I recently asked a large Facebook group for their favorite Italian food at Costco. It struck a nerve with some; many members mocked me, while others told me there wasn’t a single item in the store to fit the bill. As an expert Costco shopper and avid home cook, I disagree entirely.
Costco is home to wonderful Italian foods if you know where to look. The warehouse has many items for your next Italian feast., from cheeses to pasta and tomatoes.
Read on for our favorite Italian Food at Costco.
The Best Italian Food at Costco
Garofolo Organic Pasta
This pasta has a perfect texture when fully cooked. The company takes quality seriously. Garofolo provides consumers with an innovative tool to track every package and view all the analyses carried out on the ingredients to guarantee the integrity of ingredients.
Great pasta is from durum wheat, has a rough texture, and uses a bronze die during production. This product ticks off all those boxes.
Garofolo Pasta is always on our Costco list and is a great deal at under $2 per package. Similar kinds of pasta are double the price in the local grocery store.
Garofolo Pasta at Costco is $10.69 for six 500-gram bags.
Costco Olive Oil
There are several options of olive oil in the warehouse, and our top pick is perfect for salad dressings and cooking. It isn’t treated with chemicals or heated, meaning it retains phenols which many attributes to several health benefits. The taste is balanced, neutral, and flavorful but not too grassy.
We love to use it for roasting, sauteeing, baking, marinades, and salad dressings. We do NOT use it for deep frying. It won’t replace the fancy EVOO we use for finishing, but we reach for it almost daily.
Kirkland Signature Olive Oil is $13.49 for 2 liters.
Costco Pecorino Romano
Costco has two versions of this savory cheese: Kirkland Signature Pecorino Romano and Locatelli. As for ingredients, both contain sheep’s milk, cheese culture, salt, and rennet and have a similar flavor. But if you want a traditional Italian cheese, we recommend the latter.
The Locatelli family began producing Pecorino Romano over 500 years ago in the Lazio region of Italy. This Pecorino Romano brand is considered one of the finest available. Most wedges were between 1.25 and 1.5 pounds. The cheese should last about eight months in the refrigerator if properly stored.
$9.69 per pound.
Costco Parmesan Reggiano
Not all parmesan cheese is created equally, and many producers include filler products to keep costs down. To guarantee a quality product, look for a branded ring along the outside that the Parmigiano Reggiano at Costco has.
It’s full of flavor and doesn’t have additives. Most supermarket cheeses are aged 10-18 months, while the Kirkland variety has had 24 months; more time allows it to mature and produce a sweeter flavor and slightly granular texture.
Most chunks were around 1.5 pounds. Considering this cheese’s versatility, you won’t have trouble using it before the best-by date in about eight months.
$10.99 per pound.
Belgioso Burrata
This soft and delicate cheese seems all the rage, with spots on many restaurant menus. With a wonderful salty taste and reasonable price, Costco’s Burrata deserves a place on your family table.
Belgioso Burrata is made to order from fresh milk gathered daily from local farmers. Each ball is hand-formed and packaged in water to ensure maximum freshness while maintaining shelf life. It’s won numerous awards, including Best In Class Cheese at the U.S. Cheese Championships.
Costco Burrata is $7.99 for a one-pound container.
Citterio Proscuitto De Parma
This ham is from specially bred and fed pigs raised in the Parma Province of North-Central Italy. It’s the real deal and has no artificial ingredients. The package also has the DOP label.
DOP is one of the most important things to consider when looking for authentic Italian food outside of Italy. DOP stands for Denominazione d’ Origine Protetta, which translates to Protected Designation of Origin. The government and administrative bodies regulate certain foods from Italy and other countries to ensure quality. Seeing this symbol confirms you are a great Italian food at Costco or any store.
A similar product was one-third more at the local grocery store.
Prosciutto at Costco costs $10.99 for 12 ounces.
Nutella
After World War II, cocoa was scarce, and an inventive Italian man Ferrero created a sweet solution. He made a paste from hazelnuts, sugar, and just a little rare cocoa. Nutella has been a staple ever since.
Costco carries the American-made spread. There is some controversy over whether the imported version is different than the American. Serious Eats dove in and speculated that there were a few more nuts in the one from overseas.
Nutella is perfect for a sweet snack, or use it in a dessert to complete your Italian feast.
Costco sells two 33.5-ounce jars of Nutella for $13.99.
Kirkland Signature Organic Pine Nuts
Buttery and sweet pine nuts are a staple of Italian cooking, not just because they’re a primary element in making a solid pesto. They have a rounded flavor that works in various recipes, from salads to pasta.
These nuts, also called Pignoli, are the edible parts of the pine tree and are notoriously expensive. The high price tag is due to the time it takes for the nuts to mature and the labor-intensive harvesting process. Kirkland Signature Organic Pine Nuts are almost half the price of the local grocer.
Kirkland Signature Organic Pine Nuts are $33.99 for one 24-ounce bag.
Kirkland Signature Balsamic Vinegar
This pasta has a perfect texture when fully cooked. The company takes quality seriously. Garofolo provides consumers with an innovative tool to track every package and view all the analyses carried out on the ingredients to guarantee the integrity of ingredients.
Great pasta is from durum wheat, has a rough texture, and uses a bronze die during production. This product ticks off all those boxes.
This is probably the best Italian food at Costco. Garofolo Pasta is always on our list and is a great deal at under $2 per package. Similar kinds of pasta are double the price in the local grocery store.
Garofolo Pasta at Costco is $10.69 for six 500-gram bags.
Canned Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the backbone of Italian cooking, from marinara sauce to pizza to lasagna; it’s hard to imagine this cuisine without this red vegetable. Our favorite retailer carries several varieties of canned tomatoes, but only two make our list of the best Italian food at Costco: Nina and Cento San Marzanos.
This tomato variety is prized in Italy for its sweetness and low moisture content. The large can of Nina is perfect for large quantities of sauce making. At the same time, the three-pack of 28-ounce cans of Cento is ideal for everyday cooking.
Cento is $11.99 for three 28-ounce cans.
Nina is $5.99 for one 6.63 pound can.
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