One Of The Best Costco Finds Under $20 Comes From Kirkland Signature

As any seasoned Costco shopper knows, you can often get the best bang for your buck if you keep an eye out for the Kirkland Signature name. Considered by many to be the best store brand out there, this private label is praised for its high-quality products and budget-friendly price points. So, it should come as little surprise that it's behind Costco's beloved five cheese tortelloni, one of the most impressive bites you can buy for less than $20 at the superstore.

The price varies by location. However, as of this writing, the price tracking app, Warehouse Runner, estimates that the average cost for the two-pack of refrigerated pasta is around $12.48. Considering that it gets you three whopping pounds of tortelloni — 14 servings in total — that comes out to just about 89 cents per meal. Unsurprisingly, many shoppers find it to be a great bargain.

The Kirkland product also gets high marks for being simple to prepare. All you need to do is drop the pieces in a pot of boiling water and wait two minutes for your tender pasta to be ready, making it a quick and easy choice for busy weeknights. "This is my go-to lazy [night] dinner," wrote one Reddit user. "Stir with some Kirkland basil pesto sauce and eat. Better than the Amy's frozen pesto bowls and way cheaper, too."

As for the tortelloni itself, each bite-sized pocket of pasta is stuffed with ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, mascarpone, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano. The blend of cheeses provides a creamy texture and savory, salty punch. This combination of qualities is decidedly versatile. In fact, it's not uncommon to find Costco customers discussing their favorite ways to prepare the Kirkland tortelloni.

In addition to the pesto preference of the Redditor quoted earlier, folks enjoy the pasta tossed into soups, topped with classic marinara sauce, and, per another user in the thread, "with some Victoria sauce, mushrooms, and the Kirkland frozen meatballs." They can also be enjoyed cold in pasta salad, mixed with some herbs, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, and olive oil. To add some protein to the mix, consider grilled chicken, salami, or bits of pancetta.

Another pro tip to make the most of this affordable buy? Although the product needs only to be refrigerated, a number of buyers actually suggest freezing it first. "I never cook these from fresh. I buy them on sale, keep them in our freezer to pull out for quick dinners. It definitely works well," shared one Costco shopper on Reddit. Another noted, "They cook perfectly from frozen." Not only will this significantly extend the pasta's lifespan, it'll also better maintain the taste and texture of the remaining pieces if you don't cook all of it at once.