Costco Appetizers and Finger Foods Review
Author’s Note: Not a paid review. I have no affiliation with Costco. Or any of the brands mentioned here. These are my own weird little opinions.
Food for fingers, on a budget.
Is your stomach on a budget, but your fingers wanna eat? Planning a party or doing some holiday entertaining? Here are some of the appetizers, finger foods, or party nibbles from Costco that I’ve personally tried. I’ve written longer individual reviews for many of them. Click on the individual links if you want to know more. Otherwise, happy shopping!
Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita
I’ve purchased this frozen spanakopita appetizer from Costco multiple times, and it has yet to disappoint. The phyllo is crisp, buttery, and delicate. And the filling is moist and bursting with (magically not soggy) spinach. It tastes best served with a yogurt-based dip, but it’s also delicious by itself. A box of 48 appetizers costs $17. But it sometimes goes on sale for $5 off.
Minh Mini Chicken Eggrolls
Hmmph! I loved the savory flavor of these frozen Minh Mini Chicken Egg Rolls (I described it as tasting like ramen soup with a splash of celery seed), but the chicken was more elusive than Sasquatch. The veggies inside were beige and indistinguishable. But, the bubbly, crisp wonton wrappers were fabulous!
A box of 50 mini frozen egg rolls costs $10. I served mine with soy sauce.
Bibigo Vegetable Spring Rolls
On a happier note, the veggies inside these Bibigo frozen spring rolls are fantastically fresh-tasting. I’m impressed how the crispy-thin spring roll wrappers taste like they just came out of a deep fryer, despite being baked. Although I relished the rich umami taste, I was disappointed to discover it is powered by flavor enhancers, rather than just, well, food.
These are typically $10 for a box of 50, but they usually go on sale around the holidays for about $6. Serve them with the (included) packets of sweet gingery sauce.
Phillips Mini Crab Cakes
I’ll need to marry a rich man if I want to keep eating these little crab cakes. They’re an eye-watering $22.79 for 36 little nuggets. The good news is, they typically go on sale at Costco around the holidays.
I loved the crispy-soft texture of these delicate crab cake bites, and the combination of herbs and seasonings is deeply flavorful and multi-faceted. Overall, I am impressed how natural the ingredients are. Phillips Mini Crab Cakes are imported from Indonesia, and my local Costco stocks them regularly. I served mine with a homemade yogurt-based aioli sauce.
Amylu Cranberry Jalapeno Chicken Meatballs
For a festive, berry-filled meatball, these Amylu Cranberry Jalapeno Chicken Meatballs are hard to beat. They’re made with natural ingredients — no fillers or “ick” — and feature juicy whole cranberries. Plus demure heat from real jalapenos. They’re the ideal size for serving as finger-food with toothpicks.
These are a fresh/refrigerated item, although you can freeze them for a longer lifespan. Currently they cost $15 for 60 meatballs. But (say it with me): “they usually go on sale around the holidays!”
Kirkland Italian Style Beef Meatballs
As I wrote in my review, I wouldn’t choose these Italian Style Beef Meatballs as daily sustenance, but they are great for a party spread. They’re fully cooked, tender, and fully of savory flavor.
They’re perfect for crockpot meatball appetizers with a sweet grape pepper sauce. $20 for 140 meatballs (6 pounds!!!). For serving a big crowd, these are definitely a budget-friendly option.
Cuisine Adventures Green Chile Chicken Firecrackers
Whew! That’s a mouthful. These were not my favorite product from Cuisine Adventures. In fact, I really didn’t like these. They’re not very flavorful, and the filling was a bland goop. It made me sad. I did like the crisp-chewy wrappers, however. These need a flavorful sauce (not included) to reach their full potential.
Additionally, these were not an eye-popping value compared to other frozen appetizer options. Currently, these Green Chile Chicken Firecrackers cost $15 for 30 ounces.
Don Miguel Mini Tacos
Yaaaaas! These itty-bitty tacos are the perfect party scoops. They’re like tiny, tasty spatulas. There isn’t tons of filling inside, but what is there is flavorful and moist. If you’re looking for a dip to pair them with, I recommend this Mexicali Dip from Aldi — it’s got a great combination of sour cream, cheese, pimentos, and spices. Plus, it’s the ideal dipping texture for these crunchy tacos.
