I’ve been wanting to do a roundup of our favorite items from Costco for a while now! I love that you can find such a good deal on larger quantities of things that will last a while. I don’t typically buy produce there because it’s just too much for us (we end up wasting some of it). But for items that have a longer shelf-life or for items you can freeze, shopping there is totally worth it! It’s also the perfect place to shop if you’re hosting, or need to bring a food dish of any sort to a gathering or event.
A couple of pro tips if you’ve never shopped there before:
- You need a membership to shop in a store. Memberships start at just $60 annually. You can view the different membership options here!
- You can get your items delivered same-day through Instacart (and you DON’T need a membership)! Just go to the Costco website and hover over the the “grocery” tab. You can also click here.
- They don’t accept credit cards! You need either cash or a Visa.
- You have to save your receipt and show it before you walk out the door. I’ve accidentally thrown out my receipt so many times before leaving the store and they’re super annoying about it.
- They don’t have bags. They usually have big boxes at the checkout for you to use to carry your items out in, so be ready to grab a few!
- Stock up on wine! They give you a 10% discount when you buy 6 bottles.
- They have great houseware items! If you’re in need of new wine glasses, tupperware, etc… they have great deals on those items and they’re really great quality. I basically equipped our entire lakehouse with items from Costco and nothing has failed me yet!
Below are some of our favorites! They do have some seasonal items that come and go, but most of these are items I’ve bought there for a while now. Scroll to the bottom for a few additional recommendations that came from you guys!
SALADS/FRESH PREPPED FOODS:
MEATS/PROTEIN:
These chicken meatballs are super clean (and paleo)! So easy to heat up and serve on top of salads, or for the kids! We love this turkey. We use it for sandwiches, or I love to roll it up with some swiss and mustard as a snack. I freeze these to keep at the lake for big breakfasts! These are so convenient. Peter grabs a couple packs of these every morning to take to work. The Starbucks egg bites! SO good. Love these turkey burgers. So much flavor. A really quick/healthy breakfast. These chicken burgers are so good. We top with tomato and the Costco pesto!
SAUCES/DIPS:
This almond dip adds a smokey chipotle flavor to pretty much anything! Also really good just used as a dip for crackers or chips. LOVE this salsa. I also love their cowboy caviar salsa, but they didn’t have it this trip! Our absolute favorite hummus. We go through a ridiculous amount of this in our house! Such a good cookout side dish without the prep work! 7 layer mexican dip. Enough said!! Serve with your fav tortilla chips. We love these with Mexican food, on toast, with tortilla chips, etc. The best pesto I’ve ever had. Seriously. It’s crack!
REFRIGERATED SECTION:
A cheese board made simple! Just add crackers and you’re good to go. I always buy these and freeze for the boys. Can also toss with mushrooms/spinach/rotisserie chicken/parmesean for adults! Snack idea for adults and kids! Nuts and cheeses in separate little packs. If you’ve never had Perfect Bars, you are missing. out. The kids love to snack on these mini Babybel cheeses! A healthier take on go-gurt. My kids eat these every day! Health-ade is my fav kombucha. These are mini 8oz bottles!
FROZEN SECTION:
The best stir-fry blend! I toss these with coconut aminos and sesame oil (and chicken or shrimp). A great berry blend for smoothies! Love this as an alternative to regular rice! Love tikka masala… such a good Indian dish. A great way to hide some nutrients for the kids! These acai bowls come with a little granola packet! You just thaw them and add the granola on top. These are little mini personal pizzas. So easy for the kids. We love these buttermilk & vanilla waffles! Another quick breakfast idea. These are so good. I always add some extra greens and avocado on top! One of my favorite veggie burgers ever!
SNACKS:
These are basically little chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. They’re amazing! Such a good deal on Annie’s fruit snacks vs. buying them at the local grocery store. My kids’ favorite bars! Such a great deal buying them in bulk. The saltiest/crunchiest tortilla chips. SO good. A healthier beef jerky! I eat an RX bar almost every day. Love them (and these are my two fav flavors!) Crispy dried cheese snacks! Benjamin loves these fruit bars! Nothing but fruit. My favorite grain-free crackers! These boxes have two of the regular sized bags in them. These are so good to snack on, and would make for the perfect Bloody Mary garnish. A little bit of a healthier alternative to chips! My kids really like these. Another great snack to take on the go! These chips are amazing. They are made with root veggies and are nice and salty. A little less guilt than regular potato chips. Mini CLIF bars! Perfect for the kids (or just a smaller snack for you!) I’m obsessed with these. They taste way better than they look! Super sweet and crunchy.
ADDITIONAL NON-REFRIGERATED ITEMS:
We love the added protein in this chickpea pasta! The kids notice no difference. This is so good as a snack, with milk like cereal, or on top of yogurt! Such a good price for chia seeds. I add a couple tbsp of these to my smoothies every day for added fiber. What kid doesn’t love mac n’ cheese? Such a good deal to buy these in bulk too! Cauliflower pizza kits! These come with 2 crusts and 2 sauce packets. Just add your fav toppings and cheese!
And lastly…boozey popsicles!! Such a fun treat in the summer 🙂
Some additional favorites from you guys:
- The Kirkland brand almond butter. Super gooey and not too sweet!
- Pork Tenderloins are fabulous on the grill and so easy. One package is good for three meals for four adults. Separate and freeze in three different packages.
- Keto bread! I actually bought this for Peter but we haven’t tried it yet. It has zero net carbs.
- Pre-made turkey rolls ups
- Tortilla-crusted tilapia. “I make Costco trips literally just for that!”
- Kirkland brand diapers and wipes. “We love them and swear by them! Great quality and just as good as name brand.”
- Brazi bites
Leave any other favorites we should try in the comments below!
XO