I Tried And Ranked 7 Aldi Hummus Flavors

Although hummus is relatively straightforward to make, it's something many of us buy from the store. Perhaps it's the ease of purchase or the variety of brands and flavors that makes it so enticing. It seems easy, approachable, and mess-free; at least, those are major reasons I like to buy it at the store. I often find myself at Aldi, so I had the bright idea to try every hummus my store had in stock. Yours may vary, and I noticed some other options online that were out of stock at my store. Still, I tried what I could and ranked them. 

I'm pretty well-versed in the world of hummus; I make it at home, buy it from the store, and even have a few tricks up my sleeve to make store-bought hummus more flavorful. Therefore, I felt like I could judge these pretty objectively based on flavor — strength of the garbanzo bean and add-ins — as well as texture — smooth, with minimal grittiness or lumpiness. It was also important that the hummus be versatile, whether you dip your favorite tortilla chip in it or want to slather it on a sandwich or pizza in place of sauce (don't know it until you try it). With those qualities in mind, I tested a bunch of hummus options from various Aldi private-label brands to find the best.

Simply Nature is one of Aldi's private-label brands that focuses on organic products. On one hand, I can appreciate Simply Nature's hummus packaging, which says "now with no seed oils." If I were judging these solely by ingredients, that could help Simply Nature rank higher since it sticks to a more traditional-ish hummus recipe. However, I'm basing my judgment solely on the taste and texture, and the garlic hummus was a letdown. First off, the garlic isn't very prominent.

I tasted it multiple times, side by side with others, and it simply doesn't taste that much more garlicky than the plain hummus; therefore, I'd go out of my way to buy it. I like garlic, but this doesn't deliver the flavor I'm looking for, so it gets last place. I like the creamy mouthfeel, but the twinge of garlic isn't enough to call it a garlic hummus. Other options on this list offer more intrigue and flavor. While it's not an unpleasant hummus, I think others are better worth your dollars.

Again, Simply Nature Organic Red Pepper Hummus is good if you just buy one flavor at a time and eat it. However, I sampled it alongside several other hummus options, and it just didn't provide enough flavor to rank any higher. The red pepper is only sparsely incorporated into the hummus; it's not enough to feel intentional. It's more like they added a few minuscule diced pieces just so they can say it's "red pepper" hummus, not because it imparts enough flavor. Honey is listed as an ingredient as well, which doesn't really seem necessary.

The earthy garbanzo still comes to the forefront, and red pepper flavors become even more muted when paired with carrots and chips. It's supposed to have some heat, but it's hardly noticeable. I'd prefer a richer and creamier texture as well. This may be worth purchasing if you prefer an organic hummus product, but there's a better-tasting red pepper hummus coming up ... well, right now.

Park Street Deli's spin on Roasted Red Pepper Topped Hummus has a lot more going for it. There's a pile of juicy red peppers on top, which I mixed in after taking this photo. Even so, it lets you see just how much is in the relatively small hummus container. The difference in flavor and texture is considerable, compared to the Simply Nature version, which feels underwhelming. Park Street Deli has a richer mouthfeel, with a creamier base and a bit of texture from the peppers.

The peppers add a compelling contrast that makes the hummus way more interesting and better delivers the titular ingredient than Simply Nature does. The peppers are a bit sweet (I suppose the added sugar could factor into this) and a touch spicy, but could work nicely in a sandwich like a red lentil pita falafel sandwich, where there are a lot of other vibrant vegetables to add contrast. I prefer the flavor intensity and creaminess of this flavor over the previous two.

Unfortunately for Simply Nature, fourth place is as high as it gets in this ranking. Still, I can appreciate the Organic Classic Hummus for what it is — a perfectly fine hummus. I'd prefer a bit of a smoother finished product; you can see some of the grittiness from the photo. It has a richness from tahini and oil, as well as a smidge of garlic flavor. When tasting this and the brand's Organic Garlic Hummus side by side, it was difficult to tell the difference between them; the garlic was negligible. 