A box of 72 frozen Don Miguel Mini Tacos currently costs $13 at my local Costco. It’s a 3.15 pound box, so that’s a lot of taco joy for the money! Choose taco joy.
Cuisine Adventures Mini Quiche
I love these mini quiches. They’re tender but hearty. Notably, the crust is wonderfully tender-crisp, buttery, and flavorful all on its own. The filling is rich and smooth and has a satisfying balance of cheesiness-to-egginess. Egginess is a word now. Deal with it. I even enjoyed these the next day, cold from my refrigerator.
You get two different flavors of the Cuisine Adventures Mini Quiche: Spinach Florentine and Four Cheese. A box of 72 frozen quiches is currently $19 at Costco.
Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks
I’ve purchased these Petite Cuisine Mozarella Sticks, and I liked them. They are tasty, but not gourmet or anything I’d truly rave about. The outside is crisp and nicely crumb-coated, with a pleasant-but-subtle savory seasoning. There’s a generous amount of stretchy, melty cheese inside. As there should be.
I made these in my air frier, and found them reliable and quick to prepare, although you do have to watch them to avoid overcooking/oozing cheese everywhere. Otherwise, these are self-contained enough to serve neatly and conveniently at most party functions. $17 for 80 ounces. Yes, that’s 5 pounds. Bonus: these usually go on sale around the holidays, for as much as $5 off per package. Worth waiting for?
Cuisine Adventures Puff Pastry Bites
You guys. These are amazing. I’m pretty sure these are my number one appetizer pick, of all history. The pastry is fabulously crisp and delicate, with a buttery flavor and airy crunch. I was impressed by the rich flavors of the fillings. Nary a bland bite. Plus, they’re absolutely gorgeous. For an elegant party, these are sure to please even your pickiest guests.
I really like the variety in this package. You get four different flavors (and yes, they each taste quite distinct): Roasted Red Pepper & Cheddar, Spinach & Parmesan, Artichoke, Monterey Jack & Jalapeno, Caramelized Onion & Ricotta. These Cuisine Adventures Puff Pastry Bites (here’s the review) are currently $12 for 48 appetizers. But, they’re not very filling morsels. Probably not the ideal option for a large, hungry crowd.
Snack Factory White Creme & Peppermint Pretzel Crisps
For a sweet finger food, these delicate pretzel crisps are festive and delicious. I love that the candy bits are colored with beet juice, and the white creme coating is flavored with real vanilla. The thin shape is elegant and fun to eat. They’re not “melty,” so they’re tidy to serve.
Currently, Snack Factory White Creme & Peppermint Pretzels cost an eye-watering $9.49 for 20 ounces. But they usually go on sale around the holidays. This year, the sale price was only $6.49. Much more reasonable.
(Sam’s Club sells a “Pumpkin Spice” flavor of these Snack Factory pretzels, if that’s your jam. They’re delicious!)
Costco Kirkland Sweet Heat Snack Mix
Warning: highly addictive. The spicy-sweet seasoning blend on this snack mix is the kind of flavor that I find irresistible. I loooove the smokey flavor, and the rich BBQ-ish taste (which isn’t overly salty). They have more heat than I expected; my parents found them just a tad too spicy, but my friends all loved them. I appreciate the large, high-quality nuts, and there is enough crunchy variety here to keep your guests satisfied. In fact, there are SIX different items in this mix.
A 24-ounce bag of Costco’s Sweet Heat Snack Mix costs $11 at my local warehouse. Haven’t seen these go on sale, but I live in hope.
Costco Bakery Rugula
These bite-sized rugelach pastries are a great sweet addition to your party spread. While I loved the buttery pastry (made with REAL butter, I might add!), I was less enthused by the sparse (and artificially flavored) filling. They’re generously crusted with crunchy coarse sugar for a satisfying textural contrast.
You’ll get a mixture of raspberry walnut and chocolate cream cheese flavor. A box of about 2-dozen Costco Rugula is $11 in the Bakery department.
(Here’s my guide to Costco Holiday Desserts, if you’re looking for more sweet options.)
Haddar Coconut Macaroons
I loved these Haddar Dark Chocolate Coconut Macaroons. They’re tender and chewy, with a bittersweet coating of good-quality dark chocolate. I was especially impressed by the ingredients, however: sulfite-free coconut, invert sugar, tapioca starch, egg whites, semi-sweet chocolate. That’s it. That’s all. I personally have to avoid products preserved with sulfites (which unfortunately ends up being most coconut products), so I was thrilled that these are sulfite-free.
