Hosting holiday dinners or a gameday viewing party can’t just start with a big meal. The best way to welcome friends and family to any gathering is with a spread of delicious appetizers. These small bites might show up as a charcuterie board, a combination of chips and dips, or a platter of crispy bar-style snacks.
There’s no way that I’m adding deep frying to any party prep, so I headed to Aldi to check out the frozen appetizer offerings. I filled my cart with every variety the discount supermarket had in stock, and got my air fryer ready. After tasting all 12 frozen appetizers from my local Aldi, a few bites stood out from the pack. Here are the three that I’m keeping stocked in my freezer.
Credit: Patty Catalano
1. Mama Cozzi’s Toasted Ravioli, $4.49 for 16 ounces
Aldi shoppers know that anything with the Mama Cozzi’s logo on the label is sure to be delicious. I’ve been a longtime fan of the brand’s take-and-bake pizzas, so I had a feeling that the frozen toasted ravioli appetizers would be just as good. Spoiler: I was right.
Each box contains one pound of tender stuffed pasta pockets that are hot, crisp, and golden in minutes. These herby, breaded snacks are available in beef and four cheese varieties in the freezer section for less than $5. The four cheese ravioli — my favorite — is filled with ricotta, Romano, mozzarella, and Asiago cheeses. Serve them fresh from the air fryer or oven with warmed jarred marinara for dipping, and these toasted ravioli will be a hit at any gathering.
Credit: Patty Catalano
2. Appetitos Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños, $2.99 for 11 ounces
Jalapeño poppers are my absolute favorite restaurant appetizer, and the frozen option from Aldi did not disappoint. The poppers are filled with a half of a seeded jalapeño, stuffed with soft cream cheese, and coated in a golden brown breading. With just a few minutes in the air fryer, these poppers were piping hot!
The jalapeño was tender and flavorful, but not too spicy, the cheese was gooey, and the breading layer was crisp and not too thick. These are so good, I’d pay more than the $3 price, but luckily I don’t have to.
Credit: Patty Catalano
3. Appetitos Loaded Potato Skins, $2.89 for 8.5 ounces
As a kid, I looked forward to dinner out at TGI Fridays where I would always order the loaded potato skins. Now, when I want those same flavors at home I can either do the work to prepare potato skins from scratch, or I can pick some up from Aldi’s freezer section. This appetizer was the biggest surprise and tasted the most homemade of any appetizer I tried.
They start with a fluffy layer of baked potato that’s thick enough to hold a puddle of melty cheddar cheese and applewood smoked bacon crumbles. Serve with a dollop of tangy sour cream and a few chives to take them over the top.
Did your favorite Aldi frozen appetizer make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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