3 Costco Canned Goods You Should Be Buying on Repeat This Fall, According to a 13-Year Member and Pro Cook
I’ve been a loyal Costco member for well over a decade. With that card comes access to groceries and household supplies, perks, and seasonal promotions that make membership well worth the price. I’ve tasted and tested products from every aisle of the store to find my favorites. The best buys are often under the Kirkland Signature label (Costco’s store brand), while others are name or boutique brands specially packaged just for Costco. It really makes stocking my pantry so easy.
I rely on the superstore for bulk sizes of ingredients I use all of the time, like ground cinnamon for fall and holiday baking, and budget-friendly olive oil for everyday use. Costco also carries some of my favorite canned staples that I’ll only buy at the warehouse, thanks to the quality, convenience, and price. Here are three of those uncannily good finds.
1. Kirkland Signature Organic Diced Tomatoes, $8.79 for 8 (14.5-ounce) cans
Kirkland Signature Organic Diced Tomatoes are among the items I recommended to all new Costco members. You might overlook cans of tomatoes when there are so many other tempting finds throughout the store, but this is exactly what Costco shopping is all about. You’d be surprised at how many recipes call for a can of diced tomatoes, and how nice it is to know that you always have it on hand.
The tomatoes are full of flavor and recipe-ready in the same 14.5-ounce size you’d find at a typical grocery store. You can purchase eight cans for $8.79 (or $1.10 per can). At my grocery store in the Tampa, Florida area, a can of organic diced tomatoes can cost two to three times as much.
2. Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna, $15.99 for 6 (5-ounce) cans
Canned tuna is another ingredient I always have in my pantry. It’s a protein I can add to recipes for quick dinners without any prep required, and a key component to some of my family’s favorite meals like tuna noodle casserole, savory stir-fries, and tuna patties. Costco actually carries a few brands of canned tuna, and my favorite is the Wild Planet Albacore Tuna.
The fish is hand-packed into cans so that I can break it up into exactly the texture I’m looking for. Plus I prefer to purchase tuna that is responsibly fished, which this one is. High-quality tuna can be pricey, and at my local grocer it is! A single can of this brand costs $5.53, while the six-pack at Costco rings up for just $2.67 per can — that’s almost half price!
3. Swanson’s Lower Sodium Chicken Broth, $8.99 for 12 (14-ounce) cans
Canned chicken broth is one of the easiest ways to add flavor to a dish. You can make your own stock from scratch (save the bones from your Costco rotisserie chicken for this!), but if you don’t have the time or interest in doing that, I suggest you keep a few of these cans on hand.
I always recommend using low-sodium chicken broth in recipes so that you have more control over the seasoning of your meals. That’s why I’m so glad that Costco sells this version of chicken broth in the warehouse rather than the full-salt variety. You can pick up a box of 12 cans for just under $9 (or 75 cents per can) at Costco versus paying closer to $1.89 per can at the grocery store.
What canned goods do you buy at Costco? Tell us about it in the comments below.