Our Ranking of the Best Costco Prepared Meals After the Ultimate Taste Test

Taking the top spot with the most positive comments were these hefty preassembled enchiladas filled with Costco’s famous rotisserie chicken and plenty of black and pinto beans. Everything is smothered in a chipotle sauce and mounds of Cheddar cheese. They do take some time to heat up: 50 to 60 minutes covered loosely with foil in a 400°F oven — and they do mean "very loosely" because some of the cheese topping stuck to ours during baking.

“These smoky, saucy enchiladas are a cheese lover’s paradise!” exclaimed one taste tester. “I think this could be a real party favorite,” said another. “The touch of heat is a great counterpoint to its creamy texture.” One taster declared the enchiladas to be “the best of the bunch” while another raved, “I like all the beans in it and, holy moly, that heat hits!"

The only negative comment was from a person who said, "The enchiladas are a bit mushy."

Price: $27.34 ($7.01/lb x 3.9 lbs) for about 10 (6-ounce) servings

Price per serving: $2.73/serving

Verdict: Buy! A hit with the tasting panel and friendly on the wallet, these enchiladas are bound to be a crowd fave — especially if the crowd loves cheese and spicy foods.

The tray of bright orange Atlantic farmed salmon, topped with silver dollar–sized pats of pesto butter, parsley and dill sprigs, looks impressive — like something fit for a holiday gathering or nice luncheon. It was also simple to prepare: Just pop it into a 400° oven and “bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until salmon reaches 145°.” Unfortunately, when we checked the salmon temp at 25 minutes it was already at 177°F, which was way overcooked for some of the tasting panel but suited other members just fine.

“I would have cooked the salmon less but the overall flavor is great — it’s buttery without being too rich and the pesto really comes through,” remarked one taster. Another commented, “The sauce was vibrant and flavorful. This is like something I would make at home.” One taster liked the salmon so much she was compelled to go back for seconds.

Price: $33.22 ($14.03/lb x 2.25 lbs) for about 9 (4-ounce) servings

Price per serving: $3.69

Verdict: Buy! Definitely great value. If you prefer your salmon closer to 145°F, be sure to check the temperature around the 15-minute mark.

A pre-assembled taco kit is an easy, convenient way to feed the gang. This one comes with piles of seasoned chicken, shredded cheese and cabbage, 12 corn tortillas along with some fixings: red salsa, cilantro crema, onions and lime wedges. The heating directions were too vague, though. It simply said, “Cook thoroughly.” We ended up transferring the chicken to a wide bowl, placing the tortillas wrapped in damp paper towels directly on top, then microwaving everything together for 3 minutes.

“It's fun that you can DIY!” exclaimed one taster, adding, “It would be a great crowd-pleaser or good for families with kids since everyone can adapt their own taco to their own preferences.” Another said, “The chicken is nicely seasoned and the tortillas are surprisingly good quality.” On the condiments, one taster remarked, “The salsa has some nice heat and I tossed some of the cabbage with the creamy cilantro sauce to top it all off.”

Other tasters were less impressed with certain elements of the kit: “The chicken wasn't my favorite; the texture was strange,” commented one person. “The red salsa is not good. It tastes tinny, like tomatoes right out of the can,” said another.

Price: $16.59 ($5.84/lb x 2.84 lbs) for 6 servings

Price per serving: $2.77

Verdict: Buy if you want a meal on the table ASAP.

Those seeking creamy comfort may find solace in this ready-to-bake mac and cheese made with corkscrew-shaped cavatappi and a three-cheese blend of Cheddar, Romano and Parmesan. That comfort won’t be immediate, however: You need to bake the dish for 40 to 60 minutes in a 400°F oven then let it cool a bit so you don’t burn the roof of your mouth.

“This is super gooey and I really like the choice to use cavatappi as the pasta shape,” said one commenter. “Wow, it is cheesy and creamy, almost like a stovetop mac,” another remarked, adding, “The pasta has a nice bounce to it and it’s very garlicky but more like garlic powder.”

Others were less enthused: “It definitely doesn’t skimp on the cheese but it has a bit of an artificial flavor I can’t put my finger on.” One said, “I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, but also wouldn't not put it on my plate at a barbecue.” After the dish had sat a bit, one taster thought the mac and cheese “felt gritty.”

Price: $17.75 ($4.67/lb x 3.8 lbs) for about 7.5 (8-ounce) servings

Price per serving: $2.37

Verdict: Buy if you love lots of cheese and don't mind the flavor of granulated garlic.

Somewhere between frozen and delivery lies this par-baked pizza that you can have fresh from the oven in 12 to 15 minutes (plus preheating time). While it’s not as great a value as the food court pizza ($1.99 for a large, floppy slice; $9.95 for a whole 18-inch pie), this take-and-bake offering positions itself as a more gourmet option. It boasts a San Marzano–style sauce on an artisan Pinsa dough — a Roman-style crust that’s known for being light, airy and crispy. There’s a generous amount of toppings, as well: slow-aged pepperoni, Italian sausage, fire-roasted peppers, onions and mozzarella.

What did the tasting panel think of it? “The crust is crisper than what you’d get with frozen pizza and I like that it’s hot right out of the oven,” said one fan. "The crust held up to all the toppings,” said another.

