Chefs they’re no different. While it’s tempting to picture culinary professionals buying only exotic, high-quality ingredients from specialty shops, the fact of the matter is that most professional chefs use available, high-quality ingredients found in warehouse stores such as Costco. These stores have everything from staples like canned beans to quirky gourmet finds, enabling chefs to weigh value, quality, and convenience without having to give up on imagination. The notion that master chefs shun bulk stores could not be more misplaced. For these chefs, Costco is an alchemist where affordability and excellence are wedded, and practicality and inspiration converge.
What specifically defines a chef’s Costco shopping spree is his focus on versatility and dependability. These aren’t random buys they’re thoughtful choices to be used across various recipes. One ingredient can be utilized in a salad on Monday, a pasta meal on Tuesday, or even as the foundation for a creative dessert. Experts understand that adaptability is essential for both household and business kitchens, and the products they select from Costco tend to embody this mindset. From roasted meats to fresh fruits and vegetables and pantry staples, their selections are highly deliberate in order to maximize utility and impact on flavor.
In this guide, we’ve compiled insights from a variety of professional chefs who generously shared their absolute must-have Costco items. Each of these products has earned a place in their kitchens for a reason whether it’s the consistent quality, unique flavor profile, or convenience that supports efficient meal prep. By exploring these 14 indispensable items, you’ll gain insider tips on creating restaurant-quality meals at home while enjoying significant value and versatility. Prepare to discover the essentials that can elevate your grocery list and transform everyday cooking into something extraordinary.
1. Kirkland Signature Olive Oil
Kirkland Signature Olive Oil is celebrated by chefs for its balance of quality, versatility, and affordability. Alan Thompson, head chef at Cassiobury Court, praises it for its broad range of applications, noting that it’s suitable for everything from roasting vegetables to crafting delicate salad dressings. Its consistent performance ensures professional-level results, whether you’re preparing simple weeknight meals or elaborate dishes for guests.
The value of olive oil in world cuisine cannot be measured it adds texture, layers the flavor, and adds subtle depth to a dish. The Kirkland brand has a smooth finish and lightly peppered undertone, adding depth without obscuring the main ingredients. Its consistency makes it a regular in professional and home kitchens, where consistency is the key to balancing the flavor perfectly.
Aside from cooking, Thompson suggests tasting the oil in its purest form: drizzled over new bread sprinkled with sea salt. This serves to emphasize the oil’s inherent taste, proving that even the simplest uses can assert the product’s quality. Its versatility, taste, and price ensure it is a must-have in the kitchen.
2. Frozen Berries
Frozen berries are a staple for chefs who appreciate both convenience and nutritional benefits. Chloe Hammond, the head chef at Asana Lodge, calls Costco’s frozen berry bags a year-round staple. Their extended shelf life combined with their antioxidant profile make them an ideal choice for ensuring consistent quality in a large variety of preparations.
These berries are remarkably adaptable, capable of enhancing desserts, baked goods, smoothies, and breakfast items like yogurt or oatmeal. Hammond emphasizes their year-round availability, which allows chefs to plan menus without being limited by seasonal produce. This consistency is especially valuable in professional kitchens where timing and ingredient quality can affect outcomes.
Chefs enjoy their visual beauty and inherent sweetness as well, which can add elegance to a dish with little effort. From bright compotes to rich desserts, frozen berries provide limitless creative potential. Since they can provide both flavor and nutritional value, they are a must-have for anyone interested in keeping a dynamic, health-oriented pantry.
3. Daphne’s Beef & Lamb Gyro Meat
Daphne’s Beef & Lamb Gyro Meat is a practical and versatile protein, perfect for preparing meals quickly without compromising quality. Pre-cooked and pre-sliced, it helps chefs and home cooks save time without sacrificing flavor and texture. Its versatility makes it appropriate for sandwiches, tacos, grain bowls, and many more, allowing creativity in the kitchen.
- Pre-cooked and sliced for instant use.
- Approved by culinary expert Justin Mosel.
- Also works in sandwiches, tacos, grain bowls, and other menu items.
- Savory taste and tender texture.
- Enables rapid meal preparation without compromising quality.
- Increased shelf life decreases frequency of grocery shopping.
- Consistent protein choice for chefs and home cooks.
The pre-cut gyro meat facilitates easy meal preparation so that chefs can concentrate on creativity instead of long cooking times. Its uniform flavor and consistency make it a perfect protein source for a range of culinary uses. In addition to convenience, Daphne’s gyro meat provides versatility in both home and professional kitchens. Its use in various dishes sandwiches, tacos, grain bowls guarantees easy meal planning and planning efficiency. The extended shelf life minimizes regular grocery shopping, making it a reliable ingredient for busy lives. Overall, it unites taste, texture, and convenience, providing a professional-grade protein choice that adds both creativity and efficiency to cooking.
4. Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base
Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base is a all-purpose, concentrated ingredient that adds depth to soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and others. Redundant by Odette D’Aniello, CEO of Dragonfly Cakes, it imparts strong, true chicken flavor, enabling chefs to prepare hearty meals quickly. Its professional-quality and convenience make it a kitchen essential for home preparation as well as for culinary professionals.
- Adds flavor to soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and more.
- Recommended by Odette D’Aniello, CEO of Dragonfly Cakes.
- Features real roasted chicken for maximum flavor.
- Concentrated form delivers intense, complex flavor.
- Saves prep time without sacrificing professionalism.
- Flexible in an infinite number of culinary uses.
- Practical package for home chefs and professionals.
The roasted chicken foundation enables chefs to develop depth and richness in recipes without extra work. Its intense concentration guarantees uniform results, and it is the perfect choice for professional-level flavors for busy commercial kitchens or home prep cooks. Its range extends from robust stews to light vegetable preparations. In giving chefs a trusty, full-bodied chicken flavor, Better Than Bouillon assures quality high standard and saves time. It is this synergy of authenticity, convenience, and efficiency that makes it a staple ingredient for anyone who wants to add depth to savory dishes with little effort, further validating its worth as a ready-to-use, professional-grade flavor enhancer.
5. Tri-color Quinoa
Tri-color quinoa is a versatile, nutrition-packed ingredient that streamlines meal preparation while bringing visual interest. Applauded by Kimberly L., Fifth Fork’s founder, it sautés readily in bulk and seasons well for several dishes during the week. Its versatility places it perfectly as a base, side dish, or topping, complementing flavor and nutrition in a range of meals.
- High in fiber and protein and dense with nutrients.
- Age-recommended by Fifth Fork’s founder, Kimberly L.
- Convenient to prepare in bulk for meal prep.
- Complements a broad variety of flavors and meals.
- Can be used as a base, salad topping, or rice alternative.
- Tri-color variety makes meals look attractive.
- Saves time while providing consistent, flavorful meals.
Tri-color quinoa’s versatility makes it possible for cooks and chefs to prepare multiple meals with efficiency. Its versatility as a base, side, or salad topping ensures that it is an dependable ingredient for repeat, flavorful meals every week. Aside from convenience, quinoa offers both health benefits and aesthetic appeal. Its fiber and protein content ensures a functional ingredient for healthy meal preparation, while the tri-color variety enhances presentation. By making it ahead, chefs save time with no loss of flavor, so tri-color quinoa is a convenient, visually appealing, and healthy pantry staple for every kitchen.
6. Rao’s Homemade All Natural Premium Marinara Sauce
Rao’s Homemade All Natural Premium Marinara Sauce is a simple, yet high-quality, ingredient well suited to Italian fare. Lauded by Brandon Dorsky, co-owner of Yeastie Boys Bagels, it produces intense flavor and value that is perfect for pasta, pizza, slow cooking, and easy snack additions. Its traditional Italian flavor enhances casual as well as gourmet meals.
- All-natural, high-quality marinara sauce.
- Lauded by Brandon Dorsky, co-owner of Yeastie Boys Bagels.
- Ideal for use with pasta, pizza, braised foods, and snacks.
- Mixed with fresh tomatoes, olive oil, onions, and spices.
- Rich flavor with balanced acidity.
- Turns everyday meals into gourmet experiences.
- Versatile for casual and sophisticated culinary uses.
Rao’s Marinara Sauce delivers consistent, authentic Italian flavor that complements a broad range of dishes. With its full-bodied flavor and balanced texture, it is a trusted choice for home cooks and culinary chefs alike. In addition to its classic uses, the sauce can elevate simple snacks into a gourmet meal, like serving with cheese on toasted bread. With ripe tomatoes, pungent onions, olive oil, and spices, it provides the versatility for cooks to make delicious meals from hurried weeknight suppers to complex recipes. Rao’s Marinara demonstrates convenience, quality, and taste in a single pantry-based product, and it is a kitchen staple for any household.
7. Rotisserie Chicken
Costco rotisserie chicken is a convenient, tasty, and budget-friendly protein source highly utilized by chefs. Criticized by Adriano Zumbo and Diana Manalang, it avoids time while retaining quality as a versatile foundation for wraps, salads, soups, and casseroles. Its uniform seasoning and tender characteristics ensure it is suitable for daily as well as innovative food uses.
- Ready-to-eat pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
- Recommended by chefs Adriano Zumbo and Diana Manalang.
- Time-saving without sacrificing quality.
