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Patty Catalano
Patty Catalano
Patty is a recipe developer and food writer. She worked Alton Brown’s Research Coordinator and podcast producer and in the Oxmoor House test kitchen. She loves maple syrup, coffee and board games. Patty lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children.
updated Oct 17, 2023
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There are five Costco locations well within driving distance of my house — a factor that may have come into play before signing on the dotted line. When it is as easy to swing by Costco as it is to visit other grocery stores, it’s no surprise that I rely on it for the bulk of my grocery shopping. (Maybe that’s why I’ve been a loyal member for 12 years.) You might not have the time (or desire) to spend as much time in the aisles as I do, so I’ve done the hard work of finding the best groceries to buy at Costco.
Of the thousands of products that Costco stocks on its shelves, I’ve narrowed my list down to just 40 items. These tried-and-true groceries are taste-tested, editor-approved, and perennially on my personal shopping list. Here are the 40 best groceries to pick up on your next Costco run.
In This Article
- Pantry
- Snacks
- Bakery
- Refrigerated and Frozen
- Meat
- Household
- Beverages
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Pantry
1. Rao’s Marinara Sauce, $11.89 for 2 (28-ounce) jars
The flavor of this pasta sauce is the closest to homemade of any jarred marinara we have tried — that’s why it’s been a favorite of Kitchn editors for years. Rao’s has taken the top spot in The Kitchn Essentials Groceries and was the winner of our canned and jarred tomato taste test. Despite the accolades, I’ll admit to being a late adopter, thanks to the steep price tag of $9 to $10 for a single jar.
Then several years ago we spotted a pair of familiar jars at Costco (in a slightly larger size, of course). By shopping at Costco I can get two jars for the same price that I’d seen for a single jar at my neighborhood grocer. Needless to say, I haven’t been without the sauce since.
2. Garofalo Organic Pasta Variety Pack $10.79 for 6 (1.1-pound) packages
I buy all of my staple ingredients at Costco — including pasta. The Garofalo Organic Pasta Variety Pack is the best pasta you can buy at the warehouse. There are two bags each of Casarecce, Penne Ziti Rigate, and Gemelli, and each pack contains slightly more pasta than you would get at your local grocer (17.6 ounces versus 16 ounces). The pasta is imported from Italy and made of 100% durum wheat semolina flour, giving it the texture and chew I’m looking for when making eggplant Parm pesto, smoky mozzarella pasta and meatball bake, or Philly cheesesteak pasta skillet.
3. Kirkland Signature 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $17.49 for 2 liters
Chef, author, and Netflix star Samin Nosrat shocked us all when she revealed how much she loves the Kirkland Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil at Costco. Not only is this an affordable option for high-quality imported olive oil, but it also tastes great. The flavor is buttery and slightly green, making it a good choice for salad dressings, marinades, and everyday cooking.
4. Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves, $9.99 for 36 ounces
If you look forward to the release of Bonne Maman’s Advent Calendar all year long, this Costco pick is for you. Bonne Maman’s Four Fruits Preserves are made from cherries, red currants, raspberries, and strawberries. Because this is Costco, the ruby-red preserves are packaged with the signature checkered lid in an extra-large jar. That means there is enough preserves for your morning slice of toast, easy appetizers, and fruit-filled cookies.
5. Kirkland Signature Organic Diced Tomatoes, $7.99 for 8 (14.5-ounce) cans
Costco’s store brand of diced tomatoes are among the first things I recommend to new warehouse members. Cans of diced tomatoes aren’t as flashy as the viral bakery finds (hello, peanut butter chocolate pie), but they are a great example of how you can use Costco to stock your pantry with items you use all the time, like in a quick pizza sauce or salsa. They’re also essential in casseroles, curries, and more.
6. Pure Vanilla Extract, $11.99 for 16 ounces
The price and quality of vanilla extracts can vary widely, so it’s difficult to know which bottle to buy. Costco’s Pure Vanilla Extract won our taste test for best budget vanilla extract. With a rich caramel and floral aromas, this vanilla extract is an excellent choice for everyday baking. I recommend buying a bottle to have on hand for vanilla wafers, blueberry buckle, or Hawaiian butter mochi.
7. Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, $9.99 for 4.5 pounds
It’s not hard to imagine ways to use up a four-and-a-half-pound bag of chocolate chips. Chocolate chip cookies is the obvious place to start, with brownies and chocolate-covered strawberries not far behind. Next, try these copycat Costco double chocolate muffins that are even better than the ones you can buy. With so many sweet recipes to try, you may need to pick up two bags.
8. Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup, $12.99 for 1 liter
What’s a stack of pancakes without maple syrup? Not only is this amber syrup is a breakfast staple, but it also adds flavor to slow-cooked pulled pork, and a sweet glaze to roasted Brussels sprouts. Use maple syrup in recipes beyond the dinner plate in homemade vinaigrettes, co*cktails, and limeade.
