One Of The Best Costco Frozen Finds Outshines Other Bread Appetizers And Takes 15 Minutes In The Air Fryer

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A trip to Costco's frozen aisle can be one of the most exciting ways to discover easy-to-cook snacks, from familiar favorites like frozen corndogs to global delights waiting to be found — and shoppers have found them. People can't stop raving about Brazi Bites Brazilian Cheese Bread, also known as pão de queijo. The brand gained "Shark Tank" fame after a successful appearance during Season 7 of the show. Today, a 62-count pack of these cheesy morsels sells for approximately $14.99 at Costco, but they're worth their weight in gold.

This Brazilian bread is traditionally made with cassava starch (aka tapioca) and Minas cheese. Thanks to the starchy tapioca, these light, cheesy puffs are incredibly chewy and naturally gluten-free, with a slight tang that balances the cheese's richness. They're found throughout Brazil, sold fresh in bakeries and markets, and eaten for breakfast or as a snack at any time of the day. 

After the co-founder of Brazi Bites, Junea Rocha, immigrated to the U.S. from Brazil, she found herself missing the cheesy bread her family made. Using alternative cheeses that are more accessible in the U.S., she experimented with the recipe, eventually landing on cheddar and Parmesan. Rocha would go on to create the brand along with her husband, Cameron MacMullin, so folks could have pão de queijo at home, at the touch of a button.

Costco has a fantastic selection of frozen appetizers for the air fryer — Brazi Bites included. These cheesy crowd-pleasers take 15 minutes to cook. That makes them convenient if you want to warm up a couple of bites for breakfast, especially since they're best enjoyed warm and will harden as they cool. If you are cooking them for a crowd, you can also pop them in the oven for 20 minutes, unless you own a large-capacity air fryer, which can handle larger batches just fine. Make sure not to overbake them, or the interior can become tough and rubbery. They should be crisp on the outside but stretchy and pillowy once you tear into them.

These breads do not need to be thawed, adding to the convenience. Simply bake from frozen and serve with a steaming cup of coffee or a savory dip. There are plenty of South American sauces that would turn these cheesy bites into a perfect party platter. A Peruvian ají verde, for example, may not be traditional, but its spicy, herbaceous flavor provides a welcome contrast to the rich, cheesy breads.