Yes, You Can Grocery Shop at Dollar General—Here’s What to Pick Up

Growing up, I mostly sought out Dollar General for cleaning products, birthday decor, or school supplies—usually tagging along with my mom to stock up on crafty essentials. I never paid much attention to the food aisle. And when I did pass through, it was more out of curiosity than intention. But that’s changed. The grocery aisle at Dollar General is better than you think.

It started with a few baking aisle surprises—boxes of Jell-O, charming cake decorating kits. Then came the pantry staples: pasta, peanut butter, canned beans. Gradually, their food section has become a place I want to browse on purpose. And after attending a recent speaker series about food access hosted by the brand, I found myself seriously rethinking what the chain offers and who it's serving.

Dollar General Is Meeting Shoppers Where They Are

“Accessibility is the number one driver. We want to meet the customer where they’re at,” said Allen Warch, Dollar General’s vice president and division merchandise manager for food and fresh produce. “We want to be a solution for real meals—whether that’s dinner tonight or filling a pantry for the week.”

With over 6,700 Dollar General locations now offering fresh produce, and a growing number of stores expanding their cold and frozen sections, the company is positioning itself as more than just a convenience stop. It’s evolving into a functional grocery destination—especially for customers in rural or underserved areas.

Their goal is to make sure that when customers come to them, they can find what they need to make a meal.

In the Food52 office, we decided to put that idea to the test. Could you make a filling meal from just the aisles of Dollar General? And not just a “make it work” meal—but one we’d actually want to eat again.

Test kitchen editor Noah Tanen took on the challenge, and what he came back with was a tray of sweet potato nachos—built from a mix of fresh and shelf-stable ingredients you can reliably find at most Dollar Generals: canned beans, shredded cheese, sweet potatoes, cilantro, and more. The result was rich, roasty, just a little sweet, and deeply comforting. Not bad for several ingredients, no specialty equipment, and around $10 (not counting a couple staple spices we had)l.

This isn’t just about making dinner on a budget. It’s about shifting how we talk about value, and flavor, and where “good” food comes from. Because the truth is: you don’t need a pristine farmers’ market haul to make something great. Sometimes, a shelf-stable, budget-friendly dinner hits exactly right.

What You’ll Actually Find in the Grocery Section

At first glance, the grocery aisle at Dollar General might feel familiar: shelf-stable pantry goods, snacks, boxed mixes, and frozen meals. But a closer look reveals some genuinely smart finds.

You’ll find name-brand staples like Hunt’s tomatoes, Barilla pasta, and Jif peanut butter—alongside their own Good & Smart line, which includes healthier snack options, electrolyte drinks, and more. The prices are lower than you’ll find at most major chains, and the quality is on par.

For shoppers in rural areas where the nearest full grocery store may be miles away, having access to even a modest selection of fresh produce, dairy, and meat at Dollar General can be a game-changer. “We hear from customers all the time that they rely on us—not just for convenience, but because we’re their closest option,” said Warch.

Despite the large number of stores, for many who don’t shop there regularly, the perception still centers around convenience snacks. But as Warch pointed out, “There’s a lot of things [at Dollar General] that most people don’t know about.”

It is, in fact, one of the largest produce distributors in the country. They’re even testing DoorDash delivery in some locations.

At your local store, you’re guaranteed to find fresh food, herbs, coffee, cereal, even beer (which I genuinely didn’t expect). The inventory might not be about luxury or novelty, but it is about function. Which, honestly, is what most of us are after at 6 p.m. on a weeknight. And as prices continue to rise at other stores, I’m definitely questioning where I’m shopping.

The Sweet Potato Nachos

If you want to make the nachos yourself, this is the exact recipe Noah followed. They make for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.

So What Else Can You Make?

Here are a few easy, shelf-stable or frozen-friendly dinner ideas inspired by what you might find in the aisles. I personally love watching creators on Tik Tok and Instagram for more ideas on what to make.

1. Pasta With 10-Minute Tomato Sauce

Start with canned tomatoes, boxed pasta, garlic powder, and a splash of sun-dried tomatoes. Toss in shredded cheese or canned parmesan, if you find it, for a quick and cozy dinner.

2. White Bean & Tuna Salad With Hard-Boiled Eggs

Drain canned white beans and mix with tuna, a splash of olive oil, and some hard-boiled eggs. Add chopped onion if you’ve got one, or a few pickles from the fridge.

3. Sheet-Pan Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

Combine cooked rice with chopped broccoli, shredded cheese, some milk, and sour cream. Bake in a foil pan until bubbly.

4. Roasted Sweet Potato, Chickpea & Kale Sheet-Pan Salad

If you spot apples and a hearty green, this one’s a no-brainer. Toss with sweet potatoes and any grated cheese.