If You Only Buy One Thing at Costco This Month, Let It Be This Iconic Spice Mix

It’s been more than a decade since I first crossed Costco’s threshold, when a bite of the bakery’s rosemary Parmesan bread was all it took to turn me into a forever fan. In the intervening years, I’ve found favorites in the freezer aisle and prosthelytized the positives of bulk produce purchases.

But despite my never-ending love for Costco, I apply the same question to each purchase I make there: Will this bulk buy make planning and prepping home-cooked meals easier?

At this midpoint of summer, I am leaning into pre-made spice mixes to get flavorful dinners on the table in a flash. That’s why this month’s pick for Costco’s best bulk buy comes from the pantry section of the store. It’s a decades-old spice mix that promises flavor, as well as versatility. If you buy just one thing at Costco this month, let it be Old Bay Seasoning.

Old Bay Seasoning is that Mid-Atlantic seaside spice mixture of paprika, celery salt, and other spices. It is inextricably linked with crabs (particularly in Maryland) and seafood boils, but can be used for so much more! Old Bay Seasoning is the secret to spicing up the dressing for shrimp pasta salad and is just the thing for spicing up fresh (or frozen) red snapper or salmon.

Not a seafood lover? Sprinkle the seasoning on air-fried potato wedges or use it to rim a glass for Bloody Mary beer cocktails. Swap the paprika and red pepper flakes for Old Bay when making the marinade for chicken skewers or mix it with oil, lemon, and garlic for a savory dressing to brush over grilled vegetables.

The standard 6-ounce tins usually found in the grocery store are no match for the super-sized stature of the 24-ounce container from Costco. Luckily, there’s no shortage of ways to spice up dinner when you have Old Bay on hand.

Don’t live near a Costco? Buy one here: Old Bay Seasoning, $4.00 for 4 ounces at Amazon