today’s video, I’m sharing my Top 10 Best Bargains from Aldi that are perfect for any Traditional Foods Kitchen. Aldi is truly becoming a go-to store for nourishing ingredients—from grass-fed meats and pastured eggs to rich Irish butter and even organic pantry staples.

Plus, I’ve included a Bonus Section at the end of this post (and in today’s Aldi’s Top 10 best bargains video!) where I highlight some budget-friendly, non-perishable foods for stocking your Working Pantry and Extended Pantry—what we like to nickname the Prepper Pantry. And yes, we talk about the importance of building Multiple Streams of Food. (I also include a meal plan to show you how to use the foods you get at Aldi.)

So be sure to scroll through for the full list, and don’t miss the Quick Glance section if you’re short on time. Let’s go shopping and stock our pantries! 

A Quick Glance: Top 10 Aldi Bargains

These items are perfect for your refrigerator and freezer:

🥩 Grass-fed beef: skirt steak, NY strip, and ground beef
🐑 Australian lamb leg (butterflied)
🌭 Grass-fed all-beef hot dogs
🍗 Organic Italian chicken sausage
🥓 Sugar-free uncured bacon
🐟 Wild-caught salmon & steelhead trout
🧀 Irish grass-fed cheddar
🧈 Irish salted grass-fed butter
🥚 Organic pastured eggs
🥬 1 lb organic mixed greens

And these BONUS Items are perfect for stocking your Working Pantry and your Extended Pantry (Prepper Pantry):

• Organic canned beans, canned salmon, organic pasta, red lentil pasta, Cornichons, Texas EVOO, and Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar.

Aldi’s Best Bargains for the Traditional Foods Kitchen

When it comes to stocking our Four Corners Pantry with traditional foods, Aldi has some of the best bargains in town! Let’s start with the 10 best bargains for stocking your refrigerator and freezer:

Category #1 – Beef

• Grass-Fed Skirt Steak – $11.18: Perfect for fajitas or slicing over salads.
• 2 Grass-Fed NY Strip Steaks – $17.63: Ideal for a celebratory dinner—tender and flavorful.
• 2 Packs Grass-Fed Ground Beef (93% and 87%): Use the leaner ground beef in sauces like spaghetti, and the 87% for juicy hamburgers.

Category #2 – Lamb

• All Natural Australian Butterflied Leg of Lamb: Wonderful when slow-roasted with garlic and herbs. A traditional Sunday dinner favorite!

Category #3 – Chicken Sausage

• Organic Italian Chicken Sausage – $4.19: Pairs beautifully with your favorite spaghetti sauce.

Category #4 – Hot Dogs

• All-Beef Grass-Fed Hot Dogs – $4.29: Great on the grill and perfect for quick summer meals.

Category #5 – Bacon

• Sugar-Free Uncured Hickory Smoked Bacon – $4.99: No nitrates, no nitrites, no sugar—just flavor. A keto-friendly breakfast essential.

Category #6 – Fish

• Fresh Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon (approx. 1½ lbs) – $19.74
• Fresh Steelhead Trout (approx. ¾ lb) – $7.97: As my sweet mom used to say, “Fish is brain food!” Both are great for heart health and easy weeknight dinners.

Category #7 – Cheese

• Irish Vintage Cheddar (Grass-Fed Cow’s Milk) – $4.39: Rich, sharp, and perfect for snacking or a charcuterie board.

Category #8 – Butter

• Salted Irish Butter (Grass-Fed Cow’s Milk) – $3.69: You can never have enough! Slather it on warm sourdough and savor every bite.

Category #9 – Eggs

• Organic Pastured Eggs – Large Brown (1 Dozen) – $4.39: Perfect scrambled with your bacon or baked into any recipe.

Category #10 – Greens

• 1 Pound Organic Mixed Greens – $4.99: Toss into a salad or sauté with butter and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Bonus Items – For the Working Pantry & Extended Pantry

• Organic Canned Beans – 99¢
• Wild-Caught Canned Salmon – $2.99 (Be sure to make my Salmon Patties!)
• Organic Spaghetti – $1.49
• Organic Red Lentil Pasta – $2.99
• Cornichons – $2.69
• Texas Extra Virgin Olive Oil – $7.59
• Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – $5.95: A bit pricey, but worth keeping on hand for emergencies. But best of all, try making Homemade Apple Scrap Vinegar!

The Importance of Maintaining a Four Corners Pantry

If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ve likely heard me talk about the Four Corners Pantry. It’s one of the foundational principles of a Traditional Foods Kitchen and something I hold dear in my home—and I want you to have it in yours, too!

What is a Four Corners Pantry?

