RD.COM Food
ByJuliana LaBianca and Kimberly Holland
Updated: Mar. 26, 2023
Don't skip over these nutritious, delicious frozen food finds at the popular warehouse club.
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Low-cost pizza for pizza night
Everyone loves a good pizza night. But when ordering in means shelling out around $16 for a pie, it ruins some of the fun. Instead, stock up on Costco’s Kirkland Signature frozen pizza. You’ll pay just $2.50 for a pack of four pizzas. That’s the cost of a single slice in some cities.
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Boneless chicken breast
If you’re constantly out of things to eat for dinner, pick up a bag of Kirkland Signature’s boneless, skinless chicken breasts. We promise you’ll turn to them again and again to add protein to whatever rice bowl, stir-fry, or sandwich comes your way.
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Easy burritos
With a melt-in-your-mouth taste and a not-so-scary nutrition label, Amy’s burritos are a cult favorite. The individually wrapped burritos pack a whopping 11grams of protein and cost just $10 for a box of 8. That’s definitely a steal, since the burritos sell for around $3 apiece at most groceries.
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Wild blueberries
Costco is one of the only places to stock wild blueberries without charging an arm and a leg for them, writes Heather McClees for thekitchn.com. The berries are just $9.99 a bag and can be added to everything from oatmeal and cereal to smoothies and baked goods.
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A three-berry blend
Surprise, surprise: more berries! If you’re not big on blueberries alone but can tolerate them when mixed with raspberries and blackberries, this is the mix for you. Add these super foods to smoothies or oatmeal, or defrost a few to graze on as a healthy snack. Learn the 10 best Kirkland items you should always buy at Costco.
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Italian-style beef meatballs
This jumbo bag of about 140 Italian-style meatballs is great for two reasons: you can toss them into most dinners to add protein in a pinch, or you can serve them individually as the world’s simplest appetizer.
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Dumpling appetizers
For another crowd-pleasing appetizer, try Ling Ling Potstickers. Choose between chicken, pork, or vegetable varieties, and make sure you’re prepared for people to snag them fast. These little dumplings are addictive. In contrast, these are the 6 things you should never buy at Costco.
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A frozen breakfast kids will love
Mornings are hard, but you know what makes them better? Waffles. Stock up at Costco for the best deal possible. According to cheapism.com, you’ll pay about 13.8 cents a waffle at Costco versus about 20 cents at Kroger.
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Broccoli that will last
Fresh broccoli might not be hard to come by, but it can be hard to finish up while it’s still fresh. In fact, the vegetable begins to spoil after just one day. Save money by purchasing a big bag of this meal-prep standby, and you’ll ensure you always have a leafy green on deck. Here are 15 other foods nutritionists always buy at Costco.
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An easy stir-fry solutions
Everyone knows the feeling of craving a stir-fry but not wanting to chop the vegetables. Here’s your solution: Kirkland Signature stir-fry vegetable blend. You’ll get a mix of broccoli, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, red bell peppers, water chestnuts, and onions, all for just 35 calories per serving. The blend works as a great addition to any stir-fry, as well as a simple side dish.
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A delicious dessert
Craving something yummy and sweet that won’t leave you with a sugar headache? Try JonnyPops. Available in packs of 16 for just $12.99, these “smoothies on a stick” are the perfect sweet treats to keep in your freezer. Flavors include fruit and cream, mango and cream, and chocolate coffee and cream. Learn the 15 secrets Costco employees won’t tell you.
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Jimmy Dean Delights English Muffin
The purveyor of breakfast sausage serves up these lighter and more calorie-conscious frozen options, and they’re a bargain if you buy them at Costco: a 12-pack box saves you about $5 over the same quantity at your grocery store. The big box store is popular with bargain shoppers, but these Costco items won’t save you money.
