Two facts every Costco member needs to memorize about Memorial Day:
1. Costco is closed on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026). It’s one of the few days a year the warehouse doors don’t open.
2. Costco’s Memorial Day sale starts mid-May and runs through the first weekend of June — meaning the deepest deals are the week of May 18-24, not the day-of.
Translation: if you’re hosting (or even just BBQ-attending), do your run Friday May 22 or Saturday May 23. The aisles will be a war zone — but everything you need will be in stock.
Here’s the exact 25-item Costco BBQ list, organized by station, with member-favorite picks for each.
Contents
- 1 Hightlights — the 5 things you MUST grab by May 22
- 2 Proteins (Items 1-7)
- 3 Buns + Bread (Items 8-9)
- 4 Sides + Salads (Items 10-14)
- 5 Snacks + Chips (Items 15-17)
- 6 Condiments + Sauces (Items 18-20)
- 7 Drinks (Items 21-23)
- 8 Dessert + Ice (Items 24-25)
- 9 The exact Costco run timing (memorize this)
- 10 Don’t forget the non-food essentials (the part everyone forgets)
- 11 Bonus: the gas grill that just got marked down
- 12 ☑️ The print-and-go shopping list
- 13 Bottom line
Hightlights — the 5 things you MUST grab by May 22
Kirkland Signature Beef Brats (14-link party box) — under $20, freezes well
Beef Ribeye Steak Bone-In USDA Prime — $17.99/lb, the splurge protein worth doing
Heinz Condiment Picnic Pack (Ketchup + Mustard + Relish + Mayo) — one box covers everything
Kinder’s Organic BBQ Sauce 3-Pack (Golden + Original + Sticky Honey) — gluten-free, no HFCS
Helados Mexico Con Crema bars — the “everyone’s happy” frozen dessert
The other 20 items below — read on.
Proteins (Items 1-7)
1. Kirkland Signature Beef Brats (14-link party box)
The unanimous member-favorite for “I’m cooking for 12+ people and don’t want to think about it.” Sub-$20 for 14 links, party-sized. Throw ’em on the grill, done.
2. Beef Ribeye Steak Bone-In USDA Prime ($17.99/lb)
The splurge protein. Costco’s Prime ribeyes punch way above the price. Get one if you’re cooking for a “core” group of 4-6 people who will appreciate it.
3. Costco Burger Patties (or Make Your Own from Kirkland Ground Beef 88/12)
Pre-made patties save time but the Kirkland Signature Ground Beef 88/12 lets you do thick, hand-shaped patties at a much better cost-per-patty.
4. Costco Hot Dogs (3-pack of 12 bun-size = 36 dogs)
The cheapest “no one will be hungry” insurance policy at any BBQ. Even people who say they don’t want a hot dog end up eating a hot dog.
5. Kirkland Signature Spatchcocked Whole Chicken or Drumsticks
Spatchcocked whole chicken cooks fast on the grill (~45 min) and feeds a crowd. Drumsticks are the cheapest BBQ protein per pound, period.
6. Mishima Reserve Wagyu Beef (when in stock)
For your inner steakhouse. They appear in some warehouses around Memorial Day — premium price (~$25 for 4 patties) but unbelievable.
7. Kirkland Atlantic Salmon Fillets
For the non-red-meat eater at every BBQ. Cedar plank in the foil section, salmon in the seafood case. Easy, impressive.
Buns + Bread (Items 8-9)
8. Costco Bakery Hamburger Buns (24-count) AND Hot Dog Buns (24-count)
Members swear the Costco bakery buns beat the grocery-store national brands. Soft, slightly sweet, hold together under sauce.
9. La Brea Bakery Take & Bake Garlic Bread
Pop in the oven for 10 min, slice, dip in BBQ sauce or eat with the brats. ~$8 for 2 loaves.
Sides + Salads (Items 10-14)
10. Costco Deli Macaroni Salad OR Potato Salad
Pre-made deli sides save you 30 minutes and a sink of dishes. Both feed 8-10 easily.
11. Coleslaw Mix
Fresh slaw that takes literally 60 seconds to assemble.
12. Grillo’s Pickles Dill Spears (52-oz tub)
Grillo’s is Costco’s pickle hero — kosher, gluten-free, vegan. The 52-oz tub is BBQ insurance — you’ll use them on burgers, sandwiches, and straight from the jar.
13. Watermelon (whole or pre-cut wedges)
The “no one will say no” fruit. Pre-cut wedges from the produce section save you the cutting-board ordeal.
14. Kirkland Signature Strawberries OR Blueberries (organic, 2-lb clamshell)
Mix into a fruit salad with the watermelon. Done.
Snacks + Chips (Items 15-17)
15. Miss Vickie’s Kettle-Cooked Chips (Variety Pack — 30 count)
Individual snack-size bags = no soggy chip bowl, no wasted half-bag. The variety pack hits jalapeño + sea salt + smokehouse BBQ + lime so everyone finds their flavor.
16. Kirkland Signature Trail Mix or Mixed Nuts
For the lighter snackers. The 5-lb container of mixed nuts is a forever pantry add.
17. Tostitos Tortilla Chips + Costco Salsa or Guacamole (Wholly Guacamole Cups)
The Wholly Guac single-serve cups are clutch — no browning, no leftovers in the fridge.
