The 10 Essential Pantry Ingredients to Get at Costco in 2020

Now that we’re safely into 2020, it’s time to revisit your pantry staples. And where better to source a broad, interesting, and extremely user-friendly pantry than at your local Costco? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Costco items for your 2020 pantry. Buy them today, stock your pantry to the brim, and take the first step in making your meals a little better this calendar year. 

Bone broth is the richer, more flavorful sibling to plain old stock. In addition to being a full-flavored base for your favorite soups, stews, and sauces, it’s basically a soup in and of itself. Add a few vegetables and beans and you have a ready-made meal.

A giant can of San Marzano tomatoes is one of the most flexible and pantry-friendly ingredients there are. Homemade tomato sauce on a weeknight? You’re halfway there with these sweet-and-tart tomatoes. They also make a perfect base for a quick tomato soup and can enliven practically any protein in the dead of winter. If 6 pounds is too much for you to use in one or two sittings, break it into batches. The tomatoes freeze and defrost like a dream. 

One of our favorite ways to punch up our popcorn is nutritional yeast, which has a surprisingly cheesy quality. You can also use this miracle product in lieu of flour or fat to thicken soups, gravies, and sauces. Or why not try making vegan “queso”?  

Raw honey is a delicious pantry multitasker and stand-in for sugar. Use it in baking, sweeten your tea with it, or infuse it with chilis to make hot honey for veggies. You can also use it to balance dishes that are either too salty or too acidic.

Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, this tasty vinegar can be used as the base for salad dressings, in marinades for steak, chicken, and shrimp, and in sauces that require a little balance from an added acid. The “mother” is what gives this vinegar its particular flavor. 

These dried mushrooms are a great way to add umami to soups, stocks, pastas, and risottos. Porcinis are rare mushrooms that command a high sticker price, but an 8-ounce jar is a large serving; these mushrooms pack a big punch.

Turmeric offers vibrant yellow color, subtle warm flavors, and a slew of potential health benefits. Add it to rice pudding, panna cotta, or a sweetened latte, where its flavors are amplified by the accompanying sweetness. Or use it in tandem with other savory spices for a little lively addition to your next shrimp sauté. 

These aromatic cinnamon sticks can be grated into your favorite dessert or steeped in liquid to impart their flavor. Add them to tea, flavor an ice cream base with them, or put them in a slow cooker with apple cider for a low, slow brew that will stave off the winter cold. 

An absolute must-have for home cooks everywhere, this is a great quality organic olive oil with a very reasonable price tag. Despite the fact that it comes in large-format bottles, it is a fruity, flavorful oil that can also be used as a finishing oil on completed dishes. It’s beloved by Kitchn editors and professional chefs!

Chia seeds are a magical ingredient that turns into a tapioca-like product when soaked in liquid. The problem? They’re typically very expensive. But not at Costco, where a large bag will set you back less than $8. Soak them in coconut milk overnight and top them with fresh fruit and you have a magnificent morning pudding on your hands. You can also eat them in their pure form, as a crunchy garnish on avocado toast. They add a fun texture, as well as omega-3 fatty acids.

What Costco pantry staples are you stocking up on?