15 Best Costco Foods to Make in an Air Fryer
If you’re stocking up on Costco’s frozen aisle and wondering what actually turns out great in the air fryer, here’s the list — 15 Costco favorites, each with the exact time and temperature to use, so you’re not guessing in front of an open freezer door. Once you’ve stocked up, check out our how to clean an air fryer guide to keep it in top shape after all that use.
Quick Reference: Costco Foods in the Air Fryer
| Food | Temperature | Approximate Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast Chunks | 180°C / 360°F | 10-12 min |
| Tempura Shrimp | 195°C / 380°F | 8 min |
| Extra-Crispy French Fries | 200°C / 400°F | 15-18 min |
| Meatballs | 205°C / 400°F | 5-10 min |
| Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon | 200°C / 390°F | 8 min (thawed) |
| Organic Broccoli Florets | 205°C / 400°F | 10-12 min |
| Mozzarella Sticks | 205°C / 400°F | 5-6 min |
| Crispy Chicken Strips | 190°C / 370°F | 15-20 min |
| Breakfast Sandwiches | 175°C / 350°F | 4-6 min |
| Mandarin Orange Chicken | 190°C / 375°F | 10-12 min |
| Crispy Jalapeño Bites | 190°C / 375°F | 8-10 min |
| Chicken Pot Pies | 175°C / 350°F | 20-25 min |
| Brazilian Cheese Bread | 190°C / 375°F | 15 min |
| Normandy Vegetable Blend | 200°C / 400°F | 10-12 min |
| Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (fresh) | 180°C / 355°F | 15-20 min |
These times are a starting point — always check the package first, since Costco updates formulations and some already print their own air fryer instructions.
Why Do Costco Products Work So Well in the Air Fryer?
Most of Costco’s frozen aisle is designed for oven cooking, but the high-speed hot air of an air fryer gets closer to that fresh-fried texture in a fraction of the time, without the mess of a deep fryer. Because Costco portions tend to be large, the trick that matters most across nearly every item on this list is not overcrowding the basket — cook in batches rather than dumping in the whole bag.
The 15 Best Costco Foods for the Air Fryer
1. Kirkland Signature Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks
The single most talked-about Costco air fryer item among regular shoppers. Fully cooked, so you’re just reheating and crisping — 10-12 minutes at 180°C (360°F) in a single layer is all it takes. Toss with your favorite sauce right after cooking for the best flavor.
2. Kirkland Signature Tempura Shrimp
30 shrimp per box, ready in just 8 minutes at 195°C (380°F). The light tempura batter crisps up beautifully in the air fryer — serve with the included soy dipping sauce for a restaurant-style appetizer with almost no effort.
3. Kirkland Signature Extra-Crispy French Fries
A step up from standard frozen fries thanks to their coating. 15-18 minutes at 200°C (400°F), shaking the basket halfway through, gets you a genuinely crispy, potato-forward result.
4. Kirkland Signature Meatballs
These Italian-style beef meatballs go from freezer to table in 5-10 minutes at 205°C (400°F) — golden brown outside, juicy inside. Great for a quick appetizer or tossed into pasta.
5. Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
Thaw first, then cook at 200°C (390°F) for about 8 minutes. A simple mix of Dijon mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar as a quick marinade turns this into a genuinely restaurant-quality dinner.
6. Kirkland Signature Organic Broccoli Florets
Straight from frozen at 205°C (400°F) for 10-12 minutes, depending on quantity. A squeeze of lemon juice or a drizzle of hot honey before serving takes it from side dish to standout.
7. Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks
These go from frozen to melty in just 5-6 minutes at 205°C (400°F) — but watch them closely near the end, since the cheese can burst through the coating fast if you overcook them even slightly.
8. Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips
Uncooked and breaded, these need a bit longer: 15-20 minutes at 190°C (370°F). The payoff is a genuinely crispy exterior with juicy chicken inside — often compared favorably to fast-food strips.
9. Kirkland Signature Breakfast Sandwiches
The fastest item on this list. Just 4-6 minutes at 175°C (350°F) turns a frozen egg, cheese, and bacon sandwich on a croissant into a hot breakfast with zero prep.
10. Crazy Cuizine Mandarin Orange Chicken
A favorite among air fryer fans online for good reason — 10-12 minutes at 190°C (375°F) crisps the coating far better than a microwave ever could, with the sauce staying glossy instead of soggy.
