There are two schools of thought when it comes to the Super Bowl. There are what can easily be called the diehard fans, painting their faces in their team’s colors, standing in front of the TV, screaming “What kind of call was that?!” and generally just losing their dang minds. And then, there’s the rest of us, who show up at Super Bowl parties for the snacks and other tasty treats. But whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl shindig or going to one as a guest, you’ll want to know about these Costco appetizers that make the best party foods.
In 2022, it’s the Los Angeles Rams playing against the Cincinnati Bengals in what promises to be a really amazing Super Bowl LVI. But here’s what’s even more amazing: the amount of Costco finger foods you can give to your guests when they come to watch the game. Because that’s the beauty of buying in bulk; you can feed a full house, even when said crowd is rowdy — and ravenous.
So if you prefer to sit on the sidelines (and stuff your face) while the rest of the room goes nuts, you can partake of any of these Costco appetizers that are winners not just in quantity, but quality, too.
Charcuterie
Sure, you could take your time slicing up some salami and cheeses — or you could serve this ready-made charcuterie board instead. For $26, you’ll get Spanish style chorizo nuggets, aged prosciutto, a sampling of provolone and asiago cheeses, along with an assortment of salami, too.
Teriyaki pineapple chicken meatballs
Move over, meatballs in marinara sauce. These teriyaki pineapple chicken meatballs have a yummy sweet ‘n sour vibe that will make them a hit at your Super Bowl party. Just heat them up, stick a toothpick in them, and serve. You’ll get almost three pounds of mouthwatering meatballs for about $15.
Beef kebabs
For the ultimate in finger food, serve these beef kebabs from Costco at your party. The fully cooked kebabs (which cost $12 for 24 ounces) are seasoned with onions and other Mediterranean spices. You can serve them with rice or other sides, or simply let people pick up a skewer to eat them— as they skewer the fans of the opposing team.
Pretzel bites
Want to score a major touchdown with your Super Bowl party? Give your guests pretzel bites. And this party tray comes with everything you’d ever want with pretzel bites, like a mustard dip, a salt packet, and swoon, cheddar cheese dip. There are about 50 pretzel bites in this tray which costs about $13 bucks.
Chicken street tacos
When baby was up all night and you’re too tired to make tacos for your Super Bowl party, serve this ready-made tray instead. The 12-count comes with seasoned chicken, corn and flour tortillas, fresh shredded veggies, limes, salsa, and cilantro lime crema. It retails for $5.49 per pound, so expect to pay around $15 for this delicioso tray.
Stuffed crust pizza
Pizza is perfect for a quick and easy Super Bowl app. So if you’re looking for something you probably already have in your freezer, you can pop this 2-pack pepperoni pizza from Screamin’ Sicilian ($15) in your oven. Best part: there’s over 2 ½ feet (that’s right, feet) of cheese stuffed into the crust. Now that’s Italian.
Bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos
If you’re looking to serve something to kick off (ha) your Super Bowl soiree, look no further than these bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños. They’re stuffed with cream cheese and mozzarella, and then hand wrapped in a thick cut of bacon. Be sure to cook them well, since they come raw. You’ll get 18 poppers for $16.
Lasagna
Let’s face it: you just can’t go wrong with a lasagna. The Kirkland Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna ($17) can feed a crowd – even a super one like at your Super Bowl party. Pop it in the oven at least an hour before your party so that all the cheeses have time to get gooey and good.
Chicken burgers
Beef burgers are good, but chicken burgers are even better. And the Amylu organic charbroiled chicken burgers are made with caramelized onions and aged white cheddar. They come fully cooked, so all you’ll need to do is warm them up (on the grill, perhaps), and lay out a fixins bar for an awesome Super Bowl burger bar spread.
Meatballs
Frozen meatballs are one of the most versatile Costco party foods around, because there are approximately seven million different ways to prepare them. Grape jelly and BBQ sauce meatballs, Swedish meatballs, meatball subs.... the possibilities are pretty much endless. You'll have no trouble going through the whole 6-pound bag.
Shrimp
If you don't quite love a shrimp cocktail platter, but still have a craving for some seafood, hit up Costco’s frozen food section. These Panko-coated bites should hit the spot, and you get 40 to 50 pieces for around $20 a box.
Chicken potstickers
Potstickers are a good option to add a little variety to the typical football spread of pizza, wings, chips, and dip. These are stuffed with chicken and veggies, and a 4-pound bag is just $12.
Mozzarella sticks
I'm always a little tempted to buy this enormous, $14 package of mozzarella sticks whenever I’m shopping for Costco appetizers. (There's 82 to 92 in a box!) And then I remember that I'm the only person in my house who eats mozzarella sticks, and just because I could eat 5 pounds worth doesn't mean I should. But if you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, this is obviously a no brainer.
