The 13 best things to get at Aldi this year, according to shoppers

As TikTokers add mustard to cottage cheese and turn the food into ice cream and cookie dough, it's no wonder why the Friendly Farms product has become a top item this year. According to Aldi, its cottage cheese sales have spiked over 14% since the trend took over TikTok.

The Friendly Farms cottage cheese, which won the "TikTok made me buy it" category, has 11 grams of protein per serving. The small-curd cottage cheese comes in a 24-ounce tub, perfect for meal prepping through the week.

The Friendly Farms lowfat Greek yogurt won "rookie of the year." The Friendly Farms yogurt comes in plain or vanilla and has only 2 grams of sugar per serving.

The plain flavor can serve as a sour-cream alternative, though both options can be paired with fruit, granola, and nut or seed butter.

Mama Cozzi's deli pizzas, a winning item for the fifth year in a row, remain a hit with customers in the "ready when you are" category. Last year, they were added to Aldi's Hall of Fame as a fan-favorite product.

Choose between pepperoni, supreme, five-cheese, mega-meat, and sausage-and-pepperoni flavors. Shoppers can find other limited-edition varieties of Mama Cozzi's pizza, such as a cauliflower-crust veggie version, throughout the year.

Dairy is prominent in this year's Aldi Awards and the Happy Farms string cheese is no exception. The string cheese took the No. 1 spot in the "snacks for everyone" category.

A pack of Happy Farms string cheese comes with 12 part-skim mozzarella sticks, which could be packed in school or work lunches. The brand also makes cheddar and colby-jack peelable cheese sticks.

Aldi is known for its great deals on produce and the store's loyal fans chose the avocados as one of the best deals around. The avocados won the No. 1 spot as the top produce pick in 2020 and have reclaimed the crown in the "cream of the crop" category for 2023.

Customers can't seem to get enough of the avocados at Aldi — no matter if they're eaten plain with a little salt and pepper, spread on toast, thrown into tacos, or mashed into guac,

Though dairy swept five of the 13 categories in this year's awards, it seems avocados won big, too.

The Simply Nature avocado oil is a non-GMO product and can be mixed into dressings, sauces, and marinades. Avocado oil also has a high smoke point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit so it's easy to cook with.

Even better, I've found Aldi offers a cheaper price for pure avocado oil than many of its competitors. Though prices vary by store, I found a 17-ounce bottle of Simply Nature avocado oil for only $6.80 at my local Aldi in Southern California.

Last year, Kirkwood's fresh chicken tenderloins won as Aldi shoppers' favorite protein but this year, the brand's fresh chicken thighs took first place in the "protein pick" category.

The Kirkwood boneless skinless chicken thighs are extremely versatile, ready to be seasoned and cooked in whichever way customers please. They can be grilled in the summer or cooked down in a simmering soup for the winter.

Though Aldi carries a variety of snacks, shoppers keep coming back for Clancy's kettle chips.

The light, crispy potato chips come in original, jalapeño, and mesquite-barbecue flavors, making them a great side for a cookout or party.

It seems like the fresh Atlantic salmon, which won the "great catch" category, is a hit for those who love fish or follow the Mediterranean diet. The fish is covered in a flavorful Mediterranean rub so all you have to do is cook it and you have a filling dinner ready to go.

For California shoppers, the salmon comes with a Monterey spice rub instead of the Mediterranean but both options are popular.

Aldi is also known for its low-cost wines, carrying everything from celebratory sparkling wines to classic reds and whites. But if you want to try the winner of the "raise a glass" category, grab a bottle of the Belletti sparkling Moscato rosé.

The sweet, sparkling rosé is relatively affordable — I found a bottle for $8 at my local Aldi, though prices vary by store. It's a light, refreshing beverage that would be great at brunches.

There are so many Emporium Selection cheeses at Aldi, but shoppers voted the brand's fresh mozzarella as the "choose your cheese" winner.

The mozzarella comes as a fresh ball or a presliced log, both of which can be added to salads or cheese boards.

From picking up a pint to enjoy by yourself to grabbing a tub to share with loved ones, the fan-favorite Specially Selected ice cream seems like a solid option. The ice cream, which won in the "sweet tooth satisfaction" category, comes in vanilla and chocolate flavors.

Specially Selected ice cream has only five ingredients, and the dessert itself has a rich, creamy consistency. You can also find other flavors, like vanilla-chocolate-almond and chocolate-peanut-butter options, throughout the year.

Specially Selected vinaigrettes took the No. 1 spot in the "sauce on the side" category. You can choose from five options, including garlicky house, Greek, savory three-cheese, sweet and tangy raspberry, or garlic flavors.

The Specially Selected vinaigrettes work well on salads, of course, but can also be paired with proteins and pasta or used as dips for crusty bread.