18 Must-Buy Costco Food Items For First-Time Customers

To those not in the club, Costco might sound like any other supermarket, but members know it's where our appetites for a bargain can be satisfied. More outlets have sprung up across the United States to meet demand for membership, which has consistently ticked upward in recent years.

If you're among the latest to get your hands on a Costco card, congratulations. Now, here's what nobody tells you: The first trip to your local store can be an overwhelming experience, so planning is vital. Bring a large cooler, because there's no such thing as a quick trip — brace yourself for an hours-long voyage of discovery.

Try to avoid the busiest periods, and be aware there's little or no signage as you make your way up and down the aisles. But the biggest question of all: What should you buy? Do you go wild at the bakery, or stock up on USDA Prime beef? Should you pack your cooler with frozen fruit and vegetables, or take advantage of some bargain-price luxuries? To prevent you getting carried away and busting your household budget, here are some must-buy Costco foods for your first-ever visit.

Even if you've heard nothing else about Costco, chances are you already know about its fabled $4.99 rotisserie chicken. It's been the same price since 2000 (apart from a blip in 2008 when it increased by $1) and offers great value for money. Online commenters bicker about how it compares to other outlets but it's a cheap, cheerful, and convenient meal.

Although Costco loses money on its rotisserie chickens, they are often located at the back of the store so you have to walk past lots of tempting goodies to get to them. Once you've popped one of these hot birds in your cart, when you get home you can either rip the chicken apart and devour it, or use it in an array of tasty recipes.

Regular members always warn newcomers not to visit their local Costco (if they have one) when they're hungry, because they'll be too tempted and buy insane amounts of food. One way to prevent that happening — and tick off a major Costco bucket-list experience — is to head to the food court and pick up one of the iconic $1.50 hot dog and drink combos.

Although the price hasn't changed since its 1985 launch one of the core components has. In 2013, as part of a cost-cutting measure, the soda offered with the combo changed from Coke to Pepsi.  However, in 2025, Costco CEO Ron Vachris announced that Coke would be returning to the fold that summer. While you're enjoying your dog and drink, make time to scope out what else is on offer at the food court for future visits.

Canned tuna is the third most popular fish in the United States but if you want the fresh kind, your first trip to Costco provides the perfect opportunity to get some. Hot-foot it to the frozen food aisle and seek out a 10-pound box of Ahi tuna. It contains around 26 individually sealed portions of this delicious, gorgeously red-colored fish, also known as yellowfin tuna, costing around $220.

That might sound like a lot, but it works out to a fraction over $8 per chunky piece of tuna. You can sear or grill it, and ahi tuna is delicious served with a salad or as part of a poke bowl. Costco members love the portion size and flavor of this fish and if that doesn't convince you, ahi tuna is a heart-healthy option.

Chicken breast is one of the most flexible ingredients for carnivores and those who aren't into red meat. It works whether it's grilled, poached, sautéed, roasted, or baked, and you can serve it plain, marinated, or breaded for the perfect chicken nugget. The recipe possibilities are almost endless, so Kirkland Signature's fresh boneless skinless chicken breast is a must buy for any maiden trip to your local Costco.

They are made with USDA A Grade chicken, so they're packed with flavor and, with just 1% fat, they are healthy and nutritious for the whole family, too. They're good value for money, with around 8 pounds costing roughly $29.40 and, best of all, each pack of chicken breasts is made up of individual tear-off sachets. That means you can freeze them all when you get home, without having to divvy them all up, and eat them at your leisure.

There are some Costco foods that have become utterly iconic, and Kirkland Signature's Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna is among them. Yes, it's a ready-made meal. Yes, you get 3 pounds of food in a packet, feeding up to 12 hungry folks. Yes, you get two of them for a fraction over $21. Yes, it's a screamer of a bargain, and Costco members are more than happy to sing its praises on social media.

One Redditor, who appreciated the T.V. dinner is not loaded with sugar — there are just 7 grams in total per serving — said it was a, "Great deal and taste[s] almost homemade." If you know you have days where you're not going to feel like cooking but still want something hearty and filling, make space in your cart for the Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna.

