A well-stocked pantry is the difference between staring at an empty fridge and pulling together a decent meal from tuckara.com/post/small-kitchen-organisation-ideas-that-cost-almost-nothing" title="Small Kitchen Organisation Ideas That Cost Almost Nothing">nothing. And Aldi is, quietly, one of the best pantry-stocking shops in Australia — good quality, honest pricing, and consistent stock on the basics.
These are the 10 items worth always having on hand.
1. Aldi Tinned Tomatoes — $0.89
The foundation of a dozen different meals. Pasta sauce, shakshuka, curries, soups, chilli — tinned tomatoes are the most versatile pantry ingredient you can buy. Aldi's house brand is consistently good: sweet, with a proper tomato flavour and not watery. At under $1 a can, buy six at a time.
Use them for: Pasta sauces, slow cooker curries, homemade pizza sauce, shakshuka, minestrone.
2. Aldi Dried Pasta — $1.19–$1.49
Aldi's pasta is made in Italy and is genuinely good — it holds its shape, has the right texture when cooked al dente, and doesn't go mushy. Cheaper than the equivalent at Woolworths or Coles. Keep at least three different shapes: spaghetti, penne, and a short pasta like fusilli or rigatoni covers most recipes.
Use it for: Everything. Pasta is the budget cook's best friend.
3. Aldi Coconut Milk — $1.19
Full-fat coconut milk that's genuinely creamy and works properly in curries, soups and desserts. Significantly cheaper than the branded versions at supermarkets and the quality is comparable. A staple for anyone who cooks Asian-inspired food at home.
Use it for: Thai curries, laksa, coconut rice, pumpkin soup, banana smoothies.
4. Aldi Olive Oil — $4.99–$6.99
Aldi's olive oil is good. This is well-documented. It has won taste tests against oils costing three times as much. Buy the extra virgin for salads and finishing, the lighter variety for cooking at higher heat. One of the clearest examples of Aldi's private label quality exceeding its price point.
5. Aldi Basmati or Jasmine Rice — $3.49–$4.99 (2kg)
Rice is calories, it's filling, and it goes with almost everything. Aldi's rice is consistently good at a fair price. A 2kg bag lasts weeks. Jasmine for Asian dishes, basmati for Indian and Middle Eastern cooking — or just pick one and use it for everything.
6. Aldi Lentils and Legumes — $1.49–$1.99
Red lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans in tins or dried. Lentils are the most underused budget ingredient in Australia — they're filling, high in protein, genuinely tasty when cooked properly, and incredibly cheap. A pot of red lentil dal costs under $3 to make and feeds four people.
Use them for: Dal, lentil soup, chickpea curry, bean tacos, adding to mince to stretch it further.
7. Aldi Rolled Oats — $2.49 (1kg)
Breakfast for a week for under $3. Aldi's oats are plain, good, and do exactly what oats should do. Make overnight oats on Sunday for the week ahead, cook on the stovetop, or use in baking. One of those pantry items that earns its shelf space every single week.
8. Aldi Chicken or Vegetable Stock — $1.99 (1 litre)
Good stock elevates everything — soups, risottos, gravies, braised dishes. Aldi's tetra pack stocks are decent and consistent. Keep both chicken and vegetable versions if you can. When they go on Special Buy in larger cartons, stock up.
9. Aldi Plain Flour — $1.49–$1.99 (1kg)
Flour is the base of bread, pasta, pastry, cakes, batters and thickening sauces. Aldi's plain flour is exactly what flour should be — nothing more, nothing less. Keep a bag in the pantry and you can make a huge range of things from scratch that would cost three times as much to buy pre-made.
10. Aldi Canned Fish — $1.69–$2.49
Tuna, salmon and sardines in tins. High protein, long shelf life, quick to use. A can of tuna with pasta, mayo and a bit of whatever vegetables you have is a meal in 10 minutes. Aldi's tinned fish is well-priced and comes in enough varieties (springwater, oil, flavoured) to keep things interesting.
What These 10 Items Can Make Together
Stock all 10 of the above and you can make, without buying anything else: pasta with tomato sauce, lentil dal and rice, chickpea curry with rice, tuna pasta, oat porridge, coconut chicken soup, lentil soup, rice and beans, shakshuka, and dozens of variations on all of the above.
That is a month of meals from a pantry shop that costs around $30.
Is Aldi good for grocery shopping in Australia?
Yes — Aldi is consistently cheaper than Woolworths and Coles for most staple groceries, and the quality on pantry staples like olive oil, pasta, tinned tomatoes, and rice is excellent. Aldi works best as a complement to a supermarket shop rather than a full replacement, since the range is more limited.
What is Aldi's cheapest meal to make in Australia?
Red lentil dal made with Aldi ingredients costs around $2–$3 total and feeds four people. You need red lentils, tinned tomatoes, onion, garlic, and basic spices. It takes 25 minutes and is genuinely delicious — not just cheap.
Is Aldi olive oil really good quality?
Yes — Aldi olive oil has won multiple blind taste tests against much more expensive brands. It's one of the clearest examples of Aldi's private label outperforming its price point. The extra virgin variety is particularly good for dressings and finishing dishes.