Beef franks wrapped in puff pastry
Beef franks wrapped in puff pastry sounds way classier than pigs in a blanket, right? But they're one and the same, and they're one of my all-time favorite Costco appetizers. You'll get 100 for $22 with this big box.
Mesquite wings
Costco chicken wings will run you about $6 a pound, and most packages had a little over 3 pounds worth of wings. The ones I perused were all mesquite flavor, but I've found that you can coat them in a bottle of your preferred wing sauce and the flavors will blend together nicely.
Mini crab cakes
My family had some of these crab cakes as part of our Christmas dinner spread, so I can tell you firsthand that they are absolutely addictive. A box of 36 costs $25, but I'd suggest getting two. This Costco finger food will go that fast.
Spring rolls
Spring rolls are the first thing I add to my order when I get takeout, but I'm wondering if these Costco vegetable spring rolls could cut my monthly Seamless bill way down. I very much appreciate that the $9.49 package comes with packets of plum sauce, because spring rolls just aren't complete without it.
Pinwheels
Costco's roasted chicken and Swiss cheese pinwheel sandwiches are amazing for feeding a crowd. You get 48 slices for $33, or can grab smaller packs of 12 for just a little over $11.
Meat & cheese rollups
These yummy rolls up are my go-to Costco party food and look super fancy spread out on a cheeseboard. For $15 you get about three dozen rolls, which are about two-thirds prosciutto and cheese and one-third sopressata and cheese. I am very confident that if you put some out, they'll be gone before you know it.
St. Louis ribs
Costco's racks of ribs go for $8 a pound, and the packages I saw were two to three pounds each. If you're picking up some, you might want to hit up the paper towel aisle, too, because there's just no way to eat ribs without making a huge mess.
Spinach & artichoke dip
I'd like to meet the inventor of spinach artichoke dip and shake their hand. This delicious stuff belongs on every appetizer table everywhere as far as I'm concerned. The tub is just under 2 pounds and goes for $9.
Hummus
You'd be surprised how fast 2 pounds of hummus will go, and 2 pounds of anything for just $6 is kind of ridiculous. If you're trying to keep your party budget under control, this should definitely be at the top of your list.
Naan dippers
I love the idea of laying out these little Naan Dippers alongside your salsa, hummus, and/or dips as an alternative to chips (which just fall apart anyway). This tub costs just $5.
Peanuts
Peanuts can be a perfect pre-game app. You can come up with creative ways to serve these supersized Virginia variety peanuts — or simply put them in a bowl and let your guests munch away. For $7, you can purchase a 40 oz. container of these extra crunchy, roasted and salted little legumes.
Tortilla chips
Can you really call it a Super Bowl party if there aren’t chips and dips? Probably not. These restaurant style tortilla chips are organic and contain a blend of real ground white and yellow corn. Plus, they come in a big ‘ol 40-ounce bag for $6, so you won’t have to worry about running out.
Boneless chicken wings
There’s probably no food more synonymous with the Super Bowl than wings. But if you want to spend more time watching the game (and less time cooking), just heat up these frozen wings, which are essentially chicken nuggets that are breaded and coated in a tangy buffalo-style sauce. They come in a giant 3.25-pound bag for less than $13.
Vanilla ice cream
Get your scooping arm ready, because there’s a lot of ice cream in this Kirkland container — four quarts to be precise. The dreamy dessert includes two 64-ounce containers for just $14, and can be used to top warm brownies, or become the base to a beautiful Super Bowl Sundae. Is ice cream technically an appetizer? If you're an "eat dessert first" kind of person, yes it is.
Mini chicken & cheese tacos
Every Costco shopper recognizes this box. Less than $12, this Don Miguel box contains 72 chicken and cheese mini tacos, and they're a snap to get together. Put a bunch of dips, queso, and guac out and have a feast.
Mini wontons
Mini food just tastes better, right? These fully cooked mini wontons are chicken and cilantro, and come in a 48-ounce bag for less than $12.
Bagel Bites
If your kids (or your partner, or you, honestly) are less a fan of fancy wontons and more into tiny pizzas, behold. You need this enormous box of Bagel Bites. Just under $11 for 72 perfect bite-sized snacks.
Mini cookies
For the sweet tooth, Kirkland's has a great deal on a 60-count box of mini chocolate chip cookies for less than $11. This is another fun one to add with the ice cream, so you could make a whole dessert bar, or put out dips and things like hot fudge, ice cream, marshmallow topping, or even frosting and sprinkles to deck out these little cookies.
