Pass on pricey Italian takeout meals and feed your family for less. Affordable ingredients are among the many Costco membership perks you can expect from this superstore. Buying ingredients and prepared foods in bulk can help you stretch your grocery budget, especially when you plan several meals around the same ingredients.
From savory take-and-bake pizzas to sweet treats, the warehouse club has the top Italian foodie finds and gourmet goodies at low prices. And that means you can keep your grocery budget in check while leaving cash in your wallet. Stocking your freezer and pantry with convenient options also makes it easier to skip delivery fees and avoid paying restaurant prices when you want an easy dinner at home.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
Kirkland Supreme Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Price: $11.99
Don't let a gluten allergy or intolerance stop you from eating a delicious supreme pie.
We all know how gluten-free options can be expensive and, at times, not even available for takeout. That won't be a problem if you stock up on this Costco item.
Kirkland Signature's cauliflower crust is packed with pepperoni, sausage, roasted veggies, and a three-cheese blend. And bonus, you'll get two whole pizzas for less than $12.
That works out to about $6 per pizza, making it easier to feed the family without paying for individual restaurant meals. Keep a pie on hand for busy evenings, casual movie nights, or an easy weekend lunch.
Fratelli Beretta Antipasto
Price: $14.99
Skip the catered antipasto platters and try this affordable option from Costco. The 1.5-pound package includes pepper-coated salami, Italian dry salami, prosciutto, and Calabrese. Use the savory selection to make a starter or stack the sliced meat into a grilled panini.
It's an easy way to put together an Italian-inspired spread without buying several types of deli meat separately. Serve the slices with crackers, olives, cheese, and sliced vegetables for a casual appetizer board, or add them to sandwiches for a more filling lunch.
You can also portion the meat into smaller servings for a few meals instead of opening multiple packages at once. Pairing it with ingredients you already have at home helps keep extra spending to a minimum.
Kirkland Spinach and Cheese Ravioli
Price: $12.99
Feed your family in minutes with this Kirkland Signature bargain buy. The 1.4-pound pack includes 12 servings of this veggie and cheese-stuffed pasta. And don't worry about spending all day in the kitchen. This affordable option cooks in about four minutes.
That quick cooking time makes it a practical choice for nights when you need dinner on the table without resorting to takeout. Serve the ravioli with tomato sauce, grated cheese, or a side salad to round out the meal.
You can also cook only what you need and save the rest for another dinner, helping you get more value from the package. Keep a few pantry staples on hand, and you'll have an easy meal option without making an extra trip to the grocery store.
Dessert Italiano Tiramisu
Price: $9.99
If you adore tiramisu but don't love the price, you can save money on this classic Italian dessert at Costco. Costco's low everyday price includes six three-ounce glasses of the mascarpone-filled treat.
That gives you six individual portions, which can make serving dessert easier than buying a full-size cake or ordering sweets at a restaurant. The glasses are handy for dinner parties, family meals, or a small after-dinner treat during the week.
You can serve them straight from the refrigerator, so there's no baking or complicated preparation to worry about. At roughly $1.67 per serving, the package offers a convenient way to finish an Italian-inspired meal without the added cost of restaurant desserts.
Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks
Price: $15.88
Takeout mozzarella sticks are a pricey app at most Italian eateries. But you don't have to add to an already-expensive takeout meal just to get the crispy, cheese-filled starter.
Petite Cuisine's Costco buy includes 82 to 92 pieces for under $16. Pair this pick with Classico's sauce or Kirkland's basil pesto.
The package contains 2.5 pounds of mozzarella sticks, giving you plenty to serve at a party, alongside pizza, or as an after-school snack. The sticks feature real mozzarella string cheese and crispy seasoned breading, and they come frozen for convenient storage.
You can prepare a smaller batch whenever a craving strikes instead of heating up the entire package. At the listed price, the cost works out to roughly 17 to 19 cents per stick, helping you serve a crowd without restaurant appetizer prices.
Kirkland Pepperoni Pizza
Price: $13.49
If almost $14 seems like a lot for frozen pizza, think again. This isn't just one Kirkland Signature pepperoni pie. You'll get four whole pizzas in each pack, equaling a little over $3 each.
That makes this freezer staple worth considering for households that want an easy dinner without ordering delivery. Keep the pizzas on hand for busy weeknights, casual get-togethers, or evenings when everyone wants something different from the usual meal rotation.
You can bake one pizza at a time and save the others for later, so there's no need to prepare the entire pack at once. Buying a multipack also means fewer last-minute grocery runs when pizza night rolls around.
Kirkland Five Cheese Tortelloni
Price: $12.49
Save time and money with this two-count pack of cheese-filled pasta. The Parmigiano Reggiano-covered tortelloni is ready in two minutes, making prep a breeze. Add your favorite sauce, whole cherry tomatoes, or basil to this Kirkland Signature refrigerated meal.
The cheese-filled pasta is a convenient base for a quick dinner, whether you serve it with a simple tomato sauce or dress it up with vegetables from the fridge. A side salad or steamed broccoli can help turn it into a more complete meal without adding much preparation time.
Because the tortelloni cooks so quickly, it's a useful option for evenings when a restaurant meal might otherwise seem tempting. Keeping easy meal starters around can help you save both time and money throughout the week.
Classico Organic Tomato Sauce
Price: $10.09
You don't have to pay restaurant prices for a high-quality Italian meal. Pour this organic herb and spice-filled sauce over pasta, layer it into lasagna, or spoon it over a homemade pizza crust.
Score three 32-ounce jars for just over $10 right now.
The three-jar pack gives you 96 ounces of sauce in total, so you can spread it across several dinners instead of buying a separate jar for every recipe. Use it as a base for baked pasta, combine it with cooked vegetables, or simmer it with meatballs for an easy family meal.
The USDA Organic sauce features tomato, herbs, and spices, making it a versatile pantry staple for Italian-inspired cooking. Store unopened jars in your pantry and refrigerate each one after opening according to the label instructions.
Barilla Pasta Variety Pack
Price: $8.99
Make meal after meal with this seven-box pack from Barilla. Instead of ordering one plate of takeout pasta for $10, you can whip up over a week's worth of mains, sides, and chilled salads. Each multi-pack includes two boxes of farfalle, three boxes of elbows, and two boxes of rotini.
Each box contains 1 pound of pasta, giving you 7 pounds in all for about $1.28 per pound at the listed price. The different shapes make it easy to switch up meals without buying several separate packages. Use elbows for macaroni salad, farfalle for a cold pasta dish, and rotini for a hearty meal with sauce and vegetables. The pasta is uncooked and kosher, and the assortment is useful for stocking a pantry on a budget.
- 18-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60-69
- 70-79
- 80+
Bottom line
Stock up and save at Costco. Why pay takeout prices when you can get the same quality meals for less? The members-only club has everything you need to make an Italian feast without breaking the bank.
Add to your savings and earn cash back on everyday purchases. Over time, you could score enough travel points or perks to pay for a trip to Italy.
Planning meals around bulk buys can help you make the most of your membership. Keep frozen pizzas and appetizers ready for busy nights, and use pantry staples like pasta and tomato sauce to build affordable meals throughout the week. Individual desserts and antipasto meats can also help you entertain guests without ordering an expensive spread.
The key is to buy items your household will actually use, portion them thoughtfully, and compare package sizes before checking out. Those small choices can add up to meaningful savings over time.
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