32 Costco Fall & Winter Food Items I Rely On (And How I Turn Them Into Full Meals For My Family)
If you know me, you probably know I love Costco.
As a meal-prepping mom of three, I'm continually thinking of easier ways to plan, prep, and make food for my family — and to help with that, I often turn to Costco. I've been a member for many years now, and I love it because I find my dollars are able to stretch further when I can buy in bulk.
(We also have a severe peanut allergy in our house, and thankfully, we are always able to find Costco options that fit the bill.)
I still do my weekly grocery shopping at my local supermarket, but I'll make a larger Costco trek once or twice per season to stock up on bulk items. As the weather gets colder, here are 30+ Costco items that I regularly buy in the fall and winter — and how I use them to make all my favorite, comfy-cozy meals:
1. Kirkland Signature Ground Beef
I always have a pack of this ground beef in my freezer. I can easily thaw one pound at a time and can make a variety of meals — like shepherd's pie, stroganoff, burgers, tacos, or lasagna. So many great options!
2. Butterball Turkey Breast
I always love when the smaller turkey breasts come out near the holiday season. Because of their size, you can easily cook these in the Instant Pot, Air Fryer, or Slow Cooker. I also love the option of having a turkey dinner at any time without committing to the process of roasting an entire turkey. (The turkey breast is also a great option for those that need something smaller for the holidays!)
3. Kirkland Signature Frozen Meatballs
Spaghetti dinner? Check. An easy slow cooker option for football Sunday? Check. Meatball subs? Check!
4. Kirkland Signature Pacific Cod
I grew up in northern Wisconsin where Fridays are for fish fry. Now that I live in an area without, I rely on this wild-caught pacific cod for an at-home version!
5. Kirkland Signature Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Although this isn't found in the frozen section, I still love that I can cut these apart and freeze them. Each section typically has two breasts in it, usually equaling about a pound since they are pretty large!
6. Maplewood-Smoked Uncured Canadian Bacon
My family loves making homemade egg sandwiches, which I find to be great for meal prep as well. For these, I typically grab a pack of this Canadian bacon. I've also used it to top homemade pizzas. My husband (who is Canadian) tells me that Canadian bacon isn't actually a thing in Canada, but I tell him that has to be a lie because this clearly states "made in Canada". 😇
9. Thomas' English Muffins
Of course when we make our egg sandwiches, we need a solid base. This pack of English muffins is a bargain compared to a single pack from the market.
7. Giovanni Rana Italian Sausage Ravioli
My kids love these ravioli filled with Italian sausage. I'll often serve it with a side of butternut squash.
8. LaFavorita Tortillas
A pantry staple in my household. We use these for wraps, quesadillas, breakfast burritos, and enchiladas.
10. Hartley's Best Onions
I know the running joke is that a simple recipe doesn't have the first step as "dice an onion", but we know all great recipes start this way. Between normal nightly meals and the holidays, you'd be surprised at how quickly this bag disappears.
11. Sunset Tomatoes
Once the leaves start changing and mornings feel chilly, I love to batch and jar tomato soup for easy meals throughout the winter. Tomatoes can be fairly expensive when you buy them singularly, but this box of tomatoes is a great option.
12. Kirkland Signature Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend
A big bag of frozen stir fry veggies makes it super easy to put together quick and easy dinners for nights that are filled with activities, meetings, and late nights — all the things that come with the end of the year!
13. Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend
Fresh produce is out there to be found in the colder months, but where I live in Colorado, the quality and great prices are harder to come by. With these frozen berries, we can make pies, smoothies, and jams. Lots of things to remind us of all the things we love about the warmer months!
14. Kirkland Signature Sharp Cheddar Cheese
When all the holidays and gatherings begin, one common theme is ooey-gooey, comfort food that typically contains my dear friend, cheese. These large blocks of sharp cheddar are great for different casseroles, pastas, and even snacks. I grew up in Wisconsin and cheese and crackers can be a snack or a full-on meal.
15. Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter
Lots of cooking means lots of butter — and you won't find a better price for this particular brand than at Costco.
16. Kirkland Signature Butter
...it also means lots of baking. I don't like to use the pricier Kerrygold butter with baking because it gets blended in with sugar and lots of other flavors. The boxes of Kirkland butter are excellent for all baking needs!
17. Chosen Foods Avocado Oil
The secret to a crispy, golden brown holiday turkey without setting your fire alarm off? Avocado oil, since it has a higher smoke point than olive oil or butter.
18. Kirkland Signature Organic Diced Tomatoes
I routinely find myself grabbing diced tomatoes for a lot of my fall/winter meals. Chili, stews, pastas, soups — you name it!
20. Swanson Chicken Broth
A staple for every time of year, honestly.
21. Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce
I absolutely love Rao's marinara sauce. Although the price tag may make you do a double take, the flavor is absolutely worth it and you can find two packs at Costco for a way better deal than a single jar at the normal grocer.
22. Pasta Garofalo
I always like to keep pasta on hand. Especially for days when weather takes a turn for the worse.
23. Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen Noodles
Back to school and colder weather can also mean more sickness. Ramen is always a go-to when someone is feeling down and out.
24. Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oats
Nothing better than a warm bowl of oatmeal on a chilly morning!
25. Kodiak Power Cakes
These Kodiak cakes are an easy option to serve a fun breakfast while making sure I still get some good protein into my kids. This way, they aren't starving at school before lunch.
26. Kirkland Signature Wildflower Honey
We can all think of the obvious uses of honey, but the biggest thing I love to do with honey in the winter is make honey pops. They are like little lollipops and can help soothe sore, scratchy, itchy throats.
27. Kirkland Signature Vanilla Beans
I use these for homemade vanilla extract (excellent holiday gifts) and vanilla scones!
28. Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
And while we're baking, might as well stock up on the chocolate chips, right?
29. Nordic Ware Baking Sheets
These baking sheets are great. I use these, not only for baking, but for many sheet pan dinners as well. They come in a three-pack and I love the half-sheet size for smaller batches.
30. Miu Silicone Pastry & Baking Mats
I love baking as much as the next person, but the cleanup can feel exhausting once I'm done. This pack comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and makes cleanup a breeze!
31. Eco-Foil Steam Table Pans
Speaking of easy cleanup: these deep steam table pans make holiday cooking more manageable.
32. Canada Dry Ginger Ale- Winter Variety Pack
Whenever we have guests, I like to make sure there are non-alcoholic options always available. This winter variety pack only comes out this time of year and I absolutely love the Cranberry flavor!
