13 Brunch Essentials To Always Buy At Costco

Hosting a brunch event? If any place has all your shopping needs covered, it's Costco. The warehouse chain offers a wide range of foods and drinks that can help you put together a pretty sweet spread without spending hours in the kitchen. Think savory breakfast dishes that you can simply heat and serve, tasty pastries, fresh fruit, bubbly beverages, and top-notch coffee beans. But with so many items on offer, the key is knowing which items are worth adding to your cart.

As a long-time Costco member and fan, I've tried my fair share of the chain's offerings, and I've come across numerous items that are perfect for a brunch spread. Some I love for their convenience, others for their great value, and all of them make the cut for quality and flavor. As an added bonus, I've also found that many of these picks earn rave reviews from other Costco members, which is always a good sign when you're buying for a crowd. If you're looking for some ideas for an easy no-cook brunch or an elaborate spread, these are some Costco brunch items I highly recommend.

Every brunch spread should have at least one egg dish, and the Kirkland Signature Sous Vide Egg Bites are perfect for the occasion. They're easy to grab and eat with no fork or knife needed, and they're also super simple to make. All you have to do is open the pouch, pop them in the air fryer, oven, or microwave, and in minutes you can have them on a platter and ready to go. Each box contains 10 soft and fluffy egg bites, and they come in two flavors: Uncured Bacon & Gouda and the Egg White with Cheese Trio & Roasted Red Pepper.

Pre-made egg products can veer on the rubbery side, but not so with the Kirkland Signature Sous Vide Egg Bites. The sous vide process firms them up, but also gives them a nice, light texture, and the cottage cheese gives them an almost creamy consistency. I've tried both versions, and each has a nice balance of ingredients and flavors. A lot of people compare these to the Starbucks Egg Bites, which makes sense considering that both brands are made by Cuisine Solutions, one of the world's largest sous vide food manufacturers.

If it's a bougie brunch you're aiming for, then smoked salmon is an absolute must. The only problem is it can be pretty pricey. That's where Costco comes to the rescue with its own house-brand smoked salmon that's not only affordable, but also top quality. For under $30, you can grab a two-pack of the Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon featuring 12 ounces of Atlantic salmon from Norway in each pack. That gives you plenty of salmon to pile onto platters and drape over cream cheese-laden bagels.

Peel open a pack of Costco's smoked salmon, and you'll find thin slices of pinkish-orange salmon with a beautiful silky texture. The taste is mild with a delicate smoke flavor thanks to the long smoking process with beechwood and European oak wood. The salmon is also rich and buttery due to its high fat content. I love that it comes in two separate packs, so you can put out just what you need and keep the rest for later. However, from my experience, the slices tend to get snapped up fast, so you may just find that the second pack is warranted after all. 

Costco offers tons of enticing pastries in the bakery section, but few are as beloved and versatile as the Kirkland Signature Croissants. They're baked in-house every day, so you know that whatever pack you grab will be about as fresh as you can get. Plus, they're made with real butter, which makes every flaky layer ultra-flavorful. Each pack contains 12 croissants, so they're ideal for small to medium-sized gatherings. And if you're throwing a large brunch bash, you can always double or triple up on the packs.

Another thing that these fluffy croissants have going for them is their large size. They're hefty enough to handle ample amounts of spreads like butter and jam, as well as sweet and savory fillings. There are also several creative ways you can enjoy your Costco croissants, like turning them into sandwiches, garlic bread, or pigs in a blanket. You can also cut them up and toast them to create croutons or use them in a bread pudding or breakfast bake. I've even heard of people stuffing them with ice cream to make ice cream sandwiches, which sounds delicious, although perhaps a bit messy.

One of the many things Costco is renowned for is its great selection of alcohol, including numerous wines and spirits under its own Kirkland Signature label. The Kirkland Signature Prosecco is one of my go-to bottles for any occasion, as it's crisp, refreshing, and works just as well on its own as it does in cocktails like mimosas and Aperol spritzes. It's also very reasonably priced compared to many other Proseccos. In fact, I always recommend it as one of the must-buy items for first-time Costco shoppers because it's just that good.

You might not think that a big-box store brand of bubbles would be the real deal, but Costco's Prosecco is made in Italy and labeled as DOCG, which means it comes from a guaranteed denomination of origin and it's been certified by a governing body. On the nose, you get freshness with aromas of citrus and apples. Take a sip, and you'll find it's dry, with bright notes of pear and green apple, and it has great effervescence. There's also a rosé version if you want to add some variety to your brunch beverage options.