Brie
There’s something about brie that can elevate any gathering. Instead of serving regular chips and cheesy dip, break out the brie. You can warm up the President’s Brie ($6.89/18 oz) for some extra gooeyness, or simply slice and serve it along with other yummy finger foods like fruit slices (apples and pears go particularly well with brie). You can also add in some berries, nuts, or crackers — and then pop some champagne when your preferred team gets a touchdown.
Pulled pork
For sliders that everyone will be talking about well past Game Day, you can’t pick a better package of pulled pork than The Wolf Family brand sold at Costco. Smoky and seasoned, all you need to do is heat it up and serve it with some good-quality buns. Of course, you could add some extra condiments (or put out a big ol’ bottle of BBQ sauce), but you don’t really need to. You’ll get 2 lbs. for $13.99, which means you’ll have enough for sammies and leftovers, too.
Cheese flight
The Kirkland Signature Cheese Flight is not the typical cheese served for your Super Bowl party. There are five cheeses represented in this yummy appetizer, from gruyere, Bellavitano, chevre (made from goat’s milk), pecorino (made from sheep’s milk), and fontal. They’re perfectly placed on a mock cutting board, so all you’ll need to do is snip open the package and serve it as is. There’s even a suggested wine pairing list; just swing over to Costco’s spirits section to score some wines that will work with the cheesy goodness.
Quiche
Maybe some would say it’s crazy to serve quiche on a day that celebrates sliders and chips. But your guests will gobble this 2-pack of quiche from La Terra Fina. And why not, when the flavors include spinach and artichoke and cheddar and broccoli. The quiches are made with egg whites (from cage-free eggs, to boot), and have 8-11 grams of protein per serving. All that healthy goodness can help offset some of the other, ahem, not-so-healthy treats everyone is eating.
Scalloped potatoes
There’s nothing like scalloped potatoes to turn your Super Bowl party into a swanky soiree. You can just pop the Main St. Bistro Baked Scalloped Potatoes ($6.99) into the oven, and in about eight minutes (yup, eight minutes), you’ll have perfectly cooked potatoes. The spuds are slathered in cheddar cheese, so they’ll be extra delish. And at 40 oz., the baked scalloped potatoes will definitely be a crowd pleaser.
Mac n cheese
Sure to please even the pickiest of eaters, Panera’s Mac & Cheese will curb any cheesy cravings. The 2-pack tub of mac & cheese is a simple heat-and-serve deal. You’ll just need to stir the mac and cheese so that it heats evenly. You’ll get 3 pounds of the good stuff for $10.99, and it’s even freezable (but it’s unlikely you’ll have any leftovers, anyway).
Organic cauliflower bites
Super Bowl Sunday might be a meat lovers paradise, but not for everyone. For the vegetarians at your party, put out these organic cauliflower bites from Don Lee Farms ($10.99). They’re made with organic sunflower seeds and white cheddar cheese. Not only are they GMO-free, but they’re also gluten-free, too. They microwave in mere minutes, too. Pop some toothpicks in them once they’re warm, and watch them disappear from the plate.
Jumbo beef meatballs
You could spend all day making Nonna’s secret recipe for spaghetti and meatballs — or you could just buy Mama Mancini’s Jumbo Beef Meatballs instead ($14.99). The meatballs are made from a family recipe dating back to 1921, and are authentically Italian. They’re already fully cooked, so you can either add them to the sauce simmering on the stove, or heat them in the oven. All that’s missing are some heroes and mozzarella, and those meatballs will be meant to be in a grinder.
Grilled chicken strips
Can you really go wrong with grilled chicken strips? We say no. It’s a totally versatile appetizer; you can add it to almost anything, or nothing and serve as is. The boneless and skinless breast meat is grilled over an open flame, so it’ll have that nice smoky flavor that you can only get from a grill. These chicken strips ($11.69 for 2 lbs.) have no added hormones or preservatives, and are both gluten and sugar-free. They’re fully cooked, so just warm them up before the game gets underway.
Buffalo style chicken dip
There are dips… and then there are dips. And this buffalo chicken dip ($8.99/24 oz.) is one of those Costco appetizers that can do so, so much more than top a tortilla chip. You can serve it with some veggies and (hopefully get your kids to learn to love celery sticks), or you can heat it up and add it on as a meal all its own (just add a starch like potatoes or rice), or just serve as a sammy. It’s made with all white chicken meat, too, which matters when you have a kiddo who doesn’t do dark meat.
No matter what everyone is craving, these Costco finger foods should find their way into your shopping wagon on your next trip to the store. And then, come Game Day, you can have supersized snacks for your Super Bowl party that will have everyone gathering (and noshing) in the end zone.