The Four-Corners Pantry refers to stocking your kitchen across four main areas:

1. The Working Pantry – This is your everyday pantry. It’s where you keep your go-to ingredients like flours, dried herbs, canned beans, and cooking oils—everything you need to whip up meals during the week without running to the store.
2. The Refrigerator – This is where we store fresh perishables like eggs, dairy, meats, and greens. It’s also the home for fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, and sourdough starter.
3. The Freezer – A traditional cook’s best friend! Use it to store leftovers, homemade bone broth, meat bought on sale, and seasonal produce you’ve preserved. It gives you flexibility and extends your food budget.
4. The Extended Pantry – What we affectionately call the Prepper Pantry. This includes backup supplies of non-perishable foods like canned goods, bulk grains, salt, vinegar, and shelf-stable fats. It’s not about fear—it’s about peace of mind. It’s there to serve your family in times of need, unexpected illness, budget changes, or even bad weather.

What Keeping a Well-Stocked Four Corners Pantry Means

When you keep a well-stocked Four Corners Pantry, you can:

• Make nourishing meals from scratch any day of the week
• Weather life’s storms—big or small—without worry
• Avoid impulse shopping and rely on what you already have
• Cook with confidence, knowing your home is prepared

How to Build Your Four Corners Pantry Slowly and Affordably

If the idea of building up your Four Corners Pantry feels a little overwhelming, I want to offer you a comforting reminder: You don’t have to do it all at once. In fact, the most lasting and peaceful pantries are built slowly, intentionally, and within your means.

And keep in mind—Stocking a Four Corners Pantry is not about hoarding—it’s about hospitality, stewardship, and love. And remember, you don’t need to fill it all at once. Just as I say in today’s Aldi video: pick up a few extras each time you shop, and over time, you’ll have a pantry that supports and blesses your whole household.

Let’s walk through some simple ways to fill your pantry over time—without stress and without busting the budget, as my sweet mom Gloria would always say. Having lived through the Great Depression and World War 2, she knew a thing or two about how to keep a well-stocked pantry by searching out the best bargains and making nourishing meals on a shoestring! Here are her best tips:

1. Just Add One or Two Extras

Each time you go grocery shopping, pick up one or two non-perishable extras—a can of beans, a bag of oats, a jar of vinegar, or a pound of dried lentils. These small additions add up quickly.

2. Focus on One Pantry Area at a Time

To stay organized (and avoid feeling scattered), choose one corner of the pantry to focus on each month. For example:

• Month 1: Build up your Working Pantry with canned tomatoes, beans, and herbs
• Month 2: Add to your Freezer with meats, butter, and frozen veggies
• Month 3: Focus on your Refrigerator by keeping eggs, dairy, and fermented foods on hand
• Month 4: Stock your Extended Pantry with shelf-stable goods that you find on sale, including a variety of canned goods, various pastas, and whole grains

This rotation keeps things manageable and gives you a sense of progress.

3. Watch for Sales and Shop Smart

Stores like Aldi are excellent for picking up budget-friendly nourishing foods, especially grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, organic eggs, and beans. When you see a good price, buy a little extra for your Four Corners Pantry.

4. Label and Rotate

Use the First-in-First-Out (FIFO) system. Always place newer items in the back behind older items. This helps avoid waste and keeps all your food fresh and usable.

5. Make a Pantry List

Keep a simple checklist of what you already have and what you want to add. This helps you stay focused and prevents duplicate purchases. It can be as easy as jotting notes in a notebook or using one of the printables I share with you.

6. Don’t Compare—Just Begin

Everyone’s pantry will look a little different based on their family’s needs, space, and season of life. The important thing is to start with love and intention.

Even a few jars on a shelf, lovingly chosen, can bring great peace to your kitchen.

So build slowly. Build joyfully. Your pantry is more than storage—it’s a reflection of your care, your home, and your heart.

Multiple Streams of Food: What It Means and Why It Matters

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years—especially as a Traditional Foods Cook—it’s this: resilience in the kitchen comes from having options. That’s why I love the idea of keeping Multiple Streams of Food on hand.

What Do Multiple Streams of Food Mean?

Multiple Streams of Food means we don’t rely on just one type of food source. Instead, we create a well-rounded pantry and kitchen by including a variety of foods in different forms—fresh, frozen, dried, and canned. Each one serves a purpose, and together, they help us stay prepared for whatever life brings our way.

Why It Matters to Stock Multiple Streams of Food

There are so many reasons I could share with you as to why you want to stock Multiple Streams of Food. And as you begin to stock your Four Corners Pantry, you will discover many reasons unique to your particular stage in life for stocking Multiple Streams of Food. But these are the most important reasons all traditional foods cooks have in common:

1. It Gives You Flexibility

Maybe you planned to cook dried beans, but the day got busy. That’s when you’ll be so grateful for that can of organic beans on your shelf. Having both gives you choices—and peace of mind.

