I have never been to Costco 🥴 and am working on the ultimate shopping list for my inaugural trip. I’d love to hear favorites!

Question

Ryan Smith · Answer

Costco Chipotle Chicken: Costco will sell you chopped, cooked and seasoned chicken for around $6-7 dollars a pound. Obviously it's cheaper to cook it yourself, but Costco's chipotle chicken is a great life hack for getting into batch cooking when time is a luxury.

Baillie · Answer

Kirkland Pesto: It’s so good! Perfect on sandwiches. Always have in the fridge for a quick dinner with pasta. So garlicky and cheesy.

chiarabelle · Answer

Costco macarons: They’re so pretty! Who doesn’t love a pretty dessert. And drumroll……if your kid is gluten free this is a gift from on high.

Gillian · Answer

Costco as a first date spot: Free samples! People watching! Delicious and inexpensive food court, where the tables are so tiny your knees might touch ;)

elaine · Answer

maldon buckets: costco maldon salt buckets are legendary and like $9

elaine · Answer

fishwife!: costco intermittently stocks the tuna in spicy olive oil in a discounted 3-pack

Jonathan · Answer

Costco’s bakery section: So many great things there from muffins for breakfast to cookies for dessert. Pro tip: a lot of things there freeze well so don’t worry about it being too much to eat.

Lindsey Millikan · Answer

Olive oil: It’s a great value. Solid quality at an unbeatable price.

Val Brown · Answer

i hate to be so pragmatic, but kirkland toilet paper: it’s just a really good deal for so many rolls, and good quality ply. and then you never run out, it takes forever until you have to restock

heaths moon · Answer

organic uncooked tortillas: the closest thing to authentic homemade tortillas

JZ · Answer

San Pellegrino 12x750ml glass bottles: Buy a 12-pack of these, put them in the fridge, drink them with ice and lemon, feel happy.

(Seriously why is San Pellegrino SO GOOD and how much of it is packaging/branding?)

JZ · Answer

Meredith Dairy goat cheese: I first had this delectable goat cheese from a fancy wine shop, and was utterly AMAZED to find it at Costco (in a very large jar, natch).

We always keep 2-3 of these in the house and eat with eggs, toast, salads…

AT · Answer

Costco Parmigiano Reggiano: High quantity but high quality. Store it correctly and it lasts a few months!

Wayne · Answer

Kirkland British Cheddar: Cheeses: this kirkland British cheddar is better than American alternatives. Kirkland Parmesan is authentic.

If they stock Bellwether farm yogurt that’s great quality.

Zoe · Answer

Rao’s Marinara 2pack: Buying this 2 pack is the same price as getting 1 jar at any other grocery store. It’s such a great pantry staple and easy to dress up, I pick this up on every trip!

Shannon Case · Answer

S.Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water: Every trip to Costco includes at least three kinds of sparkling water in bulk. Get the big glass bottles to feel extra fancy and hydrated! I’m excited for you, Holly!

Aya C · Answer

Amlactin lotion from Costco: Amlactin lotion from Costco is top tier skincare. It makes your body smooth and is helpful in treating Keratosis pilaris (KP, strawberry skin etc), crepey skin, scarring and acne. Reformulated so it doesn’t have a smell and is more easily absorbed. I use it mostly on my body but Dr Dray on YouTube recommends on the face too, so I’m easing into that. Available elsewhere but obviously Costco is best.

Amy · Answer

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream Multi-Pack, 16 oz Jar + 16 oz Jar: I slather this on after every shower, and so I appreciate these giant tubs from Costco.

Pam · Answer

Vital Protien bovine collagen peptides (if you take this, and I recommend it). They have a better price.: Reduces joint pain. Great for skin and hair to boot!

Jessie · Answer

Collagen: Ok, I’m a full collagen-in-the-coffee every morning convert. So needless to say, it’s gotten to be an expensive habit. Thank goodness the Costco gods have blessed me with 1.5 lbs of the stuff for the same I’d pay for a measly 16 oz canister at Whole Foods.

Jessie · Answer

Toll House Chocolate Chips: Do you know how much these little things are at the regular grocery stores? And they only come in measly 16 oz bags?! Buzz off, Fred Meyer. 17 buckaroos gets me close to…plus two, carry the one…SOOOOO much more than that.

Meredith · Answer

Dr. Reju-All PDRN: Great price, good product

Meredith · Answer

Pressed Juices: Sold in boxes of 4 varieties, 4 each. They're yummers. Not all Costcos carry the same thing, though...

Tara · Answer

Kirkland Cauliflower Pizza: For my GF girlies, or anyone like myself who leans into the lie that cauliflower substitutes = epitome of health. This is the best frozen pizza you'll ever meet.

AMB · Answer

Costco Food Court: There is something sentimental about the Costco food court (to me, it tastes like a theme park experience minus all of the rides and rollercoasters).

Eric F · Answer

A year supply of allergy medicine for $15 💊: Or whatever generic med you need. Big savings compared to CVS/Walgreens.

Mo · Answer

bibigo rice: best microwave rice, honestly tastes pretty much like you made it in a rice cooker.

Cicely · Answer

Shrimp cocktail: Get in the ready made section. It’s legit the best shrimp cocktail in the world.

grayaelc · Answer

Costco Organic Tortillas Chips: The platonic ideal of a tortilla chip. And super cheap for the quantity.

And some tips for Costco shopping in general. If you want to hit peak samples, Friday or Saturdays around noon are usually the best times. If you want it to be less busy, I find Friday nights to be the best.

Sarah · Answer

kirkland pesto: A staple in our house - toss it on roasted veg, scrambled eggs, or for the kids "green noodles"

Nitabel · Answer

Alstroemeria Bouquets!: My favorite thing to buy at Costco! They carry a wide variety of colors, and for $10 you get 3x as many stems as you would in a standard grocery store bouquet. One bunch looks abundant in a vase. For a long-lasting arrangement, look for unopened buds; Alstroemeria blooms can last for 2+ weeks, and keep getting more beautiful as they open.

Nitabel · Answer

Kirkland Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon: Frozen center-cut filets from fish raised without antibiotics and farmed on controlled pellet feed (significantly reducing wild parasite exposure compared to wild-caught varieties). Very popular among home chefs for sushi/poke. I always keep a bag on hand for easy weeknight dinners — they thaw in a bowl of cold water in less than 20 minutes, taste clean and fresh, and can be prepared in so many different ways.