This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Below is a list of 20 groceries that we consistently buy at Costco. We stick to these items because we love the quality, quantities (not ridiculously huge packages), taste and definitely prices!
I’m sharing our local Costco prices – these probably vary somewhat by state. PS. Costco did not pay me to write this post. My love of Costco propels me to share and I myself love lists like these for discovering new treasures :).
Costco Staples:
1. You can’t beat a 40 pack of Kirkland Signature water for $2.99.
2. Organic Tortilla Chips ($4.69) – I love the taste and texture of these. We go through 1 bag/week on spicy guacamole and roasted tomato salsa sprees!
3. We buy these hot cups ($9.39 for 200) in winter and clear cups in winter, plus the lids ($14.39 for 1200). We rarely go out for coffee but it’s nice to feel like we do. lol.
4. Jumbo Reynolds heavy duty foil – this double pack lasts for ever! Its so sturdy and perfect for grilled corn and every recipe that calls for foil. ($13.69 for 2 huge rolls).
Baking and Cooking:
5 & 6. I get all of my cooking oils at Costco including: avocado oil ($8.89 for 1 L), extra light olive oil ($18.99 for two 2L) and extra virgin olive oil ($11.99 for 2 L). We go through these like crazy but for normal people, these cost-effective bottles will last awhile. I love to fry foods in my extra light olive oil because it doesn’t give off that “fried food” smell.
7. Walnuts are priced well ($9.99 for 3 pounds)
8. You can’t beat a 2 lb bag of Organic Chia Seeds for $7.49.
9. Sweetened Condensed Milk ($8.99 for a pack of 6)
10. Honey! I love that they carry a wild raw LOCAL honey at our Costco ($9.89 for 40 oz)
11. From the spice aisle we buy Kirkland brand everything: sea salt ($2.79), pepper corns for the grinder and cinnamon.
12. Mayo – how do I love you, let me count the ways (don’t judge me). Have you even seen our list of mayo-containing recipes? #ridiculous ($4.99 for 64 oz)
13. Pickles – if you know me, you understand my love of pickles and I’m sad that we only have 6 pickle recipes. ($4.39 for two 33.8 oz jars)
DAIRY at Costco:
14. Mozzarella is always hanging out in our fridge. Costco has the best price that I’ve found ($3.89 for 2 lb)
15. We keep this giant bag of parmesan in the freezer and refill a small container in the fridge as needed ($10.99 for a 3 lb)
16. $5.69 for 2 (32 oz each) tubs of Greek yogurt is a steal! We use this for our typical breakfast; topped with homemade granola and berries.
17. I bake alot and love the quality of Raskas Cream Cheese. It works perfectly for my blueberry or raspberry apricot cheesecakes ($5.99 for 48 oz)
Produce at Costco:
18. Their watermelon prices are generally on the lower end and 90% of the watermelon’s we’ve purchased at Costco taste really good. Maybe it’s due to my amazing watermelon knocking skills… maybe not 😉 ($4.99 each)
19. The produce we get there varies by season but during winter, we buy their Romaine lettuce ($3.49)
20. and baby cucumbers ($4.99).
Other Things to Buy at Costco:
It’s really hard to leave Costco without hitting the snack and cookbook aisles. We always go home with a treat :).
Healthy Choices at Costco:
I kid, I kid. Don’t go anywhere, we don’t EVER buy spam. lol.
We’re hooked on using the Fooducate App (Officially called “Weight Loss Coach by Fooducate – Personalized…” So just search Fooducate in the app store. Once in the app, click: “Food Finder” to initialize the barcode scanner). I always use it at the grocery store, especially with products that are new. You scan the products barcode and it provides a health food rating with explanations to defend their ratings.
These sausages didn’t make the cut. I’ve been spared from unknowingly consuming hidden MSG and other products with unhealthy ingredients.
YOUR TURN!! What do YOU buy at Costco? Let me know in a comment below 🙂
Pork, ground beef, chicken breasts, Mozarella shredded cheese salmon, coffee, sugar, coffeee creamer,bread, toilet paper, paper towels dish soap, laundry soap, diapers, baby wipes, shampoo, conditioner potatoes water,
YES! Those are all great Costco bargains! Thanks for sharing Lucy 🙂
Thank you Natasha for sharing this info. That helps a lot. I do not have a Casco membership now. But I need to get one now.
You’re welcome Cynthia! I would highly recommend if you’re buying in bulk or need some of the items on my “shopping list”. 🙂
Organic items are: chicken thighs, olive oil, various chips, coconut oil, cashew nuts, eggs, feta cheese, goat cheese, avacado dip, hummus, Colby mix cheese slices
Other: kalamata olives, cooked whole chicken, mussels, king crab legs, cowboy caviar, grass fed butter, Epson salt, white vinegar, baking soda to name a few. I love Costco!
Love their Parmesan Asiago bagels, wine, and Kirkland brand Vitamin water. I live in Arkansas so really, really, REALLY miss that place!
Those are great additions! Thanks for sharing Angela 🙂
Hi Natasha!
Thank you for your list!
When we go to Costco we never leave without:
Cling Wrap and Tin Foil
Walnuts
Zyrtec
Dates
Organic Milk and half-and-half
Toilet Paper
Great list, Stephanie. Thanks for sharing it with us!