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Bibigo Fully Cooked Chicken and Cilantro Mini Wontons
As an appetizer or light snack, wontons are a great option to keep in the freezer. They cook quickly from frozen—no thawing required, and they only need a simple dipping sauce to finish. Costco sells a large three-pound bag for under $12, which is plenty for a party, several dinners, or lots of late-night snacks. The chicken and cilantro flavor is exclusive to Costco, too.
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Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Bars
A crisp chocolate coating studded with pieces of almond wraps around a creamy center of Häagen-Dazs classic vanilla ice cream. We shouldn’t have to twist your arm to get you to load up on these decadent desserts on a stick, but how’s this for a deal: A 15-count box is about $11, which means each bar is less than $1. Compare that to grocery stores, where the typical price is nearly $2 per bar. Can you guess the best-selling item at Costco?
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Kirkland Signature Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
If you’re loading up on boneless, skinless chicken breasts for your freezer stores, be sure to grab a bag of Costco’s frozen chicken thighs, too. They’re inexpensive (a 6.5-pound bag is about $15), and they’re particularly great for weeknight cooking: they thaw more quickly and stay juicier than chicken breasts.
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Kirkland Signature Thin-Crust Pepperoni Pizza
If you’re firmly in the “thin is best” crust camp, you’ll found your pizza mate at Costco. Kirkland Signature pizzas are all worth the cost ($10 to $12 for a box of four pizzas), but the ultra crispy crust on this option is a particular draw to people who prefer their crusts to snap, not sog. You shouldn’t be without these dozen great Costco buys.
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The Cheesecake Factory 9-inch Cheesecake
You can’t always make it to the restaurant for a celebration, but you can always have one of these ultra-luxurious cheesecakes on hand in your freezer. Costco is famous for their big cartons of fresh berries, too, so pick up some for a quick cheesecake topping.
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Kirkland Signature Organic Ground Beef
A four-pound package of organic ground beefat Costco costs $20. That means each individually-packaged pound is just $5, a bargain that’s worth the gas for the round-trip to the warehouse store. Keep several packs of the frozen beef in your freezer and thaw for tacos, hamburgers, chili, and more.
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Frozsun Foods Organic Super Fruit Blend
Frozen berry blends are great buys at Costco, but their assortment of frozen fruit goes beyond those basics of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. This blend of fruit includes cherries and pomegranate arils, which deliver a big boost of antioxidants and healthful nutrients. A three-pound bag is just over $10, which is a sweet bargain. Costco shoppers should stop these 18 bad habits.
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My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream
Mochi isn’t your typical ice cream, which is exactly why you should buy it from Costco: the variety pack is cheaper than buying individual servings or a box with only one flavor. This way, your family gets to try mochi ice cream, experience the unique dessert, and find flavors they prefer. And if nothing else, mochi ice cream is a fun conversation starter at your next get-together.
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Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries
Almost every frozen organic fruit option at Costco is worth the freezer space it will need. (Most bags are four pounds and up.) Strawberries are a particularly good buy; they sell both conventional strawberries and organic at about $10 per bag. You’ll get a few pounds less if you pick organic, but you can rest easy knowing you’re still getting an unreal bargain, and you’re keeping unwanted pesticides out of your family’s breakfasts and smoothies.
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Crazy Cuizine Mandarin Orange Chicken
If you love takeout but loathe the price and the drive to get it, be sure to pick up a box of these citrusy battered and fried chicken pieces. A 66-ounce box is enough for 12 individual servings, which means you can serve a family of four three times for less than $3.50 a meal.
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Halo Top Ice Cream 4-packs
The light ice cream with a cult following can be found at Costco, and the four-pack bundle will save you big over buying single pints at your regular grocery store. The Costco bundle costs about $11, while a single pint at most stores is between $4 and $5. Flavor varieties change seasonally, but classics like Peanut Butter Cup and Vanilla Bean are regularly found. This is Costco’s $5.99 pumpkin pie secret.
