Last updated September 2026
Costco can be a great place to stock up on ingredients for safe swallowing meals, but not every product fits neatly into a dysphagia diet. This guide breaks down practical options across IDDSI levels, along with simple adjustments to make them safer and easier to eat.
How to Use this List Safely
- Always test texture before serving, following your prescribed diet texture (Find IDDSI testing information here.)
- Temperature can change thickness
- Costco products can be different from the recipes by the same brands; do confirm it fits your diet texture
Liquidized (IDDSI Level LQ3)
Pacific Foods Tomato Soup: A classic blended soup, I found that at the temperatures I was enjoying it at, this tests at the LQ3 level than a puree. If enjoying at closer to room temperature or cold, its possible it climbs a level, so its always important to test foods at the temperature you will be eating them at. (Learn about time impacts texture).
Liquid Egg Whites: Since they are pasteurized, these cartons of egg whites can be enjoyed as an ingredient in a recipe or on their own for a quick protein option.
Columbia Heart Beet Smoothie blend: While there are still some fruits in the mix that will require a quick straining, these preportioned bags bring in some excellent vegan options, as well as turmeric, to offer some depth and variety to a liquidized diet.
Dole Whip Tropical Guava Passion Frozen Treat: This item shows up in the liquidized vs the puree category because desserts like ice cream or whipped cream become liquids once they are inside our mouth. Due to the additions of oils, syrups and gums, this one tested thicker for me, but always test at the melted state with a flow test for appropriate liquid thickness.
Kirkland Chicken Bone Broth: A savory option that offers protein and aromatic flavors, this can always be thickened to level LQ3.
You can also make your own broth at home if you are taking home a classic rotisserie chicken.
Pureed Foods (IDDSI Level PU4)
Hummus: These individual 2.5oz cups are a great quick option that can be enjoyed on their own, or combined with minced proteins or vegetables for higher levels.
Greek Yogurt: Whether you’re buying Kirkland’s plain Greek yogurt in the 48oz tub, which flexes easily into sauces, or opting for flavored with Noosa, Oikos Triple Zero or Chobani’s 20g protein no sugar added cups as snacks, this is an excellent protein source.
Canned Pumpkin: Either on it own with a bit of ground spice and sweetener or used as an ingredient, these cans of pureed pumpkin take care of any skins, seeds or stringy squash guts that can make their way into homemade versions. The flesh is completely smooth, so you just need to test your final product with the spoon tilt and fork drip test before enjoying.
On the Go Applesauce Pouches: The naturally accessible pureed texture of these applesauce pouches with the fiber and hydration boost definitely sweeten the deal. The jars can be perfect for home, but for quick grab a portion option, these work well. Just remember to bring a bowl and remove from the pouch to make sure there isn’t too thin of liquids separating out (if your care team has noted challenges with the timing or coordination of your swallow).
Toom Garlic Dip: It may not be the move on a first date, but it brings serious value to the table for a long relationship thanks to it’s texture. Smooth and uniform, like whipped hummus, it is made from garlic cloves, oil, lemon juice and salt. I have successfully used this spread to pregel breadcrumbs to create a fantastic garlic bread alternative.
Petit Pots Extra Creamy Chocolate Pudding: This French dessert, made with whole milk, gives an extra boost of 10g of protein while satisfying a sweet treat craving. Rice starch and pectin help keep body to the smooth pudding, which tested for me at the PU4 level.
Queso Mama Beer Queso: While their green chile version has been a staple over the months I have been keeping this list, it includes some skins that would need to be processed down further or completely strained out. This new offering is completely smooth and with less heat and more tang. The cheese does not become stringy or chewy when at room temperature, but do be aware when heating as the flow speed can change.
Bitchin’ Sauces: A line of vegan sauces, made from almonds, that are a great option for dysphagia diets. While I can’t speak to every flavor (particularly the spinach and artichoke), I have found that the one’s I’ve tried have a nice uniform texture, but is fairly thin and would benefit from mixing into a plain Greek yogurt or dairy free alternative, to help thicken to a IDDSI level 4 Pureed thickness. With almonds boasting high fiber content and some extra protein that rarely comes from sauces, I think this will be in my modified texture grocery rotation for a while.
Minced & Moist (IDDSI Level MM5) Foods
Amylu Sesame Ginger Chicken Crumbles: While you will need to thicken up the mandu sauce to make this a true MM5 food, this is an excellent leg up on a satisfying lunch or dinner, since these are fully cooked and will be a lot closer to minced level than other prepared chicken snacks.
Petit Pot Mango Tapioca Pudding: These tropical flavored snacks offer a little extra texture by using tapioca pearls suspended in the creamy pudding. It’s always necessary to test for your individual servings but even if there are a few pearls larger than the adult 4mm particle size, this is a great starting point. (More of a coconut fan? Make your own tropical tapioca pudding)
Good Foods Avocado Mash: While guacamole has chunks of onion and tomato, this option just seasons the avocados with sea salt and black pepper. You should still monitor the sizes of the mash, but this is a great option to help hold together other ingredients like minced proteins or veggies to make a manageable bite.