- Versatile for casseroles, salads, soups, and wraps.
- Recoverable carcass for homemade broth.
- Even seasoning and tender consistency.
- Convenient, practical, and sustainable protein choice.
The rotisserie chicken is a convenient, consistent, reliable protein that lets chefs and home cooks simplify meal preparation. The tenderness and flavor are perfect for an array of dishes, with predictable results using minimal effort. Convenient beyond this, the chicken aids sustainability and creativity in the kitchen. Chefs use the carcass to make rich homemade broth, while the meat is utilized in wraps, salads, soups, and casseroles. Its affordability, quality, and versatility make it a go-to ingredient for busy cooking, allowing professional cooks and home cooks alike to save time preparing delicious, well-seasoned meals.
8. Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano is a premium, yet versatile cheese that contributes nutty, salty, and umami flavors to a multitude of foods. Tyler Fenton, owner and chef at BATA Tucson, purchases bulk blocks from Costco both for cost and consistency. Its aged character and convenience make it perfect for grating, shaving, or adding to recipes.
- Nutty, salty, and umami flavor profile.
- Recommended by Tyler Fenton, owner and chef at BATA Tucson.
- Blocks bought in bulk from Costco for quality and price.
- Aged to 36 months to heighten the flavor.
- Good for grating over pasta, risottos, or salads.
- High-quality, consistent ingredient for professional use.
- Shelf life and bulk packaging ensure dependability.
Parmigiano Reggiano offers chefs a dependable, high-quality cheese that adds both flavor and presentation to dishes. Its complex profile, achieved through aging, assures a professional finish when grated, shaved, or added to recipes.
Aside from its gastronomical influence, long shelf life and bulk packaging enable Parmigiano Reggiano to be convenient for busy kitchens. It can be used by chefs in serving various dishes with consistent quality in an efficient manner. Being versatile, it can transform basic meals into sophisticated culinary experiences as it provides both the functional value and finishing touches that reflect attention to detail and professional standards in daily cooking.
9. Kewpie Mayonnaise
Kewpie mayonnaise is a rich, subtly sweet Japanese condiment that’s lauded for its creamy texture and rich flavor. Former chef and food blogger Jessica Chan suggests it for use in sandwiches, dips, and Japanese cuisine. Its special composition and bulk packaging make it a convenient, versatile ingredient for home cooks and chefs alike.
- Creamy, subtly sweet Japanese mayonnaise.
- Endorsed by former chef and food blogger Jessica Chan.
- Perfect for okonomiyaki, dips, sushi, and sandwiches.
- Produced with only egg yolks for a deeper flavor.
- Smooth texture and stable quality.
- Bulk packaging enables experimentation and convenience.
- Shines up everyday foods’ taste and presentation.
Kewpie mayonnaise offers a reliable, tasty choice for adding to many types of dishes. Its creamy richness and smooth texture enable chefs to create professional-level results with both simple and sophisticated preparations. The special recipe, employing only egg yolks, sets Kewpie apart from regular mayonnaise, imparting a bolder taste. Large packaging provides access for regular use, facilitating creativity and efficiency in the kitchen. From sandwiches to Japanese-style dishes, this convenient condiment illustrates how one simple ingredient can enhance flavor, texture, and presentation, making it a must-have addition to any pantry or professional kitchen.
10. Croissants
Costco croissants are buttery, flaky, and affordable and, according to Jessica Chan, are valued for providing a high-quality pastry experience at home. Their value and versatility make them suitable for breakfast, sandwiches, or dessert. Freezing and reheating maintains texture, blending convenience and indulgence.
- Buttery, flaky croissants with all-butter layers of richness.
- Recommended by Jessica Chan for quality and value.
- Affordable dozen packs for home baking.
- Flexible for breakfast, sandwiches, and desserts.
- Freeze and reheat to retain texture.
- Blends indulgence, taste, and convenience.
- Appropriate for daily use and special occasions.
Costco croissants provide a luxurious pastry experience with little effort. Their buttery, all-butter layers and light, flaky texture make them a trusted option for a range of culinary uses at home. In addition to quality and flavor, these croissants offer convenience for meal planning and entertaining. Refrigerating and heating keeps them fresh and flaky, while their diversity provides opportunities for breakfast assortments, sandwiches, or dessert offerings. With a balance of affordability, convenience, and indulgence, Costco croissants are a trusty pantry item that provides professional-quality flavor with minimal effort, meeting both daily and special-event demands.
11. Norwegian Farm-Raised Salmon
Costco Norwegian farm-raised salmon is a great, versatile protein for raw or cooked preparation. Jessica Chan points out its safe use for sushi and sashimi, as well as its use for baking, poaching, or pan-frying. Its firm texture and intense flavor enhance both simple and sophisticated dishes.
