Costco shoppers are known for being loyal to their favorite products, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the freezer section. While the warehouse giant constantly rotates new items onto its shelves, a handful of frozen foods have developed a devoted following and rarely leave shoppers’ carts. From hearty lasagna to convenient seafood options and fruit blends, these staples have become weeknight must-buys for many.
The story
A Costco member posted a simple question on Reddit asking people their favorite must-have frozen foods from Costco. The user mentioned that they wanted to get the best use out of their membership and stock up the freezer with items that are really worth buying.
The thread had over 1,000 comments from enthusiastic shoppers eager to share their must-buys.
The reactions
“Kirkland sausage lasagna is a winner.” Lasagna is the kind of meal you can trust when you don’t feel like cooking, and everyone at the table will actually eat it. No wonder it got a confident shoutout.
Costco sells it in a pack of two trays, each about three pounds. That means you can serve a family or portion it out into freezer-friendly slices for later. It costs about ten bucks a tray, and you can bake it in the oven for a golden crust or just microwave it when you’re in a rush.
Then came a longer list from another shopper: “The Kirkland breaded chicken bites are great for chicken salads, wraps, or just dinner (esp. w/ kids). The sirloin beef patties and thick-sliced bacon are good. We buy the shredded cheddar and always freeze a bag. We also buy the block of cheddar for things we want sliced or freshly shredded cheese for.” That’s the kind of cart that covers breakfasts, quick lunches, and weekend grilling.
You can also pair the chicken chunks with the stir fry vegetable blend (another Costco frozen staple), and you’ve got a quick, balanced dinner. They’re also great tossed into pasta, fried rice, or even into a wrap for lunch.
Meatballs are one of those things Costco shoppers buy again and again. One shopper said, "Meatballs - add it to every tomato sauce and pasta". Another mentioned, "Chicken breast chunks, blueberries, Italian meatballs. We will never be without those 3 things in our freezer."
The bag is about six pounds, with more than a hundred meatballs inside, and because they’re already cooked, they’re easy to pull out whenever you need them. Toss a few into simmering tomato sauce and dinner’s ready. Heat them in barbecue sauce for a quick party snack. Or make meatball subs with melted mozzarella when you don’t feel like cooking from scratch.
They taste best if you warm them in the oven or let them soak up sauce on the stove, but they’ll work in the microwave if you’re in a hurry. Either way, they’re one of those freezer staples that you can use to make a quick and delicious dinner on a busy night.
Seafood fans had plenty of items to recommend. One mentioned, “The cod and the sockeye salmon are both winners, and so is the tofu kimbap. Echoing the broccoli as well. I haven’t seen them lately, but their zoodles were a great value. The tattooed chef brand cauliflower rice stir fry is also a great side dish, I think it’s 3 or 4 bags inside.” That reads like a freezer built for variety, fish for dinner, kimbap for quick snacks, and veggie sides to balance it out. With a few of these on hand, you can mix and match meals all week.
Some people also mentioned that they love Costco's shrimp. One shopper commented, "Frozen shrimp and burgers are always on hand at our house for when we need a quick meal and don’t want to think too hard."
The shrimps work in a lot of recipes. Sauté them with garlic and butter for a quick scampi, toss them into tacos, or add them to fried rice when you need something fast but filling. You can also pair them with frozen broccoli, and you’ll have a delicious meal in minutes.
Another shopper loved frozen wings from Costco: "Frozen wings. The ones I get at my Costco are so easy to make and better quality than most restaurants now."
Costco sells big 10-pound bags of Kirkland Signature chicken wings, already separated into first and second sections. They’re ice-glazed, with no antibiotics ever, so you can cook them straight from frozen. At around $25–$30 a bag (prices vary by location), they’re a deal compared to ordering wings out, and you can season or sauce them however you want.
A few people mentioned fruit, especially blueberries. One shopper added, “They are fantastic for everything - smoothies, muffins, jam, on top of yogurt, just to eat.” They don’t spoil like fresh ones, and you can use them in almost anything. They also taste delicious when you use them to make blueberry cakes.
People also love buying organic frozen strawberries from Costco. They can use it to make strawberry desserts or even milkshakes. Costco’s bag is 4 pounds of USDA Organic strawberries, individually quick frozen, so you can pour out just what you need. At bulk prices, they’re cheaper per pound than buying small clamshells at the grocery store. With no preservatives and nothing added, it’s ready to use anytime.
Other must-buy frozen items from Costco
Costco has a wide variety of foods. And while we cannot name all of them, here are some of the other best frozen foods that people rave about, and you should try them too:
- Kirkland vanilla ice cream
- Kirkland breakfast sandwiches (bacon, egg, and cheese)
- Motor City Pizza
- Kirkland cauliflower crust pizza
- Bibigo steamed dumplings
- Crazy Cuisine orange chicken
- Salmon burgers
- Yakitori chicken fried rice
- Tempura shrimp
- Sandwich Bros chicken melt flatbread pocket sandwiches
The takeaway
There's something profoundly satisfying about a well-stocked freezer, especially with all your favorite items. Costco is a go-to for meals that are a lifesaver for those with hectic schedules, unexpected events, and those facing the daily challenge of feeding families well.
And, you don't need to be a meal-planning expert to benefit from these meals. Sometimes the smartest grocery strategy is simply following the lead of people who've figured out what works best and what doesn’t.
In the end, a freezer full of Costco favourites means less stress, fewer last-minute store runs, and more time actually enjoying the meal.
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