With the average cost of vegan and plant-based foods costing higher than their traditional counterparts, staying on a budget while maintaining an alternative diet can be tough.

Speaking for the East Texas area, grocery stores with these options can be limited as it is. Surprisingly, Aldi carries a few vegan and plant-based items that are not only affordable, but very tasty as well! Check out our recommendations below.

1. Aldi’s Meatless Frozen Meatballs

These delightful meatless meatballs pair perfectly with spaghetti or another pasta of your choice. These come in two varieties – classic and zesty Italian. We tried the classic variety with a vegan cheesy sauce which really complemented the flavors well.

For these meatballs, we followed the instructions as given for the oven for our air fryer.

Now my husband, not being a vegan, thought these meatballs were good but did not necessarily taste like meat. I’ll give him that; they are definitely not giving a strong beefy flavor, but the flavor itself is very pleasant. This would be a great option for anyone who is looking to cut back on the grease that is usually associated with traditional meatballs.

Possible usage ideas…
– Spaghetti and meatballs (of course!)
– Meatball sub
– Veggie kabobs
– Veggie meatball pizza, pieces cut in half

2. Aldi’s Meatless Crumbles

A while back ago we wrote an article featuring a recipe using these meatless crumbles, and yet we cannot speak enough of this ground beef alternative. It’s quick and easy, tasty, and so versatile.

These crumbles can be prepared in just minutes. We recommend you follow the directions as given on the box, giving the mixture the suggested 5-minute soak time.

After that, just drop ’em in the skillet and get cooking. Make sure to cook them thoroughly! They will brown and most of the pinkish color will be nearly gone by the time they are cooked.

What do they taste like? Using the provided seasoning pack, they have a mild savory flavor. Since the stock seasoning is so mild, you can easily season these however you like to incorporate them into almost any kind of dish. We’ve tried them in Asian-inspired dishes, veggie tacos, and our own hamburger sloppy joe.

Possible usage ideas…
– Hamburger helper-type dish
– Taco meat alternative
– Hamburger crumble veggie pizza
– Sloppy joes (the moisture of the sauce helps keep the crumbles together!)

…and if your diet permits eggs, you can use egg yolk to hold the crumbles together to form hamburger patties. So many options with this one, and it’s shelf-stable!

3. Aldi’s Plant-based Waffles

Finally, we have the plant-based protein waffles. These waffles are sweet and slightly fluffier than our usual vegan go-to, Van’s. Comparatively speaking, these waffles are similar in size and texture to Van’s, but they are on the sweeter side – so you don’t need as much syrup!

As we were toasting these, the first thing that we noticed was the sweet aroma that filled the kitchen as they heated up. We also noticed that they don’t need to be toasted quite as long as Van’s, as ours were a little too crispy on the edges for our liking.

They’re a good alternative to the pricier vegan waffle options, but they definitely provide a different flavor that is sweeter than we’re used to. However, we still recommend them for a good plant-based option that can also save you a buck or two!

4. Aldi’s Brekki Instant Oats

Instant oats have been on our radar lately, and we’re excited to see that the same brand found at Sprouts is now at Aldi for about half the price!

All of Brekki’s cups are packed with chia seeds, buckwheat, almonds, and flax seeds and are certified vegan.

What makes this product unique is the combination of flavor and texture. The flavor is reminiscent of a pudding cup. The texture varies based on the flavor that you get. The fruit flavors have a fruity layer on the bottom of the cup, topped with a smooth pudding layer. The non-fruity varieties have the oats and pudding mixed in, creating a thicker texture. While initially this texture may not have been exactly to our liking, it quickly grew on us and we appreciated how these two characteristics complemented each other well. We ultimately found the dark chocolate variety to be our favorite!

Even the hubby, who is lactose intolerant, enjoyed a cup of blueberry Brekki. Being that these are so flavorful and chock-full of good ingredients, this just might become a part of our regular breakfast lineup.

Aldi’s is currently offering several flavors including vanilla cinnamon, dark chocolate, and blueberry. Grab them while you can, as they may not last long!

5. Aldi’s Plant-Based Instant Meals

We recently discovered during our last trip to Aldi’s that they are now carrying Earth Grown plant-based instant meals! Conveniently portioned as single servings that can be heated in the bag using the microwave. They have three varieties: Taco Filling, Pad Thai, and Southwest Burrito Bowl. We snagged the Pad Thai and Southwest Burrito Bowl for us to try. Priced at $2.99 per bag, these could be a really good budget-friendly option for work lunches.

Each variety only takes 60 seconds to heat in the microwave, and our two choices were both 260 calories each. Any time that we see an item like this that can be quickly prepared and shelf-stable, we have to try it!

We did notice, however, that these meals are high in salt, so if you’re watching your salt intake, you may want to take a pass on these.

We found both meals to be a bit on the spicy side, with the Pad Thai being more so. Ultimately, we did not find these were to our liking but that doesn’t mean they won’t be suitable for someone else! Give them a try if you like bold, savory flavors with a kick of spice.

Think we missed something? Let us know in a comment below!