:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Mama-Cozzis-Aldis-LEAD-01-d982f309b1974b18b04f6872c87b57f4.jpg "The .99 ALDI Find I Am Stocking My Freezer With All Summer Long")
Between gymnastics practice, caddying at his first job, and trying to get in required volunteer hours, my 14-year-old son will be BUSY this summer.
That meant I had to start thinking of meals he could quickly fix for breakfast and lunch, so I started strolling the aisles of ALDI, looking for answers. I found the perfect answer in the freezer section: Mama Cozzi’s Stromboli.
What’s So Great About Mama Cozzi’s Stromboli
If you aren’t familiar with the Italian American delight that is stromboli, think of it as sort of a cross between a pizza and a sub sandwich. These bready beauties come in two flavors: Pepperoni and Cheese or Three Meat and Cheese. Both contain mozzarella and provolone, and the Three Meat version contains ham and salami in addition to the pepperoni.
Mama Cozzi’s strombolis cost $2.99 each, much less expensive than grabbing a pepperoni and cheese sandwich at a sub shop. They measure about seven inches in length, which is comparable to a half sub.
When you open up a package—even before you put it in the oven or the air fryer—you get a heavy whiff of oregano and garlic that’s so inviting. They’re precooked so if you’re in a rush like my kiddo, nuking them in the microwave is fine.
We’ve tried cooking them all three ways, and it’s a tossup between the air fryer and the oven. If you’re in a hurry, though, nothing beats the microwave, and my son says he didn’t mind that the dough wasn’t quite as crispy.
Once you cook them, the cheese oozes out the sides of the soft, chewy bread and the oregano and garlic aromas only intensify. While both varieties were enjoyed by my family, my son likes the pepperoni best.
Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Aldi
How To Serve Mama Cozzi’s Stromboli
These strombolis taste great by themselves, but if you want to get a little fancier, you could dip them in extra-virgin olive oil or a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They would also taste great dipped in marinara sauce.
My husband and I like cutting them in half before dipping, but our son just likes grabbing them on the go, as they’re quite portable, especially when wrapped in a paper towel.
My son also claims they make a good breakfast. If you want to make one more morning appropriate, slice the dough lengthwise and top it with a couple of fried eggs. Regardless, anyway you choose to eat these stromboli, they’re delicious.