This 95-Cent ALDI Find Is the Perfect Thanksgiving Side Dish
It’s totally saving my Thanksgiving.
Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock
If you ask me, Thanksgiving stuffing doesn’t get anywhere near the praise it deserves. In my humble opinion, stuffing should be light, fluffy, and jam-packed with flavor.
When it comes time to make stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner, I’m never one to shy away from the instant variety. I’ve come to appreciate a side dish that actualizes itself in minutes, and it's even more of a treat whilst performing the balancing act that is Thanksgiving dinner preparation.
The trick that works for me is to find a brand that at least hits the three main points mentioned above: light, fluffy, and flavorful.
On a recent trip to ALDI, I noticed a 95-cent box of Herb Stuffing Mix by the popular discount grocer's Chef’s Cupboard brand. What immediately caught my attention was the box’s similar color and design to the Stove Top brand. But it was the six ounces of herb-seasoned stuffing inside, flaunted by a five-minute cook time for both stove top and microwave instructions, that drew me in.
Simply Recipes / Aldi
Chef's Cupboard Stuffing Mix Herb
Price: $0.94 for a six-ounce box
Why I Love It: It's affordable, quick and easy to make, and surprisingly flavorful
To prepare it on the stovetop, all you need to do is bring 1 1/2 cups of water and four tablespoons of butter to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once boiling, simply stir in the contents of the stuffing mix pouch and mix until combined. At this point, the saucepan can be removed from the heat. Cover it and let it stand for five minutes before fluffing with a fork and serving.
As mentioned before, stuffing is one of the easier recipes to whip up for the holiday season, so much so that your microwave can work just as well in a pinch. Is your stovetop too overcrowded while stuck in the chaos of dinner prep? Just empty the contents of the stuffing pouch into a microwave-safe bowl and add the same 1 1/2 cups of hot water and four tablespoons of butter. Cover the bowl and microwave the mixture on high for five to six minutes. When ready to serve, fluff with a fork and dig in.
With the ability to serve six people for less than $1, I can’t help but think that this could end up being my new favorite budget stuffing mix. It's super simple in the ingredients department, which means the flavor isn’t going to overpower your meal in any way.
Read More: I Tried ALDI's $47 Thanksgiving Dinner for 10—These Were My Favorite Parts
I personally enjoy eating this stuffing as a side dish or on its own, however, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I did make a leftovers sandwich using sliced chicken thighs, cheddar cheese, cranberry relish, and Chef’s Cupboard herb stuffing. I can also see this stuffing being super easy to customize, adding extra seasonings and ingredients such as chopped chicken, ground turkey, green onion, and more.
