I Shop At Costco Every Week, And These Are The Cheap And Minimal-Effort Dinners My Family Cannot Get Enough Of

Costco is a gold mine for quick, high-quality, and budget-friendly meals, and I’ve discovered the absolute best combinations that take full advantage of what’s in-store.

By leaning on flavor-packed ingredients, smart bulk buys, and versatile staples, I’ve built a lineup of Costco "recipes" that are delicious, affordable, and come together with just four ingredients or less — all while keeping things nutritious, satisfying, and full of variety.

Even better? Many of these meals use overlapping ingredients, so you’re saving money, reducing waste, and still getting tons of variety throughout the week.

These 21 meals prove that simplicity doesn’t mean boring — you can have variety, bold flavors, and balanced nutrition while making the most of your budget-friendly Costco haul.

Whether you’re grabbing a rotisserie chicken for a quick wrap, whipping up a fresh seafood pasta, or using your favorite dips and sauces to elevate a meal, there’s no shortage of ways to get creative with what’s in your cart.

Here’s what’s on the menu:

1.Carne Asada Tacos with Creamy Slaw

What to Buy:

• Bill Bailey’s Carne Asada

• Homemade Taste Corn Tortillas

• Chipotle Ranch Salad Kit

• Wholly Guacamole

How to Make: Grill or pan-fry carne asada, warm tortillas, and top with salad mix and guacamole.

Tip: Try squeezing fresh lime juice over the tacos for extra brightness.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.25

2.Smoked Salmon Bowls with Garlic Butter Veggies

What to Buy:

• Honey Smoked Fish Co. Original Honey Smoked Salmon

• Sweet Potatoes

• Kirkland Frozen Broccoli Florets

• Isigny Ste Mère Garlic & Herb Butter

How to Make: Roast diced sweet potatoes in garlic butter until crispy, steam broccoli, and top everything with flaked smoked salmon.

Tip: Add a fried egg on top to make it a brunch-worthy meal!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.75

3.Veggie-Packed, Peanut-Free Chicken Pad Thai

What to Buy:

• Kirkland Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend

• Snapdragon Chicken Pad Thai (Peanut-Free)

How to Make: Heat up the pad thai according to package directions, then toss in extra stir-fried veggies for added crunch and nutrients.

Tip: Add a splash of soy sauce or sriracha for extra flavor!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.00

4.Quiche with Roasted Asparagus & Sourdough

What to Buy:

• La Terra Fina Gourmet Collection Quiche

• Asparagus

• Costco Bakery Rustic Italian Loaf

• Isigny Ste Mère Butter

How to Make: Bake quiche, roast asparagus, and serve with buttered, toasted sourdough.

Tip: Pair with fresh fruit for a complete brunch.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.00

5.Quinoa & Four Bean Salad with Stuffed Grape Leaves

What to Buy:

• NatureSweet Organics Mixed Bell Peppers

• Seeds of Change Quinoa & Brown Rice Pouches

• Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad

• Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves

How to Make: Dice bell peppers and mix with cooked quinoa blend, four-bean salad, and stuffed grape leaves for a flavorful salad.

Tip: Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice for extra brightness.

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.50

6.Smoked Salmon & Avocado Bagel Sandwiches

What to Buy:

• Josie’s Organics Mediterranean Crunch Salad Kit

• Costco Bakery Bagels

• Wholly Guacamole Classic Organic Mild

• Kirkland Imported Smoked Salmon

How to Make: Toast bagels, spread with guacamole, and layer with smoked salmon. Toss the Mediterranean salad for a crisp, fresh side.

Tip: Swap bagels for whole wheat tortillas for an easy wrap version!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.50

7.Pierogi Bowls with Chicken Sausage and Wilted Spinach

What to Buy:

• Kasia’s Potato & Cheese Pierogi

• Amylu Breakfast Chicken Sausage

• Spinach

• Isigny Ste Mère Garlic & Herb Butter

How to Make: Sauté pierogi in butter until golden, cook chicken sausage slices, and wilt spinach in the same pan.

Tip: Swap spinach for arugula for a peppery twist.

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.25

For more budget-friendly recipes, download the free Tasty app, where you can save any of our 7,500+ recipes for easy grocery shopping and meal planning.

