The 10 Costco Groceries I’m Buying to Start Off 2023 (They’re All $10 or Less)

If you can just feel your bank account getting lighter as you pull up to Costco, you are not alone. The warehouse giant has earned a reputation for catering to our oversized whims and excessive desires. But there are also plenty of deals to be found within the aisles of our beloved bulk chain. Costco connoisseurs, like myself, know that you can uncover just as many budget-friendly buys — you just need to shop with a keen eye.

Luckily that is exactly what I am here for. As Kitchn’s resident Costco expert, I scour the aisles all month long to find the best buys and smartest shopping tips to share with you. This month I visited Costco with two things in mind: First, I looked for 10 groceries to inspire and nourish me as 2023 begins. Second, I challenged myself to keep the price of each of those groceries to $10 or less.

Turns out, it was all too easy to load up on these smaller-ticket items. These are the budget-friendly finds I am buying to start the new year.

An oversized tub of sour cream seems like exactly the kind of purchase that earns an eye roll from non-Costco shoppers. Little do they know that this container of sour cream holds the essential ingredient for weekend breakfasts, family-friendly casseroles, homemade dressings, ingredient substitutes, and more.

Costco sells salad mixes, lettuces, and a variety of veggies, but the Brussels sprouts are my number-one pick in that department. I like to serve them seared in a cast iron skillet or roasted with lemon and garlic. These versatile sprouts stand in for lettuces in a hearty take on the classic Caesar salad when shredded or for pasta in a veggie-fied cacio e pepe.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Diced Tomatoes are among the first tier of groceries I recommend to new Costco members. This canned staple might not be flashy, but it is among the most versatile foods you can keep on hand. I use these tomatoes for chili, soups, and cozy bean dinners.

Choices are limited for fresh, in-season fruits during this time of year. That’s why I keep a stash of summery frozen blueberries in my freezer at all times. Toss them into muffin batters, add them to banana bread, or serve in a cobbler while channeling warmer days.

My motto is that if cheddar cheese is in the fridge, I can put dinner on the table. Buying a block of cheese rather than pre-shredded takes a little more effort (I let my food processor do the heavy lifting there), but doing so saves money and delivers superior meltability.

Dawn dish soap has long been my go-to for sparkling silverware. I heard rumblings among current and former Kitchn editorial staffers about the superiority of Dawn’s newish super soap. Unsurprisingly, it was not until Costco started carrying it that I brought the Powerwash multi-pack home. It helped me do holiday dishes in record time and I’ve even started using it to clean in other places around the house.

Hawaiian rolls used to be an occasional purchase, but then I realized I could purchase 32 of these sweet rolls for the same price as a 12-pack from my neighborhood grocer. Now every time I come to Costco, the party rolls find their way to my cart. I’ll use them for lunch-box ham and cheese sandwiches and easy weeknight slider dinners.

Chicken breasts are notoriously challenging to cook for the same reasons they’re so appealing for weeknight dinners. The lean and quick-cooking protein often turns out bland, tough, and dry. This year I am making my life easier by stocking up on sous vide chicken breasts. Why is that? They are always perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and impossibly juicy.

Believe it or not, this six-pack of yellow, red, and orange peppers will be gone before the work week ends. A set of four is stuffed and standing in marinara for dinner one night. The others are sliced, splitting time as snacks and on a sheet pan for a quick supper.

Every grocery haul has to have to a bit of food joy. For me, these bite-sized biscuits filled with creamy chocolate are as fun to look at as they are to eat. Pro tip: Stash a few in your car for unexpected snacking needs.

What groceries are you buying at Costco to kick off the new year? Share your picks in the comments below.