9 Costco Dinner Staples I’m Buying on Repeat This Year

I shop at Costco year-round, and during my shopping trips I’ve discovered some available-all-the-time staples that are my absolute favorite dinner items. The great thing about these staples is that, for the most part, they complement each other and can usually come together in one big meal. The results are both simple and satisfying!

While I do pick up prepared foods at the warehouse often (a large salad that can feed six people for $8.99 or a whole rotisserie chicken for $4.99), I particularly love some of the more shelf-stable items that I can use throughout the month. These rolls, wraps, soups, sauces, and more are consistently available, and if not, then close alternatives are undoubtedly on hand. (Another great thing about Costco is that it’s rife with options.) 

Here are the nine staples you’ll just about always find in my fridge or pantry.

Sure, they’re great with burgers, but I also use these brioche buns to make grilled cheese or garlic bread — even croutons! Twelve buns come to a bag and, because we’re a family of three, I freeze half to use at a later date. I adore the soft-yet-sturdy texture of these buns too. 

While this seems self-explanatory, what I love about Parmesan is that it’s a cheese I can use as a topper on so many different things, such as salads, pastas, or roasted veggies. Bonus: It comes pre-shredded, which makes it even more convenient to use! 

Of course it’s a large jar — it’s Costco. But it has great staying power when kept in the fridge; I’ve personally refrigerated this pesto for up to a month after opening it and haven’t had a problem. Use it to cook up a quick pasta dinner or to replace the red sauce on your pizza (more on that below). 

If you have tomato soup, a delectable dinner or lunch is not far behind. Sauté some of your favorite veggies — carrots, green beans, celery, onions, broccoli — in butter and then add the soup to it, for a quick meal. Or simply heat the soup and pair with a grilled cheese (on brioche buns, hint hint!).

Tortelloni is probably my favorite way to have a pasta dinner. I like to add it to the basil pesto or the tomato-basil soup with some veggies, and, in less than 20 minutes, I’ve got a hearty dinner on the table.

Perhaps you’ll notice a theme forming here. Rao’s is the best pasta sauce you can buy if you’re shopping at Costco — just ask fellow Kitchn contributor Patty Catalano. I use it for pastas (naturally), but I also use this sauce as a base for curries or stir it into soup. So good, and so versatile. 

Four pizza crusts (and sauce!) for $9.99 is a stellar deal. While the kit comes with a simple tomato sauce, I also use Rao’s Marinara or basil pesto in its place and then customize with our own toppings. (You can use the sauce pouches up as a base for any curry or stew.) We love making veggie supreme pizzas by adding cheese, peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, corn — you name it! 

While technically this isn’t a pantry item, it is a staple in my freezer (which is sort of a pantry). Once again, brioche buns come in handy here! From start to finish, you’ll have plant-based burgers in 20 minutes tops! 

These whole-wheat wraps are an absolute favorite. For dinner, I’ll break up a burger or make a veggie/bean/chana masala roll. I also use them for breakfast with some eggs and veggies rolled in. If you’re like me and you can’t use this many wraps within a week or so of opening, then just pop them in the freezer for future weeknights.

What are your favorite new dinner staples to buy at Costco? Tell us in the comments below!