Some people are horse girls, but I proudly refer to myself as a Costco girl. I grew up going to the store with my mom in the early 2000s and loved snacking on the free samples.
As I got older, I knew I was in a serious relationship when my partner and I got a Costco executive membership together.
Now, as I’m starting my own family, I still turn to Costco for nutritious and affordable meals.
I make weekly trips to the wholesale retailer, and although I always grab the rotisserie chicken, there are (at least) nine items that I simply cannot leave the store without.
Here are a few of my favorite items to buy at Costco.
I always pick up a few Amylu products.
The Amylu products from Costco are always in my fridge.
Gabrielle Lenart
Amylu is my favorite brand from Costco. As a home cook and food scientist by trade, I prioritize making homemade meals weekly. But trust me when I say this brand is worth buying.
All of Amylu’s products are filled with ingredients I’d use if I were making them from scratch. I use the chicken meatballs with basil and Parmesan for lunch bowls and the organic maple chicken patties to bump up the protein in my breakfast.
Kirkland Signature organic chicken breasts are the backbone of my meal prep.
I always find the Kirkland Signature organic chicken breasts to be high quality.
Gabrielle Lenart
Although Costco offers great, affordable options for chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks in value packs, I find the organic variety is often higher quality.
These chicken breasts are the backbone of my meal prep. As soon as I arrive home, I marinate and freeze them so that when they defrost, they’re ready to go.
We love adding our own flavors to the Kirkland Signature Italian sparkling mineral water.
I always grab a pack of the Kirkland Signature Italian sparkling mineral water.
Gabrielle Lenart
The Kirkland Signature Italian sparkling mineral water is a staple in my house.
We like to flavor it ourselves by adding lemon, lime, or pomegranate molasses to make our own beverages. However, it’s also perfectly refreshing on its own.
I use rolled oats for oatmeal and baking.
Kirkland Signature rolled oats make a great base for baking.
Gabrielle Lenart
I make oatmeal all year long, but I also use rolled oats as a base for baking to amp up the fiber. The oats can be used whole, but sometimes, I blend them to make my own oat flour.
In a pinch, it’s also ideal for a soothing bath.
Even my dog loves the Kirkland Signature plain Greek yogurt.
I like to add flavor to the Kirkland Signature plain Greek yogurt.
Gabrielle Lenart
Costco has a variety of great yogurt options. However, my favorite is the enormous container of plain, non-fat Greek yogurt because everyone in my household — including my dog — can enjoy it.
I like to flavor it in batches and can sweeten it myself since I usually pile on the toppings.
I also use this as a swap for sour cream, or as a base for my Ninja Creami.
The Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano is a versatile staple.
I use every part of the Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Gabrielle Lenart
This huge wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano is worth its weight in gold.
We shave it over our salads and pasta dishes but keep the rind for brothy beans, homemade marinara sauce, and soup stock.
I like to grab a pack of the Columbus hickory-smoked turkey bacon.
I bake the Columbus hickory-smoked turkey bacon in the oven.
Gabrielle Lenart
The Columbus hickory-smoked turkey bacon is another one of my favorite items to buy at Costco. It comes in a pack of four, and we usually freeze each one until we’re ready to use it.
We like to bake it on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.
This bacon is great for making breakfast burritos or for when we’re serving a crowd.
I love Costco’s organic peanut butter.
The Kirkland Signature organic creamy peanut butter is made up of just two ingredients.
Gabrielle Lenart
This creamy, natural, organic peanut butter only contains two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
I love that the Kirkland Signature peanut butter doesn’t don’t have an oily, oxidized aftertaste like others on the market.
Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce makes cooking flavorful meals easy.
Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce works well as a marinade or a dip.
Gabrielle Lenart
Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce is super versatile and cuts my time in the kitchen in half. It works as a marinade, a dip, and so much more.
It’s an easy way to pack a punch of sweet and savory goodness into any meal. We like to use it on all our proteins, from chicken to tofu.
