Fall is officially baked-potato season, and TikTok just handed us the easiest, cheapest comfort dinner of the year. All you need is one sweet potato, one slab of Aldi cheese, and zero cooking skills. The whole thing comes in under $5. Yes, really.
The $2.89 Cheese Everyone Is Hunting For
The star is Aldi’s Emporium Selection Original Butterkäse, a mild, creamy German-style cheese that runs about $2.89 for a 6-ounce block. Butterkäse literally means “butter cheese,” and it melts like a dream. One viral creator, @courtneylcook, set off the trend by tucking a thick slice into a hot baked sweet potato and watching it melt in seconds.
“If Velveeta and American cheese had a baby.”
Courtney Cook, describing Butterkäse’s texture, via Tasting Table
Sweet potatoes run roughly $1.95 at Aldi, so your total tab lands comfortably under five bucks. Shoppers in the comments are loving it, with one calling the cheese “surprisingly delicious” after trying it for the first time.
How to Make It (5 Minutes of Work)
Step 1: Bake a sweet potato at 400°F for about an hour, or air-fry it to save time. Step 2: Let it cool for a minute, then slice it open lengthwise. Step 3: Slide a thick, rectangular slab of Butterkäse into the center. Step 4: Wait a few seconds while the cheese melts into a gooey, buttery river. Done!
Easy Upgrades That Still Stay Cheap
Once you have the basic move down, riff on it. A sprinkle of cracked black pepper and fresh thyme turns it into a restaurant-style side. Add a pinch of smoked paprika or a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet-heat kick. Want it as a full dinner? Pile on black beans and a spoonful of salsa, or top with shredded chicken from a $4.99 Costco rotisserie chicken.
Cheese and potatoes are a natural fit for the season, so pair it with our viral pumpkin chili for a cozy double-feature, or scoop it alongside Aldi’s Fall Harvest Mac & Cheese if you’re a carb-on-carb kind of shopper. Hunting for more budget wins? Check out these high-protein Aldi finds too.
Shopper Tips Before You Go
Butterkäse sits in Aldi’s specialty cheese section, usually near the other Emporium Selection blocks, so don’t look in the shredded aisle. Stock and availability can vary by store, so grab a couple of blocks if you spot them. Pro move: pick sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they bake evenly, and slice the cheese a little thicker than you think you need.
The Bottom Line
A cheesy, cozy, under-$5 dinner that takes almost no effort? That’s the kind of grocery win we live for. Run to Aldi, grab the Butterkäse, and let us know how yours turns out in the comments. Prices and availability may vary by location.
Photo credits: Butterkäse package, Image: Aldi. Sweet potato dish, Image: Tasting Table. Reporting via Tasting Table and Parade/AOL.
