I Ranked Every Costco Appetizer & These Are The Ones Worth Buying
When we're planning a party, Costco is our go-to spot to stock up. Disposable cups and plates? Check. Massive bags of chips? Check. Reasonably priced alcohol? Check. You can find literally anything you need for a party there, and to top it all off, you can treat yourself to a slice of food court pizza when you're done shopping.
The best hosts know that the secret to starting a party on the right foot is by offering plenty of snacks and apps as soon as guests arrive. But on top of all of your other party-planning tasks, preparing an appetizer from scratch can make the occasion more stressful than it needs to be. Thankfully, Costco comes to the rescue with plenty of prepared and frozen foods that will win over the pickiest party guests.
You can find jalapeño poppers, buffalo wings, and even bacon-wrapped scallops at our favorite bulk warehouse chain. But not every product is worth the deeply discounted price. That's why we're ranking 21 of Costco's most popular holiday appetizers from worst to best. So next time you're stocking up for a holiday soirée, you know exactly which products will take your party to the next level.
Smoked Norwegian Salmon Slices
If you're feeding a group of pescatarians, this smoked salmon variety pack is the closest you can get to a charcuterie board. But let's be real: it doesn't have the same wow factor that cured meats have. Let's leave this for the bagels, y'all.
Beer Queso
Costco offers several different dip options for no-fuss party appetizers. Beer queso can go well with tortilla chips, but not with much else. Its lack of versatility leaves it near the bottom of our list.
Antipasto Bar
Don't get us wrong: we could easily clear 30-40 olives in one sitting. But in the grand scheme of party appetizers, leaving out some antipasti is a little too low effort for our tastes. But if you turned it into a Christmas tree cheese ball? Now we're talking.
Roasted Chicken Swiss Rollers
Pinwheels are the most fun way to present an otherwise average sandwich or wrap. But, in our opinion, these belong squarely in the lunch category instead of a party appetizer.
Roasted Pine Nut Hummus
Kirkland's hummus is a solid option. It's a great dip to have on hand for pita chips and fresh vegetables. But because we eat hummus year round, something about it feels a little too pedestrian to be a holiday party appetizer.
Mozzarella Sticks
We've never met a mozzarella stick we didn't like. They're melty, savory, crispy, and perfect for dipping. But you usually find them on kids menus and county fair food stands—not at grown-up holiday parties.
Garlic Seasoned Party Wings
A good chicken wing is a guaranteed party starter. But a flabby, soggy wing can be a major party fowl (ba dum tss). As much as we love the seasoning on these Costco wings, it's hard to achieve a crispy exterior on these babies without breaking out a deep fryer.
Chicken & Cheese Taquitos
Anything tacos can do, taquitos can do better. These crispy handheld snacks can be served with your favorite salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for an easy appetizer that everybody will love. The only reason it's on the lower end of this list? It's just not as festive as the other items.
Maryland Style Crab Cakes
Crab cakes are objectively a fancy appetizer. The high quality shellfish will take your party to the next level. But this package gives you only six cakes for $26, which makes it prohibitively expensive if you're hosting a large gathering.
Cooked Italian-Style Beef Meatballs
In the grand scheme of party appetizers, cocktail meatballs are just fine. Unless the sauce you serve with it is absolutely delicious, it's just messy and requires an ungodly amount of toothpicks.
Seasoned St. Louis Ribs
A rack of ribs is a meal, but individual ribs are absolutely an appetizer. They're rich, fatty, and full of savory seasoning. Costco does all the work for you here, but there's one big issue here: they're messy AF. Better stock up on napkins while you're at it.
Vegetable Samosas
You might not think of samosas as Christmas food, but this variety pack gets major points for having three different flavors in one box. It's literally impossible to get bored eating these.
Spanakopita
We love anything made with phyllo dough, and we firmly agree that feta makes everything betta. These frozen pre-formed spanakopita makes holiday entertaining easy.
Coconut Shrimp With Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
Crispy? Check. Bite sized? Check. Comes with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce? Check. We're huge fans of these coconut shrimp, and there's a good chance your guests will be too.
Spinach Artichoke & Parmesan Dip
Name a better combo than spinach and artichoke...we'll wait. This Costco dip takes the classic flavor pairing and ups the ante with Parmesan, making an already delicious dip even better. It's good on its on. But if you warm it up in the oven with an extra layer of cheese? You'll be the ultimate host this holiday season.
Caramelized Onion Dip
If we had to pick one dip to eat for the rest of our life, it'd be caramelized onion dip for sure. It's tangy, savory, and incredibly versatile. This dip will go with chips, bread, vegetables, you name it.
Cocktail Beef Franks Wrapped In Puff Pastry
Pigs in a blanket are one of our favorite appetizers, point blank period. The humble hot dog pairs with luxuriously buttery puff pastry for a savory bite-sized treat that make any party extra special.
Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños
Wrapping anything in bacon immediately upgrades it, and these jalapeño poppers are no exception. Making them from scratch often involves painstakingly removing the seeds, stuffing the peppers, and avoiding rubbing your eyes for a full day. This Costco appetizer does all the hard work for you.
Fruit, Meat, & Cheese Tray
As amazing as those TikTok-viral charcuterie boards may look, let's be real: most holiday hosts don't have time to make a stunning spread on top of everything else they're doing. Costco gets it, so they made this stunning spread with everything you need for a delicious cheese and meat board.
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
You thought bacon-wrapped scallops were limited to wedding cocktail hours and fancy restaurant menus? Think again. This box of pre-rolled appetizers just need some time in the oven before upgrading any holiday party.
Shrimp Cocktail
Costco's shrimp cocktail ticks off every box. It comes with all the condiments you need. It's completely pre-cooked and ready to serve. It's abundant. It's affordable. And, most importantly, it's delicious. We're not accepting any other suggestions for the number one spot on our list.
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