The $5.79 Aldi Freezer Find That Feeds the Whole Family

I thought that summer would slow time down a bit, but it hasn’t at all. Between diving and sand volleyball practices and competitions—plus unexpected midnight visits to the ER because of the sand part getting in a certain 15-year-old’s eye (he’s quite all right, thankfully)—it’s been every bit as busy.

I should know better—I was even expecting to have a little time to indulge in my love of leisurely cooking. While leisure isn’t something I can associate with my summer schedule, Aldi’s given me the gift of another time saver.

Why I Love Aldi’s Bremer Italian Sausage With Peppers

I grabbed this on a whim because the package looked interesting, and my family ended up loving it. The Bremer Italian Sausage With Peppers truly is a meal in a bag. The 21-ounce bag costs $5.79, and come with four 1-cup servings.

The name, however, is a bit of a misnomer, as it’s not just Italian sausage slices and red and yellow bell pepper strips—it’s also chock-full of potatoes and green beans.

The bag’s ready-to-roast instructions called for preheating the oven to 450°F, then cooking them for up to 25 minutes. That’s 25 minutes, plus preheating—too long in the recent 90-degree weather.

Instead, I just tossed the package contents into my air fryer, and less than 20 minutes later, I had a hearty meal ready to serve. Though I am sure the oven cooking method would have resulted in crispier potatoes and juicier sausage slices, I’m definitely on team air fryer, as it was a quicker method, and my entire house didn’t heat up.

The sausages and veggies are seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, and a touch of Italian seasoning that gave it a savory flavor. The peppers added a touch of sweetness, but the star of the show was the Italian sausage slices. Their flavor reminded me of the sausages I used to buy at an Italian deli.

My son (the one who didn’t tell me about sand in his eye until midnight) said he was surprised the sausages tasted so good, but he thought the whole meal needed a little something more, so I directed him to warm up some marinara sauce in the microwave. He doused his dish with the sauce and was quite happy.

My husband and I were fine without the marinara, but a touch of sauce is also nice if you prefer it. While most people will eat this as a dinner or lunch entrée, I think it could also be a great brunch addition. For brunch, I would slice things up a little smaller, then toss them in a baking dish, and cover with whisked eggs and cheese for an easy breakfast casserole.

Not only is this freezer meal delicious, but it’s pretty versatile, too.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}