Labor Day acknowledges all the workers who keep our world running, and it is viewed as summer’s last hurrah. For people who live in the Midwest and northern states especially, it’s a chance to fire up the grill one more time and go for one last swim in the pool before the weather turns cooler. Not that you can’t grill during the winter. My family uses our grill year round. But for many of us, Labor Day marks the changing of the seasons.
Labor Day also often means food, and specifically it means cookout and picnic food. No matter what’s on the menu for my family’s Labor Day meal, I can always get it all in one trip to Aldi.
Here’s a rundown of some classic cookout food you can pick up at Aldi for your Labor Day celebration this year.
Meat and Main Courses:
Burgers and hot dogs are classic cookout foods, and Aldi has plenty of both.
Read up on frozen burger options at Aldi in our roundup post here. My family is particularly fond of the 100% Pure Beef Burgers sold in a blue bag, which are mid-priced among the Aldi burger options, and when I served them to one of my friends who has raised cattle, she remarked on how good they tasted.
Just as Aldi offers choices among hamburgers, they also sell a variety of hot dogs, from Parkview Jumbo Franks to Parkview Beef Franks to Fit & Active Classic Turkey Franks. I especially like Aldi’s uncured beef franks, although I haven’t been able to find them easily lately. You can read about some of the hot dog options at Aldi in our roundup post here.
If you want something fancier, Aldi also sells a range of steak choices, from Bacon-Wrapped Chuck Filets to Strip Steak to Ribeye to Top Sirloin. You can view our steak roundup here.
Sides and Condiments:
One of my favorite parts of any cookout is the variety of side dishes that combine to make a meal fun and memorable.
Aldi sells classic cookout foods such as pasta salad mixes (I highly recommend the Reggano Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad kit), ready-to-eat Little Salad Bar pasta salads, several types of potato salad (including Park Street Deli Deviled Egg Potato Salad and Park Street Deli Loaded Potato Salad), Little Salad Bar Homestyle Coleslaw, and Dakota’s Pride Baked Beans. These are all Seasonal Favorites, which means they’re in stores for a few months each year, usually during the summer.
If you want to make some picnic foods from scratch, Aldi sells a variety of eggs, both standard Goldhen eggs and Goldhen Cage Free Eggs, Simply Nature Cage Free Organic Eggs, and Goldhen Free Range Eggs for making deviled eggs.
Don’t forget to pick up some Clancy’s chips, or Clancy’s Stackerz, which are the Aldi version of Pringles.
Aldi also has condiments ranging from Burman’s ketchup, mustard, and mayo to relish and pickles to a very good selection of regional Burman’s Barbecue Sauces. The barbecue sauces are also Seasonal Favorites available only during the summer, and I always stock up on several bottles to last us through the year.
Drinks:
Aldi does not lack in the drinks department. From canned Summit Canned Soda to Pur Aqua Frut Flavored Water, Pur Aqua Sparkling Frost, Nature’s Nectar Juice Pouches, alcohol, and Pur Aqua bottled water, there is something for everyone.
Desserts:
Aldi sells some pretty tempting stuff here.
Classics include Baker’s Corner brownie mixes, Baker’s Corner Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bar Mix, Village Bakery Cookies, and Benton’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
In the ice cream freezer, personal favorites include Belmont Ice Cream, which comes in flavors such as Moose Tracks and Mint Chocolate Chip, along with Specially Selected Super Premium Ice Cream, which is made with all-natural ingredients such as milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Sundae Shoppe Ice Cream Sandwiches are another great choice.
Closing Thoughts:
No matter what your tastes are, whether you like hot dogs or steak, potato salad or potato chips, ice cream or cookies, Aldi has what you need for a delicious cookout. Enjoy!
