The 10 Groceries I Always Buy at Dollar Tree To Save a Buck

A Dollar Tree storefront — Photo:
Adobe Stock/DDM Design

As a mom of two, my relationship with Dollar Tree has changed throughout the years. A store I once only visited for birthday party favors or Easter basket fillers has become a place my tween likes to shop for makeup and hair accessories or, thanks to TikTok, a shopping destination I visit for supplies for the occasional DIY project. But in recent years, I've started picking up more and more of my weekly groceries at Dollar Tree as well.

It started with a container of garlic powder here and a package of ramen there, but the more I shopped at Dollar Tree for groceries, the more things caught my eye. I've tried oat milk lattes and shredded cheese. I've stocked up on cans of sparkling water and perfectly-portioned snack bags of treats like olives and rice cakes. Though they no longer sell eggs due to soaring prices, many items sold at Dollar Tree have become staples in my refrigerator and pantry—and continue to be staples even since the store has raised its per-item price to $1.25.

While I'm all about the grocery store for perishable items like produce and meat, those inevitable processed and packaged goods we use in our home can often be found for less at Dollar Tree. Here are ten items I routinely buy when I visit.

01 of 10

Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins

Muffin King JalapeÃ±o Cornbread Muffins on a shelf at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

We're a family that likes having bread with dinner and, on nights when chili or soup is on the menu, cornbread muffins are a favorite. I've been known to keep a box or two of cornbread muffin mix in my pantry to whip up on such occasions, but lately I purchase these jalapeño cornbread muffins at Dollar Tree instead. There are eight individually wrapped muffins per box, making it easy to get two different nights out of one box with my family of four.

These slightly spicy jalapeño muffins have a flavorful kick, and I love that they don't spoil within a few days because they're separately packaged.

02 of 10

Skinny Pop Popcorn Bags

Bags of Skinny Pop Kettle Corn on the shelf at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

These individually-packaged bags of Skinny Pop are often my go-to mid-afternoon snack. I love that they're pre-portioned to one serving size and that Dollar Tree often stocks both the original and kettle corn varieties.

My kids love them, too, and often toss them into their lunch boxes or pack them as an on-the-go snack. It's all the flavor and quality of a big bag of Skinny Pop from the grocery store, with portion control. And, like my favorite cornbread muffins, the individual packaging ensures there are no stale, unsealed popcorn bags sitting in my pantry.

03 of 10

Ramen

I have two kids who love making themselves ramen as a quick, easy lunch. The variety of flavors and brands offered at Dollar Tree are nothing short of impressive. It's important to note these aren't your 30-cent squares of ramen wrapped in plastic packaging. For $1.25, you get a plastic or paper container of ramen from well-known brands like Yakisoba and Maruchan in unique flavors that range from spicy beef to miso. As a mom who values a clean kitchen, I love that my kids don't need to dirty a pot and a bowl to make and enjoy these ramen varieties.

04 of 10

Spices and Spice Blends

Gourmet Burger and Ground Paprika seasoning at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

Whether I've run out of rosemary or I'm looking for the perfect spice blend for roasted chicken, I always know Dollar Tree will have me covered. At just $1.25 for 3-ounce (or larger) containers, the selection and value of the spice aisle at the discount store truly can't be beat. Spices that cost around $4 at my regular grocery store are way more affordable here, and we've found spice blends—like gourmet burger seasoning—that we depend on again and again to make nightly meals.

05 of 10

Breakfast Cereal

Honey Nut Cherrios and Lucky Charms on the shelf at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

There's nothing worse than buying a giant box of Frosted Flakes at the grocery store, having the kids eat two or three bowls of it and then watching it sit in the pantry untouched and going stale. With Dollar Tree's smaller bags of cereal, my kids can pick between a few options (typically name brands like Cheerios or Cinnamon Toast Crunch) and use it up before the novelty wears off. The bags are also resealable, eliminating the need for a pantry filled with cereal storage containers and bag clips.

06 of 10

Elmhurst Bottled Oat Milk Lattes

Elmhurst Oat Lattes on the shelf at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

My tween has developed a financially crippling habit of asking for a matcha latte from Starbucks every time we leave the house. While I sometimes indulge her, these oat milk lattes from Elmhurst have become a great way to make a coffee-shop-quality latte at home for $1.25, which is much more doable than $6 a pop.

Elmhurst oat milk is a product I often buy at the grocery store, so finding these individual bottles of espresso- and matcha-based lattes was a pleasant surprise. What's also surprising is the taste: Both varieties are delicious and a great pick-me-up during the day.

07 of 10

Oh Snap! Pickles

Not only are these individual serving bags of pickles double the price at the grocery store, but I've also struggled of late to find the spicy variety in my local stores. At Dollar Tree, the spicy and not-so-spicy versions are readily available for $1.25, easily a full dollar (or more) cheaper than other stores.

I keep a few bags of these crispy, flavorful pickles in my fridge at all times, as they're a great snack and a simple addition to a cheese or charcuterie board. They also take up way less room than pickle jars, making them a win in my book.

08 of 10

Frozen Veggies

Bags of frozen vegetables at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

In my house, we use frozen veggies for two purposes: an ingredient tossed into casseroles or an ice pack for an injury. Since we usually opt for fresh vegetables from the produce aisle, I don't always pick up frozen ones at Dollar Tree, but I do find them to be a great value when I'm making a green bean casserole at Thanksgiving or when I want a bag of frozen peas to give my son to ice a hurt knee. And at just $1.25, I don't think twice before throwing the bag out when it's thawed.

09 of 10

Heat-and-serve Rice Packages

Microwave rice packages on the shelf at Dollar Tree — Terri Peters

There's nothing more efficient on a weeknight than these heat-and-serve bags of rice, dupes of pricier brands found in grocery store aisles. When we need rice to serve alongside a protein at dinner, I simply pull one of these $1.25 packages of rice from my pantry and microwave it for 90 seconds.

Before I discovered these at Dollar Tree, I was spending double (sometimes triple) the price for name brand versions at the grocery store, or waiting for those name brands to go on sale so I could stock up at a similar cost. The brands sold at Dollar Tree are no different than pricier brands in terms of taste or efficiency.

10 of 10

Koe Kombucha

Koe kombucha costs more than double the price at retailers like Amazon, but at Dollar Tree, there’s always a variety of flavors in the refrigerated section for just $1.25 each. I try not to drink alcohol on weeknights, so these light, low sugar drinks have become my go-to mocktail in the evenings when it’s time to relax and unwind.

Not only is kombucha great for gut health, but Koe is packed with vitamins and live probiotics. The watermelon variety is my favorite, so if you find it at your Dollar Tree, be sure to stock up.

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