8.BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Broccoli Slaw

What to Buy:

• King’s Hawaiian Rolls

• Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken

• Sweet Tomatoes Joan’s Broccoli Madness Salad Kit

• Kinder’s Golden BBQ Dipping Sauce

How to Make: Shred rotisserie chicken, toss with BBQ sauce, and pile onto Hawaiian rolls. Serve with broccoli slaw on the side.

Tip: Toast the rolls for extra crunch and flavor!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.75

9.Japanese-Inspired Tuna Rice Bowls

What to Buy:

• Safe Catch Ahi Yellowfin Tuna (Canned)

• The Original Japanese BBQ Sauce

• Bibigo Cooked Sticky Rice

• C-Weed Seaweed Salad

How to Make: Mix tuna with a drizzle of Japanese BBQ sauce. Heat sticky rice, then top with tuna and seaweed salad (or use Kirkland Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack for some crunch).

Tip: Add a squeeze of sriracha for a spicy kick!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.50

10.Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Shrimp with Roasted Asparagus & Potatoes

What to Buy:

• Kirkland Signature Garlic Butter Shrimp

• Asparagus

• Steakhouse Medley Potatoes

How to Make: Roast halved potatoes at 400°F for 20 minutes, then add shrimp and asparagus to the sheet pan and roast for another 10 minutes.

Tip: Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon for extra brightness.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.00

11.Chipotle "Fried" Chicken & Veggie Bowls

What to Buy:

• Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks

• Steakhouse Medley Potatoes, Bitchin’ Sauce Chipotle

• Kirkland Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend

• Bitchin' Chipotle Sauce

How to Make: Roast chicken and potatoes until crispy, stir-fry veggies, and drizzle everything with Bitchin’ Chipotle Sauce.

Tip: This sauce is everything — add extra for dipping!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.75

12.Roast Tri-Tip with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Veggies

What to Buy:

• American BBQ Co. Beef Tri-Tip

• Maas River Farms Organic Lightly Seasoned Sheet Pan Vegetables

• Main St. Bistro Baked Scalloped Potatoes

• Isigny Ste Mère Butter

How to Make: Roast tri-tip, heat scalloped potatoes, and serve with roasted veggies.

Tip: Save extra tri-tip slices for sandwiches the next day.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.50

13.Greek-Inspired Gyro Bowls

What to Buy:

• Daphne’s Beef & Lamb Gyro Slices

• Tasty Bite Turmeric Rice

• NatureSweet Organics Baby Cucumbers

• Delve Garlic Herb Asiago Dip

How to Make: Cook rice, heat gyro slices, and top with diced cucumbers and asiago cheese spread.

Tip: Serve with pita for a gyro-style wrap instead of a bowl.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.00

14.High-Protein Chicken Caesar Wraps

What to Buy:

• Chicken Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken

• BFree High Protein Carb Savvy Wraps

• Taylor Farms Caesar Salad Kit Wraps

How to Make: Shred rotisserie chicken, toss Caesar salad, and wrap everything in a high-protein tortilla.

Tip: Adding crispy bacon bits makes this even better!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.25

15.Quick & Easy Meatball Marinara Subs

What to Buy:

• Frozen Cooked Kirkland Italian Style Beef Meatballs

• Rao’s Marinara Sauce

• Kirkland Sliced Mozzarella

• Costco Bakery Baguettes

How to Make: Simmer meatballs in marinara sauce, load them into toasted baguettes, and melt mozzarella on top.

Tip: Add fresh basil for extra flavor if you have it on hand.

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.50

16.Fire-Roasted Primavera Shrimp Pasta

What to Buy:

• Gemelli Pasta

• Kirkland Signature Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio

• Kirkland Signature Garlic Butter Shrimp

• PuraVida Fire-Roasted Primavera Mistura Frozen Veggies

How to Make: Cook pasta, sauté shrimp in its garlic butter, and toss with fire-roasted veggies and Parmesan cheese.

Tip: Reserve some pasta water to create a light, creamy sauce with the cheese.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.00

17.Saucy Tikka Masala Chicken with Warm Naan

What to Buy:

• Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach

• Amylu Sesame & Ginger Chicken Crumbles

• Stonefire Mini Naan Original

• Maya Kaimal Tikka Masala Indian Style Simmer Sauce

How to Make: Sauté chicken crumbles, pour in tikka masala sauce, and add baby spinach until wilted. Serve with warm naan.

