11 Costco Frozen Foods Worth the Freezer Space
Bulk foods to fill up your freezer.
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Costco warehouses are massive, and to get to the freezer section, you’ll usually have to venture to the very back of the store. However, it’s worth the trek. Costco has one of the best frozen foods sections, and it’s not just because everything is sold in bulk for super cheap. That’s where some of the best stuff is kept, including frozen fruits, vegetables, meats, and more from Costco’s private label and other beloved brands.
Your freezer space is probably limited, so you want to use it wisely. Here are the best frozen foods at Costco worth making space for.
These breaded chicken chunks have been making the rounds on social media. They’ve been likened to healthy chicken nuggets for adults. With seasonings like paprika and celery in the breading spice blend, they’ve even been compared to fried chicken from popular fast food chains. Each bag contains four pounds of the breaded chicken chunks, which are perfect for adding to salads or dunking in your favorite dipping sauce.
Everyone needs frozen fruit in their freezer for smoothies, snacking, and homemade sorbets. Fortunately, Costco has a wide variety of frozen fruit, including a 4-pound bag of organic pineapple chunks. The only ingredient is organic pineapple, so with no sugar added, this is a healthy (and tasty) choice for whipped desserts and frosty treats. You can even add the fruit pieces to alcoholic drinks, like pineapple margaritas or daiquiris.
Salmon is considered a superfood because it’s concentrated with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, selenium, and more. It’s also high in protein. While there are many types of salmon to choose from, wild-caught sockeye salmon is considered one of the best, and Costco just so happens to carry a 3-pound bag of it. The salmon is separated into individual portions, so you can thaw a couple at a time for a quick but protein-rich dinner.
You can get frozen broccoli anywhere, so why get it in Costco’s freezer aisle? In addition to getting the best price per ounce, Costco’s frozen broccoli is organic. When you open it, the inside contains four 1-pound bags that are microwave-safe. No need to poke a hole or cut the bag—just nuke it for about 5 minutes, and you’ve got steamed broccoli ready to serve with the protein and grain of your choice.
If you want to eat more veggies but don’t know how to make them taste good, try the Pure Vida frozen vegetables. They’re fire-roasted, which adds a unique flavor that’s hard to replicate at home. You get four pounds of Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, onions, and red and yellow peppers in each bag. Since they’re fully cooked, you can reheat them in the microwave, but you’ll get the best results if you sauté them on the stovetop.
Many of us know the importance of a high-protein diet, but racking up a significant amount of protein each day can be challenging. One portion of these marinated cod filets sold at Costco contains 21 grams of protein. Marinated in miso, the fish is already seasoned for you. All you have to do is thaw out the desired number of portions the night before, and get to cooking. The instructions are more hands-on than some other frozen proteins—you’ll need to sear and bake the cod—but it’s worth it.
Costco is generous with its deals on frozen fruit—especially if you stick to Kirkland Signature products. For example, this 4-pound bag of frozen berries contains raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries for an affordable source of vitamin C and fiber. The bag is resealable, so you can use what you need and put the rest back in the freezer.
Costco carries a ton of fresh, frozen, and packaged meats in bulk, along with other animal proteins like eggs and cheese. But what about plant-based proteins? Vegans and vegetarians are in luck too, because Costco’s freezer section is stocked with Impossible burger patties. Use these in burgers and get 19 grams of protein from the patty alone. Next time you’re throwing a backyard barbecue, throw some of these on the grill.
Filled with chicken, cabbage, onion, and mushrooms, these dumplings are as good as they sound. Each box includes six trays of six dumplings, for a total of 36 juicy dumplings. It also includes a sauce for dipping. The dumplings are fully cooked, so you can leave them in the microwave-safe tray and warm them up for a couple minutes. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy a restaurant-quality entrée compliments of the Costco freezer section.
Nothing says quick and easy dinner like a frozen pizza you toss in the oven and forget about until the timer goes off. Costco has a few to choose from, but customers gravitate towards the Kirkland Signature supreme pizzas. The cauliflower crust has a pleasant texture, and makes you feel good about getting in some veggies. It’s also gluten-free so people with allergies can enjoy it too. Each package contains two pizzas that bake in the oven in under 20 minutes.
It still counts as cooking dinner if you use frozen veggies, and why wouldn’t you? They’re washed, chopped, and affordable. Costco carries this whopping 5.5-pound bag of frozen stir fry veggies, which you can obviously incorporate into stir fry dishes. Or, you can sauté them and serve them on the side of your favorite protein, such as the aforementioned frozen salmon or cod. Add some cooked rice and you’ve got an easy yet nutritious meal to add to your rotation.