If You See This 85-Cent ALDI Find, Grab a Bunch
It’s my low-effort secret to a protein-packed meal.
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Between work, kids' activities, and life's endless chaos, feeding my family sometimes feels like solving a Rubik's cube blindfolded. That's why I've fallen head over heels for ALDI's Northern Catch tuna pouches. It's no secret that I love tuna and quick, grab-and-go protein sources. And these little 85-cent pouches check off all of those boxes.
They're a protein-packed, flavor-loaded lunch, dinner, or snack solution that takes zero culinary skills and less than a minute to prepare. What's not to love?
Why I Love ALDI's Northern Catch Tuna Pouches
I'm typically a from-scratch cooking advocate who meticulously chops mirepoix (well, mostly) and enjoys the meditative process of working through a complex recipe. But since having two children (number two rocked me!), this phase of life has forced me to re-prioritize how I spend my time. Yes, I still work with a meal plan and meal prep at least a couple of things each Sunday, but I can no longer do all of the things.
Protein tends to be the meal component that takes the most effort, so this tuna feels like a saving grace. Like a get-out-of-cooking-free card, each flavorful pouch comes ready to eat and packs about 14 grams of protein, so we're getting a nutritious meal without much effort. No can opener is needed, and no messy draining is required; I just have to open the bag and serve it. The best part is that they come pre-seasoned in flavors like herb and garlic, hickory and smoked, zesty lemon, and ranch. They’re also sustainably sourced and MSC-certified.
Simply Recipes / Aldi
ALDI Northern Catch Tuna Pouches
Price: $0.85 for a 2.5-ounce package
Why I Love It: These convenient, ready-to-serve tuna pouches come in an array of delicious flavors that make it easy to add protein to any meal. I love that they’re sustainably sourced and MSC-certified.
How I Use ALDI's Northern Catch Tuna Pouches
They're a tasty, no-prep protein option—and those qualities alone make them worthy of a place in my pantry. But the flavor varieties give them much more potential than a simple can of tuna (though ALDI carries the original flavor, too). The zesty lemon tuna makes a lightning-fast toast topping with cucumber and feta, and the herb and garlic version makes an epic pasta salad (or a 1-ingredient upgrade to boxed mac and cheese).
For family dinners, linguine with capers or arugula would be fantastic with a couple of packs tossed into them. For a quick lunch, I like to mix the sweet and spicy version with an avocado and serve it with greens. The ranch flavor would make a great salad, sandwich, or melt, and offer a fun riff on a classic Nicoise. I even picked up a dozen for a neighbor who's going backpacking this summer and needs portable, light, and low-effort food options for the trip.
At just 85 cents, the tuna pouches feel surprisingly underpriced for the value they provide. But like with any ALDI "find," once they're gone, they're gone—so head to the store pronto and stock up on your favorite flavors. I have a feeling they won't last long.
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