9 Aldi Meat Sticks, Ranked

You don't have to search far for protein sources these days; you can find just about everything with a protein-infused option. However, there might be a time when you crave simplicity — not necessarily even protein — in the form of a salty meat stick. Kind of like when Slim Jims were the peak gas station food. Aldi has a surprising amount of meaty options via its private label brand Simms. I was a little intrigued to find such variety, given how small the meat stick section is; they're all just kind of crammed in there, waiting for you to discover. 

Whether you're in the mood for beef or turkey or perhaps a little heat or smokiness, there are some options to suit your craving. I tried nine Simms products to figure out which one is the best. To establish a ranking, I was looking for options that added the most compelling, enjoyable, balanced flavor; additionally, texture was important, so it wasn't too dry or chewy, like beef jerky. Aldi can have some hit-or-miss meat items, and its meat sticks are no exception. I have tried a multitude of meat sticks from various brands, so I speak from a lot of experience for these rankings. Stick with me here, and you'll find a couple of new favorite Aldi options.

The Meat Beef and Pork Sausage Snack Sticks come in a 7-ounce pack with petite sticks. The beef sticks are one of my favorite protein snacks, but unfortunately, this beef-and-pork blend cannot compete with the beef-only version (which I didn't see at Aldi during my run) or anything else on this list. First off, the flavor is so-so. It's salty but muddled with the combination of pork and beef. I can't really discern any part of its flavor profile. 

But the worst and most egregious part is the texture. It's the type of stick that is supposed to be a little easier to gnaw on — not exactly soft and pillowy, but it's certainly not dry and chewy like you might associate with a Slim Jim. 

However, this stick was kind of lumpy as I bit into it. Not only that, but I got a hard piece of what I assume is cartilage that was almost as wide as the stick itself. It really disrupted my experience and gave me the heebie-jeebies for the rest of the meat stick. The flavor and texture of this are subpar compared to the rest of the options on this list.

The 9.5-ounce bag of beef and pork sausage is smoked and is supposed to have a jalapeño flavor, but that part seemed quite lacking — at least compared to another on this list that better delivered some heat. I'm also not sure why these are specifically called out as zero sugar when others on this list also have no sugar. It seems kind of like a marketing tactic rather than anything. 

This stick isn't particularly bad-tasting and didn't suffer from the same problems as the previous option. Still, it also didn't really deliver what it said it would, and ultimately it doesn't taste as enjoyable as some of the other upcoming flavors. The jalapeño is very light, and that is the most disappointing for me. I expected a kick of heat, and this simply didn't deliver. 

Another Tasting Table writer had a similar experience when they ranked spicy snacks at Aldi, noting that the spiciness was a little delayed, if not somewhat artificial. These aren't bad, but I wouldn't purchase them again when other options are genuinely delicious. This is just something I would grab if I genuinely couldn't find anything else to eat but needed something in my stomach.

Admittedly, this Simms option is very similar to the previous one, except it doesn't tout being jalapeño-flavored; it has a mild, smoky beef and pork blend. It's fine, and there's nothing particularly disastrous about it. I think if I ate it alone, I wouldn't know any better and would think it tasted fine. However, in the context of this article, and when trying actual things side by side within seconds, this is simply not as flavorful or enticing as other options: basically, it has a salty, smoky flavor, but not enough to carry it to the top of the list. 

Though it has caraway seed, garlic, and even "flavorings," it comes across as somewhat plain, if not slightly sweet. Again, it touts being zero sugar, and it has a somewhat drier, chewier mouthfeel that makes it harder to bite into. The mediocre flavor is the main factor keeping this on the lower end of the ranking, though. The smaller stick size makes it easy to snack on since they are both petite and not individually packaged. This Simms zero sugar option is fine, but there are better ones that are more enjoyable to eat.

These are clearly meant to emulate Chomps meat sticks, which I am a big fan of. Simms Original Grass-Fed Beef Sticks come in a pack of eight and offer a lot of information on the package about protein and sugar, even identifying them as gluten-free and Whole30 approved. While price is not a factor in the actual ranking, these are a higher-end Aldi meat stick. The packaging says they're grass-fed and finished, if that is a deciding factor for you. With all that in mind, I was hoping these would taste really scrumptious, but they fall a bit flat. 

These are meant to be simpler products where the meat speaks for itself, and I appreciate that, but they left me wanting a little more. These sticks certainly taste the best out of everything else I've talked about thus far, but I wouldn't be inspired to select them over my top-ranking ones. They need a kick of salt or some sort of flavor enhancer. That said, I absolutely know there's a market for these, and people who are more cognizant of their meat and beef may be inclined to purchase this type of product. Chomps still takes the reins on this one.

I have purchased the 8-ounce package of Simms Turkey Sausage Snack Sticks multiple times, and they hold up here. They are one of the softer meat sticks out there — not that they're mushy or anything, but the exterior offers a nice pop as I sink my teeth into it. However, it then yields to a soft, chewy core. The texture is really interesting and helps it stand out. It is one of the softer, plumper types of meat sticks, but much of this comes down to personal preference. 

