I don’t know about you, but weeknight dinners at my house don’t exactly have a reputation for being glamorous. Most nights, I’m just trying to get something on the table that everyone will eat, preferably without dirtying every dish in the kitchen. But I’ve found that dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to feel a little fancy. Sometimes, all it takes is a really good sauce, a restaurant-y side dish, or a handful of something crunchy or pickle-y.Luckily, Aldi has plenty of these little dinner upgrades, and the best part is that they’re all under $5. From garlic knots to crispy potatoes (and even a bottle of European balsamic vinegar for three (!) bucks), these inexpensive finds will easily elevate the most ordinary of meals.
These cheesy breadsticks make a basic pasta dinner feel a little more complete. They’re topped with a blend of shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan-Romano cheeses and take under 10 minutes to bake.
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A good vinaigrette can make a basic salad taste like it came from a restaurant. Keep one of these — available in five flavors, including Roasted Garlic Balsamic and Greek — in the fridge for dressing greens, drizzling over roasted vegetables, or adding to grain bowls.
Upgrade pizza night with a side of these heat-and-serve garlic knots. While you can toss the entire bag into the oven to bake, fans on Reddit recommend crisping them up in the air fryer.
Fancy tinned fish is having a moment, but $8 a can? In this economy? Luckily, Aldi just debuted a budget-friendly copycat that’ll make everything from rice bowls to a bagged salad feel a little more substantial without breaking the bank. The fish comes packed in olive oil with lemon or chili.
A bottle of this Japanese-style BBQ sauce can turn a basic protein into something with a sweet, savory punch. Brush it onto chicken or pork, drizzle it over rice and noodles, or use it as a dipping sauce.
A jar of pickles can do a surprising amount of work at dinnertime. Serve these alongside burgers and sandwiches, chop them into tuna or chicken salad, or put a few on the plate whenever a meal needs a hit of tangy crunch. If you like a kick of heat, try the Atomic Spicy version.
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Pesto is one of the fastest ways to make dinner taste like you put in significantly more effort than you did. Toss it with pasta, spoon it over chicken, spread it on sandwiches, or use it as a finishing sauce for roasted vegetables.
There’s a reason crescent rolls are a timeless dinner side dish. They can make even a very ordinary meal feel special, especially when served hot out of the oven. Or, if you want to get really fancy and have the time, turn the rolls into a cheesy, garlicky loaf.
Smashed potatoes have the crispy edges and fluffy centers that turn a simple potato side into something irresistible. Serve them with steak, chicken, or just about anything that could use a crispy carb alongside it. Keep it simple with the Salt and Pepper, or go with Garlic and Cheese for something even more elevated.
This is for anyone who thinks hot sauce should do more than just make your food spicy. It combines the punch of hot sauce with chimichurri-style herbs, making it an easy way to perk up grilled meat, eggs, roasted vegetables, and more.
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If your salad routine is mostly greens plus whatever happens to be in the fridge, these toppings are an easy way to give it some texture and personality. A handful of crunchy toppings can make even a basic side salad feel more complete. Choose between dried cranberries with either glazed walnuts or honey-roasted almonds.
Salsa isn’t just for chips. Spoon this over tacos, grilled chicken, scrambled eggs, or grain bowls for a little acidity, heat, and fresh tomato flavor.
This plant-based tikka masala is proof that a pantry shortcut doesn’t have to taste like one. Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs or a dollop of yogurt, then serve over rice or with fresh naan for an inexpensive dinner that’s both hearty and flavorful.
The smoky, fire-roasted flavor makes these vegetables taste as if they came from a restaurant instead of a freezer bag. They pair nicely with any protein and can also be tossed into sandwiches and wraps.
15. Chef’s Cupboard Pearled Couscous, $1.59
Tired of eating quinoa or rice over and over again? Swap them for pearled couscous. These already come pre-seasoned — one Mediterranean-style and the other Indian-inspired — so you don’t even need to open your spice drawer.
A splash of high-quality balsamic vinegar (and this one has the blue EU-approved seal) can wake up a lot more than a salad. Drizzle it over roasted vegetables, caprese salad, grilled chicken, or even strawberries when you want a little sweet-tart contrast.
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For such a simple dish, mashed potatoes sure do require a whole lot of work. When there’s no time to make them from scratch, these are an easy way to get a crowd-pleasing side dish on the table. It comes in three flavors: Buttery (of course), Four Cheese, and Roasted Garlic.
This wood-fired flatbread has serious restaurant-appetizer energy for less than $4. Serve it alongside soup or salad, or cut it into pieces and call it dinner when you don’t feel like making an entire meal.
Yes, this olive salad is traditionally used in muffulettas, but it’s so much more than just a sandwich topping. Use it to add briny, savory flavor to an otherwise basic meal.
There’s a reason why avocado is always extra: It adds a little creaminess, richness, and a little buttery flavor to whatever it touches. This avocado ranch is an easy way to bring all of that to a simple bagged salad, tacos, or grain bowls.
Baked beans are a shortcut side with built-in barbecue energy. Put them next to burgers, sausages, grilled chicken, or whatever you’re cooking on a weeknight when a plain vegetable just isn’t going to cut it. Available in three styles: Brown Sugar and Hickory, Maple and Cured Bacon, and Original.
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Dining and Cooking