One Costco Run: A Weekend Grocery Plan for 12 People
A warehouse-store run can save a large San Diego group from making five separate grocery trips, but only if the list is built around meals instead of random snacks.
For a 3-night stay with about 12 people, we would shop by meal blocks.
Breakfast and brunch
Think in batches
2 to 3 dozen eggs
2 loaves of bread or a large bagel pack
fruit that can sit out without drama
yogurt and granola
breakfast potatoes
coffee, creamer, and juice
If brunch is a centerpiece meal, add quiche ingredients, breakfast-taco fillings, or an overnight French-toast bake.
Lunch and easy daytime food
Keep this almost assembly-only
sandwich bread or rolls
sliced turkey or chicken
cheese
hummus
salad kits
fruit
chips and salsa
a tray of cut vegetables
People rarely want a formal lunch after a beach morning or sightseeing day.
Two easy dinners
Dinner 1: taco bar
Choose two proteins, tortillas, beans, rice, salsa, avocado, cheese, lettuce, limes, and one vegetarian filling. Corn tortillas make it easier to serve gluten-free guests without creating a second dinner.
Dinner 2: pasta night
Large pasta, two sauces, salad kits, garlic bread, and an optional protein. Baked ziti or lasagna-style casseroles are even easier because they can go into the oven before everyone is ready to eat.
The strategic extras
Buy enough water and ice on the first run. Get storage bags and foil if the house does not already have them. Buy a few late-night foods that require almost no effort. And leave room in the plan for one night out or one special meal.
Why the kitchen matters
A large group grocery plan works much better when the home has room to stage food. Our La Jolla Shores home has a larger kitchen setup suited to batch cooking, while our La Jolla galley-style kitchen opens toward the common area and works well for setting out snacks and buffet meals.
Large groups are usually happier when the house makes feeding everyone easier, not when the organizer has to improvise around a tiny kitchenette.
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