Went in for olive oil. Maybe eggs. That was the plan. Somehow left with a cart full of… I don’t even know. Almond milk? Like six of them. A party tray? For what party? No idea. Costco does something to my brain. Same stuff ends up in the cart every time. Not really on purpose. It just… keeps happening.
Here’s the full list, not as a strategy or guide or anything smart like that—just what keeps ending up in my kitchen over and over again, for better or worse.
1. Olive Oil
Right, so this is always the first item I grab. Or trip over, depending how they’ve stacked it that week. It’s two huge green bottles—I mean, truly industrial-sized—and somehow it’s still cheaper than the single sad-looking one at my local store. It’s good oil too, like actual decent quality. I once saw a chef on YouTube pour it into a salad and that sort of locked it in for me. Now I just keep it stocked. I use olive oil for literally everything: roasting, frying, dressing, sometimes even to stop the cat’s food from sticking to her bowl. (Don’t ask.)
2. Frozen Burgers
I don’t always plan to get these, but then I’ll walk past the freezer section and they just… call to me. The beef ones are surprisingly solid. Not gourmet, sure, but very functional. Grill them, fry them, whatever—they hold up. They also sell turkey and veggie versions, which I have tried exactly once during my “health reboot” that lasted roughly five days. Still, they weren’t bad! Just a little bland unless you do some seasoning CPR.
3. Almonds
At some point I convinced myself I needed to buy almonds in bulk, even though I don’t actually eat that many almonds. But now it’s a reflex—I see the bag and go, “Oh yeah, I need these.” I don’t, but I do it anyway. They keep well. You can toss a handful into a salad or yogurt or… honestly I mostly just stare at the bag and forget I have it. Still, cheaper here than anywhere else.
4. Bacon
Costco bacon is the kind that makes you look around while cooking like, Am I… good at this? It’s thick, flavorful, and doesn’t curl up into shriveled bacon sadness. We go through it fast—weekends especially—because there’s always “just enough time” to make bacon but never enough time to clean the pan, which is why I own three. Highly recommend freezing the extra packs unless you live with three teens and a Labrador.
5. Organic Eggs
There’s a 24-pack of organic eggs I grab like clockwork. I used to scoff at the idea of needing that many eggs, but honestly? They disappear. Scrambles, baking, frittata experiments that go sideways—eggs are just always happening. Costco’s are fresh, the shells don’t disintegrate on contact, and they somehow stay good longer than the ones I get from the normal store.
6. Frozen Berries
I’m not saying the Organic Triple Berry Blend is the reason I even make smoothies anymore… but it’s close. The bag is enormous, like you could use it as a pillow in an emergency. And the fruit? Not mushy. Doesn’t clump into one solid iceberg, either, which is rare. Great in oatmeal too, or just eaten frozen when I don’t feel like making actual food. Which is, uh, often.
7. Maple Syrup
Okay, so the bottle has that tiny little loop handle, which is decorative at best and confusing at worst—but the syrup inside is the real thing. Not the fake sugary syrup that tastes like a melted candy. This stuff’s darker, richer, and makes you feel like you might actually know what you’re doing in the kitchen. Pancakes, waffles, French toast, all of it. Also great in oatmeal, which I realize I keep mentioning like I actually eat it often. I don’t. But when I do? It’s a production.
8. Hot Dogs
Costco hot dogs. If you know, you know. They’re the same ones you get at the food court—those giant, cartoonishly long hot dogs you can get with a drink for under two bucks. You can actually buy them in bulk and recreate the experience at home (minus the strange joy of eating one in a parking lot). They’re weirdly good. They don’t go rubbery, they don’t split weird. And when you’re too tired to cook or you forgot to defrost the chicken? Boom. Hot dogs save the day.
9. Bacon Crumbles
I avoided these for a while because I assumed “bacon crumbles” meant “dusty fake bits that taste like regret.” But Costco’s version is 100% real bacon. It smells like actual bacon when you open the bag, which is somehow both comforting and a little alarming. I sprinkle them on eggs, salads, mac and cheese, and sometimes just straight into my mouth if no one’s watching.
10. Peanut Butter
Twin pack. Every time. Doesn’t matter if I already have two jars at home—I get more. You can choose regular or the natural kind (the one with the oil layer on top you have to stir forever and inevitably spill). Either way, it’s a solid deal. We go through peanut butter like it’s being taxed soon, and by we I mean my kids. All they wanna eat is peanut butter, everyyy day. I’m just personally sick of it now, but what can I do.. My mother-in-law says I should stop buying so much of it, but what would I tell my kids?! Ha!
11. Sandwich Rolls
I didn’t expect these to become a staple, but now they’re part of the routine. They’re soft, a good size, and somehow make everything feel a little more thought-out—even if all you did was throw ham and cheese between them. If you’re hosting something (or pretending to), these are easy points.
12. Rotisserie Chicken
We all know about this one. $4.99. Still. It’s the miracle that defies inflation. I get one nearly every trip, even when I don’t need it, because it’s just… there. Hot, ready, and wildly better than any takeout chicken I could afford on a Tuesday. I’ve shredded it into soups, pastas, wraps, tacos. Sometimes I just stand in the kitchen and eat chunks of it like a cave person.
13. Basil Pesto
This jar is massive. Like, suspiciously large for pesto. But it’s really good—garlicky, not too salty, and somehow doesn’t taste like it’s been sitting in a fridge for six months, even though that’s exactly what happens in my house. Pasta’s the obvious choice, but I’ve used it on sandwiches, eggs, and one time I just dipped bread straight into it and called it dinner.
14. Bake-At-Home Bread
Listen, this is my secret weapon. You toss a half-baked baguette in the oven and everyone thinks you’ve suddenly developed advanced culinary skills. The smell alone buys you credibility. They taste fresh, the crust gets nice and golden, and you can use them for sandwiches or as a side for soup—or just butter them and stand over the sink eating half the loaf. Whatever.
15. Frozen Pizza
Kirkland frozen pizzas are what I call “weeknight mercy meals.” You’re too tired to cook, delivery feels like a betrayal of your budget, and then you remember these are in your freezer. They cook fast, they don’t taste like cardboard, and you get four in a box, which means you can ride that wave of laziness at least three more times before needing to restock.
So yeah—these are the things that keep ending up in my cart. Not always on purpose, but at this point, kind of by instinct. Costco does that to you. I start out with a list and end up with three types of cheese, a patio chair, and some frozen shrimp I don’t remember picking up, always an exciting time when we unload groceries
