It’s no secret the price of groceries feels like it has skyrocketed over the past few years. As a 25-year-old girl who loves whipping up fresh recipes, I won’t settle for chicken and rice every night. High-quality protein and whole foods are my priority when building meals each week, but I also find it hard to balance a strict grocery budget with my love for cooking.
After taking a hard look at my finances, I realized I’m overspending on groceries for my household of two adults. To put it in perspective, I recently spent over $600 on groceries in one single month—ouch. It’s not because of poor planning, either. I meticulously plan each week’s grocery list so I can balance the top priorities (AKA full meals) with fun items like snacks and enough Diet Coke to stock the fridge. My overspending comes down to buying ingredients for a unique meal for each day, but that’s not really necessary, is it? Nor is it worth sacrificing my wallet for the sake of feeling like I’m eating at a restaurant every night. So, in an effort to make my grocery budget work smarter, not harder, Costco has become my go-to destination for stocking up on the essential meal builders: protein and produce. Keep reading to learn how I make the most of my Costco trips and the exact shopping list I use to fit a $200 monthly budget.
How I Shop at Costco
Now, let’s be clear: Costco isn’t exactly synonymous with saving money unless you set boundaries. For me, that means keeping my monthly haul right around $200. My usual shopping list prioritizes versatile items I can use throughout the month, and the total comes out to $50 per week, which is way more reasonable than my typical $180 per week grocery haul. By stocking up on my main staples at Costco, I’m able to make quick runs to Trader Joe’s or Sprouts to grab a few things when I’m out instead of hitting the grocery store each week to do a full haul. When I account for those extras I pick up at other stores throughout the month, my grocery budget comes out to $80 a week for a household of two.
If you want to take a similar approach to Costco shopping, I recommend making a list of your household’s staple ingredients. What are the items you rely on most often when meal planning? In my household, we prioritize high-protein meals packed with fresh produce, so those are the items I stock up on at Costco. It’s common practice to throw the proteins in the freezer immediately after a Costco trip and then put them in the fridge to defrost at the beginning of each week. This way, we always have an entrée to center our meals around and can pick up additional ingredients as needed or just use whatever we have on hand.
Below, I list exactly what I buy at Costco as a person who eats high-protein meals centered around whole foods. Every household is different, and the seven protein options below can be swapped for your favorites for around the same price. For example, maybe you prefer mahi mahi over salmon or ground turkey over ground beef. So, without further ado, here’s everything on my Costco shopping list on a $200 monthly budget.
1. Dole Bananas ($1.49)
Starting off basic but cheap, bananas are the first item I grab as soon as I hit the Costco aisles. Bananas are a staple in my home for topping my morning oatmeal and adding to smoothies. Plus, they freeze super well. They’re priced at $0.49 per pound, so I’m able to get 3 pounds of bananas for just under $1.50.
2. Driscoll’s Strawberries ($4.89)
No matter the season, berries are a constant in my household. And while a container of strawberries might cost as much as $8 to $10 at the local grocery store—especially in the off-season—that’s not the case at Costco. I’m able to score two pounds of strawberries for under $5. Once I get them home, if I still have a lot of berries in the fridge after a few days, I’ll pop them in the freezer to prevent them from going bad. Frozen strawberries make delicious fruit smoothies and can even be heated up in the microwave for a few seconds for a fresh morning snack.
3. Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach ($3.89)
I tend to be wary of buying greens at Costco for one simple reason: They go bad quickly. To avoid spoilage, I pop this big tub of spinach in the freezer immediately. Spinach is unlike any other leafy green because the quality and taste stay the same whether it’s frozen or fresh. The key is freezing spinach in its freshest possible state. This way, I’m able to incorporate at least one source of greens into my meals each week, either by throwing it in a smoothie or sautéing it with pasta and other veggies.
4. Windset Farms Mixed Bell Peppers ($6.69)
I can’t leave the Costco produce section without grabbing a bag of these mixed bell peppers. I switch back and forth between the sweet mini peppers ($4.49) and these large bell peppers for taco bowls, sheet pan dinners, and breakfast tacos. Not only is the bell pepper size impressive, but the price comes out to just over $1 per pepper. Plus, peppers last a little over two weeks for me when storing them in the fridge.
5. Kirkland Organic Ground Beef ($19.89)
On to the proteins! This organic ground beef three-pack can be made into burger patties, meatballs, or taco meat or added as a protein into my kale and egg breakfast casserole. Although I prefer ground beef that’s 93 percent lean and 7 percent fat (which I have yet to find at Costco), I’ll take a slightly fattier ratio for less than $5 a pound. For a leaner protein option, you can also find ground turkey at Costco for around the same price.
6. Kirkland Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast ($21.59)
Not only can you get 7 pounds worth of chicken for a little over $20 at Costco, but the size of each breast is quite substantial. The package contains six chicken breasts in total, and I always cut each one into four to six pieces before grilling or baking them for salads, bowls, or pasta.
7. Kirkland Boneless/Skinless Chicken Thighs ($29.84)
Chicken thighs are another weeknight staple. Though chicken breast is leaner, chicken thighs pack more flavor, making them a tasty upgrade to my weekly meal rotation. Each Costco pack contains six individual packages with five thighs in each, totaling 30 chicken thighs (about 8.5 pounds). I love being able to divvy up the individual packs between the freezer and fridge.
