Reddit Weighs In on Costco's 11 Best Prepared Meals

These items get glowing reviews from Costco shoppers.

Whether it’s time to stock up on more school-lunch snacks or replenish my freezer stash of microwavable foods, there always seems to be a reason to make a Costco run. As fans of the warehouse store know, it’s a treasure trove of quick and delicious prepared meals.

On nights when there’s not enough time (or energy) to throw together a homemade dinner, having a ready-to-eat or reheatable Kirkland meal in the fridge is a serious lifesaver.

All of Costco's offerings are convenient, full of flavor, and typically come in generous portions, but there are a few items that Costco shoppers are especially passionate about. Not surprisingly, these customers have taken to Reddit to share their favorites—here are their top picks.

1. Rotisserie Chicken

Costco’s rotisserie chicken needs no introduction. The affordable standby—still priced at $4.99 even as food prices keep rising—is a staple for shoppers looking for both a good deal and a hot meal.

Weighing roughly three pounds, the seasoned, roasted birds are delicious all on their own, but savvy meal preppers know that the best thing to do with Costco’s rotisserie chickens is to stretch them into a week’s worth of lunches and dinners. Redditors have shared plenty of ideas, including BBQ chicken burritos, savory crepes, and the ultimate comfort food, chicken noodle soup.

2. Meatloaf With Mashed Yukon Potatoes and Glaze

As Redditor AFlyingToaster so succinctly sums up in a thread dedicated to this Costco meal: “The meatloaf is everything I dreamed it to be.” They’re, of course, not the only fans of the heat-and-eat dinner, which features the classic pairing of meatloaf with mashed potatoes.

According to user livin801, who claims to be a Costco employee, the meatloaf is made from beef that’s ground daily and mixed with eggs, diced onions, and seasonings. Some love the ketchup glaze, while others prefer to add their favorite barbecue sauce. But everyone agrees that leftovers (if you have any, that is) make a mean meatloaf sandwich.

3. Chicken Salad

Fans rejoiced when Costco brought back its Kirkland chicken salad. It’s a go-to for those who want an easy no-cook meal and don’t have the time or ingredients to make chicken salad from scratch. The salad combines breast meat from the store’s rotisserie chickens with celery and a creamy, tangy dressing. Costco shoppers love it as a sandwich filling in Kirkland Bakery ciabatta buns and croissants or spread onto butter crackers as a filling snack.

4. Tempura Shrimp Taco Kit

This taco kit is one of Costco’s newer meals, but it’s already received a lot of love on Reddit—user hguy4x even states it “might be our new favorite prepared meals.” While the tempura shrimp is available by the box in the freezer section, shoppers love that this kit has everything you need (shredded slaw, pico de gallo, cilantro lime crema, and tortillas) in one convenient package.

Shoppers recommend air frying the shrimp to get them nice and crispy. As someone who tried the kit recently, I can attest that this is the way to go!

Read More: I Asked 4 Food Pros What They'll Only Buy From Costco—They All Said the Same Thing

5. Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Beef Rice

A “10/10” meal that Redditor NookinFutz says they “always will purchase,” these stuffed peppers are another prepared meal that Costco shoppers return to again and again. The six peppers are filled with cooked ground beef, rice, bell peppers, and onions flavored with tomato paste and puree, plus spices.

Each one comes topped with shredded Parmesan, but many fans like to add even more cheese. One user recommends cooking the peppers in an air fryer, while another prefers reheating them in a slow cooker with a jar of store-bought sauce. If you can’t finish all six at once, the peppers freeze nicely for future meals.

6. Mac and Cheese

Costco’s mac and cheese is so beloved, there are entire Reddit threads dedicated to jazzing it up and others in search of the original recipe. The not-to-secret ingredient, it turns out, is alfredo sauce, which gives the Kirkland mac and cheese its super creamy texture and cheesy flavor. Some note that it’s not quite salty enough, but that actually makes it a wonderful canvas for add-ins.

Top with bacon bits or pulled pork to make it the ultimate comfort-food dish, or lobster or truffle salt if you’re feeling fancy. Another pro tip? Pop the entire tray into a smoker to infuse it with an irresistible smoky aroma.

7. Shepherd’s Pie

Whether sweet or savory, Costco’s pies are huge. Shoppers eagerly await the return of its seasonal pumpkin pie, but they can luckily find this shepherd’s pie in stores all year round. The hefty pie is filled ground beef, corn, peas, carrots, and mushrooms and topped with a generous layer of mashed potatoes.

It’s not traditional by any means—in fact, Redditor and Englishman IAteThePies points out that corn isn’t usually included, while others note that this is technically a cottage pie since shepherd’s pie calls for ground lamb. Customers love it nonetheless (“The potatoes are so buttery yum!” raves monotrememories), especially when they need to feed a crowd.

Read More: The 10 Items You Should Always Buy at Costco, According to 12 Parents

8. Salmon Milano with Basil Pesto Butter

If you’re looking for a family-friendly meal that requires nothing more than popping a tray in the oven, look no further than this take-and-bake salmon. “Delicious and quick, my family has started buying these if we know we will have little time at night for food prep instead of eating fast food,” says Hon3y_Badger in this Reddit thread.

The farm-raised filets come topped with fresh dill and generous scoops of pesto butter that melt as the salmon cooks. You can bake the fish directly in the foil tray that it comes in, so cleanup is a breeze, too.

9. Chicken Street Tacos

Costco’s OG taco kit is a winning dinner. “These are a big thumbs up in our house,” says Reddit user Grzzld, who enjoyed all of the included taco fixings. “Salsa is good, the cilantro cream is good, everything is good in this box.” Like the shrimp version, this has all the components needed to build your own taco: grilled chicken, slaw, salsa, cilantro lime crema, and a dozen tortillas.

Depending on your family’s appetite, shoppers say the package easily feeds four to five, and at a far more affordable price than eating out.

10. Beef Chili

As temperatures start dipping, there’s nothing cozier and more comforting than a bowl of beef chili. Even better if all you have to do is reheat it in the microwave. “No sour flavor, nice big hunks of ground beef, perfectly silky beans. Best chili I've had, TBH,” says Pearlsawisdom (although depending on where you’re from, the beans may be a controversial add-in). The only thing shoppers wish it came with? A side of cornbread.

11. Chicken Enchilada Bake

Another prepared meal featuring Costco’s famed rotisserie chicken, the enchilada bake has earned its place in many a meal rotation. The casserole is assembled lasagna-style with layers of shredded chicken, tortillas, and beans smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese.

Bake until the filling is bubbling and the cheese is melted, then serve with rice or additional toppings like sour cream, tortilla chips, and guacamole to make it an even heartier meal. It seems that spice levels vary by location, so do keep that in mind.