And by the way I made your spicy guacamole recipe for a super bowl party and everybody raved about it!
Thanks so much!! I can’t wait to try some of your other recepies!!!😋
I love the bakery granola with nuts, seeds with honey mmm not sure it’s he best for you but u dies taste amazing!!
Those are great additions Jennifer! Thanks for sharing 😀
Chicken broth – not as good as homemade but as good a substitute as you can find at a store.
Omega 3 eggs – local and the best!
Natural unsulphured apricots from Turkey – you will never eat “orange” (sulphured) apricots again.
Unsalted butter for cooking and baking
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
All detergents and cleaning supplies, charmin bathroom tissue, fresh mozzarella, Columbian coffee beans, Grapeseed oil, diapers and wipes
These are all good items to grab at Costco! Thanks for sharing Katie 🙂
Better Than Buillion Roasted Chicken Base 🙂 absolute must have. I use it for everything..
Mmmmm! 🙂
Unfortunately, it has hidden MSG in it 😔
I realized that recently and stopped buying it as well. I was so annoyed because I liked the product and used it for a long time 🙁
Natasha, How did find out about hidden GMO? And what do you use instead? Thank you!
Hi Nataliya, one of my readers alerted me to it and now I just use organic chicken broth and make sure that ingredient is not on the list 🙂
Our favorite items we buy all the time: Avocados (the best 🥑!!!) , nuts, oils, oranges, lemons, yogurt, rice, quinoa, chia seeds, cheeses (Brie, parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella sticks), sardines, canned Alaskan salmon, coffee beans…Also great deals on paper towels, toilet paper and diapers 👍
Goods suggestions Tatyana! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Everytime i go to Costco, my list includes: parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, organic eggs, half&half, heavy whipping cream, salmon, organic bananas, nuts (all versions), canned chicken, regular water. The other things would be whats in sale at the moment and if i need it. We also buy izze beverages for my husband (he loves those) and organic honest juice for our toddler (the only juice that isnt sweetened w thousands calories..shes way too hyper b4 juice) lol
Those are some great suggestions Olga!
Regular purchases at Costco are, water bottles, organic eggs, milk, organic hamburger, apples, oranges, cucumbers, romaine hearts, beef tenderloin, roasted chicken and butter.
Thank you for sharing your suggestions Becky!!
Produce-Romaine Lettuce, Butter Lettuce, Raspberries, avocados, Tuscan melons, Breads-bread, muffins,
Dairy-tulamuck cheddar chesse.
Holiday- Pumpkin cheesecake, electronics.
Liquor- tequila, Vodka, Wines,
Misc-Nuts, vitamins (multi), Vit c, Hair, nail and skin, allergy tablets
Eye Glasses, printer Ink, gasoline.
We watch the prices and compare them often. We go weekly and fill up on of the cars tanks.
How about meat and fish, organic milk? You don’t buy them at Costco?
We buy organic chicken at Costco and we generally don’t need the huge packs of beef so we get that at Fred Meyer as well. It depends on the item – our Costco doesn’t always have wild caught salmon but when they do I get it there :). Our Costco also doesn’t sell whole milk that is organic so I get that at Fred Meyer also 🙂
Rotisserie chicken.
Quickest family dinner for $5!
Wraps, chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, make stock from the bones (no waste!) it’s endless!
So smart!!
I buy quite a few things from Costco, but the one thing I’m super picky about is pickles. Did you know that many of the pickles sold were made in India? I quit buying them and learned how to make them myself!
Oh really?! No I did not know that! We didn’t really have an abundance of cucumbers this year. Maybe next year! Do you have a good recipe/method you could share?
You should try the pickles from Trader Joes, you won’t buy them from anywhere else. Make sure to get the whole ones though, not the sliced or diced.
Thanks for the tip!! 🙂
Pure Olive Oil
Cream Cheese
PLASTIC WRAP (THE BEST!!!)
Organic Cane Sugar
Laundry Detergent
Trash Bags
Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese
Toilet Paper
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing your list! 🙂
I’m envious that your Costco sells chubs of mozzarella and bags of Parmesan – mine doesn’t. They used to, but haven’t for a long while.
Even between our local Costco’s, the items vary slightly so I go to both! 🙂
Sometimes you can request items and after they get enough request they will carry that item again
Kirkland Plain FF Yogurt
The Italian Sausage (for a treat)
Sharpe white Cheddar Cheese
Coffee
Organic Fudge Bars (mmmmm)
Books
(Oh dear, there goes $200) 😊
No kidding!! The dreaded Costco receipt! 😉
Hi Natasha,
I’ve gotten recipes from your site for years and love popping by to see new things you post. I think you’re terrific, only wish you would consider being more environmental about some of your purchases…single use plastic should be avoided, especially with all the other conveniences we have in our lives. I’d love to see you explore more of your connection with how to still make great recipes and at the same time create less waste. Warm regards.
I’m so glad you like my site! I agree and we try to be mindful of that; although we’re not perfect! 😉
Do not by the kirkland cheddar cheese
is tast sour. everything you use it on will tast sour.
Good to know! Did you have that experience more than once? I purchased a super salty block of Mozzarella there once but it only happened once thankfully!