9. Morning Summit Cereal, $13.49 for 38 ounces
I taste tested every cereal Costco carries, and Morning Summit is the one I want to wake up to. The cereal is the most delightful marriage of hearty flakes and satisfying granola with whole almonds, dried cherries and cranberries, pumpkin seeds, granola clusters, and crunchy flakes.
10. Wild Planet Albacore Tuna, $15.99 for 6 (5-ounce) cans
Canned tuna is the base of some of my favorite comfort foods like cheesy diner-style tuna melts and creamy tuna noodle casserole, but there’s so much more you can make with a can of tuna. That’s why I always make sure to keep Wild Planet’s Albacore Wild Tuna on hand. The canned tuna steaks are sustainably caught, and because they aren’t watered-down or saturated in oil the tuna’s mild (not fishy) flavor comes through.
11. Dixie Crystals Granulated Cane Sugar, $7.99 for 10 pounds
Sugar has a shelf life of, well, forever, so there’s no reason not to stock up on the sweetener. Transfer the sugar to an airtight container and you’ll be set to bake pies in the fall, cookies for the holidays, citrusy lemon bars in the spring, and sweet strawberry shortcake come summer.
Snacks
12. Sanders Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels, $10.99 for 36 ounces
Believe the Redditors when they say that Costco sells the best caramel candy. These two-bite buttery caramels are covered in dark chocolate with a touch of crunchy sea salt. While they make the perfect holiday gift and Valentine’s treat, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion because Costco carries these caramels all year long.
13. Schwartz Brothers Bakery Everything Bagel Chips, $8.49 for 15 ounces
These bite-sized bagel chips are seasoned witheverything bagel seasoning, and will completely replace your standard snacking cracker. Eat them straight from the package, serve with mild creamy cheeses, or use them as a topping for soups and salads.
14. Kirkland Signature Pistachios, $14.99 for 3 pounds
Pistachios have had a moment as of late, and I was able to jump on that bandwagon, thanks to Costco. I always keep my pantry stocked with the classic, roasted and salted in-shell pistachio for snacking and baking, but did you know Costco sells shelled and salt-and-pepper-flavored pistachios too? I love the ritual of snapping open the shells for that salty crunch. For the ultimate pistachio-flavored Costco pastry, split open one of the warehouse’s famous croissants and stuff with pistachio cream and a swipe of my go-to Bonne Maman preserves.
15. Kirkland Signature Praline Pecans, $13.99 for 2 1/2 pounds
Candied nuts, like walnuts or pecans, are a sweet and crunchy treat that gets the most love around the holidays, but thanks to Costco there’s no need to wait for the end of the year. The Kirkland Signature praline pecans are made from whole pecan halves coated in a buttery brown sugar praline coating. The crunchy nuts are perfect for adding a sweet and crunchy surprise to winter salads, charcuterie boards, and even apple pies.
16. Kirkland Signature Applesauce, $11.49 for 24 (3.17-ounce) pouches
While my babies aren’t so little anymore, the Kirkland Signature applesauce pouches are still snack-time essentials. These single-serving fruit pouches are among the most affordable applesauce pouches at Costco, plus they are organic and contain no added sugars or flavors. They are a must for on-the-go snacks or school (or work) lunches, and are the perfect portion for sweetening smoothies and adding to baked goods like these applesauce cookies.
Bakery
17. King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, $6.69 for 32 rolls
Make every day a party with these rolls from Costco. This mega-pack of 32 rolls costs the same as a 12-pack from my local grocer, so I make sure to buy them every time I shop. Use them for mid-week slider dinners, party-perfect ham and cheese sandwiches, and bite-sized lunchbox sandwiches.
18. Mini Cakes, $9.99 for 6 cakes
Costco’s mini cakes are anything but small, making them perfect for sharing. The bakery prepares a variety of flavors throughout the year including red velvet and carrot cakes with cream cheese icing, chocolate with fudge frosting, and the newest flavor — lemon.
19. Rosemary Parmesan Bread, $7.99 for 2 (1-pound) loaves
The rosemary parmesan bread is the Costco grocery that made me a member for life. Each yeasty loaf is infused with earthy rosemary and salty Parmesan cheese. It’s a good thing this bread is sold in a two-pack because once you start slicing, you won’t want to stop. Serve it toasted and slathered with salted butter, layered with steak and pickled red onions, or cubed and toasted for croutons or panzanella.
20. Cheesecake, $16.99 for 4.5 pounds
This is the cheesecake that fooled a group of our taste testers into thinking it was homemade. Costco’s bakery makes the most luxuriously creamy cheesecake with a sour cream topping, all baked in a perfectly crisp graham cracker crust. While it does weigh in at a whopping four and a half pounds, it’s perfect for parties and also freezes well.
