The #1 Frozen Food at Aldi, According to a Food Writer

As far as starches go, I’m not much of a wheat person. I don’t get the desire that others do that sends them searching for a great loaf of bread to slather with cheese or butter. And I never have days where I want pasta with just the right sauce—either as a side dish or the main event.

On the other hand, I really love potatoes, or really any tuber. Cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, taro—they’re all fair game. But the problem with potatoes is that they generally take too long to cook. Since I’m a fan of the crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside type of potato over a simple boil, it can take even longer to get that perfectly cooked spud to the plate.

But I’ve found a way to get my potato fix in relatively short order with Aldi’s Season’s Choice Hash Brown Patties. They come in a generous pack of 20. Plus, they take just 18 to 20 minutes in a 425°F oven, and less than half as long in an air fryer at 400°F.

Why I Love the Frozen Hash Brown Patties

Not Just for Breakfast

When you hear the words “hash browns,” breakfast is often the first thing that comes to mind. After all, there’s something delightful about a crispy hash brown with a plate of eggs. For me, it brings back fond memories of road-trip breakfast stops at busy roadside diners.

But these patties are incredibly versatile and adaptable beyond the realm of the morning meal. Sure, they can be dressed down as a side for some scrambled eggs and bacon. But I use them for snacks and lunches, as a bread replacement, and even to compose sophisticated dishes that, as a chef, I would be happy to serve to any high-end diner.

What I love most about these patties is that they are well-flavored and made with high-quality potatoes. A little bit of salt is all you need to bring out the best flavor. They are also what I like to call “sturdy,” meaning that they are a solid base for a variety of preparations, without being too tough or too mushy.

The patties cook well in a number of ways. They brown nicely in a frying pan with a bit of oil, do great in the oven and work incredibly well in an air fryer—my favorite way to cook them.

A Crispy Canvas

I have several favorite ways to use these hash browns, and I always seem to be coming up with more. At the moment, I’ve been enjoying crisping them in the oven, adding a light layer of Himalayan sea salt, then topping them with mashed avocado, thin slices of tomato and drizzling them with a good olive oil and the Middle Eastern spice blend za’atar. Two of these topped hash browns make a satisfying lunch.

Another favorite is my deconstructed loaded baked potato: I mix Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese with minced scallions and chopped cooked turkey bacon, which I use to top the hash browns once they have been properly crisped in the oven. Then I return the hash browns to the oven, cook them a few minutes more, or until the cheese melts, and serve with a dollop of sour cream. However, this can go in all kinds of directions. If Tex-Mex is more your style, add some salsa. Or, top your patty with some finely chopped broccoli to double up on veggies.

I also like to push the hash browns to have a high crisp potential by sprinkling them with finely grated Parmesan cheese and minced thyme before popping them into the air fryer. I use these as a side dish alongside seared pork or beef tenderloin, cut into medallions and served with a pan sauce. Sliced in half or in triangles, they can be artfully arranged as the base of a more formal, structural presentation. It reminds me of the way some high-end restaurants are now serving gourmet tater tots with some of their meals.

For a special dish, I pair the hash browns with Indian flavors in a faux aloo ki tiki, a wonderful dish of small potato cakes, fried crispy, then topped with cilantro chutney, tamarind sauce and masala chutney (you can usually get the sauces at Indian or Middle Eastern markets or even online). After frying the hash browns in a skillet or the air fryer, I cut them into three equal pieces and drizzle them with the sauces and spices, along with some freshly chopped cilantro.

The Bottom Line

At less than 30 cents each, Aldi’s Season’s Choice Hash Brown Patties are a delicious, creative canvas. They take 20 minutes or less to make and can be transformed into endless meals, snacks and sides. I love using them as the base for a deconstructed loaded baked potato or topped with grated Parmesan and herbs as a side dish. They’re also fantastic fried and topped off with tamarind sauce and cilantro or masala chutney. While they’re definitely a win for breakfast, they’re capable of so much more. But if breakfast is more your thing, they’re always a tasty and reliable way to round out any morning meal!