The Costco Heat-and-Eat App That Never Lasts 10 Minutes on My Party Table

It’s not a holiday party at my house without at least one (or two) Costco appetizers on the table. Sure, homemade is always the preferred choice when time allows, but when you’re coordinating a spread for a house full of people, I like to live by the ever-wise mantra of Ina Garten: “Store-bought is fine.”

And truthfully, sometimes store-bought is better than anything I could whip up in the kitchen. No matter how many homemade treats and bites I put out, one appetizer always vanishes first—and it just happens to be the easiest thing to prepare. It’s a little unassuming in appearance, but once you take the first bite, it’s nearly impossible not to go back for more.

What Are Brazi Bites?

If there’s one Costco appetizer I’d recommend above all others (and trust me, I’ve tried them all), it’s Brazi Bites. The heavenly little puffs are inspired by Brazilian pão de queijo, a traditional cheese bread often served at Brazilian steakhouses. Stuffed with Cheddar and Parmesan, the fluffy bites are pure appetizer perfection. 

The recipe is authentic, passed down through the Brazilian-American family who founded the company, and now packaged into the perfect heat-and-eat appetizer. Brazi Bites’ website shows these cheese buns are so beloved in Brazil that “every freezer in Brazil is stocked with pão de queijo in anticipation of the next impromptu get-together.” And now, my freezer is stocked, too.

Best of all, the bites take no effort to prepare. Move them right from the freezer to the oven or air fryer, and in about 20 minutes, you’ve got warm, cheesy bites that are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. And because they come in a resealable bag, you can pull out just a few if you need a quick snack—or a whole platter for a bigger party.

The pillowy puffs are made with tapioca flour, giving them a light, airy, and satisfying texture. Plus, it means they’re naturally gluten-free, so they’re perfect for hosting a party with a mix of dietary needs. In my experience, gluten-free or not, every guest swarms to this snack. 

And it’s not just me—plenty of other fans agree. One Reddit reviewer called them “fluffy, warm, and yummy,” and another said they “work great as a dinner roll substitute.” One fan even admitted that after trying Brazi Bites, their homemade attempts at pão de queijo just didn’t compare.

“Reliable, cheap and tasty,” another added. “Only issue is everyone wants them, so you have to buy double!”

You can find Brazi Bites at other grocery stores, but Costco is where you get the best bang for your buck: a platter full of puffs (62 pieces) will run you about $16.99.

Whether you’re serving them as an appetizer, a side dish, or just a snack, this freezer find is an easy, inexpensive way to make sure no one leaves your house hungry. And with the holidays kicking into full swing, you have no reason not to throw a bag of these crowd-pleasing puffs into your cart for any entertaining the season throws at you.