11 Smart Bulk Buys from Costco and Walmart You’ll Be Glad You Stocked Up On

FOOD
By Ava Foster

Shopping can feel overwhelming when you’re staring down a 10-pound bag of cashews or a cheesecake the size of a small tire. But some bulk buys are genuinely worth every inch of freezer and pantry space.

Whether you’re feeding a busy family or just trying to save money on everyday essentials, the right picks can make your life a whole lot easier. Here are 11 bulk buys that shoppers swear by — and for good reason.

1. Frozen Kirkland Chicken Breast or Chunks

© Costco Business Center

Meal prep just got a whole lot easier, thanks to Costco’s big bags of frozen Kirkland chicken.

Whether you’re tossing pieces into an air fryer, roasting them in the oven, or adding chunks to a slow cooker stew, these freeze beautifully and thaw quickly.

One bag can easily last a family of four through several dinners without any stress.

The price per pound beats most grocery stores by a noticeable margin, making this a smart buy for budget-conscious shoppers.

Stock up, portion them into smaller freezer bags at home, and you’ll always have a reliable protein ready to go on busy weeknights.

2. Kirkland Signature Greek Yogurt

© Costco Wholesale

Few things pull double duty in the kitchen quite like a big pack of Greek yogurt.

Scoop some into a bowl with granola for breakfast, blend it into a smoothie, or use it as a creamy swap for sour cream in recipes — the options are almost endless.

Costco’s Kirkland Greek yogurt comes in a generous multipack that keeps well in the fridge and offers excellent cost savings compared to buying individual cups elsewhere.

Each serving is packed with protein, making it a filling and nutritious option for kids and adults alike.

It’s one of those refrigerator staples you’ll find yourself reaching for every single day without fail.

3. Kirkland Signature Organic Whole Unsalted Cashews

© Costco Wholesale

Cashews might just be the most versatile nut in the pantry.

Eat them straight from the bag, toss them into stir-fry, blend them into homemade cashew butter, or add them to a trail mix for a satisfying crunch — the possibilities are genuinely impressive.

Kirkland’s organic whole cashews come in a large resealable bag that keeps them fresh for weeks.

Compared to buying smaller bags at regular grocery stores, the savings per ounce are hard to argue with.

Keeping a bag of quality cashews on hand means you’re always just minutes away from a nutritious snack or a flavorful addition to whatever you’re cooking that night.

4. Sea Cuisine Guinness Battered Fish Strips

© Walmart

Friday night fish dinners just got a serious upgrade.

Sea Cuisine’s Guinness battered fish strips come in a club-sized bag that goes straight from your freezer to the oven or air fryer with almost zero effort required on your part.

The Guinness batter gives each strip a rich, slightly malty flavor that tastes far more elevated than your average frozen fish.

They crisp up beautifully and pair wonderfully with tartar sauce, coleslaw, or even tucked into a soft roll.

For anyone who observes Lent or just enjoys a lighter protein option on weeknights, this bulk buy delivers both convenience and surprisingly restaurant-quality results at a fraction of the cost.

5. Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil

© Walmart

Olive oil is one of those pantry staples you should never run out of — and yet, somehow, it always seems to happen at the worst possible moment.

Costco’s Kirkland Extra Virgin Olive Oil solves that problem with its large bottle format and a price per ounce that genuinely beats most grocery store options.

Cold-pressed and rich in flavor, it works beautifully for sauteing vegetables, drizzling over salads, or dipping bread.

The quality is consistently excellent, which is why so many home cooks consider it a non-negotiable Costco buy.

Store it in a cool, dark cabinet and it’ll stay fresh for months — making this big bottle a genuinely smart investment for any kitchen.

6. Waterloo Sparkling Water Multi-Pack

© Walmart

Staying hydrated doesn’t have to be boring, and Waterloo sparkling water makes a pretty convincing case for ditching plain still water entirely.

Available in a wide range of fruity flavors, these lightly carbonated cans are crisp, refreshing, and completely guilt-free.

Buying the bulk multi-pack at Costco slashes the per-can price dramatically compared to picking up a six-pack at a convenience store.

For households that go through sparkling water quickly — and many do — this is a practical no-brainer.

Stack them in the pantry, toss a few in the fridge, and you’ve always got a satisfying alternative to sugary sodas within arm’s reach whenever thirst strikes throughout the day.

7. Cosmic Crisp Apples Large Bag

© Walmart

Cosmic Crisp apples earned their name honestly — they’re genuinely one of the crunchiest, juiciest apple varieties on the market today.

Costco’s large bag gives you a generous haul at a great per-pound price that’s tough to match anywhere else.

Stored properly in the refrigerator, these apples stay fresh and crisp for weeks, making the bulk quantity totally manageable.

Slice them up for lunchboxes, pair them with peanut butter for an after-school snack, or bake them into a cozy apple crisp.

Produce in bulk can feel risky, but Cosmic Crisp apples are one of the rare exceptions — their natural staying power makes buying a big bag an easy, confident decision every single time.

8. Kirkland Signature House Blend Coffee Bulk Bag

© Walmart

For anyone who treats their morning cup of coffee as a non-negotiable daily ritual, running out of beans is basically a minor emergency.

Kirkland’s House Blend coffee comes in a satisfyingly large bag that keeps the coffee flowing for weeks without a single stressful restock trip.

The blend is smooth, well-rounded, and works great in drip machines, French presses, and pour-over setups alike.

Roasted by Starbucks for Kirkland, the quality is genuinely solid for an everyday brew.

On a per-cup cost basis, this bulk bag offers remarkable savings over buying smaller bags at cafes or specialty stores — making it one of the most beloved Costco regulars among serious coffee drinkers.

9. Bulk Pasta, Sauces and Pantry Staples

© Costco Wholesale

A well-stocked pantry is basically a superpower, and Costco’s bulk pasta and jarred sauce options are the foundation of that superpower.

Large boxes of spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni paired with multipack jars of quality marinara can carry you through weeks of easy weeknight dinners.

The shelf life on dry pasta is impressively long — often two or more years — so buying in bulk makes complete sense without any worry about waste.

Jarred sauces last well too, especially when stored in a cool, dark spot.

When life gets hectic and cooking from scratch isn’t happening, having these pantry heroes on standby means a satisfying hot meal is always just about 15 minutes away.

10. Kirkland Signature Paper Towels and Bath Tissue

© Costco Wholesale

Nobody has ever said, “I wish I had fewer paper towels at home.” Kirkland’s bulk paper towels and bath tissue are the kind of purchase that just makes life quietly easier — you stop worrying about running out, and you stop making extra store runs for basics.

The quality is genuinely impressive for a store brand.

Kirkland bath tissue in particular is thick, soft, and absorbent, often drawing favorable comparisons to name-brand competitors that cost significantly more per roll.

Storing a big pack in a closet or garage takes some upfront space, but the per-unit savings and the sheer convenience of always being stocked make this one of Costco’s most reliable household bulk buys.

11. Batteries AA and AAA Bulk Packs

© Walmart

Batteries are one of those things you never think about until you desperately need them — usually at 10 PM when a kid’s toy dies or the TV remote stops responding.

Buying a bulk pack at Costco means that frantic search through kitchen drawers becomes a thing of the past.

Kirkland and Duracell battery packs at Costco offer exceptional per-battery pricing, and since batteries have a shelf life of up to 10 years, there’s truly no downside to stocking up generously.

They don’t expire quickly, and they never go to waste.

From smoke detectors to gaming controllers to flashlights, having a steady backup supply of batteries at home is one of those small preparations that consistently pays off.