21. Kirkland Signature Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Pie, $19.99 for 1 (4.5-pound) pie
Costco’s bakery solidified itself as the dessert destination when it debuted this ultra-decadent peanut butter chocolate cream pie. The pie is made with a graham cracker crust and layers of rich no-bake peanut butter and chocolate cream fillings. It’s garnished with a swirl of the peanut butter cream and graham cracker crumbs. This pie weighs in at four-and-a-half pounds, so it is perfect for large gatherings (although we hear it freezes well). The pie started as a limited-edition offering, but is now back in stock with regularity.
22. Kirkland Signature Croissants, $5.99 for 12
Despite my French pedigree, I’ve yet to master the art of the homemade croissant. But I can still enjoy the flaky, butter pastries, thanks to Costco. Sold by the dozen in the bakery, Costco’s croissants are an upgrade to ordinary breakfast sandwiches, can be stuffed with nutty pistachio cream and jam, or even baked with berries for brunch. These croissants cost less per croissant than the ones you can buy at Aldi or Trader Joe’s. Don’t worry if you think 12 croissants is too many — they are easy to freeze and toast up into pure perfection.
23. Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie, $5.99 for 1 (12-inch) pie
Is any list of “The Best Costco Groceries” complete without the warehouse’s famous pumpkin pie? (IMO, no!) This seasonal favorite makes its return every fall with its signature buttery crust and creamy pumpkin-spiced filling. You can’t get a better deal than this — the pie weighs over three-and-a-half pounds, yet costs just $5.99. The warehouse makes more than six million pumpkin pies every year (cranking out over 2.5 million pies the week before Thanksgiving alone), so you know it’s got to be good.
Refrigerated and Frozen
24. Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend, $14.99 for 4 pounds
Costco’s frozen fruit section is filled with variety, and the best bag of the bunch is the three-berry blend. This mixture of frozen blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries never lasts long in my freezer (despite its hefty size) because I reach for it all day long. The trio of sweet fruits is a no-brainer for smoothies and sangria, trifles and tarts, and more.
25. Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks, $17.99 for 4 pounds
Kids menus made chicken nuggets famous, but every home can benefit from this frozen food shortcut. Just Bare’s lightly breaded chicken breast chunks are juicy, well-seasoned, and have just the right amount of crisp breading. The pieces are naturally irregularly shaped, and most of them are a generous size, ideal for honey mustard chicken salad, homemade General Tso’s chicken dinner, and quick-fire chicken Parmesan.
26. Kirkland Signature Italian-Style Beef Meatballs, $19.99 for 6 pounds
If you’re looking for a match to the meatballs your grandma used to make, try Kirkland Signature’s frozen Italian-style meatballs. These well-seasoned orbs have a texture close to homemade, and are one of the best dinner shortcuts money can buy. Use them in quickmeatball subs, serve overspaghetti, and or bake on a sheet pan with gnocchi and giardiniera.
27. Kirkland Signature Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream, $14.99 for 2 (1/2-gallon) cartons
Costco’s vanilla ice cream is among the best store-bought ice creams I’ve tried. This super-premium ice cream is made with just a few ingredients including fresh cream, California milk, pasteurized egg yolks, and vanilla extract. (Carob bean gum and guar gum are also in the ingredient list. They help thicken and reduce the formation of ice crystals and are very common in commercial ice creams.) While there’s no wrong way to eat ice cream, my favorite way is to sandwich it between two oversized cookies from Costco’s bakery.
28. Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter, $14.49 for 2 pounds
Every other butter pales in comparison to Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter (literally). This butter has a golden hue and rich, buttery flavor. I can’t imagine serving a basket of biscuits without a stick on the table. Costco carries both the unsalted and salted versions of this butter, and because the price at Costco is much lower than at my neighborhood grocery store ($0.67 per ounce at my local store, versus just $0.45 at Costco), I make sure to pick up a package whenever I’m shopping.
29. Kirkland Signature Organic Large Brown Eggs, $6.89 for 24eggs
The price of eggs has been headline news this year. While that may have meant fewer frittatas in 2023 for some, I’ve been able to keep on cracking, thanks to Costco. Every week or two my family of four stocks up on organic, cage-free large eggs at Costco (although the warehouse also stocks conventional options as well).
True to Costco’s M.O., it sells these eggs by the two-dozen, so while the $7.89 price tag may seem high at first glance, these eggs are actually $3.95 per dozen. It’s not just at my local warehouse, either; we recently compared the price of eggs at Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe’s and Costco came out as the most affordable option.