Frozen fruit is a must-have in millions of home cooks' freezers. It's perfect for dropping into a dessert, spooning over ice cream or adding to a breakfast smoothie for a healthy start to the day. Buying fresh fruit can be an exercise in disappointment, because it can spoil so fast, especially delicate berries. The 4-pound Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend means you will always have a serving or seven of delicious fruity goodness at hand.

It contains an almost equal mix of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, and zero additives, sugars or preservatives. Find the Three Berry Blend in the frozen foods section of your local Costco: Just make sure your cooler and your freezer (when you get home) are big enough to take more than one bag at a time.

Costco's bakery is one of the many reasons regular shoppers advise newcomers to make sure they've eaten before their first trip. Even if you're full to bursting, chances are if you swing by the bakery you're going to come home with something, so why not a box of the store's iconic croissants? They're bigger than the average pastry, making them ideal for topping with preserves, ham, or cheese for a tasty snack, or upgrading a boring hot dog bun.

If you want a solely sweet treat, make a beeline for the six-pack of Kirkland Signature Almond Croissant Pastries, introduced in 2025. The buttery dough has a moreish almond filling, while the croissant is topped with flaked almonds and dusted with powdered sugar. Described as "perfection" by Instagrammer costcoguide, they're worth a trip to the store on their own.

Not everyone has a Costco on their doorstep; many members travel for hours to get to their nearest outlet. That's part of what makes buying in bulk such a sensible option, and for your first visit to Costco, investing in Kirkland Signature Organic Unbleached All Purpose Flour can be a smart move — especially for avid home bakers and cooks.

Two 10-pound sacks will set you back just $19.99, and while wrestling them into your cart might require a little muscle, financially it's more than worth the effort. Store your flour properly in an airtight container in a cool, dark basement or garage, and it will last for months. Watch out for bargains, too: One Redditor was left kicking themselves for not snapping up a 10-pound bag of King Arthur bread flour for just $7.99.

Back in the day, when people wanted meat, they went to their butcher. Supermarkets replaced them for a little while, but then came Costco, and now we can buy extraordinary cuts of meat at extraordinary prices. It may not be on your shopping list, but picking up some authentic Wagyu beef is a great way to pop your Costco luxury cherry.

There's something for every budget, too, from boneless ribeye roast retailing at more than $1,000 for 12 pounds, to a pack of four Japanese A5 ground beef for $130. If you're overwhelmed by the quantity of meat in each pack, don't worry. Throw in a vacuum sealer and some bags (find them among the small kitchen appliances) and you can split it all up at home. Throw it in the freezer and you'll have amazing Japanese Wagyu beef for months.

No inaugural trip to Costco would be complete without trawling the frozen foods section, and this is where forward planning becomes vital. Crack open your cooler and fill it to the brim with goodies including Kirkland Signature Organic Normandy Vegetable Blend. Each 5.5-pound bag costs under $14, and is packed with a delicious blend of broccoli, cauliflower, and orange and yellow carrots.

These colorful, picked-at-their-freshest vegetables are ideal for baking, steaming, boiling, and roasting (just don't use this to cook them) and they come in a brilliantly convenient resealable bag. No more watching your frozen veggies disappear into the freezer's void.

Few food products have generated more headlines than the price of eggs in recent years. While things appear to be finally settling down a little, for a first-time Costco customer, eggs should be high on your shopping list. In 2025, many retailers imposed limits on how many eggs shoppers could buy, including selected Costco outlets, so it's wise to check before you pile your cart high.

Under normal circumstances there's a good selection at Costco. In 2007, the company pledged to offer only cage-free eggs, alongside organic free range products. The Kirkland Signature brand offers Grade AA large and extra large eggs, as well as organic and pasture-raised varieties. As for the cost? Prices vary, but five dozen Kirkland Signature large, cage free eggs cost $16.09 online.

You don't have to be a Barbra Streisand fan to "like buttah" but for Costco members, the only kind to get your hands on is Irish brand Kerrygold. The world of social media lit up in 2025 when 32-ounce packs of the golden treasure were spotted on sale for $11.59. Kerrygold butter has taken on almost cult significance among Costco shoppers, but it's not the only spread that's worth a place in your cart.

