I'm an executive member at Costco. Here are 13 items I buy to make meal prepping easy. (2024)

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Kirkland Signature fresh wild sockeye salmon is perfect for easy meal prep.

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.

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I freeze the Kirkland Signature boneless and skinless chicken breasts for various recipes.

Costco's chicken breasts are an incredible value at $3 a 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.

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I crave the Kirkland Signature five-cheese tortellini when I want something that tastes fresh and cheesy.

Costco's five-cheese tortellini costs $11 for two 1 ½-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.

At about $3.70 a 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.

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A 25-pound bag of Kokuho Rose California rice lasts for months.

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.

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.

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I use the Onions 52 yellow onions in almost all my meals.

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 5-pound bag for $5. Plus, they last a long time.

The Market Fresh Produce sweet potatoes are my starch of choice.

Sweet potatoes are my go-to starch, so I try to stock up on Costco's 6 ½-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.

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Kirkland Signature cage-free eggs are a steal.

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.

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Kirkland Signature thick-sliced, hickory-smoked bacon is some of the best I've tried.

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.

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I love the 1 ½-pound bag of Kirkland Signature pine nuts for making pesto.

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 1 ½-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.

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 I have in my fridge at all times.

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Primal Kitchen Buffalo sauce is great paired with chicken bites or wings.

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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