These Are the 10 Best Groceries You Can Buy at Costco

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 the warehouse for the bulk of my grocery shopping. You might not have the time (or desire) to spend as much time in Costco 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 10 items. These tried-and-true groceries are taste-tested, editor-approved, and perennially on my personal shopping list. Here are the 10 best groceries to pick up on your next Costco run.

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 Kitchn Essentials 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.

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.

Chef, author, and Netflix star Samin Nosrat shocked us all when she revealed how much she loves the Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil from 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. 

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 are enough preserves for your morning slice of toast, easy appetizers, and fruit-filled cookies.

Costco’s frozen fruit section is filled with variety, but 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 perfect for smoothies and sangria, trifles and tarts, and more.

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.

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 in cartons of two-dozen eggs, so while the $7.89 price tag may seem high at first glance, these eggs are just $3.95 per dozen. And it’s not just at my local warehouse; we recently compared the price of eggs at Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe’s and Costco came out as the most affordable option.

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: From its famous rotisserie chicken and organic or conventional chicken thighs, to chicken wings and whole chickens, there’s an option for everyone. 

Did your Costco staples make the list? Sound off in the comments below.