20 Last-Minute ALDI Dinner Ideas (Spring + Summer)

Brats: Bratwurst are a german-style pork sausage, and they make a quick warm-weather dinner. For raw links like these, cook them all the way through the middle (160F on a meat thermometer) in a skillet on the stove, by browning both sides and then adding a little liquid to finish them under a lid with some steam. You can also cook bratwurst on a grill, turning them over every 5 minutes for about 20 minutes until done. Served with a salad kit and some corn on the cob. 

Main Dish Salads: This is what you make when you’ve got a craving for a restaurant-quality salad, but you’re in a “let’s stay home” mood. Use delicate spring mix lettuce and then top it with fresh berries, chicken strips (frozen grilled chicken breast strips are a nice shortcut), then a crispy element, like these seasoned nuts with dried fruits. Add some soft cheese if you like, such as feta or blue. Pro tip: Toss your greens with dressing before you add all the toppings, and then drizzle a little more to finish. If you’re going meatless, swap the grilled chicken for garbanzo beans

Loaded Baked Potatoes: This is a super easy ALDI meal idea. Potatoes are filling and simple to customize (and potatoes are one of the least expensive foods around). Pro tip for crispy skins in a hurry: Microwave the potato until cooked, then bake in a toaster oven or toss onto a hot grill for a little while to brown the outside. Then slice down the middle and fill your baked potatoes (aka “jacket potatoes”) with things like chili or beans, cheese, steamed broccoli, sour cream, or whatever your family likes.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches: Is there a simpler summer picnic main dish than pulled pork sandwiches? And you don’t have to heat up the whole kitchen. Choose pork shoulder (sometimes called butt), season it all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Pour about a cup of barbecue sauce over the pork and cook for 8 hours on low in the slow cooker. Remove from the slow cooker and shred into pieces, then return to the slow cooker to warm, stirring in more barbecue sauce. Serve it with coleslaw on top, and corn on the cob on the side. 

Chicken Kebabs: Kebabs are fun for kids to eat and simple to cook on the grill. Mix up a batch of this marinade. Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces, combine with marinade, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Then thread chicken onto skewers along with pieces of bell peppers, zucchini, and mushroom, leaving a little wiggle room between so they cook thoroughly. Brush everything with another coat of marinade and then grill until chicken is cooked through, turning at least once. Rained out? Put the kebabs under the broiler. Serve on a bed of ALDI’s 5-minute couscous. 

Cold Quinoa Salad: There’s a lot of flavor (and protein) packed into this little dish, making it a great option to fuel busy summer days. Prepare the quinoa blend according to the box, and finely dice some zucchini and peppers (scoop the seeds out of the squash to reduce its moisture). Sauté the vegetables in a little oil with a bit of salt and pepper until just tender, then mix in a bowl with the cooked quinoa and chill. Then stir in the almonds, feta cheese, and dressing to taste (or use olive oil and your favorite seasonings).

Charcuterie Board: It’s a perfect end of the week meal when you don’t feel like cooking and you’re in a celebratory Friday night mood. Choose your family’s favorite meats, then grab a cheese or two and crackers or a baguette to slice into thin rounds. Add berries, snap peas, carrots, and apples. Want to go big? Here’s how to make an Epic ALDI Cheese Board.

Teriyaki Kielbasa: This easy ALDI meal idea comes from Real Mom Nutrition team member Cheryll, and it’s one of her family’s favorites. Slice the kielbasa into bite sized pieces, and warm them up a little in the skillet before adding drained pineapple chunks and ALDI’s teriyaki stir fry sauce. Serve with the 90-second heat-and-eat rice pack (or use instant or regular brown rice), plus a salad for something cool and fresh on the side.

Pasta Salad: It’s a potluck favorite for a reason. Mix cooked, cooled pasta with diced veggies and salami. Pro tip: Dress the pasta with half the bottle while it’s hot off the stove, then chill it down, add the veggies and other stuff, and dress it again. 

Steak Fajitas: Coat the steak in taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade) and grill as one large piece first, then slice for fajitas right before serving. A grill basket can help you quickly char your sliced peppers. Serve in tortillas alongside chips and salsa or homemade guacamole.

BBQ Chicken Drumsticks: Drumsticks are affordable, flavorful, and fun finger-food for kids. Brush them with barbecue sauce and cook on the grill. Serve with sides like baked potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and a green veggie like grilled asparagus.

Flatbread Pepperoni Pizzas: ALDI flatbreads are the perfect canvas, and come in a pack of two. Spread with jarred red sauce (or pesto) and top with thin slices of fresh mozzarella and pepperoni. Bake at 400 degrees F until melty and bubbly on top. Serve with green salads. (Another flatbread option: ALDI’s jarred pesto sauce, fresh mozzarella, and drizzle of their Baslamic Glaze.)

Veggie Burgers: ALDI carries at least two varieties of veggie burger patties you can grill or cook on the stovetop. Pick up a package of buns and cheese. Serve with salads and fresh fruit.

Baked or Grilled Salmon: Season salmon with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and either bake it at 425 degrees F or grill until cooked through. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve with roasted or sauteed asparagus and a quinoa/rice blend. 

Steaks on the Grill: Nothing smells and tastes like a nicely grilled steak, simply seasoned with salt and pepper. You can bake potatoes right on the grill, too: Scrub and pat dry the potatoes, and tear off 2 sheets of foil per potato. Rub the potatoes all over with olive oil, and sprinkle all over with salt, then wrap in 2 layers of foil. Bake each one at 350 for 30-40 minutes, depending on size. (That’s a lot more time than the steaks will need, so, cook the potatoes first.) Serve with veggies like corn and green salads.

Cheeseburgers: Kick your home cheeseburger game up a notch with fancy brioche sesame buns, angus patties, and Happy Farms sharp white cheddar cheese. (If you’d rather make your own burgers, each one-pound package of fresh ground beef can be shaped into three or four patties.) Grill burgers or cook on the stovetop.