11. Feel Good Foods Crispy Jalapeño Bites
A gluten-free pick that doesn’t skimp on crunch. 8-10 minutes at 190°C (375°F) gets the cheddar and cream cheese filling hot and gooey inside a crispy shell.
12. Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pies
Not the most obvious air fryer candidate, but it works well: 20-25 minutes at 175°C (350°F) gives you a flakier crust than the microwave, without heating up the whole oven for a single pie.
13. Brazi Bites Brazilian Cheese Bread
These tapioca-flour cheese bites take about 15 minutes at 190°C (375°F) — noticeably faster than the oven, and they disappear just as fast once they hit the table.
14. Kirkland Signature Normandy-Style Vegetable Blend
A mix of cauliflower, carrot, and broccoli that goes from freezer to crispy-edged side dish in 10-12 minutes at 200°C (400°F) with just a drizzle of olive oil and garlic.
15. Kirkland Signature Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (Fresh)
The most versatile item on the list. Not pre-breaded or frozen — just fresh chicken breast, ready in 15-20 minutes at 180°C (355°F) with whatever seasoning or marinade you’re in the mood for.
Tips for Air Frying Costco’s Large Portions
- Don’t overcrowd the basket — Costco portions are bulk-sized, so cook in batches rather than dumping the whole bag in at once; overcrowding is the single most common reason results turn out soggy instead of crispy.
- Check the package first — some Kirkland Signature products now print their own air fryer instructions directly on the bag, which may differ slightly from the times above.
- Thaw seafood before cooking — unlike most items on this list, salmon and shrimp generally cook more evenly if thawed first rather than cooked from frozen.
- Shake or flip halfway through — especially important for fries, chicken chunks, and vegetables, so every piece gets that even, crispy finish.
- Curious how much electricity all this air frying actually uses? Check out our breakdown of whether an air fryer uses more electricity than an oven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Costco Foods in the Air Fryer
What’s the most popular Costco food to cook in an air fryer? The Kirkland Signature Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks come up again and again across shopper reviews and online discussions as the top pick — versatile, quick, and consistently crispy.
Do I need to thaw Costco frozen foods before air frying them? Most items on this list, like fries, meatballs, and breaded chicken, go straight from freezer to basket. Seafood like salmon and shrimp, however, generally turns out more evenly cooked if thawed first.
Why do my Costco air fryer foods turn out soggy instead of crispy? The most common cause is overcrowding the basket. Costco portions are large, so it’s almost always better to cook in two or three smaller batches than to fit everything in at once.
Can I cook Costco’s frozen vegetables in the air fryer without oil? You can, though a light drizzle of olive oil helps them brown and crisp at the edges. Without any oil, they’ll still cook through, just with a softer texture overall.
What temperature should I use for most Costco frozen foods in the air fryer? Most items on this list fall between 175-205°C (350-400°F), so if you’re improvising with a Costco product not listed here, starting around 190°C (375°F) and checking a few minutes early is a safe bet.
Are Costco’s air fryer instructions on the packaging reliable? Generally yes — more Kirkland Signature products are now printing air fryer-specific instructions directly on the packaging, and these are usually accurate for standard-sized air fryers.
What Costco breakfast items work well in the air fryer? Kirkland Signature Breakfast Sandwiches are the fastest and most popular option, ready in under 6 minutes, though other frozen breakfast sandwiches and croissant pockets sold at Costco cook similarly well.
Can I air fry Costco’s Marie Callender’s pot pies instead of using the oven? Yes, and it’s actually a good use case — the air fryer gives the crust a flakier texture in less time than a full oven preheat, especially convenient if you’re only cooking a single pie.
What’s the best Costco seafood item for the air fryer? Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon is the standout, cooking up crispy on the outside and juicy inside in about 8 minutes once thawed — many air fryer owners say it’s become their go-to way to cook salmon.
Do gluten-free Costco products work well in the air fryer? Yes — Feel Good Foods Crispy Jalapeño Bites are a good example, delivering a crispy exterior comparable to standard breaded appetizers while being entirely gluten-free.
Looking for more supermarket-specific air fryer picks? Check out our guide to the best Walmart foods for the air fryer too.
