Costco has products of different qualities and prices, but the cheapest is not necessarily worse than the expensive ones. It’s a matter of knowing the tricks and secrets of this sacred land called Costco, where I always find everything I want and save a lot of money.
The first trick is simple: choose the Kirkland Signature brand, which is distributed by Costco and offers an endless amount and variety of high quality items at good prices. But there are other products from other brands that could do the job for you to fit your Thanksgiving dinner on a budget.
Costco’s items for your low-cost Thanksgiving
Well, these products are not only for Thanksgiving dinner, but you can make them a habit of your shopping list, just as I have done. Do not forget that Costco requires a membership card to buy items in its stores, and prices across the U.S. can vary due to availability or local alcohol legislations.
Costco Kirkland Signature Brioche Buns
They are soft, fluffy on the inside and golden on the outside, and if you just stop by the Costco bakery when they are coming out of the oven, the aroma of freshly baked brioche dough will seduce you in seconds.
The Costco Kirkland Signature Brioche Buns (called “sweet rolls” in Costco Hawaii) may seem like another unremarkable industrial bread, but, surprisingly, they remind me of some I ate on a recent trip to San Francisco where, as you should know, there are some of the best bakeries in the United States.
I recommend giving them a little heat in a toaster oven, to take them to the zenith of their flavor. The price is $5.99 in both the United States and Canada. They are perfect as a garnish in the Thanksgiving dinner, not only to fill them with some jam or something sweet, but also to accompany the collage of salty ingredients you take from all over the table.
Ona bun has 150 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 4 grams of sugar and 4 grams of protein, with just 190 milligrams of sodium. If you are satisfied with just one bun, it is not that loaded with calories, but if you eat two or three (like me) the caloric load may seem high.
Kirkland Signature Turkey Breast, Oven Browned
Cooking a turkey is an art itself, so one sometimes chooses to buy the turkey already filled, seasoned and cooked, or just may go for alternatives such as turkey breast. Here comes my friend, the Kirkland Signature Turkey Breast, Oven Browned, which is not only delicious and healthy, but also has a super affordable price: You can get it in almost every country in America for less than $6.
It is gluten-free, comes fully cooked and is 99% fat-free. Kirkland Signature turkeys are raised 100% antibiotic-free. A 2 ounce (or 56 gram) serving only has 60 calories, 25 milligrams of sodium and has 0% saturated fat and carbohydrates, while providing 1 milligram of iron.
Costco Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie
The Costco Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie is one of the most famous Costco brand products during the fall and winter season. Its combination of great taste and quality, paying an extremely affordable price of just $ 6.99 (which has remained unchanged from 2021) make this pie an ideal dessert to have a tea or coffee after Thanksgiving dinner.
You can also put a couple of these on the family table during Christmas Eve dinner and, if there is leftover, another slice at the next day’s brunch while the children play with their gifts is not bad.
Harry’s Organic Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Nowadays, we all have at least one vegetarian family member or friend who comes to Thanksgiving dinners, and who suffers from not having many options on the table suitable to their diet.
For them, you can buy Harry’s Organic Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, which, in addition to being certified for vegetarians, is organic, GMO-free and USDA certified. Each 15-ounce container costs $5.50 and comes in a box of two units (I know it exceeds the $10 premise, but for just one buck).
Kirkland Signature Irish Country Cream
Irish cream is a staple drink for the holidays. Unlike other Kirkland brand liqueurs—which I would not recommend putting inside your body—, this time I can say that they did well with an Irish cream of great body and consistency, in addition to being one of the ones with the lowest alcohol content of those available on the American market. It has sweet notes of biscuit and vanilla, and is often described as a tiramisu and caramel flavored cream that can substitute a spiced eggnog.
It can be found in several Costco stores for about $10 a bottle, just at the edge of the maximum limit that we set for this listing.