Costco's Kirkland Tortelloni Hailed Top Find Under $20

Mashed names Kirkland Signature's five-cheese tortelloni one of Costco's best buys under $20, citing about $12.48 for three pounds of pasta.

According to Mashed, one of the most impressive bites you can buy for less than $20 at Costco is the Kirkland Signature five cheese tortelloni, the retailer's private-label refrigerated pasta. Mashed reports that the price varies by location, but that the price-tracking app Warehouse Runner estimates the average cost of the two-pack at around $12.48. That two-pack contains a full three pounds of tortelloni, or 14 servings in total, which Mashed calculates works out to roughly 89 cents per meal. The tortelloni are stuffed with ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, mascarpone, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano, a blend Mashed says delivers a creamy texture and a savory, salty punch.

Mashed frames the find as proof of the Kirkland Signature halo effect, noting the private label is considered by many shoppers to be the best store brand out there, praised for high quality at budget-friendly prices. Preparation adds to the appeal, since Mashed reports the tortelloni simply need two minutes in boiling water. One Reddit user quoted by Mashed called it their go-to lazy-night dinner, stirred with Kirkland basil pesto sauce, saying it beats Amy's frozen pesto bowls and is way cheaper too.

The versatility of the cheese filling is central to the praise Mashed describes, and the outlet notes it is not uncommon to find Costco customers discussing their favorite preparations. Beyond the pesto pairing, Mashed reports that shoppers toss the pasta into soups, top it with classic marinara, or, per one Reddit user, serve it with Victoria sauce, mushrooms, and Kirkland frozen meatballs. It also works cold: Mashed describes pasta salad mixed with herbs, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive oil, with grilled chicken, salami, or pancetta adding protein. Separately, Yahoo's lifestyle video coverage highlights a different Kirkland favorite, calling chocolate-covered raisins a longtime Costco snack standout, part of the same private-label buzz.

One practical tip emerges from Mashed's reporting that could change how buyers use the deal: although the tortelloni only need refrigeration, multiple shoppers say freezing them first is the smarter move. One Costco shopper on Reddit told the outlet they never cook the pasta from fresh, buying it on sale and keeping it in the freezer to pull out for quick dinners, while another noted the tortelloni cook perfectly from frozen. Mashed reports freezing significantly extends the pasta's lifespan and better maintains taste and texture of uncooked pieces.