It’s so easy to turn this dinner shortcut into a full meal.
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Feeding my family well has always been a priority, which is why I cook nearly every meal myself. Our lives have gotten significantly busier recently, and after one too many nights of ordering expensive (and, truthfully, not very good) takeout, I finally learned an important lesson: Having a few reliable convenience pantry staples isn't admitting defeat; it's a smart strategy for saving money and cooking at home more often.
This is why I plan to keep a few boxes of ALDI's Priano pasta bakes on standby. At $2.99 each, these starter packs are the helping hand I need for the nights when chopping onions and simmering sauce feels as impossible as finding matching socks in the dryer. The best home cooking strategy isn't about striving for perfection—it's about being prepared with options that help you put a nourishing and affordable meal on the table, even when life is chaotic.
ALDI Priano Pasta Bake
- Price: $2.99 for a 9.8-ounce box
- Why I Love It: The affordable starter mix is a convenient, versatile foundation for a hearty and delicious pasta bake. I’m impressed by the flavor and how easy it is to dress it up with additional proteins, veggies, and seasonings.
Simply Recipes / Aldi
Why I Love ALDI's Priano Pasta Bake
As someone who regularly makes pasta sauce from scratch, I wasn't sure a boxed pasta bake would win me over. But on a particularly hectic night, I tried the Bolognese version. Like my favorite Muir Glen chili starter, the Priano pasta bakes are non-perishable packages that form the backbone of an entire meal—and for less than the cost of a coffee!
For the Bolognese version, you just need to add ground meat (or a vegetarian substitute), milk, water, and cheese. The sauce develops a rich, hearty flavor as it bakes, and the pasta cooks to the perfect texture. It doesn't beat a from-scratch baked pasta, but I'm impressed by how good it actually tastes once it's all dressed up. This little box serves as a canvas that can be as basic or fancy as I want it to be.
How I Make the Priano Pasta Bake
ALDI offers three flavors: Four Cheese, Carbonara, and Bolognese. My go-to version is the Bolognese because it's easy to turn into a full meal. After browning a pound of extra-lean ground beef, I add the milk, water, and sauce packet as directed. I add more flavor by throwing in some minced garlic, Italian seasoning, this frozen seasoning blend, and handfuls of baby spinach as the meat browns. Then, I top it with a mixture of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese before baking, which creates an irresistibly golden, bubbly crust.
If I'm planning ahead a bit, I prepare extra sautéed or roasted vegetables for an earlier-in-the-week dinner (yay leftovers!) that I can repurpose by tossing them into the pasta bake. When it comes to proteins, well-seasoned ground turkey or Italian sausage would also make great substitutes.
Like with most pasta bakes, some fresh basil on top before serving makes it extra special and takes zero time and effort. Throw in a great salad (if you can muster up the energy—this is an emergency meal, after all), and you've got a pretty excellent dinner.
When life gets busy, having a few reliable shortcuts is essential. And if a $2.99 pasta bake keeps us fed, happy, and away from sub-par, pricy takeout, I consider that a win. I may not have cracked the mystery of the missing socks, but I have figured out how to give myself some grace—and that feels pretty good.
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