I talk a lot about my love for Trader Joe’s, but there’s another store close to my heart that deserves some love: Costco. While I run to TJ’s for the latest seasonal produce, Costco is a bit more “business”. As a foodie, both are equally fun.
My Costco hauls tend to stay pretty static. I have a list of essentials that I stick to on almost every trip – A curated list that took some time to perfect because honestly, Costco can be overwhelming. It’s MASSIVE. Everything is massive. If you try something new, you risk not liking it and either A. wasting it or B. suffering from eating it.
If you’re new to Costco, want to change things up a bit, or are just addicted to snooping around other people’s grocery stores like I am, I hope you find some inspiration in my list of Costco products.
My Top 10 Costco Staples
These items are always on my list. One thing you will find lacking is fresh produce. Weird for a nutritionist, right? I just tend to buy my products on my regular weekly grocery trip instead of my monthly Costco trip. Don’t judge me! Promise to eat our fruits and vegetables.
And with that little disclaimer, here is my list of my Costco favorites!
1. Pre-cooked roast chicken
I went through these little packages of pre-cooked chicken so many times before I finally tried them. I would take them and think about the date. Will we use them all in time? Is it worth the price?
I don’t know what took me so long. My newest Costco product has saved me time and time again during lunch chaos and dinners I don’t have the energy to make.
You get 10 individually sealed packages of chicken and each package provides 22 grams of protein. I use it in salad, quesadillas, stir fry, wraps and more.
2. Mashed avocado cups
I love that these avocado cups are simple but not very simple. They add lime juice and a little salt to taste which makes them ready to eat. No bland mashed avocado here! It’s like a basic but super convenient guacamole.
My kids love the ones with chips (of course) and veggies. Even my 3 year old who doesn’t like fresh avocado gobbles them up. I like to keep them in the fridge to go with quick microwave nachos (using the chicken we’ve already talked about!) or with veggies.
3. Sous Vide Egg Bites
Starbucks Egg Bites – IYKYK. These are a bit pricey, but less expensive than buying from Starbucks every day. Sometimes cooking breakfast, or even preparing a meal, just doesn’t happen. I keep them in the fridge so I have something protein packed and tasty to grab on those occasions.
If Starbucks bites aren’t for you or you don’t eat meat, there’s an egg white and veggie version from a different brand that’s also pretty good.
4. Kodiak Cake Mix
I was a Kodiak stan years now. I love their pancake mix and waffles, their recipes and their frozen waffles. I was sad when Costco stopped carrying the frozen waffles, but buying the mix in bulk is still something I do on the reg.
I like to use this mix to prepare pancakes or waffles for the freezer. Lately I have been loving phyllo pancakes! Meal prep doesn’t get any easier.
I can also confirm that the recipes in the box are worth trying too. If you or your kids are burning out on pancakes, make the muffins! They are also freezer friendly.
5. Maple syrup
Pure maple syrup is expensive. We spend quite a bit, using it to bake, to sweeten plain Greek yogurt, and in the obvious (pancakes). The Costco price for a 1 liter bottle stings a little less than other stores.
6. Siete Tortillas
Get ready to eat the crunchiest quesadillas of your life. I like holding them Siete tortillas in my freezer for a quick meal. They are super tasty, gluten free and 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving.
7. Grass Fed Butter
You just go Kerrygold, it’s really hard to go back. Unless you discover the Kirkland dollop of this butter that saves you money and tastes just as good.
Grass-fed butter is made with milk from cows that eat mostly grass. Not only is butter richer in color and flavor, but it’s also super creamy. It is a good source of vitamin A and healthy fats.
8. Mexican Street Corn
We love this as a quick and easy side dish on taco night. That’s pretty much it! It’s just so delicious.
9. Rao’s
I could make my own pasta sauce, but honestly I’d rather just buy it. It’s a little pricey, but buying at Costco saves a little money compared to other grocery stores in my area.
If you’ve never had of Rao marinara sauce, made with a simple list of ingredients and no added sugar (kinda rare for jarred pasta sauce!). While that’s definitely a plus, the flavor is why I splurge a little on this sauce every time.
10. SNAK
I have two kids, so snacks are always on my list when I make a Costco run. We tend to rotate a few favorites, and throw in something new every now and then for fun. Here are my usual go-tos.
- Perfect Bars – These are about $2.69 a piece at my local Target, but come out to $1.67 when I buy this box at Costco.
- Pirate’s Booty – My kids eat this everyday.
- Applesauce Pouches – Another one for the kids (mostly). These are the best for on the go or when it’s the end of the week and fresh produce is scarce in our house.
- Kind bars – Another favorite. We love minis!
- Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies – IYKYK.
- Baby bell cheese
I’m sure I’m missing something here. This is what we love atm.
Honorable mentions
A few other things make it into my Costco occasionally, but not every time (I still love them though!):
- Ground Beef – 3 1kg packages for $19.99. I keep them in my freezer.
- Hemp seeds – I put them in everything like waffles, oatmeal, yogurt, even salad. It is cheaper and more convenient to buy in bulk.
- Frozen fruit/smoothie mixes
- Prepackaged Meals – If you’ve ever passed by the ready-to-eat meal section, you know it’s hard to resist! I love the street taco kit!
*This list may contain referral links to products we love and all opinions are our own. Blogilates.com earns a small commission from these links at no additional cost to you.
