This $4 Aldi Dinner Shortcut Is So Delicious, I Could Eat It 3 Times a Week

Spring always confused me as a (very Floridian) kid, and even now as a (very Californian) adult. So is it shorts weather already? No, not quite yet? Back to sweaters? Oh, okay! 

The abrupt weather shifts not only throw my wardrobe for a loop, but also my cooking rotation. You see, I’ve got a sort of Pavlovian response to a cold, wet, dreary day: It must be marked with noodles — and not just any noodles. I don’t want any takeout or restaurant ramen. I want Maruchan Chicken Flavor.

Decades into this ritual I realized the curly, gluten-packed noodles did not jive particularly super well with my gluten-sensitive self, so I got to searching for gluten-free noodles, something that Google says I’ve searched “many times.” I only found gigantic bulk quantities, often overpriced and under-flavored. That is, until I stumbled upon my new affordable rainy spring day solution at Aldi: GloryLand’s Brown Rice & Millet Noodles.

Much like Maruchan’s noodles, GloryLand’s come in a wavy brick that cooks up quickly to yield toothsome, springy noodles. Even without the all-important, stretchy wheat gluten of traditional ramen, GloryLand’s gluten-free noodles manage to add even more texture to a bowl. They’re slightly more chewy and a bit nuttier, and they have a bit more heft. Unlike Maruchan’s, they do not come with the seasoning packet and are already seasoned. 

Most packaged ramen is nearly instant in terms of how quick they cook, but GloryLand’s noodles need slightly more time — between five to seven minutes will yield a nicely al dente noodle. Plus, each brick naturally has 6 grams of protein, making it a bit of an overachiever.

While instant noodles come together well, nearly instantly once your water is boiling, my gluten-reduced version requires a little extra time. First, bring a pot of water to boil two noodle “bricks,” which is roughly equal to one standard noodle packet. Once they’ve boiled until just about al dente, drain the noodles and set them aside in your serving bowl.

The resulting water will be too starchy to add a seasoning packet from Maruchan’s Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup, so bring the pot back to a quick simmer with about 1.5 cups of fresh water. Once heated, add your seasoning packet, stir, and it’s ready to pour over your noodles! (Note: Many prepackaged ramen noodle seasoning packets are not entirely gluten-free because of the soy sauce powder, so this following combo would not be suitable for celiac folks. That said, there are plenty of completely gluten-free seasonings out there that will work just as well.

All that’s left to do is add any of your favorite toppings, like a jammy hard-boiled egg, green onions, and plenty of sriracha and look at the 10 day forecast to see if there are any other rainy days coming up. 

Find it in stores: GloryLand Brown Rice & Millet Noodles, $3.99 for 9.9 ounces at Aldi

What Aldi dinner finds are you buying this Spring? Tell us about it in the comments.