Tip: Add a spoonful of Greek yogurt for extra creaminess.

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.75

18.Mediterranean Chicken Wraps

What to Buy:

• Josie’s Organics Mediterranean Crunch Salad Kit

• WestEnd Cuisine Grilled Mediterranean Style Chicken Skewers

• Stonemill Kitchens Spinach & Artichoke Parmesan Premium Dip

• Santa Fe Tortilla Company Homestyle Whole Grain Tortillas

How to Make: Slice chicken skewers, toss salad mix, and spread spinach-artichoke dip on a tortilla before rolling everything up.

Tip: Warm the tortillas slightly for better flexibility when wrapping.

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.75

19.Garlic-Asiago Steak with Roasted Peppers & Zucchini

What to Buy:

• Wholesum Organic Fresh Zucchini

• Sous Vide Sliced Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin

• Delve Garlic Herb Asiago Dip

• NatureSweet Bell Peppers

How to Make: Sear or heat sirloin slices, roast zucchini and bell peppers, and serve everything with a side of Asiago dip.

Tip: A squeeze of fresh lemon over the steak adds a bright touch.

Cost Per Serving: ~$4.25

20.Garlicky Chicken & Roasted Sweet Potatoes

What to Buy:

• Kirkland Frozen Broccoli Florets

• Amylu Sesame Ginger Chicken Crumbles

• Toom Garlic Dip

• Nature’s Pride Sweet Potatoes

How to Make: Roast cubed sweet potatoes, sauté chicken crumbles, and serve with steamed broccoli and a drizzle of garlic dip.

Tip: The Toom Garlic Dip makes a perfect spread for extra leftovers!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.50

21.Chicken Sausage & Apple Hash

What to Buy:

• Nature’s Pride Sweet Potatoes

• Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach

• Fuji Apples

• Amylu Breakfast Chicken Sausage

How to Make: Dice sweet potatoes and roast until tender. Sauté sliced chicken sausage with diced apples until golden. Toss in baby spinach and cook until wilted.

Tip: Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for a warm, cozy flavor boost!

Cost Per Serving: ~$3.50

We all know Costco’s bulk sizes save money, but without a plan, you could end up with a half-used salad kit or a huge bag of shrimp sitting in the freezer for months. That’s why I strategically group meals together, so every ingredient gets used efficiently while still keeping dinners fresh, exciting, and budget-friendly. Each of these shopping trips covers seven meals to last a full week. You’ll find zero waste, lots of variety, and no sad leftovers.

Costco Meal Plan #1

• High-Protein Chicken Caesar Wraps

• Smoked Salmon & Avocado Bagel Sandwiches

• BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Broccoli Slaw

• Chicken Sausage & Apple Hash

• Quiche with Roasted Asparagus & Sourdough

• Greek-Inspired Gyro Bowls

• Garlicky Chicken & Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Costco Meal Plan #2

• Carne Asada Tacos with Creamy Slaw

• Fire-Roasted Primavera Shrimp Pasta

• Japanese-Inspired Tuna Rice Bowls

• Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Shrimp with Roasted Asparagus & Potatoes

• Chipotle "Fried" Chicken & Veggie Bowls

• Saucy Tikka Masala Chicken with Warm Naan

• Mediterranean Chicken Wraps

Costco Meal Plan #3

• Roast Tri-Tip with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Veggies

• Quick & Easy Meatball Marinara Subs

• Mediterranean Chicken Wraps

• Greek-Inspired Gyro Bowls

• Chipotle "Fried" Chicken & Veggie Bowls

• Fire-Roasted Primavera Shrimp Pasta

• Garlicky Chicken & Roasted Sweet Potatoes

With just a little bit of pre-shopping strategizing, one Costco run can make it so easy to bring home high-quality ingredients that turn into delicious, satisfying meals. You can stock up on incredible flavors, stretch your budget, and make weeknight dinners something to look forward to.

If you try any of these meals, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram (@SydneyInSuburbia) so I can cheer you on your Costco meal-planning journey. And if you have your own genius Costco hacks, drop them in the comments — I’m always on the lookout for new ideas!