2. It Helps You Avoid Waste

Frozen vegetables, canned salmon, or shelf-stable milk can fill in when fresh options run low. That means fewer emergency trips to the store—and fewer ingredients going bad in the fridge.

3. It Prepares You for the Unexpected

Whether it’s illness, bad weather, job loss, budget changes, or just a hectic week, having multiple streams of food allows you to keep serving nourishing meals—without panic or stress.

4. It Supports a Balanced Four Corners Pantry

Your Working Pantry, Refrigerator, Freezer, and Extended Pantry all work together like a symphony when you stock them with a thoughtful mix of foods.

What Multiple Streams Might Look Like

• Beans: dried in jars, canned in the pantry, frozen in the freezer
• Protein: fresh ground beef, frozen chicken thighs, canned wild-caught salmon
• Greens: fresh spinach in the fridge, frozen broccoli in the freezer, dried herbs in the pantry
• Fats: butter in the fridge, tallow in the freezer, olive oil in the pantry

Stocking your kitchen this way doesn’t happen overnight—and that’s okay! The beauty of it is in the building. Little by little, with each grocery trip, you can tuck away an extra can of beans, a jar of pasta sauce, or a pound of frozen fruit. Over time, you’ll have a pantry that not only feeds your family—but comforts and sustains them. And that, sweet friend, is a true blessing!

Why Grass-Fed Beef Matters in a Traditional Foods Kitchen

When it comes to nourishing our families with real food, few choices are as foundational as the meat we serve at our table. That’s why I’m such a big supporter of grass-fed beef—and I want to share with you why it matters so much.

1. Better Nutrition
   Grass-fed beef is higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health. It’s also richer in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a powerful nutrient linked to immune and metabolic benefits. And let’s not forget those fat-soluble vitamins—A, D, E, and K2—that are more abundant when cows are raised on pasture.
2. Cleaner and Safer
   Grass-fed beef is typically raised without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. That means fewer chemicals on your plate and a gentler impact on your body—especially important for those of us who are healing or supporting our family’s wellness naturally.
3. It Honors the Animal and the Earth
   Traditional food isn’t just about health—it’s about honoring life and the land. Grass-fed cattle are allowed to graze, roam, and live more naturally. Well-managed grazing practices can even improve soil health, making it a more sustainable choice.
4. Flavorful and Satisfying
   You’ll often hear people say grass-fed beef tastes “like beef used to taste”—rich, slightly earthy, and deeply satisfying. It’s perfect for traditional meals like pot roast, meatballs simmered in broth, and hearty stews.

When you choose grass-fed beef—especially when you find it on sale, as I did in this Aldi haul—you’re making a small but powerful choice for your family’s nourishment and for the world we live in. And don’t worry—if it’s not always in the budget, that’s okay. Just choose the best you can, when you can. Every small step counts!

Shopping for Grass-Fed Beef

If you don’t have an Aldi near you, or they don’t carry the grass-feed beef options you’re looking for, be sure to check out these online options…and they include a discount too!

• Northstar Bison: Save 10% off orders with my link and discount code MARYSNEST
• Shirttail Creek Farms: $10 off any order over $100 with this link and discount code MARYSNEST
• US Wellness Meats: One-time 15% savings off regular-priced items with my link and discount code MARYNEST. (no S in the discount code)

Why Wild-Caught Fish Matters in a Traditional Foods Kitchen

When it comes to building a nourishing kitchen, fish has long held a special place at the table—especially for those of us who love traditional, whole foods. And when choosing fish, one of the most important distinctions we can make is between wild-caught and farm-raised.

So let’s talk about why wild-caught fish matters and how it supports both our health and the health of God’s creations.

1. A More Natural Life for the Fish

Wild-caught fish live in their natural environment—oceans, rivers, and lakes—swimming freely and eating a diverse diet as nature intended. This makes a difference not only in how the fish lives, but in how it tastes and nourishes us. Farm-raised fish are often crowded in pens and may be fed unnatural diets, which can affect their health and ours.

2. Higher Nutrient Content

Wild fish tend to be leaner and richer in nutrients, especially in omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for heart, brain, and joint health. These fats are often higher in wild salmon, trout, and sardines because the fish are eating what they were created to eat—plankton, algae, and smaller fish.

3. Fewer Contaminants

Because farm-raised fish are often kept in tight quarters, they may be treated with antibiotics or exposed to pollutants in the water. Wild fish, especially those caught in cold, clean waters like the Alaskan coast, are generally lower in contaminants and free from added hormones or chemicals.

