The 10 Best Holiday Appetizers From Costco

When I say there is a revolving door at my house, I mean it. It’s rare that we don’t have family, friends, or friends of friends stopping by our farm in Vermont throughout the year — and that’s especially true during the holidays. This time of year, I keep my fridge and freezer stocked with affordable, go-to appetizers from Costco that just need a bit of doctoring up to seem fancy.

Charcuterie, cheese, dried fruit, and crackers are no-brainers, but I also like to grab dips, desserts, and frozen appetizers I can heat up and serve. Here’s my list of what to keep on hand, because you never know when you’re going to have (hungry) company.

Royal Asia Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce

Food & Wine / Royal Asia

You can bake these (gluten-free!) frozen shrimp, but I recommend cooking them in the air fryer at 400°F for eight minutes so the coconut coating gets nice and crispy. I upgrade the sweet chili sauce by combining it with Kewpie mayo and adding a little lime zest. Garnish with scallions, and your guests will think these are homemade.

La Terra Fina Spinach Artichoke & Parmesan Dip & Spread

Food & Wine / La Terra Fina

This cheesy, garlicky, and spinach-packed dip always gets devoured at parties. Serve with chips, crudités, and/or crackers — I love Simply Mill’s Almond Flour crackers, which happen to be gluten-free.

Kirkland Signature Cheese Flight

Food & Wine / Costco Wholesale

This great selection of higher-end cheeses, including a provolone, manchego, chèvre, and fontal, is already prepped and ready to go. I especially love the inclusion of Jasper Hill’s cave-aged cheddar from my home state of Vermont.

Fratelli Beretta Antipasto Tray

Food & Wine / Fratelli Beretta U.S.A.

You’ll need some meat to go with all that cheese. There’s something for everyone in this set of Italian cured meats: dry salami, black pepper-rubbed dry salami, dry coppa, and prosciutto.

La Vie Gourmand Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pasteis de Nata)

Food & Wine / La Vie Gourmand

Find a mini version of your favorite Portuguese treats in the freezer aisle. These custardy tarts, which are imported from Portugal, taste just as good at room temperature as they do out of the oven, so you don’t have to worry about keeping them warm for your guests.

Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita

Food & Wine / Plats du Chef / Cuisine Adventures

These flaky spinach and feta triangles are great to have on hand for vegetarians, and a particularly delicious way to get your greens. This box comes with a whopping 48 spanakopita — keep it in the freezer for emergency entertaining or snacking.

Phillips Crab Cake Minis

Food & Wine / Costco Wholesale

These mini frozen crab cakes don’t skimp on the crab. But the real secret to their flavor is the anchovies in the mix, which give them umami depth. I cook these on a wire baking rack set over a sheet pan so they get extra crispy, then serve with garlic aioli and scallions.

Junior’s Mini Cheesecakes

Food & Wine / Costco Wholesale

Another freezer aisle find, this pack of crustless cheesecakes includes original, chocolate swirl, and strawberry swirl flavors. I find that these just need a little oomph to make them party-worthy. Drizzle them with caramel and top with chopped nuts, a fresh fruit topping, and/or lemon curd to make them stand out on your dessert table.

Good Foods Buffalo Style Chicken Dip

Food & Wine / Good Foods Group

Go ahead and buy two of these dips — this creamy and crowd-pleasing combo is packed with shredded chicken, hot sauce, and a Monterey Jack cheese blend. I like to serve it with carrots, celery, and sturdy potato chips like Ruffles.

Tsar Nicoulai Classic White Sturgeon Caviar Gift Set

Food & Wine / Costco Wholesale

Yes, you can get caviar at Costco. This gift set comes with a two-ounce jar of domestically farmed caviar, smoked sturgeon paté, blini, and crème fraîche. In other words, it’s got all the makings of a perfect holiday happy hour.

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