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Kirkland Signature Golden Sweet Pineapple Chunks
Pineapple can be tricky to cut up on your own and expensive to buy pre-cut. The better option? Buy frozen. A five-pound bag is less than $9, a price that gets you only about a pound of fresh pre-cut pineapple at some grocery stores. You can use the frozen tropical fruit in smoothies, but it’s also delicious blended in a high-power blender for an ultra-creamy no-sugar-added dessert.
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Garden Lites Cranberry Orange Muffins
At 120 calories per muffin, these veggie-packed, low-sugar breakfast bitesare available exclusively at Costco. In addition to the cranberry and orange, you’ll find zucchini and carrots packed into this dense and filling gluten-free muffin. A box of 20 muffins comes in under $13, which makes these a bargain for grab-and-go breakfasts. Take note: You probably shouldn’t buy your milk at Costco.
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Kirkland Signature Wild Sockeye Salmon
Wild sockeye salmon from the U.S. Pacific Northwest is one of the most sustainable seafood choices you can make. Costco just makes it easier—and cheaper. Their three-pound bag of portion-sized salmon fillets is about $30. Compare that to most grocery store options which are $12 to $15 for one pound. Salmon thaws well, which means you can poach it, grill it, or simply saute it. You can also shred it for salmon cakes or a quick salmon salad. This is what Costco’s Kirkland Signature line was almost called.
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Marie Callender’s Frozen Pot Pies
These frozen rounds of comfort food are filled with crisp-tender carrots, flavorful chicken, peppery gravy, and a buttery crust with a just-right bite of flaky crunch. A Costco bargain box has eight pies for less than $12. One pie serves one person, so you can make this for a quick lunch in the microwave or put several on a sheet pan and heat for a family dinner.
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Green Giant Organic Riced Cauliflower
Keto eaters are likely to keep the shelves bare of this veggie, but you don’t have to be counting carbs to buy this convenience option. A 48-ounce bag has an easy zip-top closure so you can scoop out what you need for your meals. You can use as a rice replacement for dinner, or steam the rice and blend it with water, stock, or cream to make a low-calorie thickener for soups. Keto eaters shouldn’t skip these 48 Costco buys.
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Hampton Hills Petite Asparagus Spears
Per pound, the cost of these asparagus spears is cheaper than you’ll find in any other grocery store. Because they’re frozen, you’ll also be able to make them last longer. One bag contains four microwaveable steam bags, each with one pound of asparagus. Bring them out on a busy night when you need a green side to accompany your salmon or chicken.
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MorningStar Farms Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
You don’t have to be a vegetarian eater to appreciate a good black bean burger, especially at this price. A dozen patties is just less than $15, which means you can have a burger and chips for less than $2. That’s a dinner bargain. These fiber-packed patties are also a great filler for tacos or served simply on a bed of lettuce with a fried egg on top.
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Brazi Bites
These gluten-free, cheesy bread bites will make you famous at neighborhood get-togethers. They’re a quick and crave-worthy appetizer by themselves, or you can doctor them up as sliders or dippers for a sauce. A 36-ounce bag is less than $15 and holds 62 individual pieces.
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Maas River Petite Whole Green Beans
Like asparagus, there’s no harm in keeping a bag of green beans in your freezer for busy weeknights. This five-pound bag will last families through several meals. Feel good knowing these beans are picked at peak ripeness and frozen quickly to preserve the vegetable’s vitamins and minerals. It’s a fast side, but in the winter when nothing fresh is coming from the ground, it’s like a bit of sweet summer glory.
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Seapoint Farms Organic Edamame
For your next takeout night in, be sure to serve up steamed edamame for an authentic experience. You can also use the fresh soybeans in salads, stir-fries, or as a roasted snack. A five-pound bag is bargain priced at less than $9. Each bag is divided into six 14-ounce servings for easier cooking and thawing. Next, check out the bizarre things you didn’t know you could get at Costco.
Originally Published: January 22, 2019
Author
Kimberly Holland
Kimberly Holland is a lifestyle writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. When not organizing her books by color, Holland enjoys toying with new kitchen gadgets and feeding her friends all her cooking experiments.
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