Costco Seafood Boil at $11.99/lb: Worth It for Summer Cookouts?
Costco just dropped a seafood boil that set the internet on fire — and for good reason. The Lusamerica Seafood Boil packs Wild Dungeness Crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, red potatoes, corn, and a spice packet into one bag at $11.99 per pound. It’s pre-cooked and on the table in six minutes.
When a short video of this hit social media, it racked up hundreds of comments and thousands of shares almost immediately. That kind of reaction doesn’t happen for a bad product — but it also doesn’t mean everyone agrees on whether it’s a deal.
What You’re Actually Getting
This is a complete seafood boil kit, not just crab. You get Dungeness crab pieces, shrimp, mussels, clams, red potatoes, and corn — all seasoned and pre-cooked. Reheat in six minutes and you’re done. The spice packet lets you adjust heat at the end, which is a nice touch for families with kids at the table.
Dungeness crab alone at a seafood counter or restaurant regularly commands a significant premium, so folding it into a mixed boil with shrimp and shellfish at $11.99/lb is genuinely competitive — especially for a summer cookout where you’re feeding a crowd.
Who This Is Best For
Summer hosts on a time crunch. This is your move when you want the backyard seafood boil aesthetic without spending an afternoon at the stove. Spread some newspaper on the picnic table, dump the pot, crack open some cold drinks, and you’re the hero of the cookout — in under 10 minutes of actual effort.
Southern families who already love a boil. If you grew up with Low Country boil or Gulf Coast shrimp boils, this format is second nature. Costco’s version is a convenient weeknight upgrade when you don’t want to source everything separately.
Smaller households or first-timers. Building a seafood boil from scratch means buying Dungeness crab, shrimp, and shellfish separately — which often means minimum quantities of each. This kit solves the “too much of one thing” problem neatly.
The Honest Caveats
The $11.99/lb price is reasonable, but this is a warehouse buy, so the total package weight matters. You’re paying for the potatoes and corn too, not just premium shellfish — keep that in mind when calculating cost per person. If your family is mostly going for the crab and shrimp, the mixed kit may not stretch as far as you’d hope.
Also, “pre-cooked” doesn’t mean freeze-proof forever. Check your store’s package for the use-by date and plan accordingly — don’t let it sit in the freezer and forget about it.
Availability can vary by region and time of year. Costco rotates seasonal seafood items, so if you see it, grab it rather than planning a second trip.
The Verdict
At $11.99/lb for a ready-in-six-minutes boil that includes Dungeness crab, this clears the bar for summer entertaining value. It’s not a replacement for a made-from-scratch boil if you’re a purist — but for the host who wants a crowd-pleasing centerpiece without the production, it’s hard to beat.
Find it in the refrigerated or frozen seafood section at your Costco. Not a member yet? A Costco membership pays for itself fast when you’re buying for the whole family — especially once summer entertaining season hits full stride.