One taster had mixed reviews, “I did not like the toppings but I liked the caramelization.”

Price: $17.54 for 1 pizza, about 6 servings

Price per serving: $2.92

Verdict: Buy if you like thin, crisp-crust pizza but be aware this is not Costco's best deal on pies.

As with the combo pizza above, this margherita pie also touts the thin Pinsa crust and San Marzano-style tomato sauce. In addition to shredded mozzarella, the toppings include slices of fresh mozzarella, slow-roasted tomatoes and dollops of pesto.

Tasters also loved the crust on this pizza. “The crust is fantastic — both crisp and airy.” one person said. “It's chewy with a crunch,” noted another commenter.

What about the toppings, though? “Instead of the tomatoes I wish there was more sauce,” remarked one person. “I don’t love the tomatoes here and thought the combo pizza was better,” another taster said. One commented that the pizza did not live up to the hype: “I've heard people rave about Costco's pizzas saying they’re the best ever. I’m not sure I'm getting that here.”

Price: $17.54 for 1 pizza, about 6 servings

Price per serving: $2.92

Verdict: Buy if you like a thin, crisp-crust vegetarian pizza but be aware that tasters preferred the toppings on the combo pizza.

Stuffed peppers usually take about 1 1/2 hours to make but these fully-prepared ones reheat in 50 to 55 minutes, saving both time and effort. Each pepper half is large and holds a boatload of filling, which includes ground beef, rice, tomato paste, provolone and mozzarella cheese. One stuffed pepper would make a very hearty dinner portion.

On the flavor front, tasters were divided. “The pepper held its shape which was nice to eat with the slightly sweet meat and rice mixture,” one person commented. “I liked the texture and the tomato-y filling,” agreed another.

Others took issue with the filling. “This feels like a comforting, kid-friendly meal but my adult palate wanted something more, like fresh herbs or something to break up the blandness,” remarked a taster. “The texture of the pepper itself was actually fine but the filling was disappointing,” according to another taster.

Price: $20.79 ($5.84/lb x 3.56 lbs) for 6 servings

Price per serving: $3.47

Verdict: Buy if you're feeding kids but pass for adults who prefer something more complex.

Is there a more homey comfort food than meatloaf and mashed potatoes? This meal from Costco was the heaviest in terms of weight, clocking in at 3.92 pounds. That meant it also took a while to heat up: 60 minutes in a 375°F oven to get the meatloaf temp to 165°F. Whereas the other ready-to-bake entrees came in a disposable aluminum tray, this one is packaged in an oven-safe plastic container that separates the mashed potatoes from the meatloaf. Per serving, it was also the most expensive.

“This is the ultimate comfort combo, right here,” raved on taster. “I wish the meatloaf was better, but I'm digging the saltiness and smoothness of the mashed potatoes.”

Many on the tasting panel had issues with the textures, especially for the meatloaf: “It’s unappealingly spongy,” lamented one person. “The meatloaf is a little on the dense side but the sauce was flavorful. Overall it was very greasy and not something I would want to eat,” commented another taster.

“The mashed potatoes are OK,” noted one person. “They taste like a very basic mash with no butter, cream or salt. They’re also very dense.”

Price: $20.58 ($5.25/lb x 3.92 lbs) for 4 servings

Price per serving: $5.15

Verdict: Pass. Meatloaf is too divisive among tasters and this meal is not as good value as the others that got more positive reviews.

Many of the prepared meals are loaded with cheese, cream and butter, but what if you want something lighter, or simply dairy-free? This container of quinoa-bulgur salad includes chickpeas, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, celery, onion, kale and “cabbage and carrot blend.” While the salad ingredients are vegan, the vinaigrette may contain honey.

“I'm loving all the components of this salad,” gushed one taster. “It feels wholesome without feeling sad. I'm digging the pops of dried cranberries. That said, I could use a little bit more dressing.” Others agreed that the salad felt dry. “The kale is too sturdy and did not wilt in this salad. There’s also a lot more red onion than I’d want,” remarked another taster.

Price: $15.30 ($5.84/lb x 2.62 lbs) for about 5 (8-ounce) servings

Price per serving: $3.06

Verdict: Pass. If you want to supplement the salad with additional dressing, consider buying as a healthier meal option.

Premade wraps are an easy way to put lunch on the table. You’ll find four red tomato tortilla wraps filled with Costco’s rotisserie chicken, grilled corn, black beans and a Buffalo cream sauce on the side for dipping.

“It’s what I’d expect from a wrap. I don't love that the tortilla is red but like the taste of the sauce,” one commenter said. “It’s pretty and holds together really well. This could be a great option to buy for a luncheon,” remarked another taster.

Others did not like the sauce, which garnered comments that it’s “too zesty” and “intense and overpowering" and that overall, "I feel like it's missing the mark a bit.” One person cited other problems with the wrap itself: “The wrap got gummy and the chicken inside is very wet and mushy.”

Price: $19.14 ($8.18/lb x 2.34 lbs) for 4 servings

Price per serving: $4.79

Verdict: Pass. The majority of the tasters did not like this meal.