Condiments + Sauces (Items 18-20)
18. Heinz Picnic Pack (Ketchup + Yellow Mustard + Relish + Mayo)
ONE box covers your entire condiment table. Cost-per-bottle is roughly half what you’d pay buying them individually.
19. Kinder’s Organic BBQ Sauce 3-Pack (Golden BBQ + Original + Sticky Honey)
Gluten-free, organic, no high-fructose corn syrup. Three different sauces means three different proteins, one trip.
20. Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce (Original + Honey 2-pack)
The democratic choice. If you’re feeding picky eaters, Sweet Baby Ray’s is the universal language.
Drinks (Items 21-23)
21. Beer (Modelo, Corona, Coors Light, or Costco’s craft selection)
Modelo + lime is the unofficial beer of Costco BBQs. Corona Premier for the lighter-beer crowd. Costco prices the cases ~$4-6 cheaper than grocery.
22. Kirkland Signature Sparkling Energy Drink Variety Pack (24-pack, ~$22)
The newer Kirkland sparkling energy line — three fruity flavors, 200mg caffeine each, no sugar. Replaces the Celsius / Red Bull / Alani crowd at a fraction of the cost.
23. Gatorade Variety Pack (Lemon-Lime + Fruit Punch + Orange — 24-pack)
For the hot afternoon crowd that needs hydration, not alcohol. Plus the kids.
Dessert + Ice (Items 24-25)
24. Helados Mexico Con Crema Bars (24-count)
Members cite these as the “no one is unhappy” frozen dessert. Real fruit, milky cream, ~$1/bar. Crowd-pleaser.
25. Kirkland Signature Ice (or 2 bags of regular ice)
Costco’s ice is cheap and the 8-lb bags are big. You’ll need at least 2 for the cooler + drink station.
The exact Costco run timing (memorize this)
| Day | Crowd | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Sat May 17 | Light | Pre-shop the non-perishables (chips, condiments, sauces, drinks, paper) |
| Wed May 21 | Medium | Pick up frozen and shelf-stable items you missed |
| Fri May 22 | Heavy | Proteins + bakery + produce — the freshest “go” run |
| Sat May 23 | War zone | Avoid if possible. If you must — go right at opening (10am most warehouses) |
| Sun May 24 | War zone | Avoid. Last-minute panic shoppers + checkout lines 30 min+ |
| Mon May 25 | CLOSED | Costco is closed nationwide. No exceptions. |
The deepest sale prices are Wed-Sat that week. The Memorial Day Sale itself runs through the first weekend of June, so single-item shoppers can wait — but BBQ inventory specifically gets cleared by the holiday.
Don’t forget the non-food essentials (the part everyone forgets)
- Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil (12″ x 83.33 yd, 2-count) — currently $5.50 off in May
- Plastic forks + spoons + paper plates (Kirkland Signature combo packs)
- Kirkland Signature Paper Towels (12-count or 15-count)
- Lighter fluid + matches (if you’re charcoal grilling)
- Propane refill if your grill is low — most Costcos have on-site propane, but lines on May 22-24 are brutal
Bonus: the gas grill that just got marked down
If your current grill is on its last summer, Costco currently has $100 off a major-brand gas grill through the Memorial Day window. The model and depth-of-discount varies by warehouse, but the .97 ending is the signal — scan the patio aisle.
We have a full breakdown of Costco’s $100-Off Memorial Day Outdoor Cooking Must-Have — what it is, the .97 tag to scan for, and the online-only trick to lock it in.
☑️ The print-and-go shopping list
Copy this into your phone notes:
PROTEINS
□ Kirkland Beef Brats (14-pack)
□ Bone-in Ribeye OR Burger patties OR Ground Beef 88/12
□ Hot dogs (3-pack of 12)
□ Spatchcocked chicken or drumsticks
□ Salmon fillet (optional)
BUNS
□ Costco bakery hamburger buns (24)
□ Costco bakery hot dog buns (24)
□ Garlic bread (optional)
SIDES
□ Deli mac salad
□ Coleslaw kit
□ Grillo's pickles
□ Watermelon
□ Berries (organic 2-lb)
SNACKS
□ Miss Vickie's variety chips
□ Mixed nuts
□ Tostitos + salsa OR Wholly Guac
CONDIMENTS
□ Heinz Picnic Pack
□ Kinder's BBQ 3-pack
□ Sweet Baby Ray's
DRINKS
□ Beer (your choice)
□ Kirkland Sparkling Energy 24
□ Gatorade variety 24
DESSERT/ICE
□ Helados Mexico bars
□ Ice (2 bags)
NON-FOOD
□ Aluminum foil
□ Plates / forks / spoons
□ Paper towels
□ Lighter fluid (charcoal only)
□ Propane refill (if needed)
Bottom line
Memorial Day at Costco is won the week before, not the day of. Your warehouse closes Monday May 25 — get your run in by Saturday May 23 (preferably Friday May 22). The sale prices are deepest mid-week, and the proteins clear fastest as the holiday approaches.
Lock in the 25 items above and you’ve got 12-20 people fed for under $300. That’s about $15/person for a full BBQ — try matching that anywhere else.
Subscribe to Costco Finds — we drop the holiday shopping lists, sale alerts, and Markdown Monday picks every week.
Related on RetailShout:
– What’s Trending at Costco This Week
– Top 50 Costco Online .97 Markdown Deals This Week
– Top New Costco Finds You Can’t Miss (5/8 – 5/14)