Nothing beats freshly cooked bacon, but the last thing you probably want to deal with while you're putting together your brunch spread is a pan full of hot, spattering grease. Enter the Kirkland Signature Fully-Cooked Bacon, a one-pound pack of hickory-smoked bacon that's already been pre-cooked. It's a major timesaver, as all you have to do is pop it in the microwave, air fryer, or oven for a few minutes to warm it up.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about this product at first, but when I tried it, I understood right away why customers rave about Costco's pre-cooked bacon. It tastes just like the regular Kirkland Signature Hickory Smoked Bacon with its smoky, salty, porky flavors. It comes a little bit floppy, which is great for folks who prefer it that way, and convenient for wrapping around items like dates or scallops. And if you prefer it crispier, you can always cook it a bit longer. You can set out a tray for folks to grab their own slices or use it in a wide array of brunch dishes like scrambles, breakfast sandwiches, and salads. 

Quiche is always a crowd-pleaser at brunch, but it also takes some time to make, not to mention a bit of knowledge about things like the perfect ratio of dairy to eggs. If you're strapped for time or need to have more confidence in your quiche-making skills, Costco offers a great solution: the La Terra Fina Quiche. It comes in a two-pack with two different flavors of quiche, each weighing about a pound. The flavors may vary depending on your location, but common options include Spinach & Artichoke, Cheddar & Broccoli, and Fire-roasted Veggie Medley.

These convenient pre-made quiches can be found in Costco's deli section, and they're refrigerated, not frozen, so they actually taste fresh. They take about 30 minutes to make in the oven, and you can cook them right in the foil pans they come in. I like to cook mine in the air fryer to make the crust extra crispy. If you're really strapped for time, you can cook them in the microwave for just two minutes (with a five-minute rest time), although I find that gives the quiche a slightly spongy texture.

Costco has some pretty solid coffee options, and one of the most popular is the Kirkland Signature Medium Roast Coffee. It comes in a 2.5-pound bag and features whole beans roasted just a smidge over medium. Sure, you'll have to grind the beans yourself before your brunch guests arrive, but that just means the coffee will taste ultra-fresh. It also gives you more control over the grind, allowing you to go coarse for French presses, medium for drip coffee, and finer for espresso.

The House Blend coffee is perfect for gatherings because it strikes a good balance between a medium and dark roast. It's smooth with nutty, chocolatey notes and just a touch of bitterness. Some say it's a copycat of the Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast, although that may just be because Costco coffee used to be roasted by Starbucks up until a few years ago. It's not clear which company roasts the beans these days, but at the end of the day, all that matters is how it tastes, and according to many members, these beans are still at the top of their game.

When it comes to brunch, choosing between sweet and savory can be a tough call. Well, with Sabatino's Chicken & Maple Breakfast Bites, you get the best of both worlds. They're essentially chicken meatballs seasoned with savory spices and infused with maple syrup. Each refrigerated box weighs in at 2.5 pounds, which gives you ample servings. You can cook them using all the usual methods, including the stovetop, and cook times range from under a minute in the microwave up to 10 minutes in the oven.

There are a lot of great things going on with these Breakfast Bites. For one, they're made with cage-free and antibiotic-free chicken. They're also gluten-free, which is good for those with food sensitivities. As for the flavor, they're nicely spiced, and you can actually taste the maple, which adds subtle sweetness without going overboard. The juicy texture gives breakfast sausage vibes, but without the greasiness and heaviness you often get from pork sausages. As the name suggests, they're perfect for breakfasts and brunches, but I've also served them as appetizers with toothpicks for easy grabbing.

Plain white and whole wheat bread have their place, but they can feel a little uninspired on a brunch table. If you really want to impress your guests, consider putting out a loaf of the Kirkland Signature Cranberry Walnut Round Bread. Each rustic loaf features whole grains, walnuts, and dried cranberries. It's a fan favorite with countless Costco members for its earthy nutty flavors and pops of sweetness and tartness from the cranberries. In fact, it even topped our list of breads to always buy at Costco.

