Costco: All of the Best Dinner Items to Buy, According to Customers

Many Costco shoppers visit the wholesale chain to stock up on their dinnertime essentials.

Despite picking up groceries from the same chain, everyone has a different shopping list.

Insider had 16 loyal shoppers — from a nutritionist to an athlete to a Costco employee — share what they grab from the chain when they're planning dinner.

One of Demarest's go-to meals is seasoned baked salmon, some kind of green, and brown rice. The salmon fillets are boneless and skinless and feed Demarest's entire family with enough for leftovers.

Fresh-farmed Atlantic salmon costs $9.99 per pound at Costco.

Read Abigail Abesamis Demarest's full Costco shopping list: I've shopped at Costco for over 10 years. Here are the 15 products I always buy in bulk.

Tanner likes making this pork tenderloin in her Crock-Pot or Instant Pot as it's one of her go-to options. She pairs it with mashed potatoes or a noodle dish.

For $3.49 per pound, you can get four tenderloins.

Chicken thighs are typically less expensive than chicken breasts and pack a lot of flavor so Tanner buys a couple of bags to keep in the freezer.

Tanner uses the thighs in recipes that call for breast meat — like chicken teriyaki, stir-fry, and oven-baked dishes — to help keep costs down. She also cooks them in bulk and shreds them for tacos and casseroles.

The packages have over 6 pounds of chicken and cost $11.99.

Read Lisa Tanner's full Costco shopping list: I'm a mom of 10 who's shopped at Costco for almost 20 years. Here are 20 things I always buy in bulk.

Each pack contains around a pound and a half or so of meat, and Zeller vacuum-seals each separately for two Sunday-night meals.

Zeller cooks her roast beef in the oven, makes gravy with the drippings, and serves it with mashed potatoes and a veggie dish.

Zeller picks up about 3 1/2 pounds of Canadian beef for just under $25.

Zeller always grabs a chicken taco kit from Costco's deli section before she leaves the store. This kit makes 12 tacos, and it's a quick, filling dinner that Zeller's whole family enjoys.

Read Tara Zeller's full Costco shopping list: I drive 4 hours and spend $500 for every Costco trip. Here are 16 things I always stock up on.

Tilapia is a protein-rich, sustainable white fish with a low carbon footprint, as well as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Nelson likes tilapia because it can be a healthy source of muscle-repairing protein without many added calories from carbs and fat.

One of the lower-priced fish, tilapia has a mild taste that will absorb flavors and pair well with mango or pineapple salsa, so Nelson keeps it on hand for tacos.

Read Candace Nelson's full Costco shopping list: I'm a nutritionist who shops at Costco for 2. Here are 15 things I always buy in bulk.

Between everyone's extracurricular activities, sports, and part-time jobs, it's crucial that Catana has meals she can pop in the oven.

The peppers, which are stuffed with ground beef and rice, are perfect for when Catana doesn't have time to cook.

The peppers cost $4.99 per pound.

Catana loves using Kirkland Signature's five-cheese tortelloni instead of standard spaghetti or penne when she wants to change things up. This pasta comes in two 1 1/2-pound packages and is ready in just two minutes.

After boiling the tortelloni, Catana covers it with cheese and sauce, then bakes it in the oven. She uses the entire double pack and freezes leftovers for when she needs a quick dinner.

At just $10.69, it's an affordable meal.

Though Catana likes to make her own hamburgers, she thinks it's nice to have premade patties in the freezer for busy nights or when friends and family stop by.

Kirkland Signature's sirloin beef patties are the best-tasting frozen burgers Catana has tried and are super convenient.

For 18 of these 1/3-pound patties, Catana pays $26.99.

Read Kelli Catana's full Costco shopping list: I'm a mom of 4 teenagers who shops at Costco. Here are 14 things I love to buy and how I use them.

Engelbert is always looking for quick, healthy meals picky eaters will enjoy.

This 42-ounce pack of shredded rotisserie chicken can be used for several recipes, including salads and enchiladas.

Costco has good-sized packages of two flank steaks at an affordable price.

Once Engelbert gets home, she packages each one separately and puts them in the freezer. She just thaws them in the refrigerator the night before she needs them for meals like sheet-pan flank-steak fajitas.

Read Dana Engelbert's full Costco shopping list: I drive 3 hours to shop at Costco. Here are 21 things that make the 140-mile trip worth it.

Acheampong makes a point of grabbing some vegetables she'll enjoy no matter how they're cooked. She likes a bag of asparagus because it's easy to prepare.

A bag that's just over 2 pounds costs $6.

Acheampong tried a variety of sauces during her many years as a pasta lover, and the Victoria brand is her favorite.

This brand is best straight out of the jar — Acheampong doesn't need to add seasoning to get a great meal. She also makes meat sauce with this, since it's a perfect base.

Acheampong usually gets two 40-ounce jars for just over $9.

Read Gemma Acheampong's full Costco shopping list: I'm an Olympian and semi-professional athlete. Here are 16 things I always buy at Costco for myself.

Sukhi's premade chicken tikka masala is a staple in Espady's household and a must-try for those who love Indian-inspired food.

The tikka masala comes completely cooked in two separate plastic bags so you can use as much as you need to for a specific meal.

Each 36-ounce pack can easily feed two to four people. For $14.99, you can have a takeout-style meal with no extra delivery fees or waiting.

Costco's Australian leg of lamb is tender and versatile because it can be roasted whole and makes for a great party or holiday dish.

Espady cuts and slices the meat into cube-sized pieces to be frozen for multiple future meals. Once cut up, she easily gets five to eight meals for two out of them. They freeze wonderfully, and when thawed, seasoned, and cooked, still taste fresh.