- Top-grade Norwegian farm-raised salmon.
- Raw safe (sushi and sashimi).
- Safe for baking, poaching, or pan-frying.
- Versatile for a number of different culinary applications.
- Rich taste and firm texture.
- Grille-quality results at home.
- Nutritional value and versatility with recipes.
These salmon offer cooks and professional chefs an effective, versatile protein that can be used with many recipes. Its firm texture and rich flavor make it a great option for raw and cooked applications. Aside from taste and versatility, the Norwegian farm-raised salmon provides nutritional and uniform quality. Its application in sushi, sashimi, and cooked recipes gives way to kitchen creativity while providing safety and dependability. With this high-end protein readily available, cooks are able to easily prepare both daily meals and haute cuisine, making it a convenient and worthwhile element of any kitchen.
12. Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto
Kirkland Basil Pesto is a vibrant, flavorful ingredient that elevates a wide range of dishes, from pasta to sandwiches and dips. Christian J. Houston, executive chef, praises its adaptability and ability to transform simple meals with minimal effort. Freezing portions extends shelf life, ensuring fresh pesto is always available for both home cooks and professional kitchens.
- Vibrant, herbaceous flavor enhances various dishes.
- Praised by Christian J. Houston, executive chef.
- Great for dips, pasta, eggs, and sandwiches.
- Freezing in portions preserves shelf life.
- Ready-to-use, convenient ingredient.
- Imparts gourmet style with little prep.
- A must-have for professional and home kitchens.
Kirkland Basil Pesto has reliable flavor and convenience, enabling cooks to easily elevate plain meals. Its versatility makes it a great ingredient in many cooking applications. The fresh, herbaceous flavor enlivens dishes without any further work. Flash freezing in portions guarantees that there is always fresh pesto available, which makes high-volume cooking or meal planning at home feasible. With its mix of flavor, convenience, and flexibility, it’s an invaluable ingredient that produces professional-level results quickly.
13. Godiva Ganache Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies
Godiva Ganache Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies are a decadent, indulgent cookie that chefs such as Britt Rescigno appreciate as an easy dessert. Baked in the oven from frozen, they warm and ooze, providing a rich experience with little preparation.
- Indulgent, gooey chocolate chip cookies.
- Filled with decadent ganache for added richness.
- Recommended by Britt Rescigno, executive chef.
- Quick preparation by baking frozen.
- Adds flavor with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.
- Combining with cold milk adds nostalgic comfort.
- Pairs indulgence, flavor, and convenience.
These cookies provide a luxurious but convenient dessert alternative. Baking them from frozen results in a gooey, chocolatey pleasure food that turns an ordinary after-dinner treat or snack into something special. Godiva Ganache Filled Cookies pair rich chocolate, sweet ganache, and optional additions such as Maldon salt for added depth of flavor. Adding chilled milk gives it a retro, comforting twist. Their indulgence, convenience, and quality render them a great choice for home cooks and chefs looking for an effortless yet indulgent dessert experience.
14. Hickory Farms Party Favorites Gift Box
Hickory Farms Party Favorites Gift Box is a high-quality, convenient way to entertain, endorsed by celebrity chef Ashley Jonique. Filled with meats, cheeses, crackers, and mustard, hosts can easily present an entire charcuterie-style spread without much effort. Its variety, quality, and convenience make it ideal for entertaining, holidays, or just indulging anytime.
- Carefully curated gift box filled with meats, cheeses, crackers, and mustard.
- Endorsed by celebrity chef Ashley Jonique.
- Streamlines charcuterie-style entertaining.
- Perfect for parties, holidays, or everyday indulgence.
- Offers variety and gourmet quality in a single package.
- Easy solution for stress-free entertaining.
- Blends practicality and sophistication for entertaining.
The gift box enables the host to have a whole, well-presented spread without having to choose individual items. Its careful curation means each item will work well with the others, providing a professional look with minimal effort. Aside from convenience, the Hickory Farms Party Favorites Box transcends entertaining by pairing quality ingredients with diversity. Meats, cheeses, crackers, and mustard offer an even balance of gourmet satisfaction for guests or personal satisfaction. Celebrity chefs appreciate it for its usability and upscale presentation, which exemplifies how carefully selected items in Costco can ease hosting without sacrificing sophistication and taste.
From everyday staples to indulgent treats, these 14 Costco items exemplify quality, versatility, and value. Chefs rely on them for both convenience and culinary inspiration, demonstrating how strategic shopping can transform meals at home. Incorporating these items into your kitchen ensures that you’re prepared for effortless, flavorful, and creative cooking every day.
