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Lara holding up her Costco executive membership card in the store with her shopping cart.
I shop for my meal-prep essentials at Costco.

Lara Walsh

  • I live on my own and shop at Costco using my executive membership.
  • The Kirkland Signature salmon, chicken breasts, and ground turkey are great for meal prepping.
  • The Kokuho Rose California rice and Kikkoman soy sauce are staples that last for weeks.

I've been shopping at Costco for as long as I can remember. Now as an adult living by myself, the wholesale grocery chain helps me prep affordable meals throughout the week.

I've saved so much money by buying high-quality proteins, carbs, veggies, sauces, and spices in bulk at Costco instead of paying more for smaller batches at other grocery stores.

As an added bonus, my executive membership — which costs $130 a year — allows me to earn 2% back on all of my purchases.

Over the years, I've perfected the art of choosing items for meal prepping that stay fresh for a long time or freeze well. Here are 13 items I'd recommend buying at Costco.

Prices may vary by location.

Kirkland Signature fresh wild sockeye salmon is perfect for easy meal prep.
Pack of Kirkland Signature fresh wild sockeye salmon in the refrigerated section at Costco.
The Kirkland Signature fresh wild sockeye salmon is a go-to for my lunch and dinner prep.

Lara Walsh

Costco's fresh wild sockeye salmon is a staple I purchase almost every time I go to the store.

I divide the fish into portions for two lunches and two dinners, usually with Half Baked Harvest's avocado goddess sauce or a honey-ginger glaze. I'll then save a few pieces in the freezer to throw in my air fryer.

I freeze the Kirkland Signature boneless and skinless chicken breasts for various recipes.
Kirkland Signature boneless and skinless chicken breasts in the refrigerated section at Costco.
I can make a variety of meals with the Kirkland Signature boneless and skinless chicken breasts.

Lara Walsh

Costco's chicken breasts are an incredible value at $3 per pound. They're also vacuum-packed in separate containers, so I don't have to divide them up.

Each portion contains about two to three breasts, which I freeze right away. I pull them out whenever I'm craving homemade Buffalo-chicken bites, chicken kabobs on the grill, or chicken pot pie if I'm feeling more ambitious.

I crave the Kirkland Signature five-cheese tortellini when I want something that tastes fresh and cheesy.
Packs of Kirkland Signature five cheese tortellini on the shelves at Costco.
I add sundried tomatoes or truffle oil to the Kirkland Signature five-cheese tortellini.

Lara Walsh

Costco's five-cheese tortellini costs $11 for two 1½-pound packs of pasta. I hate that each pack can't be resealed, but I love how fresh and cheesy the pasta tastes.

It's delicious when topped with some sundried tomatoes or truffle oil and served alongside a protein.

I use Kirkland Signature ground turkey to make air-fryer meatballs.
Packs of Kirkland Signature ground turkey in the refrigerated section at Costco.
I like to use ground turkey instead of beef.

Lara Walsh

At about $3.70 per pound, the Costco ground turkey is a steal. I try to use ground turkey instead of beef to make air-fryer meatballs, chili, or turkey-burger patties I can store in the freezer.

A 25-pound bag of Kokuho Rose California rice lasts for months.
Bags of 25-pound Kokuho Rose California premium rice at Costco.
I've barely made a dent in my bag of Kokuho Rose California rice.

Lara Walsh

The 25-pound bags of rice at Costco are intimidating, but they save me a lot of money over time. Rice is my carb of choice, whether I'm cooking up Korean bulgogi, a Thai curry, or homemade sushi.

I just have to make sure I have enough storage space for it, as I've had my current bag for months and have barely made a dent in it.

Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken is great for last-minute lunches.
Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken wrapped in bags on shelves at Costco.
I like to make an easy chicken salad with the Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken.

Lara Walsh

Costco's rotisserie chicken is one of the few premade foods I regularly buy. At only $5, it's delicious, inexpensive, and perfect for a last-minute lunch when an easy chicken salad or chicken wrap is all I have time to make.

I use the Onions 52 yellow onions in almost all my meals.
Bags of Onions 52 yellow onions in bags at Costco.
The Onions 52 yellow onions are only $5 and last a long time.

Lara Walsh

There's nothing worse than getting ready to make dinner and realizing I don't have any onions. I use onions in almost all of my meals, so it makes sense to buy Costco's five-pound bag for $5. Plus, they last a long time.

The Market Fresh Produce sweet potatoes are my starch of choice.
Bags of Market Fresh Produce sweet potatoes at Costco.
I pair the Market Fresh Produce sweet potatoes with salmon or chicken.

Lara Walsh

Sweet potatoes are my go-to starch, so I try to stock up on Costco's 6½-pound bag as often as possible. I slice them thin and bake them to pair with salmon or a Greek- or Indian-style chicken dish.

Kirkland Signature cage-free eggs are a steal.
Cartons of Kirkland Signature cage-free eggs with jugs of milk in the background at Costco.
I meal prep breakfast quiche and egg bites with Kirkland Signature cage-free eggs.

Lara Walsh

At just $5 for 24 eggs, Costco's price is hard to beat. I like making easy fried or boiled eggs for breakfast every day, but I'll also meal prep a breakfast quiche or my own version of the Starbucks egg bites.

Kirkland Signature thick-sliced, hickory-smoked bacon is some of the best I've tried.
Lara holding a pack of Kirkland Signature thick-cut, Hickory-smoked bacon at Costco.
I make bacon-wrapped dates with the Kirkland Signature thick-sliced, hickory-smoked bacon.

Lara Walsh

I haven't bought bacon from anywhere but Costco in years. The thick-sliced bacon is a little more expensive than the thinner version that Costco is known for, but it's hickory smoked and some of the most delicious bacon I've had.

I grab it when making bacon-wrapped dates for a party or meal prepping a sandwich for lunch.

I love the 1½-pound bag of Kirkland Signature pine nuts for making pesto.
Bags of Kirkland Signature pine nuts on the shelves at Costco.
Buying Kirkland Signature pine nuts is a cost-effective way to get my pesto fix.

Lara Walsh

During the summer months, I love making batches of fresh pesto and freezing them to use as an easy sauce when meal prepping. Although I grow my own basil, pine nuts can get really expensive.

Costco's 1½-pound bag of pine nuts costs $25, making it a cost-effective way to get my pesto fix.

I always have Kikkoman soy sauce in my fridge.
A bottle of Kikkoman soy sauce in a box at Costco.
Kikkoman soy sauce is the base for many of the sauces and marinades I make.

Lara Walsh

I use soy sauce as the base for many of my sauces and marinades, so Costco's 64-ounce jug of Kikkoman soy sauce is something that I have in my fridge at all times.

Primal Kitchen Buffalo sauce is great paired with chicken bites or wings.
Two bottles of the Primal Kitchen Buffalo sauce packaged together in a box at Costco.
Two bottles of the Primal Kitchen Buffalo sauce at Costco are essentially the price of one at other grocery stores.

Lara Walsh

This dairy-free Buffalo sauce is my go-to for making easy Buffalo-chicken bites or wings in the air fryer.

At Costco, I can essentially get two bottles for the price of one at a regular grocery store. Two 16.5-ounce bottles cost $9.

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I'm an executive member at Costco. Here are 13 items I buy to make meal preppin…