3 New Costco Dinner Finds I’ll Be Buying All Fall (for $10 or Less)
Doesn’t 2024 feel like it has lasted both 10 minutes and 10 years? I’m equally exhausted and energized to take on the back half of the calendar. As summer cools off into fall, this is the time of year that feels like the fresh start that January wishes it could be. If you know me (or read some of my other stories), you know that my first stop at the start of a new season is Costco.
I love shopping at the warehouse superstore more than any person really should. There are so many great buys, delicious desserts, and household staples lining the oversized aisles — can you blame me? With autumn schedules falling into place, I headed to Costco to see what new (or new-to-me) groceries could help me get dinner on the table. Here’s what I found.
1. Galbani Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese, $5.99 for 2 pounds
My favorite finishing touch is a sprinkling of cheese. That’s why I’m going all-in and buying Galbani whole-milk mozzarella cheese at Costco. Whole-milk mozzarella has a richer flavor than lower-fat options, plus once you see how it melts you won’t need any more convincing. The cheese is sold in a two-pound block, which is more versatile than the shredded stuff. Grate or slice the cheese to top crispy chicken Parmesan, sprinkle over baked ziti (this recipe is my forever go-to), and make it the gooey golden crown of these crowd-pleasing stuffed bell peppers.
2. Main St. Bistro Restaurant Style Mashed Potatoes, $7.99 for 4 pounds
My younger self would have judged me so hard for adding pre-made mashed potatoes to my grocery cart. In the intervening years, I have learned to give myself (and my meal plan) some grace. I’ll heat these mashed potatoes (just two minutes in the microwave) and add an extra pat of butter to make them even more rich and delicious. It’s so easy! I like to serve them with cozy favorites, like these beef tips and gravy and French onion chicken thighs.
3. Belgian Boys Bite-Sized Pancakes, $9.99 for 90 pancakes
Pancakes on a list of dinner finds? You bet! Breakfast for dinner is a perennial favorite in my house. It’s one of the few meals that everyone at the table will eat with zero complaints. I don’t mind making scrambled eggs and cooking crispy bacon on a weeknight as long as I can also serve a shortcut component like these Belgian Boys Bite-Sized Pancakes.
The silver dollar-sized pancakes are golden-brown and fluffy right from the package. They’re already slightly sweet, so a dusting of powdered sugar and fresh fruit will do for me, but a bottle of the best store-bought maple syrup usually makes it to the table too. They’re easy for my kids to warm in the microwave; I can also heat them on the stovetop in tandem with the eggs.
What are your favorite new dinner staples to buy at Costco? Tell us in the comments below!