The Cranberry Walnut Round Bread is usually a seasonal offering at Costco that comes out in the fall and winter, although I've seen it available at other times of the year in my location. If you happen to spot it, you might want to grab a few loaves and freeze the ones you don't devour right away. I've been known to just cut off slices and eat them as-is, but it's also divine toasted with butter or a smear of cream cheese. It also works well for sandwiches, French toast, and as an accoutrement to charcuterie and cheese boards.

Finger foods are great for larger brunch gatherings because they cut back on the amount of cutlery and dishes needed, and that's especially appealing if you're the one who has to clean up later. For a tasty handheld dish that appeals to adults and kids alike, the La Boulangerie Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets are a good bet. They come in boxes of eight individually wrapped pockets that are already cooked, so you just need to heat them up before serving.

Styled like croissant-wiches, the pockets feature smoked ham and aged Swiss cheese wrapped in flaky croissant dough that's made with real butter. You can heat them straight from frozen in your oven, air fryer, or microwave, or let them thaw first and use the same methods with a slightly shorter warming time. Technically, you could even put them out early to thaw and serve them cold, although then you won't get the nice melty cheese inside and the slightly crisped exterior. Pro tip: Try them with a swipe of Dijonnaise (a mix of Dijon mustard and mayonnaise) or honey mustard. 

For those who don't want to go the boozy brunch route, sparkling water is always a nice touch. Costco offers a variety of sparkling water brands, including two under its Kirkland Signature label. My favorite is the Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water variety pack. Perfect for parties, it includes 35 cans of sparkling water in three different flavors: lemon, lime, and grapefruit. It's very reasonably priced, and in my opinion, just as good (if not better) than many other brands.

Flavored sparkling waters can be hit or miss, with many tasting like fizzy juice or, even worse, artificial chemicals. But with Costco's canned version, the flavors are very subtle, offering just a wisp of citrus fruit. That makes them great for mixing with juices, as they won't overpower other flavors. Just be sure not to confuse them with the Kirkland Signature Zero Sugar Flavored Sparkling Water that comes in bottles, as that's a completely different product. While the cans do not contain sugar or sweeteners, the bottles have sucralose, an artificial sweetener that many agree makes the flavors cloyingly sweet.

A grazing board can be an impressive addition to a brunch spread, but assembling one from scratch means buying several different ingredients and finding the time to arrange them. Costco does the hard work for you with its Kirkland Signature Fruit, Meat and Cheese Platter. Designed to feed 18 to 24 people, the spread weighs close to seven pounds and includes generous portions of pre-sliced Italian salami and soppressata, cubes of aged cheddar and aged gouda, and fresh grapes.

There's certainly enough on this hefty platter to keep guests nibbling throughout brunch, so you could simply set it out and let everyone help themselves. But if you're feeling creative, there are tons of ways to amp up the platter and make it your own. You can add crackers or some sliced baguettes for stacking. I'm a big fan of the Snack Factory Organic Original Pretzel Chips. Olives can add brininess and roasted nuts can supply some crunch. You can also peruse the Costco deli for dips and spreads like tzatziki and hummus, as well as additional meats and cheeses to expand the platter.

What better way to end a leisurely brunch than with something sweet? There are plenty of desserts in the Costco bakery, but one that stands out from the rest for its sheer decadence is the Kirkland Signature Tuxedo Chocolate Cake. This striking bar cake features layer upon layer of chocolate cake, milk chocolate and white chocolate mousse, and chocolate ganache with a few brownie chunks thrown in for good measure. It's also topped with curled chocolate sticks. 

Like many Costco cakes, the Tuxedo Chocolate Cake is seriously substantial. The packaging says it contains 12 servings, but you could easily get more out of it by making your slices slightly thinner. And that might not be such a bad thing, as this cake is definitely rich with its chocolate-on-chocolate makeup. It's also very pretty with its multi-colored layers and feathered patterns on top. It's the perfect centerpiece for a celebratory brunch like a birthday or anniversary gathering. That said, there's no reason you can't pull out all the stops with it on any ordinary Sunday.

Each of these Costco brunch picks is an item I've personally tried and love. I do realize, though, that taste is always subjective, so I did some research into what other people think of these items, and I'm happy to report each one is also backed up by tons of glowing reviews from other Costco members. Some key factors I considered included great flavor (first and foremost), value for money, ease of preparation, and how well the items work for brunch gatherings. At the time of writing, each of these items is currently on offer at Costco warehouses, although availability can vary depending on locations.