Costco Adds Kirkland Pesto Pasta Salad; Tasting Notes, Tips Shared

Costco added a Kirkland Signature Pesto Pasta Salad to its refrigerated deli selection on January 17, 2026, bringing a pesto-forward ready-to-eat option to members who want a fast lunch or picnic side. The tub blends cooked trottole - small spiral pasta - with Kirkland basil pesto, slow-roasted tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and arugula, and it has already prompted social chatter about flavor, portioning and shelf life.

The salad presents as a classic pesto combo with some modern deli convenience. The trottole holds sauce well thanks to its spirals, the basil pesto anchors the bowl with herbaceous, garlicky notes, and slow-roasted tomatoes add concentrated sweetness. Mozzarella pearls provide creaminess and arugula brings peppery lift and a fresher contrast to the oil-based pesto. Shoppers praised the straightforward flavor profile and convenience, while concerns centered on the tub size relative to serves and a reportedly short refrigerated shelf life.

Costco labeled the tubs with a per-pound price for members to compare against other deli offerings. Packaging details reflect typical deli practice: sold ready-to-eat in a clear tub, refrigerated, with a use-by or sell-by date printed on the label. Given shopper reports about the short shelf life, check the printed date in your warehouse before buying and plan to eat the salad soon after purchase.

Practical tips for turning the tub into a meal: add shredded rotisserie chicken to make the salad heartier and protein-packed; toss in a squeeze of lemon or a splash of extra-virgin olive oil to brighten the pesto; and serve chilled or at room temperature depending on preference. If portioning is a concern, transfer part of the tub into a smaller container and refrigerate immediately to stretch servings across a couple of meals.

For home cooks who prefer to replicate the salad, start with cooked trottole or another short spiral pasta, toss while warm with a good-quality basil pesto, fold in chopped slow-roasted tomatoes and mozzarella pearls, then stir in arugula at the end to keep it brisk. Adjust oil and lemon to taste and add shredded rotisserie chicken to bulk up the plate. As with the store tub, assemble close to serving time to preserve arugula texture.

The arrival of the Kirkland pesto pasta salad gives members another ready-to-eat pasta option that is both picnic-friendly and adaptable. Check your local warehouse deli for availability and the per-pound label, or use the recipe framework here to build your own batch if you prefer control over seasoning, shelf life and portion size.