Costco's own brand, Kirkland Signature Grass Fed Butter, regularly scores well in online comparisons. It's cheaper than its Irish competitor, contains marginally less sodium and, for some, has a better flavor than Kerrygold. Why not buy both during your maiden trip around Costco and you can make up your own mind?

Hop onto any social media thread about what to buy at Costco, and you can bet the farm that someone will sing the praises of Rao's Homemade Marinara sauce. It's regularly rated as one of the warehouse chain's best-selling products, thanks to its delicious, home-made flavor. It doesn't come cheap: A set of two 28-ounce jars costs around $14 online, and around $12 in-store.

Rao's Homemade Marinara sauce regularly appears among lists of must-buy foods for anyone heading to Costco and tops plenty of internet taste tests — for good reason. It looks like a tomato sauce that's been made by an actual human, and has a delicious flavor that lends itself to a wide range of dishes from pasta to casseroles. A few jars really ought to find their way into your cart.

There are lots of goodies to be found among Costco's grocery products, but a tub (or four) of Kirkland Signature Greek yoghurt should be on your shopping list during your first visit. Rumored to be manufactured by Commonwealth Dairy it comes in whopping 48-ounce containers costing less than $8 apiece.

Costco's Greek yogurt is made from Grade A milk, is thick and creamy, with a mild flavor, and super-flexible, whether you use it to give your breakfast a protein boost or to stir it into sauces. While some people find it thinner than other brands, one Redditor who eats it every day is a definite fan: "Add fruit and it's an excellent dessert," they wrote, while another said it was an ideal swap for sour or even heavy cream.

Costco's Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil costs just $27.99 for a 2-liter bottle — yes, really. Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin olive oil has a buttery flavor with a hint of green.

It is perfect for a wide range of uses, from roasting vegetables and baking fish, to salad dressings and marinades. The best news of all? It's one of a range of four olive oils bearing the Kirkland Signature brand, including Spanish and Italian varieties. If you've got the cupboard space at home, there's room for them all in your cart.

One of the perils of becoming a Costco member is you end up being a supplier for family or friends who aren't. That's the case for one put-upon Redditor and Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup. It's understandable why so many people would want to have a jar of this in their pantry. It is 100% pure, grade-A maple syrup, and comes in a convenient plastic jug with an easy-clean flip cap.

The comments section for Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup includes more than 5,000 5-star ratings. Many people dub it their "favorite" syrup, while one enthused: "We go through this like kids in a candy shop!" Lots of customers praised its value for money, too, and at less than $15 for a 33.8-ounce jug, it's easy to see why.

Costco fans rave about many of the products among the store's own Kirkland Signature range, largely because they're often made by some very big names indeed, and sold at bargain prices. The Kirkland Signature Parmigiano Reggiano is a perfect example. Yes, it's 100% the real McCoy, carrying labels from the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano and Denominazione di Origine Protetta that certify its authenticity.

Even better, it sells for roughly $14.61 per pound, which is often a lot less than the prices charged in specialty outlets or other large stores, and you can pick up a huge wedge of the stuff. Grate it over your pasta or potatoes, add the rinds to your soups, or shave some into a salad. If you want it to last a little longer than a couple of months in your fridge, chop your block into smaller pieces and freeze them.

What's better than one item in the Kirkland Signature range? Lots of them! If you're a coffee lover, then your first trip to Costco is going to put a big smile on your face. That's because there are several whole bean coffee products available at great prices. Medium roast lovers should make a beeline for the Kirkland Signature House Blend. As well as offering a smooth, rich flavor, you can get a 40-ounce bag for less than $20.

If your taste runs to something deeper, then Costco's French Roast Whole Bean Coffee could be just the thing. It costs around $22 for a 2.5-pound bag, while the same sized bag of Espresso Blend takes you back under $20. If the Kirkland Signature brand doesn't appeal, you'll also find a range of other coffees from around the world, including Ethiopia and Sumatra.