We Tried 15 Costco Prepared Meals—These Are the Only Ones Worth Buying
See which dinner earned 11/10.
Costco is packed with delicious deals and fan-favorite foods everywhere you look, from baked goods to grocery items to those iconic hot dogs. However, with all the unique options, a Costco run can be pretty hectic.
One particularly overwhelming area of Costco is the prepared foods section, with ready-to-eat dishes, heat-and-eat meals, and bakes that require cooking at home. Some classics are offered year-round, while other products are seasonal and only available for a limited time.
But with so many to choose from, which dishes are worth buying?
Nicole McLaughlin, our go-to Costco expert, recently went to her local Costco and bought every prepared food option that was available in the warehouse to taste test. Her goal was to figure out which dishes are worth purchasing based on cooking instruction accuracy, preparation, and taste. In her new video, she tests 20 different items from Costco, from hearty casseroles to light salads to restaurant-inspired sides and rolls.
Out of the 20 dishes Nicole sampled, there were four stand-out meals and one appetizer she would buy again. Here are the top five prepared meals from Costco that earned a "10/10," including an "11/10" dish that we now have to try.
The Best Prepared Foods at Costco
Kirkland Signature Chicken Alfredo With Penne Pasta
This classic pasta is available at Costco year-round for about $5 per pound. The meal simply needs to be baked in the oven for 40-60 minutes at 400 degrees F. In the video, Nicole gives the creamy dish a 10/10 rating as the cooking instructions are accurate and the flavor is consistently good. "I mean it’s a win-win, this is one of their staples," she says.
Kirkland Signature Mac and Cheese
Kirkland Signature Salmon Milano With Basil Pesto Butter
This fresh dinner option features three pieces of raw salmon with a pesto and basil butter for about $14.75 per pound. The fish cooks in the oven at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes with the butter melting all over. Nicole explains in the video that the fish is cooked perfectly according to the directions on the package. She does advise the dish be served with pasta to take advantage of the pesto basil oil left at the bottom of the baking pan, but concludes, "That’s a 10/10, no brainer."
Kirkland Signature Shrimp Cocktail With Cocktail Sauce & Lemon
Shrimp cocktail is one of Costco’s well-known prepared food items, and it's an option that is worth the hype, according to Nicole. The pre-packaged appetizer contains cooked shrimp, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges for about $11.50 per pound. She says, "They’re clean tasting, they’re fresh tasting, and when paired with some cocktail sauce and an ice-cold glass of wine, they’re perfection." Nicole gives the shrimp cocktail a 10/10.
Kirkland Signature Grain & Celery Salad With Apple Cider Vinaigrette
In the video, Nicole says she bought this salad to pair with Costco's rotisserie chicken, and it's a salad she likes "right off the bat." The Kirkland salad features kale, chickpeas, cranberries, almonds, and other vegetables with a vinaigrette on the side for about $5.75 per pound. She says, "It's got the chewy grains, but all the crunchy veg, and then the sweet cranberries." Nicole rates this salad an 11/10 because it has "great value and so many perfect bites."
While these are the dishes that received a 10/10 review or higher, there are other Costco prepared foods that Nicole gives a high rating in the video, such as the Kirkland Signature Roasted Chicken & Swiss Roller Tray and the Kirkland Signature Meatloaf With Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes.
Whether you're looking for a new meal to try or are simply wondering what the best prepared foods are at Costco, Nicole's got you covered with these solid reviews. Next time you’re at Costco, look out for these top-rated items to try yourself!
