Save Every Dime: Best Deals at Costco for Prepared Meals to Save You from All The Hassle of ” What’s for Dinner”

Asking, “What’s for dinner?” can be a source of worry due to the ever-increasing expense of living, especially food. In January 2024, the cost of eating out increased by 5.1% year-over-year, while the cost of eating at home increased by only 1.2%.

For a lot of people, the perfect balance between cost-effectiveness and ease is provided by pre-made meals. While buying pre-made meals can end up costing more than making everything from scratch, it will help you save hassle, time, and clean up afterward.

Costco has some delicious ready-to-eat meals. I think it would be best to listen to their advice.

Rotisserie Chicken

These are seriously one of the best-prepared food deals you can get at Costco. They’re about $5 and make a great, easy main dish for dinner. The only things you need to do to make dinner are carve it and serve it with sides, which you can easily get at Costco.

The best part is that the meatier parts, such the legs and thighs, can be enjoyed by one or two people while the breasts can be used for other recipes, like chicken salad.

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Caesar Salad with Dressing, Croutons and Lemons

Consider the pre-made Caesar Salad with pre-packaged dressing and croutons from Costco if you’re seeking the ideal accompaniment for that leftover rotisserie chicken. Each clamshell container has about 2 pounds of salad, and at only $4.49 per pound, you can get enough for four lunches or dinners. You can top it with your favorite protein, like shredded chicken or pre-cooked shrimp, which are also available in Costco’s prepared foods department.

Kirkland Signature Mac and Cheese

Loads of homemade mac and cheese—who could possibly resist? For less than what you would pay at a restaurant, Costco does it properly. The best part is that you won’t have to spend a ton of time chopping cheese and boiling noodles.

According to Ramhold, there are a few downsides, including the fact that it will be more expensive and more time-consuming to cook compared to pre-packaged options. “However, the end result will be a pan of gooey cheese that can be enjoyed on its own or as a main course when topped with meat. My friend recommends Johnsonville Beddar with Cheddar smoked sausage as a complete meal.”

Each container contains almost 3 pounds of food, which means you can feed six to ten people as a main dish or a side dish that sticks to your ribs for less than $10.

Beef Chilli

Another great option for a weeknight meal or a weekend gathering with friends is Costco’s prepared beef chili. Be sure to grab it at $3.99/pound. This dish will fool your visitors into thinking it simmered in the crockpot for hours because it contains ground beef, kidney beans, pinto beans, and shredded mild cheddar cheese. The cheddar cheese melts flawlessly when heated in the oven or microwave.

St. Louis Pork Spareribs

Classic meatloaf with mashed potatoes is always a safe bet, and according to Ramhold, it will cost around $18 for four pounds of food that only requires heating. You might want to forego the meatloaf’s ketchup-based sauce if you’re a fan of brown gravy.

Still, this “heat-and-eat” dinner is the easiest ever; the mashed potatoes even have small pats of butter that melt into the potatoes while they cook.

Ravioli Lasagna

Due to the extensive preparation required, lasagna is not typically considered a weekday dish. Lasagna is usually reserved for special occasions unless you prepare a large pan and freeze individual servings. However, you can make lasagna at home in no time at all thanks to Costco.

It takes a lot of effort to cook lasagna, but it’s worth it, according to Ramhold. The enormous raviolis, bolognese sauce, and shredded cheese on top of this lasagna from Costco eliminate any effort on your part. Approximately four pounds of food will be yours for about twenty dollars for a pan.

With enough to go around, you can satisfy a large group of people for several days.

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