These turkey sticks feel a little more moist and fresher just because of the consistency. It is salty, providing a baseline of flavor. I can catch some turkey flavor, but it isn't as straightforward as eating ground turkey. It's well seasoned with various spices, garlic, and salt to help give it a lift. I like that this also offers an option for those who don't want to consume beef or pork. I will continue purchasing this in that context because of its taste and affordability. Additionally, this is one of the better meat sticks I tried based on flavor intrigue and texture compared to others on this list.

The Original Smoked Snack Sticks feature meat sticks made from beef, pork, and chicken. The smoke flavoring isn't extremely obvious, but it contributes to a more interesting flavor profile. Though there are 14 sticks, the pack weighs 3.92 ounces. That means these are quite small, which makes them handy to take as a grab-and-go snack. I think these make a good option for class, baseball practice, or anywhere you don't want to think about packaging; you can just tear off three and take them with you. But more importantly, the flavor is delicious compared to the other meat sticks. 

These are a classic, tried-and-true type of stick with a drier and chewier texture. I can feel the casing pop as I bite into it. This makes it especially interesting and compelling against some of the softer varieties without as dynamic a mouthfeel. I probably would not have purchased this without doing this review, but I'm happy I did. This could be a useful product for snack time. Even so, the flavor alone isn't enough to boost it any higher, so it remains my fourth-place pick.

I'll be honest, I don't have much to say about this that I didn't already say about the previous Original Smoked Snack Sticks. They are very similar products with the same chewy, dry texture and poppable exterior. In fact, I couldn't really figure out a difference at all. I chewed them side by side, and it left me stumped. If anything, the mild sausage was somehow spicier than the original — which seems odd based on the name alone. For that reason, it ranks a little higher because it's more flavorful and interesting to sink my teeth into.

They are wonderfully salted, which just makes you want to rip into one. Although this is my third-place pick, it isn't especially interesting; I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it, but it makes a favorable pantry option, particularly because of its toughness. The next two Aldi meat sticks are excellent, though.

Alright, now we're getting somewhere. While the Original Grass Fed Beef Sticks felt underseasoned, the Jalapeño version is much better. The packaging advertises a medium heat level, and I feel that's quite accurate. Even though it's medium, it is much more powerful than the zero-sugar jalapeño stick I mentioned previously. This is an all-around flavorful, scrumptious beef stick with enough heat and beef flavor to give it a lead over the seven below it. 

This has a moist feel and, overall, yields really flavorful, delicious products with an authentic jalapeño heat (thanks to actual jalapeño peppers) that envelops the tongue the more bites you take. There's also dimension from things like black and red pepper, cherry powder, and even coriander.

It has the same grass-fed and finished beef base as the original version, but it's leagues better thanks to the spicy intrigue. I would be happy to pick these up at Aldi. The texture straddles the line between being chewy and offering some resistance when you bite into it, but it's nowhere near as dry or chewy as my No. 3 and 4 pics. 

I was a bit surprised to find Wagyu in beef-stick form, but Aldi has just about anything. Wagyu is typically very expensive beef, and that is reflected in this being the priciest option on this list per ounce, even more than the grass-fed and finished beef sticks. This type of meat is known for its fattiness, and I wondered how it would turn out in stick form. Well, the answer is that the American Wagyu Beef Sticks are blissful. 

It still delivers a fatty, flavorful punch with a snappy exterior that gives way to a chewy yet moist interior. In fact, when I bit into it, it was practically wet with oil. On one hand, that was a little disruptive to my sensory experience, but once I became aware of it while biting into it, it was truly scrumptious — the rest of the bites didn't seem as oily, either. This bag comes with 4 ounces of beautifully seasoned meat, including dehydrated onion, bell pepper, garlic, and other spices. It tastes scrumptious and rich and truly sets itself apart from the rest of Aldi's meat stick selection. I didn't set out to find a fancy, elevated stick, but hey, that's what I discovered. This type of product seems like it'd come from an expensive brand, so I'm pleased to find it at Aldi.

I went to Aldi and picked up everything in one go. The sticks are all piled on top of each other or hidden in the same boxes with similar packaging, so you truly have to go through them to locate certain flavors. I explain this because you might have only seen half the selection and not realized that the packaging is so similar across a couple of flavors. 

As for the taste test, I tried bites of each one multiple times over the course of a couple of days. I have had a range of these meat sticks before, but never side by side, so this is a great way to understand which is the best one to stock up on. Though they have protein, this wasn't a factor I wanted to prioritize; I wanted to find the most enjoyable regardless of any micronutrients, ingredients, or even pricing. 

Therefore, these rankings are based on flavor, execution of flavor, and texture balance. I was looking for something that fully executed its advertised flavor profile and was not only delicious enough to finish the stick but also wanted to repurchase. Texture was a secondary factor, but I mainly wanted something that was not too chewy (this is a meat stick, not dried jerky). Where applicable, I mention general details like package weight, how many sticks are in the package, and ingredients to give you insight into what differentiates the meat sticks.