Trader Joe’s is famous for its tasty, quirky in-house brands. So is Costco, with its beloved Kirkland Signature products. But what about Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain? Though its store-brand items might not be as buzzy as some competitors’, they’re still flying off the shelves to the tune of $26 billion in 2020. Based on our own experiences as well as online raves, here are some of your best Kroger brand bets.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: Secrets for Shopping at Kroger
Private Selection Italian Buffalo Mozzarella & Arugula Thin Crust Pizza
$4.99
This Private Selection pizza is just one example of how Kroger has elevated its frozen food game. It emerges near the top of Cleveland.com’s taste test of 25 vegetarian pies, with testers lauding the fresh veggies, sweet sauce, and crispy crust.
Related: We Tasted 13 Frozen Pizzas and This is the BestKroger Coconut & Caramel Fudge Cookies
$2.39
Sorry, Girl Scouts: These Samoa dupes are just as good as the real thing, a ton cheaper, and available all year. (If you’re more of a Thin Mint fan, Kroger also sells these Mint Fudge Cookies, but in that case, we think the original prevails.)
Related: Store-Brand Foods That Deliver Quality and Savings
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Kroger Pizza Snack Rolls
$3.19
Who knew? Kroger’s pizza rolls blow Totino’s out of the water, according to taste testers with the Chicago Tribune. The snacks “were bursting with a sweet and savory sauce and showed a clear presence of herbs.” No word on whether they’ll burn the roof of your mouth as effectively as the more expensive name brand, but we’re guessing yes.
Related: Aldi Products That Taste Like the Name Brands — and Some That Don’t
Kroger 2% Low-Fat Small-Curd Cottage Cheese
$2.49
Cottage cheese is admittedly polarizing, but if you’re a fan, trust us: Kroger’s is just about the best you can do. It’s mild, well-balanced, and has a smooth, non-gloopy texture. No other brand we’ve tried — store brand or name brand — comes close.
Simple Truth Organic Kona Blend Cold Brew Coffee
$5.29
If you get your pick-me-up from trendy cold brew, there’s no reason to overpay. Kroger’s Simple Truth brand offers the best bang for your buck in the category by far, Taste of Home says, with a smooth, robust flavor that outclassed even Starbucks.
Related: How to Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee and Save
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Comforts Baby Food Pouches
$7.49 for 12
New parents know how convenient baby-food pouches can be — and how costly. Kroger’s store-brand pouches contain no artificial flavors, and at around 70 cents each, they’re a big value compared with name brands such as Gerber, which run well over a dollar each. If you prefer organic, the store’s Simple Truth brand has you covered, too.
Kroger Kettle-Cooked Cuban Style Sandwich-Flavored Chips
$1.69
The name is a mouthful, but so is the flavor. They even manage to win over the staff of the Tampa Bay Times in a city known for its Cuban sandwiches. If you’re more of a potato-chip traditionalist, don’t worry: Kroger’s original kettle-cooked chips are also one of our pantry staples.
Private Selection Black Sesame & Ginger Turkey Jerky
$5.52
This protein-packed snack takes top honors as one of the best store-brand products of 2019, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association. Tamari, mirin, garlic, ginger, and sesame give it a kick you won’t find in your average bag of Slim Jims.
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Simple Truth Organic Ketchup
$1.50
This unassuming condiment wins raves from Influenster reviewers for its all-natural ingredients and low sugar content. But it tastes just as good as the name brands, they say, and it’s cheaper: Heinz is as much as a dollar pricier.
Related: Delicious Recipes That Use Up Those Aging Condiments in the Fridge
Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese
55 cents
There’s rarely any fooling the toughest mac-and-cheese critics (kids), but Kroger’s brand did just that in a Click On Detroit taste test. And at half the price of Kraft, it’s certainly worth trying to trick your own family’s taste buds. (Just hide the pink box before anyone gets suspicious).
Related: We Tried 13 Kinds of Store-Brand Mac and Cheese and These are the Best
Private Selection Black Raspberry Dark Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
$2.77
Kroger’s shameless knockoff of Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip is surprisingly good (one Redditor even calls it “the best ice cream in the world”). It’s certainly a lot easier on the wallet, too, at less than $3 a pint versus $5.49.
Related: Irresistible Ice Cream Flavors You Can Get at the Grocery Store
Kroger Honey Nut Toasted Oats
$1.89
This is a slam-dunk store-brand cereal for the thrifty among us. It caught the attention of taste testers at the Arizona Republic a long time ago for good reason: Several tasters said it was even better than pricier brands including Honey Nut Cheerios.
Simple Truth Himalayan Salted Caramel Mini Rice Cakes
$1.50
If you think rice cakes are a yawn, that’s only because you haven’t tried these delectable little snacks. As one food blogger raves, “I always thought rice cakes tasted like stale air — but these — these are DELICIOUS! They’re crunchy, salty, sweet and fantastic.”