The lamb goes for $7.99 a pound.

Ground beef makes excellent old-fashioned burgers, lasagna, or tacos. It's also great as a protein addition to a hearty and filling salad bowl.

Espady thinks the meat quality is excellent and crumbles well without getting too mushy. She freezes the beef in the packaging it comes in and thaws it in the bottom of her refrigerator for a few hours or overnight before she uses it.

Costco sells 4 pounds of ground beef for $19.99.

Read Jennifer Espady's full Costco shopping list: I've shopped at Costco since I was 5 years old. Here's what I'm still buying over 25 years later.

Also known as shirataki noodles, Miracle Noodles are made of konjac plant flour.

Sorrento uses them in place of wheat noodles to switch things up and balance out a heavy-carb day. The box comes with six individually wrapped bags of noodles, which are great for a quick meal.

Sorrento noticed that a lot of salsas are packed with sugar and additives — but realized Mateo's isn't. She thinks the salsa tastes great and has a restaurant-style consistency.

Read Gabriella Sorrento's full Costco shopping list: I lost 40 pounds. Here are 12 Costco products that helped me lose the weight and keep it off.

Kirkland Signature's organic extra-virgin olive oil is a cooking staple for Al-Hatlani. She uses it as the base of salad dressings, roasts veggies in it, and drizzles it on pasta.

For oil that's high quality but not out of her price range, Al-Hatlani thinks Kirkland Signature's option does the trick.

A 2-liter bottle sells for $11.99.

Three 28-ounce cans of San Marzano tomatoes only last a few days in Al-Hatlani's house.

Aside from adding canned tomatoes to marinara and ragù, Al-Hatlani uses them in braises, as part of soup bases, and her partner's favorite egg dish, shakshuka.

You can snag a pack for $8.99.

Read Alana Al-Hatlani's full Costco shopping list: I'm a professional baker and my boyfriend is a chef. Here are 13 of our favorite things to buy at Costco.

Costco has a few different multipacks of pizza with three or four medium or large pies.

Loving picks up Kirkland Signature's four-pack for $16.99, or a box of three Roncadin pizzas for $14.99. Most frozen, single pizzas at other grocery stores can range between $5 to $9, so both options are solid deals.

Read Joy Loving's full Costco shopping list: I'm a single person who only shops at Costco 3 times a year. Here are the 15 items I always buy.

Weber throws chicken skewers in the air fryer for a quick lunch, snack, or dinner. They're great on their own or on top of a salad.

A 28-ounce package costs about $12.

For weekday lunches and dinners, Weber throws a handful of veggies in her air fryer and calls it a day.

Weber opts for a green that lasts in the fridge for at least a week — like Brussels sprouts or broccoli — and freezes whatever isn't eaten after seven to 10 days.

Read Rachel Weber's full Costco shopping list: I'm a 25-year-old extreme couponer who loves to shop at Costco. Here are 13 things I frequently buy.

Clements' kids prefer Rao's pasta sauce. Rao's marinara is the perfect accompaniment for spaghetti or penne as a quick, easy meal, especially topped with Parmesan shavings.

It's one of the pricier sauces, so Clements gets it from Costco, where a pack of two 28-ounce jars costs $11.89.

Read Janine Clements' full Costco shopping list: I'm a Brit who moved to the US and now loves shopping at Costco. Here are 12 things I like to buy.

Rana's pastas and sauces are sold in smaller packages at supermarkets, but this lasagna weighs in at 42 ounces.

Though it can be cooked in the microwave, Ochs gives it 20 minutes in a hot oven and is rewarded with bubbling cheese, oozing marinara, and beefy goodness. Ochs recommends pairing the lasagna with a side salad and a glass of Chianti for an easy, substantial dinner.

A package costs $14.99.

When Ochs wants to give dinner a "wow" factor, she looks for a package of clear-eyed, whole fish. Branzino stuffed with lemon and herbs with slightly charred skin makes for an impressive dish.

Costco sells white fish, also known as European bass, for $8.99 per pound.

You can grill it — use a fish basket if you're nervous about it falling apart — or cook it in a hot pan. Just make sure the skin is crispy and the fish is cooked all the way through.

Ochs wraps a few bulbs in foil and roasts them or peels some to make garlic confit in a ramekin with olive oil, herbs, and peppercorns. Either preparation is great in mashed potatoes or on toasted bread.

A 32-ounce bag of Christopher Ranch's garlic costs $5.99.

Read Meredith Ochs' full Costco shopping list: I'm a culinary judge who shops at Costco. Here are 12 things I recommend buying.

Seeds of Change's organic quinoa and brown rice with garlic is a great ingredient for meal prepping and is very versatile.

Even better, the quinoa and rice dish is microwave-ready in 90 seconds.

Costco carries a six-pack for $10.99.

Costco's rotisserie chicken, a fan-favorite item, is a quick and easy dinner. The seasoned bird has made Thatcher's life easy when it comes to preparing meals like chicken salad, enchiladas, or even sandwiches.

You can pick up a 3-pound rotisserie chicken for just $4.99.

Read Veronica Thatcher's full Costco shopping list: I've worked at Costco for 17 years. Here are 13 of my favorite things to buy there.

If Gales is looking for candy and savory foods she'd normally find at specialty stores at a higher markup, Costco almost always has them at reasonable prices and in bulk.

Her local Costco has a consistent supply of miso soup or homestyle ramen noodle soup kits, goods that aren't always in stock at Sam's Club. The same goes for candy like Pocky and Hello Panda chocolate cookies.

Read Gretchen Gales' full Costco shopping list: I've been a member at BJ's, Sam's Club, and Costco for decades. If I could only choose one, it'd be Costco.