30. Daisy Sour Cream, $5.29 for 3 pounds
You can use sour cream for so much more than a creamy dollop atop your tacos. Dig into the XL container of sour cream to make ultra-creamy mashed potatoes, a crunchy dill and cucumber salad, a classic sour cream pound cake, and so much more.
31. Kirkland Signature Sharp Cheddar Cheese, $6.39 for 2 pounds
Buying a two-pound block of cheddar cheese from Costco saves money and delivers even more delicious dinners. Use the shredding blade of your food processor to shred a portion of the block so you can make grilled cheese, quesadillas, and casseroles at a moment’s notice. Save the rest of the cheddar for slicing and snacking.
Meat
32. Kirkland Signature Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, $5.99 per pound (5 to 6 pounds per package)
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the backbone of so many weeknight meals. So while fresh chicken might not be stored in my pantry, I still consider it a staple ingredient ideal for buying in bulk. Costco’s chicken breasts are sold in pre-portioned saddle-packs that make it easy to freeze and thaw smaller portions without the messy work of weighing and packaging each individual breast.
Costco also sells a variety of budget-friendly chicken options: its famous rotisserie chicken and organic or conventional chicken thighs, chicken wings, and whole chickens. There’s an option for every chicken fan.
33. Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto, $9.89 for 22 ounces
My secret to serving dishes with stellar flavor and zero extra effort is pesto. The sauce made from fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil adds bright and fresh flavor to pasta dishes, Ina-inspired minestrone soup, those TikTok-famous eggs, and even chicken sandwiches. Costco’s pesto beat out competitors from Trader Joe’s and Aldi in a head-to-head taste test. Rumor has it that this pesto is made by the same folks who sell our go-to name brand pesto, Giovanni Rana, but for a fraction of the price.
Household
34. Dawn Platinum Dish Soap, $11.99 for 90-ounces
We tested dozens of brands of dish soap and Dawn came out on top. Costco sells Dawn Platinum dish soap, which is even better than the original for cleaning greasy dishes and cookware with stubbornly stuck-on food. Plus, Dawn’s uses go beyond the sink. You can use the long-lasting suds to clean grill grates, make your tires shine, and even keep pests out of the garden.
35. Kirkland Signature Fragrance Free Baby Wipes, $19.99 for 900 wipes
As the mom of two kids, I know that there are no better baby wipes than Kirkland Signature. These hypoallergenic and fragrance-free wipes are soft and gentle on the skin, yet strong enough that they won’t tear. While my little ones are way past the baby stage, I still stock up on these wipes for everyday use. Keep a pack of wipes in the car to clean sticky fingers and in the bathroom as an easy make-up remover. They’re also great for dusting houseplants and cleaning baseboards.
36. Kirkland Signature Parchment Paper, $12.99 for 2 (205 sq. ft.) rolls
Parchment paper is a kitchen essential that never gets the praise it deserves. The nonstick paper (not to be confused with wax paper) has an ultra-thin silicone layer to repel grease and moisture. Use parchment paper to line baking sheets so every cookie comes away cleanly, line a baking pan for your next birthday cake, or fold it into a pouch to gently cook tonight’s dinner. These double rolls of Kirkland Signature parchment paper are easy to store and come with a sharp serrated edge so you can remove exactly the amount needed.
37. Kirkland Signature Plastic Food Wrap, $12.39 for 2 (750 sq. ft.) rolls
Bulk buys last longer than the standard-sized packages, but if you buy this Costco staple you could be set for decades. While Costco no longer carries the name-brand, the Kirkland Signature option is just as good (if not better). This two-pack of rolls covers 1500 square feet, and unlike some other plastic wraps this is strong and not too staticky. The best part — it will keep you and your leftovers covered for years to come.
38. Kirkland Signature AA or AAA Alkaline Batteries, $17.99 for 48
Batteries are one of those things that you never think about until you need them. That’s why instead of spending the extra cash to buy a few at a time, it’s best to stock up at Costco (especially before the holidays). This mega-pack of AA batteries will keep all of your gadgets and gizmos running.
Beverages
39. Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water, $10.99 for 35 (12-ounce) cans
Nothing quenches my thirst quite like an ice-cold can of sparkling water. Costco packages three citrusy favorite flavors — grapefruit, lime, and lemon — together in a single case. The fruit flavor is fresher than the name brand you’re thinking of and the bubbles are bright and lively. The Kirkland Signature cans even came out on top, beating out their competitors from Aldi and Trader Joe’s in a taste test.
40. Kirkland Signature French Brut Champagne, $19.99 for 1 (750 mL) bottle
Kirkland Signature French Brut Champagne is among the top bottles of wine you can buy at the warehouse, according to The Kitchn’s wine expert. True Champagne is a sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France, and it’s rare to find a quality bottle at a price this good. This Champagne is very drinkable with hints of lemon zest and citrus.
Did your Costco staples make the list? Sound off in the comments below.
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