This $11 Cheesy Costco Appetizer Makes Hosting Easy

You might know Costco as a bulk retail paradise, where you can buy nuts by the pound at discounted prices and stock up on enough cans of beans to last you through an apocalypse. While all of the above is certainly true, it’s important to not overlook one of Costco’s other superpowers: the entertaining gems that are hiding out in its aisles.

If you’re searching for party-ready snacks like seasoned chicken wings or large hunks of good-quality cheese that aren’t exorbitantly high priced, this superstore is the place to go. And among the many hosting helpers available here, there’s one that everyone should be buying this holiday season.

In the refrigerated section of Costco, near the cheese and butter, are cardboard boxes containing ready-to-heat loaves of pull-apart garlic cheese bread, just waiting for you to snag one before New Year’s Eve. Made by French food brand Tipiak, these easy-to-make loaves are the kind of life-saving appetizer that needs zero prep — just 15 minutes in the oven — and delivers impressive results.

Each loaf is made of French sourdough and already has a cross-hatch pattern cut into it, making it easy to grab a single bite. Butter, Brie cheese sauce, Emmental cheese, garlic, and parsley are all stuffed into the crevices, creating satisfying cheese pulls as you lift each piece.

With butter, cheese, garlic, herbs, and bread, this is definitely the kind of appetizer that would please many people. But what really makes it worth grabbing is the price and convenience. The exact cost might vary depending on your Costco location, but this loaf typically comes in at around $11 to $15.

If I got the ingredients I needed to make this from scratch at my nearest Whole Foods, I’d need a loaf of sourdough ($5.50), a wedge of Brie (around $9.50), Emmental ($7), and parsley ($1).

Assuming I already have garlic and butter on hand, that totals about $23, give or take a few dollars depending on the exact cheeses you buy. But no matter which Brie you get, that’s still going to come out to a higher price tag than the premade option from Costco, and you’ll have to spend time slicing and stuffing the loaf yourself.

There’s no need to serve the bread with anything on the side — garlic and parsley give it plenty of punchy flavor — but if you do want something to dunk the cheesy bites into, marinara would be perfect. Plus, while you’re already at Costco, you can pick up a jar that’s both affordable and excellent.