Aldi's Chicken Pie Triumphs Over M&S in Supermarket Taste Test
Sometimes the easiest weeknight dinner isn't a takeaway or a quick pasta dish - it's the humble pie. For centuries, Britain has been a nation of pie enthusiasts, with recipes dating back to at least the 13th century. Chicken pie remains a perennial crowd-pleaser, but a poorly executed version can quickly turn an evening sour. To help you avoid disappointment, we conducted a thorough taste test of chicken pies from major UK supermarkets.
The Testing Methodology
We examined chicken pies from Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Aldi, Sainsbury's, and Tesco to determine which offered the best combination of price and taste. Our criteria included crumbly pastry quality, flavour profile, and value in portion size. All pies tested were designed to serve two people, providing a direct comparison across retailers.
The Surprising Winner
The champion emerged clearly from the first spoonful - and it will come as a welcome surprise to budget-conscious shoppers. Aldi's chicken, bacon and leek pie not only matched but arguably surpassed expectations, delivering identical flavour to the significantly more expensive M&S version at over £3 less.
The Aldi pie features a very similar rich flavour profile, generous chicken and bacon content, and robust pastry topped with sesame seeds. It emerged from the oven with a perfect golden crust, and the initial mouthful immediately established it as a serious contender for the top position. This pie easily feeds two people with vegetable accompaniments, making it an ideal, economical weeknight dinner solution.
The Premium Contender
Marks and Spencer, often regarded as a UK national treasure, presented their Gastropub Chicken, leek and smoked bacon pie as the most expensive option by a considerable margin. While delicious with accurate cooking instructions, flaky pastry, and no soggy bottom, its performance was ultimately eclipsed by Aldi's offering at a fraction of the price.
Interestingly, across all pies tested, the leek and bacon varieties consistently demonstrated more flavourful profiles than classic chicken pies. The M&S version's sesame seeds provided a pleasant flavour accent on the crust, but couldn't justify its premium positioning given Aldi's comparable quality.
The Middle Ground
Tesco's offering presented as the only shortcrust pastry pie in the test, providing a welcome variation from typical puff pastry that created a more substantial, traditional British pie experience. Tesco claims this pie serves three, though its dimensions closely resemble the two-person portions of other tested pies.
This pie delivered good flavour, delicious well-cooked pastry, and decent chicken content in the filling. As the second cheapest option, it represents a solid choice for those seeking budget-friendly alternatives without sacrificing quality.
The Underperformers
Waitrose delivered a competent but ultimately mediocre pie. While containing adequate chicken, bacon and leek filling with good pastry that cooked properly, the flavour profile remained somewhat bland despite reasonable pricing.
Sainsbury's offering unfortunately ranked firmly in last place. The filling proved watery and gelatinous with minimal chicken content, while the pastry burned despite strict adherence to cooking instructions. At £4.00, this represents the cheapest pie but fails to deliver even basic satisfaction.
The Final Rankings
- Aldi - First place with indistinguishable flavour from M&S at only £4.99
- Tesco - Second place offering excellent value with good flavour and pastry quality
- M&S - Third place with premium quality but unjustified price differential
- Waitrose - Fourth place with solid but unremarkable performance
- Sainsbury's - Last place with poor flavour, burnt pastry, and inadequate filling
For those seeking an affordable, flavourful chicken pie for weeknight dinners or national pie week celebrations, Aldi's offering comes highly recommended. The test demonstrates that premium pricing doesn't always guarantee superior quality, with budget retailers capable of matching and sometimes exceeding established premium brands.