Big T Seafood Dips: Whether with smoked salmon or crab, these cream cheese based dips are delicious and only need a quick mince to work for people that benefit from more help with wrangling a traditionally flaky food.
Hannah Tzatziki Sauce: Often a finisher for Greek dishes, this spread is a great option as a binder or on its own for MM5 diets. The sour cream base offers a thickness and calorie fortification that makes it a good purchase for adding savory herbal variety to your diet.
Tasty Bite’s Organic Madras Lentils: The mild version sold at Costco offers vegan protein, iron and fiber. Cooked in creamy tomato sauce with red beans, this dysphagia staple often comes right out of the pouch at an level 5 Minced and Moist, although temperature will affect how thin the sauce is, so always be sure to test at time of serving.
Cottage Cheese: Particularly at the 4% milkfat level, this snack tends to fit well with for macros and texture. A little higher calorie density, smaller curds formation, and extra creamy may make it possible to skip modification all together (watch out for too thin of whey, the liquid part of cottage cheese).
Dessert Italiano Tiramisu Cups: A classic dessert that effortlessly flows into dysphagia eating due to the fact that the cake (or cookies for the more traditional recipes) has been pregelled by being soaked and packaged in coffee and mascarpone cream. The only prep necessary to get this to level is mincing to ensure 4mm pieces, the moisture levels are already taken care of.
Gen BBQ Beef Bulgogi: This soy and sesame marinated, thinly sliced beef has been tenderized to be a great starting point for a faster assembly style meal. The package I tested did have pieces larger than a mince so you will need to pull out the cutting board, but the marinade helped keep the meat cohesive once it has been broken down properly.
Soft & Bite-Sized (IDDSI Level SB6) Foods
Gefen Beets: Cooked and peeled, these beets do come whole so while they will need chopping into the 15mm pieces (and removing a small piece of where roots/stems were occasionally), these are a great whole food grab.
Egglands Best Three Cheese Omelets: This was an item them came off the list before ultimately staying on because it really does come down to the cheese. In general the omelet had good fluffiness that gave way to the fork easily, but the main challenge will be the cheese. At high temperatures, I did get a little stringiness from the cheese filling, but due to the type of cheese used, slightly lower temperatures decreased the chewiness and stretchiness of the cheese significantly. In a pinch, cheese could be removed for a smaller layer. I just loved the convenience of a warm savory breakfast without breaking out the frying pan.
Kevin’s Natural Foods Entrees: From Korean BBQ Beef, to Cilantro Lime or roasted garlic Chicken, these entrees just need a quick zap and then measuring bites to 15mm to fit the bill. The preservatives and sauces have helped keep the meats tender enough to pass the fork pressure test, just as long as heating isn’t too drying or intense.
Kirkland Signature Spinach and Cheese Ravioli: While leafy greens can be difficult for some, cooking and blending spinach into a filling can be enough for some. Paired with a non-stretching cheese, these ravioli can quickly be adjusted to SB6 when cut down to 15mm pieces.
Bianco DiNapoli Whole Peeled Tomatoes: While they do still have seeds that need to be removed and dicing down to 15mm pieces, these tomatoes are prepeeled to help shorten up prep.
Kirkland Organic Feta: Feta is definitely a crumbling cheese, which means easy to bite through. While you may find it precrumbled from other brands, Costco has some bricks that allow you to serve larger pieces while still knowing they pass the soft qualifications.
Season Boneless Skinless Sardines: Easy to flake and packed with healthy fats for satiety and caloric density, these sardines can be a great item to swap into your tuna rotation.
Kirkland Signature Shredded Chicken: While their whole rotisserie chickens have a true cult following, fewer know Costco also offers other ready to grab options, including shredded chicken breast meat. This is a way to still enjoy whatever eau de chicken they use to ensure their chickens hold moisture so well, without the need to remove skin, cartilage and bone (although if you do have those to spare, I highly recommend making your own fortified sipping broth!). As breast meat is leaner on chickens, it will be a lower fat option that can flex with whatever flavor profile you’re craving. They also offer a chicken salad that could be cut toward the minced and moist level, but their use of celery may be a challenge, due to the strong fibrous strings.
Summers Peak Sheet Pan Vegetables: This blend of zucchini, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes can be found in the freezer section and is a decent option for getting more fiber and micronutrients without additional prep. Baking on sheet pans may lead to some drier fibers, particularly with the red onions, so do consider a wet cooking method like steaming or pressure cooking. Otherwise, the Normandy Style vegetable blend can be an even better option when fully cooked.
Veggies Made Great Broccoli cheddar potato bakes: The only tweak I make to fit this level, beyond a quick dice into 15mm pieces, is using wet methods like steaming to heat these bakes, to avoid crispy edges.
