15 Hidden Gems at Costco You Need to Try on Your Next Shopping Run

Costco is one of the most popular big-box stores. Known for its sprawling warehouse layout, many people purchase the retailer’s bulk-sized products as a way to cut their grocery costs.

The most popular items at Costco — including toilet paper, rotisserie chickens, sheet cakes, and more — are well-known. You’re making a mistake, however, if you only stock up on those staple items.

There are many hidden treasures at Costco that are worth checking out. Here are 15 of the best.

If you’re looking to raise your snack game without paying a small fortune to do so, Kirkland Signature Extra Fancy Mixed Nuts might hit the spot. 

They’re better for you than potato chips and have good nutritional value that can support heart health.

The mix contains macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, and Brazil nuts. The best part is that 2.5 pounds are only $17.99.

Everyone loves peanut butter, but Kirkland Signature’s Kirkland Signature Creamy Almond Butter is another great product for your heart.

Some may prefer the taste of almond butter to that of its more-famous counterpart, so it’s definitely worth throwing this almond butter into your cart next time you’re at Costco.

A 27-ounce jar is only $7.99.

Good seafood has gotten prohibitively expensive in many places, but not at Costco. We’re particularly jazzed about Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon.

These filets still have the skin on, so you can get that crispy bacon-like texture that’s so good.

You pay $44.99 for 3 pounds of filets, which works out to about $15 per pound. That’s not cheap, but it’s worth it for the quality.

Naturally nutritious and full of electrolytes, Vita Coco Coconut Water with Fresh Pressed Coconut Purée is a great choice for your health. It’s also a good choice for your wallet at $16.99 for a 12-count package of 11.1-ounce containers.

You’ll find the coconut water in the beverage section, so make sure you don’t pass it by when shopping for bottled water.

Pro tip: Looking for more ways to save? Pay for purchases with one of the credit cards that can help you earn cash back at Costco.

Looking for a good source of daily refreshments? The LaCroix Sparkling Water Variety Pack offers you a 24-pack of 12-ounce cans.

The flavors included in the mix are 12 lime, six lemon, and six grapefruit. You pay $13.79 for this water, which has no calories, sweeteners, or sodium.

If you lack the green thumb required to keep a basil plant alive, Costco has just the hidden gem for you: Kirkland Signature Imported Basil Pesto.

A 22-ounce jar costs $11.99, and the quality really stands out here. It’s imported from Italy and made with Italian basil, which tells you everything you need to know.

The Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil is legit. Even your Nana would approve.

Chef Samin Nosrat, the host of “Salt Fat Acid Heat” on Netflix, agrees, telling Kitchn the product is “super delicious and super inexpensive.”

How inexpensive? You can get a 2-liter bottle for $21.99.

Nature’s Garden Probiotic Tart Cherries are a true Costco hidden gem. They taste as good as they sound, according to the reviews.

Fans have praised the taste, texture, versatility, and probiotic effectiveness. A pack of two 20-ounce bags costs $24.99.

Costco carries a lot of baked goods and sweets, but chances are good that you have walked right by the tins of David's Cookies Butter Pecan Meltaways.

If so, turn around and grab some now, because these treats are beloved by many Costco members.

A 32-ounce pack of two costs $39.99, but who cares? They’re divine, albeit downright addictive.

Nanak Pure Desi Ghee Clarified Butter — which you can find at Costco for $24.99 (3.5 pounds) — will change the way you cook. Ghee has a super high smoke point and great buttery flavor and is naturally lactose-free.

Another perk of ghee is that it can be stored at room temperature, unlike butter.

Sometimes, you stumble across a product that you didn’t know you needed until you tried it. That is the experience some have with another Costco hidden gem, Vonbee Honey Citron & Ginger Tea.

This versatile mix of honey citron and ginger is great in tea, on toast, and more.

You’ll pay $34.99 for two 4.4-pound jars, but the stuff lasts forever and adds so much depth of flavor to your diet.

Did you know that Costco sells supplements for pets? Members swear by one of them: Cosequin Maximum Strength Plus MSM Joint Health Supplement for Dogs.

Review after review sings the praises of this product, with many pups getting new leases on life thanks to renewed mobility. The price depends on your location.

With its unassuming packaging, you might stroll right by Bob's Red Mill Organic Cooking Steel Cut Oats at Costco. But oatmeal fans will tell you that this is some of the best stuff out there.

It is great for overnight oats or traditional stovetop cooking. Reviewers specifically praise the hearty texture. Two 3.5-pound bags will run you $32.99, but they last for a long time.

Yes, Costco sells alcohol, although in some states it might be in a space separate from the main warehouse. The hidden gem you’ll find is Kirkland Signature Vodka, which is seriously good for its price point: $19.99.

There has been a longstanding rumor that Grey Goose makes the vodka, which is not true. But you know it is decent stuff if it merits that type of comparison.

You probably already know that Costco sells gift cards. What might surprise some, however, is the fact that these cards are discounted, sometimes by quite a bit.

For example, you can get two $50 Panda Express cards for only $74.99.

You can save a lot of money if you’re mindful and proactive in your gift card usage.

Costco is known for popular staple items from peanut butter to cat litter. However, it is worth checking out their hidden gems.

Another great Costco hack for discovering new products is to try the samples the retailer hands out on busy shopping days. You never know what might become your new favorite Costco food.