Spoon or Skip? Ranking 12 Costco Soups for Cozy Season

As November’s nip hits, Costco’s soup selection is our cozy cheat code—affordable, hearty, and ready in minutes.

Our taste test crew (guinea pigs included) slurped 12 refrigerated and frozen contenders, judging flavor, texture, and that “just-like-home” vibe.

From salty regrets to spice-packed wins, here’s the lineup from worst to best.

12. Blount’s Family Kitchen Lasagna Soup ($13 for two packs)

• Over-seasoned fennel-pepper bomb with mushy noodles and lingering salt; turkey sausage offers faint meatiness—dilute with broth to tame.

11. Kirkland Signature Lobster Bisque ($12.99 for two tubs)

• Watery, bland, overly salty-sweet with scarce lobster; thin texture reheats poorly—skip unless you enjoy a luxe disappointment.

10. Blount’s Family Kitchen Clam Shack New England Clam Chowder Soup ($14.99 for two buckets)

• Cream-heavy blandness with mild seafood hints and token clams; gluten-free and cheap per bowl but lacks briny chowder soul.

9. Kirkland Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup ($14 for 4-pound tub)

• Thick broth with real rotisserie chicken and veggies, but 650mg sodium overwhelms; floury noodles—rinse for sniffle-season relief.

8. Boudin Sourdough Creamy Tomato Basil Soup ($10 for 60 ounces)

• Silky tomato-basil start turns dessert-sweet (16g sugar); great value—pair with bread to balance the saccharine swing.

7. Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup ($10 for eight bowls)

• Bold cheddar crunch with broccoli and carrots, but 990mg sodium bombs; stealthy reheat—add potatoes to temper the salt.

6. Ivar’s Rustic Zuppa Toscana Soup ($11.50 for two containers)

• Spicy sausage, kale, and garlic evoke Tuscan warmth; budget restaurant dupe—bold but picky-eater friendly.

5. Blount’s Family Kitchen Clam Shack Gumbo ($11 for two sleeves)

• Balanced spice with shrimp, sausage, okra, rice, and peppers; chewy bites conquer murky looks—near-homemade flavor blast.

4. Panera Autumn Squash Soup ($11.99 for two-pack)

• Silky-sweet butternut hug (20g sugar via honey/apple); vegetarian fall comfort—burnt-orange glow for gentle palates.

3. Ivar’s Loaded Baked Potato Soup ($9.99 for two-pack)

• Hearty potato-bacon-cheddar stew with pepper kick and garlic lift; flawless comfort—$1 bowls steal for spud fans.

2. Cuisine Adventures French Onion Soup ($8.79 for six servings)

• Caramelized onions in beefy stock with melty cheese/croutons; 45-min bake yields bistro magic—addictively savory.

1. Kirkland Signature Chicken Tortilla Soup ($9 for two tubs)

• Vibrant tomato-spice with corn, chicken, peppers; mild, kid-friendly heat and value—minor tough chicken; replay champ.