4. A Traditional Food That’s Stood the Test of Time

Across cultures and centuries, wild fish have been a staple of nourishing diets. From the coastal villages of the Mediterranean to the mountain lakes of Scandinavia, traditional people knew the value of fish as brain food—as my sweet mom used to say.

Choosing wild-caught fish, like the Alaskan salmon and steelhead trout I picked up in this Aldi haul, is a simple way to feed your family something truly nourishing. And when you can find it on sale? Even better!

So if you’re looking to add more Multiple Streams of Food to your meal rotation, don’t forget the sea. Serve fish once or twice a week, and your body—and your brain—will thank you!

Shopping for Wild-Caught Seafood

If you don’t have an Aldi near you, or they don’t carry the wild-caught seafood options you’re looking for, be sure to check out this online option…and they include a discount too!

• Northwest Wild Foods: Save 10% off orders with my link and discount code MARYSNEST

How I Use These Aldi Finds in My Weekly Meal Plan

One of the most common questions I receive after a grocery haul is:

“But how do you turn all of this into actual meals?”

The answer is simpler than you might think!

With just a few quality ingredients—like those we picked up at Aldi—you can create a week’s worth of wholesome, traditional meals without needing a long list of extras. The secret is to keep it flexible, use leftovers wisely, and build your meals around what you already have stocked in your Four Corners Pantry.

7-Day Meal Plan Using Aldi Finds

Below, I’m sharing a basic 7-day meal plan for inspiration using many of the items from our latest Aldi Haul. It’s cozy, simple, and satisfying—just the way meals prepared in a traditional foods kitchen should be.

Monday Dinner:

• Grass-Fed Skirt Steak Fajitas with sautéed onions and peppers
• Warm tortillas or lettuce wraps
• Organic mixed greens salad with EVOO & apple cider vinegar dressing

Tuesday Dinner:

• Spaghetti with Organic Italian Chicken Sausage and red sauce
• Side of buttered greens
• Freshly grated Irish cheddar over pasta

Wednesday Dinner:

• Wild-Caught Salmon (pan-seared in butter or ghee)
• Roasted root vegetables (use what you have on hand)
• Lemon-dressed green salad

Thursday Dinner:

• Ground Beef and Bean Skillet (87% lean ground beef + organic canned beans + spices)
• Served over rice or alongside cornbread
• Side of cornichons or pickled vegetables for brightness

Friday Dinner:

• Grilled Grass-Fed Hot Dogs
• Simple potato salad (or canned bean salad)
• Mixed greens tossed with vinaigrette

Saturday Lunch:

• Slow-Roasted Leg of Lamb with garlic and rosemary
• Steamed veggies or sautéed greens
• Warm sourdough rolls with grass-fed butter

Sunday Night Supper:

• Leftover lamb turned into a hearty stew or shepherd’s pie
• Side of red lentil pasta salad or buttered noodles
• Finish with a little apple cider vinegar tonic to aid digestion

Tips for Keeping Meal Prep Easy

• Use leftovers creatively—cook once, eat twice.
• Always have a fresh green salad or sautéed vegetable on the side.
• Let butter and vinegar be your seasoning heroes!
• Supplement from your pantry with grains, herbs, broth, and root veggies.

When you cook this way, it’s not about perfection—it’s about the joy of a table lovingly set with simple yet nourishing food.

Final Pantry Thoughts

I hope this Aldi haul inspires you to explore new ways to stock your Four Corners Pantry with nourishing foods at affordable prices. Aldi has truly stepped up as a place where the Traditional Foods cook can shop with confidence—and on a budget.

Until next time, remember: a well-stocked pantry brings peace of mind, especially when we build it slowly and intentionally—one shopping trip at a time.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

Love Shopping at Aldi?

If you love shopping at Aldi, here are some of my previous Aldi hauls you’ll enjoy watching, especially to see how the selection and prices have changed over time!

• Top Cheap Foods Under $1 and $2 You Need to Buy Now at Aldi
• Top 10 Aldi Healthy Foods to Buy Now
• Top 10 Aldi Foods You Need to Buy Now

More Shopping Videos

See all →

Top 10 Costco HEALTHY Foods You Must Buy Now!

Discover 10 must-have healthy Costco foods to stock your pantry with nourishing staples. Watch my latest haul and get my top picks!

Are We Paying Too Much for Chicken? Explaining Labels and Prices

Learn how to choose the best roast chicken, decode packaging labels, and make the most of every bite in your traditional kitchen.

Top Cheap Foods Under $1 and $2 You Need to Buy Now at Aldi

In these inflationary times, be sure to stock up on these inexpensive foods to make delicious and nutritious meals.

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