The size is perfect for finger-food; they’re about two bites each. These macaroons also have a long shelf-life; mine expired roughly 6 months after purchase. I stored them in my refrigerator and they aged like vampires. $6.50 for 2 pounds.
Costco Kirkland Peppermint Bark
Eh. This is a wildly popular Costco product that just failed to excite me. There’s nothing wrong with it. But it doesn’t really live up to the hype, either. And I can’t wrap my head around the price: $17 for 21 ounces. I do love that it’s flavored with real vanilla and peppermint oil, and the crunchy candy bits are colored with natural juices.
The bark pieces are sturdy and densely coated with the candy pieces. There’s a layer of dark chocolate, topped with a layer of white chocolate. It has a hand-made vibe, which will look great on your party buffet. You can find this in the Costco Bakery area between November and December. Here’s my full review of the Kirkland Peppermint Bark.
El Monterey Chicken and Cheese Taquitos
These taquitos were not my favorite. In fact, I genuinely disliked them. I couldn’t even finish the package. The chicken had a weird gummy texture, and the cheese wasn’t particularly flavorful. They definitely taste better dipped in some kind of sauce. For a party spread, I cut mine into halves or thirds at a diagonal angle.
You can find these El Monterey Chicken and Cheese Taquitos in the frozen section. There are 30 taquitos per 51 ounce box for $14.
Cheeses for a Cheese Board or Charcuterie
Meister Cheese
I highly recommend the Meister brand flavored cheeses. Unfortunately, my Costco only sells one flavor at a time. Happily, the un-opened packages have a long shelf-life — around 10 months — so you can buy these ahead of time and save them for your party. I don’t have the willpower to do that, alas.
The Meister flavors I’ve tried so far are: Banana Pepper Jack (my second-favorite), Bruschetta (pictured above… it tastes like pizza, but looks like Christmas!), Sweet Fire Mango Jack (good lord! it’s spicy!!), Wild Morel and Leek (my least favorite), and Garlic Pesto (my favorite). These are all $6.99 per 1-pound block.
Artikaas Cheeses
I also recommend the Artikaas Smoked Gouda and Holy Sheep Gouda, if you can find them. The smoked gouda has a fabulous natural hickory flavor, and the Holy Sheep has an almost parmesan richness.
Costco Kirkland Oven Browned Turkey Breast
Costco sells this store-brand cooked turkey breast in the Deli area. It’s pretty good! Cube it and add it to your charcuterie board, like I did. Or carve it up, and serve it cold on your buffet spread. This turkey has impressively natural ingredients, and a fresh, simple taste.
The bad news is, you have to buy 3-4 pounds (or more) at once; it is sold by weight, and the size of each breast varies. The smallest one I could find was 3 pounds. Hope your guests are hungry! The Kirkland Oven Browned Turkey Breast costs $4.79 per pound.
Wild Wonders Tomatoes
For a healthier option (or just filling out your charcuterie board), may I suggest these colorful little tomatoes? Costco sells a 2-pound tub of Wild Wonders Gourmet Medley for $6.59. You get 4 different colors of tomatoes, which looks glorious on any appetizer spread. We eat food with our eyes first, you know?
These are the perfect size for popping in your mouth as finger food. I like them plain, but they also pair well with hummus or garlic dip. Check the package for the country of origin; some packages are from Canada, and some are from Mexico. I prefer the flavor of the Mexican tomatoes.
Kirkland European Cookie Tin
While this is an excellent hostess gift, it is also great for your own party buffet. What I especially like is the enormous variety of cookie shapes, textures, and flavors. In fact, there are 15 different cookie varieties. The Belgian chocolate is high-quality and plentiful. Plus, these are gorgeous cookies, with lots of attention to detail in the patterns and garnishes.
I was disappointed by the scarcity of dark chocolate and nuts. But otherwise, this Kirkland European Cookies assortment is a winner. $20 for 49.4 ounces. This is a seasonal item, usually available October through December.
Dramatic Conclusion
Costco is a great source for party appetizers, as long as you are willing to buy a large package at once. Unfortunately, the availability of items is not consistent. It’s not as easy to plan ahead as I would like. You kind of have to buy things when you see them, because they may not return for another 12 months. Fortunately, many options are frozen, so most items can be bought ahead of time and saved for your event.
The End.
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