Costco Food Items That Have Cult Followings

Bacon is one of those kitchen staples that most of us have in the fridge, even if we shouldn't be eating it every day. Bacon makes so many dishes and recipes better, whether we're talking breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And Costco's in-house brand Kirkland Signature is known for having some of the best bacon out there. 

It's not only included on almost every list out there of the best products at Costco (Delish, Buzzfeed, The Daily Meal, and Business Insider all agree), but it's also ranked higher than all the other grocery store bacon that's out there. In fact, Consumer Reports did a bacon taste test with several popular brands, and determined that Kirkland Signature Bacon was "the only excellent product," adding that it "crisped up nicely and consistently had balanced fat and meat flavors complemented by wood smoke and a hint of sweetness." And while this is probably enough to get customers to shell out more money for such a premium quality product, they don't have to at Costco, which sells its bacon for roughly 20 percent less than the competition.

One of the best dinner hacks out there is picking up a fully cooked, deliciously seasoned rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Add a side dish or a salad, and you've got a full meal ready to go. How do you beat that? While almost every popular grocery store sells rotisserie chicken, the ones at Costco have been ranked above all the rest for their taste and value. And priced at just $4.99, these three-pound birds are some of the cheapest you can get. One shopper on Reddit says of Costco's rotisserie chickens, "that is the best value in the store. I laugh at grocery store chickens — twice as expensive and half as big." 

Costco sometimes actually loses money on this popular product, but the company is willing to make that sacrifice since the incredible value of the deal continues to pull customers into the store ... where they might catch their eye on another, more expensive product. And there's plenty of evidence to support this strategy. Costco's rotisserie chickens are so popular among shoppers, they even have their own Facebook fan page, with more than 18,000 likes.

Any diehard Costco shopper knows that you don't just go there to shop the aisles. Visiting the food court is an integral part of the experience, and Costco's pizza has long been a favorite for customers and even employees. You can order pizza in the food court by the slice for $1.99 or go big and get a whole pie. Costco's pizzas are so popular, in fact, that the annual sales actually make Costco one of the biggest pizza chains in America. According to a 2015 report from Business Insider, Costco ranked as the fourteenth largest pizza chain in the country. 

What makes Costco's pizza so delicious that customers keep coming back for more? For one, they don't skimp on the topping. Plus, they use machines and a very regimented process to make sure that each pie is fully loaded and assembled to perfection. Adding a full one-and-a-half pounds of "aged buttery cheeses" (per The Costco Connection) doesn't hurt either.

Costco isn't just the place you go to load up on bulk items and stock your freezer. You can also find a great selection of pre-prepared entrées in the deli and frozen sections for those times that you just don't feel like making dinner from scratch, which is understandable after a long shopping trip to Costco. Among the variety of prepared options, Costco's Kirkland Signature Salmon Milano with Basil Pesto Butter has become a major hit among shoppers. All you have to do is pop the fish in the oven, and 30 minutes later, you've got flaky salmon fillets smothered in an herby basil pesto butter that melts into the salmon as it cooks. Food and wine blog, Good Cheap Vino, says the dish is "easy to prepare and great for entertaining." Plus, it pairs well with a Pinot Noir. 

While we're on the subject, Costco's Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto is a fan favorite all on its own. Costco product reviewer Costcuisine says it's "delicious, high quality, priced right, and I would buy it again."

It's no secret that nuts are one of the more expensive items at the grocery store. Their status as a health food has grown over the years, increasing the demand for all kinds of varieties, some of which are difficult and costly to harvest, as reported by Money Inc. With that in mind, it's no surprise that nuts are another cult favorite among Costco shoppers, who can be sure they are getting good quality nuts at a price that most likely can't be beat anywhere else. 

Cooking Light compared prices on several varieties of nuts and found that Costco wins on value across the board. In fact, both almonds and walnuts are roughly double the price on Amazon than they are at Costco. Cashews in particular rank high among shoppers. You can get a two-and-a-half-pound container for just under $17, far below the average which is closer to $14 to $5 15 per pound, according to Nuts.com. Another favorite are the mixed nuts from Kirkland Signature. Reviewer Costcuisine calls them "the freshest, highest quality nuts you can purchase at the most reasonable cost."

If you haven't jumped on the turkey jerky train yet, you're missing out. It's easy for grabbing on the go, packed full of protein, and can be flavored in so many different ways, making for a tasty snack that's actually good for you. And you can get it for a major bargain at Costco, which sells its Kirkland Signature Turkey Jerky for just $11.99 for a 13.5-ounce bag.

But that low price doesn't mean low quality. This turkey jerky is made from premium turkey breast that is completely antibiotic-free. The meat is marinated in a seasoning blend for 24 hours, packing in tons of flavor. It's also 97 percent fat-free and loaded with ten grams of protein per serving. Best Choice Reviews puts Kirkland Signature on their list of the top ten best turkey jerkies, calling it "tender, tasty, and healthy." Delish says Kirkland Signature Turkey Jerky is "a must-have for jerky enthusiasts," and who knows... you may just try this and become one.

Real maple syrup can feel a little like a luxury product. The pure, sweet organic stuff — not the sugary, artificial substitutes that you throw on frozen waffles — usually comes in small quantities with higher price tags than most other items on the condiment aisle. 

So it's no surprise that shoppers flock to Costco where they don't have to splurge to get high-quality ingredients. The company's Kirkland Signature Maple Syrup is no exception. Costco's maple syrup is USDA-certified organic, and Grade A Amber, giving it a rich, well-rounded flavor. The best part is that it's only about $13 for a liter-sized jug of it, which, according to Yahoo Finance, is cheaper than you're going to find anywhere else. Consumer Reports says Kirkland Signature Maple Syrup delivers "good value and flavor." And one true fan went so far as to call it a "nectar of the gods" and "one of Costco's best items" (via Reddit).

Pandemic aside, 2020 hit hard for many Costco shoppers when the company stopped selling its famous half-sheet cakes. These large, rectangular frosted cakes were considered by many to be one of Costco's biggest treasures. The half-sheet cakes have been the centerpiece of many a birthday party, graduation celebration, baby shower, and many other life events in between. One Reddit user wrote, "Costco sheet cake is my life. I buy one for every birthday and cut it into pieces to freeze." The large cakes, which could feed dozens, were offered in vanilla and chocolate varieties, and customers could choose from a range of decorative designs, plus add a personalized message. 

In the summer of 2020, Costco quietly announced that it would no longer be selling sheet cakes, and reportedly said it has no plans to bring them back anytime soon, without really explaining what was behind the decision.

Fans' reactions ranged from heartbreak to outrage. One shopper begged, "PLLEEEEEEEEEASSE bring back the half sheet cakes!! Best cakes ever! Worth the price of membership on its own! Birthdays are disappointing without one!!" At the time of writing, over 1,000 people have also signed a petition on Change.org to demand Costco bring the half-sheet cakes back.