The $3.19 ALDI Find I’m Stocking Up On While It Lasts

I’m not usually a frozen meal person. I read ingredient lists suspiciously and assume anything that can survive months in a freezer won’t thrill my tastebuds. But I’m also a busy, working mom—and sometimes, convenience wins.

I’ll be the first to admit that frozen food is handy. In the past, I’ve enjoyed ALDI’s Whole & Simple pasta bowls, so when I saw that new Whole & Simple bowls were available for only $3.19, I figured it was worth a shot and picked up a few of the Mexican Street Corn & Chicken Bowls. 

To my surprise, this bowl was good. It wasn’t just good for a frozen meal—it was genuinely tasty, the kind of good that made me rethink my frozen food biases. It turns out ALDI has been quietly revolutionizing its frozen section with its Whole & Simple product line. They’re convenient and tasty and don’t make me feel like I’m sacrificing everything I care about when it comes to eating “real” food.

Why I Love ALDI’s Whole & Simple Bowls

The Mexican Street Corn & Chicken Bowl is full of flavor. It features grilled chicken, lightly charred corn, roasted red peppers, black beans, and cotija cheese, all nestled over a bed of riced cauliflower. The flavors blend light smokiness, slightly sweet corn, salty cotija, and a subtle tanginess from lemon and lime juice.

It’s far from authentic Mexican street corn, but it’s a fantastic riff that’s been turned into a full meal. There’s also a Chicken Cilantro & Lime version that’s lovely and bright, but the Mexican Street Corn & Chicken Bowl keeps me coming back. 

I love how versatile these bowls are, too. They’re great as-is but easy to dress up. A few slices of avocado? Done. A squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of cilantro? Even better. I’ve also added a dollop of Greek yogurt for creaminess and a few crushed tortilla chips for crunch.

As a bonus, they don’t contain preservatives, antibiotics, or hormones, which makes me feel even better about keeping a few in my freezer for inevitable lunch or dinner emergencies.

I’ll always prefer a homemade meal, but these bowls heartily remind me that convenience doesn’t always have to mean compromise.

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