8. Wildbrine Organic Smoked Chicken Sausage ($8.89)
It took me halfway into my 20s to understand the appeal of chicken sausage. But after adding this to my Costco shopping list, I can say I’m a whole-hearted fan. There are multiple flavors to choose from, including smoked jalapeño cheddar or chicken and apple, and they make a great protein source to add to breakfast tacos and sheet pan dinners throughout the month.
9. Kirkland Farm-Raised Frozen Atlantic Salmon ($34.99)
If I had to pick one protein you absolutely cannot skip at Costco, it’s the farm-raised frozen Atlantic salmon. Packed with 35 grams of protein, this salmon cooks extraordinarily well in the air fryer, oven, and fry pan. Don’t let the fact that it’s frozen deter you. Once defrosted, it takes less than 10 minutes to transform it into a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth masterpiece.
10. Kirkland Farm-Raised Frozen Shrimp ($11.99)
In my household, we make a lot of variations of tacos, from Chipotle-style burritos and bowls to breakfast tacos and sheet pan fajitas. This frozen shrimp offers a fun way to switch up our usual chicken or beef taco rotation. It’s also the protein that lasts the longest in our freezer because we only cook it once a week, and by month’s end, it still tastes just as fresh. Do yourself a favor and buy the raw, tail-off shrimp for easy defrosting.
11. Kirkland Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend ($9.49)
I’ll be honest—the thought of frozen veggies typically gives me the ick. But once I gave this stir-fry vegetable blend an honest try, I was hooked. Not only does it cook up incredibly well, but it’s also a vegetable source I can always rely on when I’m running low on groceries or need to pack in extra nutrients throughout the week. My favorite way to cook these veggies is by sautéing them in a pan before adding them to a bowl with marinated grilled chicken and rice. Pro tip: Top it with chili crunch for an extra kick!
12. Kirkland Cage-Free Eggs, 24 Count ($4.89)
If money were no object, I would only buy eggs from pasture-raised farms. However, we all have to make budget sacrifices, and mine are eggs from time to time. I typically spring for the cage-free brown eggs (24 pack), but when they’re out of stock, I buy the large-grade AA eggs for around the same price. If your household runs through eggs like nobody’s business, by all means, spring for the 48-pack for under $10. My household of two runs through about a dozen eggs per week, so sometimes, we make a dedicated Costco trip just for eggs—the price is that good.
13. Kirkland Organic Greek Yogurt ($5.19)
Though I prefer to eat dairy-free most of the time, Greek yogurt is one of the few dairy products my tummy can handle because it contains less lactose than regular yogurt. Plus, it’s a fabulous protein source in smoothies, creamy dips, or yogurt bowls. After getting tired of running to the grocery store each week to buy yet another 12-ounce Greek yogurt tub, I now save considerable time and cash by grabbing the 48-ounce Costco Greek yogurt for just over $5. A dollop of this yogurt is all it takes to add a little extra protein to any meal or snack.
14. Siete Almond Flour Tortillas ($11.89)
I could write a whole love letter to the Siete grocery brand, but I’ll leave it at this. Free of grains, gluten, dairy, and soy, the Siete almond flour tortillas are a win-win for quality ingredients and price. Yes, they cost more than your average tortillas, but these are anything but average, thanks to their clean ingredients list. A 10-pack of these tortillas costs around $8 at my local grocery store, but at Costco, you can get 20 tortillas for $11.89. These are my favorite tortillas for tacos and wraps galore.
15. Siete Tortilla Chips ($6.69)
Siete hits the mark yet again with their grain-free tortilla chips. Though a standard bag of corn tortilla chips is cheap and easy, seed oils tend to be the second ingredient. I much prefer this 15-ounce bag of Siete tortilla chips because they only contain six ingredients and include avocado oil, which is a higher-quality fat source that isn’t as inflammatory as seed oils. This bag is also massive, stretching taller than my 17-pound doodle, CeCe.
16. Kirkland Albacore Solid White Canned Tuna ($15.49)
Packing a whopping 42 grams of protein, this canned tuna is my secret weapon. It comes with eight 7-ounce cans that last more than one month between two people. It’s my source for quick high-protein lunches when I can’t be bothered to spend more than 10 minutes making lunch. Mix with a dollop of mayo, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and spread on crackers or bread for a quick and easy meal!
Total Spent: $197.79
Additional Items I Buy Every Other Month
1. Fresh Start Organic Berries and Greens Smoothie Blend ($11.99)
Depending on the month, I also stock up on this smoothie blend for no-brainer snacks. It already includes a serving of greens, but I like to add an extra handful of frozen spinach to pack in more nutrients. Add a frozen banana to the blender, and you’re good to go! The fruit is pre-portioned in individual baggies, and each package makes the perfect batch of smoothies for two people.
2. Collagen Powder ($23.99)
Collagen powder is another item I’ll “splurge” on about every other month. Another secret weapon pantry item, it packs 18-20 grams of protein per serving and offers a bounty of skincare benefits. It tastes like nothing, making it the invisible superhero you didn’t know you needed in smoothies, coffee, and protein shakes. Plus, there’s often a Costco coupon available, bringing it down to less than $20.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Madi Koetting, Contributing Beauty & Lifestyle Writer
Madi is an East Coast-based lifestyle and beauty freelance writer with a bachelor’s in magazine journalism from Drake University. She’s currently a Shopping Editor for Taste of Home where she helps readers discover the best home finds and tests social media viral products. Beyond The Everygirl, Madi’s work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Reader’s Digest, and Stylecaster.