Kasia’s Potato and Cheese Pierogi: Filled with a fine mince of onion, potato and cheese, these can be mixed with your favorite sauce after a quick warm up and dice down to size.
Kirkland Canned Chicken: Shelf stable and already boneless and skinless, this chicken is a flexible option that easily dices and flakes due to good moisture levels (just be sure to drain off thin liquids).
Easy to Chew (IDDSI Level EC7) Foods
Honey Smoked Salmon: Simple to flake, the skins on this salmon may be the only adjustment needed for some eating at this level. They have a couple of flavors like the traditional and the chipotle and lime if you like a little heat; this can easily stand alone or be made into a poke bowl.
Jones Frozen Sausage Links: A quickly portioned meat that just requires reheating, making it a great option for dysphagia folks with chronic fatigue. Coming in both pork and chicken sausage links, these are easy to flex for whatever macronutrient profile you’re eating. Their recipes doesn’t add a ton of extra sugar and it doesn’t have a casing you need to remove. On top of this, their sizing has been quite consistent in staying within the 15mm size of IDDSI SB6 so you just need to measure in one direction to achieve the correct bite size. I have also noticed that reheating with a wet cooking method like steam or braising is going to help avoid any tougher, chewier textures.
Kirkland Stuffed Bell Peppers: Another staple of the Costco deli, these ground beef and rice stuffed peppers can be enjoyed with little to no extra steps (cheese topping and pepper skins stretched the level a bit.
Gary’s QuickSteak: This 100% sirloin beef is already processed into thin strips across the tendons of the meat to help keep it tender and easier to chew. The only edit I would make is braising the meat vs pan frying/searing to avoid crisping edges/seizing up the meat. Lower for a little longer and with beef broth (straining before serving) led to good results that passed my IDDSI testing.
Spam: A classic shelf stable protein, this product is well processed to reduce any unpredictable textures. While frying is a common way to prepare it, I would recommend keeping your cooking method wet like braising or steaming to avoid any crispy corners.
Kirkland Tilapia Loins: While this could potentially flex down to Soft and Bite Sized 6, I placed this item here because there is a small amount of texture along the midline of the loin. But being boneless and skinless, when cooked in a moist heat method, these filets can be a ready to go option.
Bibigo Steamed Dumplings: The chicken and vegetable version of their dumplings come with a steaming tray to help keep the wrappers from getting too tough (try not to let them sit or they may need to be resteamed). The filling is soft and moist without dripping. I do not recommend the steamed soup dumplings due to the dual consistency they create due to the broth captured inside.
Kirkland Tofu: An excellent plant based protein, tofus can come in several different firmness levels. The level I have seen most in the warehouse is extra firm, which I am going to rank at this easy to chew level in general, but cooking methods are going to be the final decision maker for where this tofu lands in IDDSI levels.
Perfect Bars: This refrigerated snack bar has a nice yielding texture, particularly the peanut butter version (there is a chocolate chip version in this pack that I have not tried; those morsels might be a bit harder). With a slightly higher protein level and 20 superfoods included, these could be a good on the go option for breakfast or snacks.
Kirkland Sous Vide egg bites: While their bacon and gouda version would not pass if fatigue or sufficient teeth (or dentures) are factors in your dysphagia, the cheese and red pepper version was a great option that uses egg whites to keep fats in check while not skipping on flavor. There are a Veggies Made Great version as well, but I did notice a lot more spinach throughout, which may become challenging to people that have trouble clearing their mouth of leafy greens and thin skins of peppers and tomatoes.
Transitional Foods
Amara Yogurt Smoothie Melts: Dairy free with no added sugars, these shelf snacks offer a poppable fruit snack that doesn’t require chewing to break down.
Calbee Harvest Snaps Pea Snacks: Baked to an airy crunch that dissolves with saliva and light pressure, these snacks help practice chewing with low stakes if challenges arrive.
Hippeas Trippin Cheddar baked chickpea puffs: Similar to Cheetos puffs, these snacks break down with just moisture and the pressure of the tongue. With lower fat content than other popular snacks and higher amounts of protein per serving, these may be a new favorite.
Loacker Minis Wafer Cookie: This variety pack of vanilla, chocolate, and hazelnut wafer cookies are a dessert option that encourages chewing, but will break down with just moisture and pressure.
180 Snacks Korean sweet and spicy puffs: Similar to the Hippeas above, this more complex flavor profile can appeal to some more thanks to the balance between spiciness and sweetness.
Safety and Availability Disclaimer:
Costco inventory changes frequently, and products may vary by location. I will be coming back through and updating this article throughout the year, so be sure to bookmark this if you’re a Costco member. Always check textures and test foods before serving to ensure they meet individual swallowing needs.
Looking for some more IDDSI Info?
When you’re on the go, it can be tough to pack a dysphagia friendly meal. Here’s a soft fast food roundup that breaks down options from popular chains by IDDSI level and common modifications. Or get the playbook for how to make any meal dysphagia friendly.