Therefore, the classic version feels like the most basic of anything thus far, but it still delivers a great flavor. It's distinctly garbanzo-forward, with a slight tanginess and garlic notes, even a touch of cumin. This baseline makes it perfect to pair with just about anything. Not to mention you can jazz it up for a specific dish you're making with it. Since it has garlic, though, it's best to stick with savory additions; diced dill pickles or some freshly cracked pepper could add dimension. If you prefer a simpler hummus recipe, stick with this, but the next three are considerably more flavorful with various mix-ins.

I'll be honest — I prefer Trader Joe's Mediterranean Style Hummus to this Aldi version. TJ's has full pine nuts, which add wonderfully complex nuttiness and a fantastic texture. It also has a pile of herbs and a small pool of olive oil, which brighten the flavor even more once mixed in. Aldi's is good enough — certainly the most exciting out of everything I've tried so far — but I'd still stick with TJ's rather than venture to Aldi to pick this up. 

There are tiny, chopped pieces of pine nuts, so it hardly imparts any added texture or flavor. Again, it feels somewhat like an afterthought rather than an intentional add-in. Once I mixed it in, they were so small that it almost felt like there was just a random lump of garbanzo or something; they're imperceptible compared to the richness I'd expect in a pine nut. I like the spices and herbs (cumin, paprika, parsley, and oregano) and oil, which bring some dimension, but I can't say this is a very impressive hummus in the world of hummuses. Still, it's more interesting than the plain Simply Nature option, giving it a third-place spot on my list.

Now, I'm pleased to introduce you to my second-place hummus: Park Street Deli's Significantly Spicy Hummus. Unlike the other mix-in varieties that feel blasé and forgettable, this version very much delivers its promises. The roasted and crushed red pepper brings considerable heat when I taste the topping alone. Of course, mixing it with the hummus mellows it somewhat, but it still brings a pleasant warming heat onto the tongue. It hits right away, but then I can taste some of the garbanzo beaniness and a somewhat rich mouthfeel from the tahini and oil.

The spice level makes the hummus exciting, shooting it above the more blandly flavored Aldi offerings. Spice lovers can slather their sandwiches or liberally dunk pita chips in it, while those with lower heat tolerance can still enjoy smaller portions. It's zesty, memorable, and delivers exactly what I was looking for in Aldi's hummus lineup. And yet, there's one last one that's even better. However, it may not appeal to all taste buds, so stick with spicy, pine nut, or plain, based on your preference.

Another writer tried this hummus alongside other spicy Aldi items and ranked it fifth out of eight options, noting it was somewhat bland. I think that stands true to the overall flavor of the grocery chain's lineup of hummus. It's fine, but not a standout. Still, I think the spicy bean dip is the best of the options below it.

Aldi has loads of incredible products to add to a charcuterie board or perhaps a grazing platter, and I'd like to add Park Street Deli's Olive Tapenade Hummus onto that list. While the Significantly Spicy Hummus absolutely delivers a powerful punch, the olive iteration brings a compelling addition to the creamy hummus base. It's salty with a noticeably briny flavor that makes every bite of hummus all the more interesting. Sure, some people don't like the taste of olives, so if that's you, stick with the spicy pick. 

The olive morsels make the hummus noticeably more savory, making it an elevated option to impress guests. On its own, it seems like it has the most topping out of all the mix-in options I tried. The olives are finely chopped but still provide texture that I can feel as I scoop a dollop onto my carrot. It has a bit of chew, but it's not as though you have to really bite into it. The pieces are small, soft, but still noticeable. I like that they're so finely minced they turn into a paste. The hummus paste is one of the smoothest and creamiest of the bunch, too. They add texture, flavor, and even a visual component to the hummus that makes this variety a clear winner. It makes sense why the hummus is one of Aldi's best dips for parties.

I tested all the hummuses on their own first, and then I tried them with chips and mini carrots to see how the flavors changed. The hummus needed to be flavorful in its own right, but it still had to work with other ingredients — I don't know about you, but I don't typically eat hummus alone (okay, I do it sometimes, but the majority of the time I pair it with other things).

The hummus needed to be smooth, too. I don't mind a random half-garbanzo in a homemade batch that gets stuck beneath the food processor blade, but commercial hummus should be smooth. I was looking for an interesting, flavorful, versatile hummus that could work with any number of foods or could be used in other ways.