The 8 Best Quick Meals at Costco, According to Experts

October 15, 2023

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In an ideal world, we’d all have the time to make home-cooked meals every day, but that’s just not the case. Whether it’s work, family or anything else that limits free time, there’s just not always enough hours in the day to whip up something extravagant in the kitchen. Luckily, there’s plenty of Costco quick meals that can be made easily, so you don’t have to resort to unhealthy fast food or costly consecutive restaurant trips.

There are plenty of quick meals at grocery stores that aren’t taking health into account, but Costco has a wide-ranging selection of healthy options that take little-to-no time in the kitchen to make into a meal.

From Asian-inspired noodle dishes to Mediterranean-inspired chicken, here are some of the best Costco quick meals that you can purchase at the warehouse.

1. Rotisserie Chicken

One of the simplest meals, that takes absolutely no cooking time, is the Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken. Found in the deli section, the relatively inexpensive chicken is already fully cooked and ready to eat as soon as it’s brought home. It’s also packed with protein.

Sure, rotisserie chicken is great for its simplicity and for its nutritional value, but another added perk is that it’s such a versatile food. Eat the already-cooked chicken with some veggies on the side, add it to a salad for an easy way to boost protein intake, or it can easily be made into a healthy wrap.

“The Costco rotisserie chicken is always a must, you can make a few meals out of this, grab a bag of the Taylor Farms salad kits, or there are also fresh salad kits in the deli section,” says Lisa DeFazio, RD. “Just shred the chicken topping on the salad and you have a ready to go lunch or dinner. You can also grab a wrap like a spinach tortilla and add the rotisserie chicken and salad and make a salad wrap.”

2. Ajinomoto Yakisoba with Vegetables

There’s a reason that noodles are a staple food in a lot of cultures — they’re quick, can be made into a number of dishes, and are delicious. The Ajinomoto Yakisoba with Vegetables at Costco is loved for the same reasons, especially for its ease and convenience.

“The noodles are flavorful, you put the packets in the microwave for three or four minutes and you have a quick dinner or lunch,” DeFazio says. “Add some shredded chicken on top or some sautéed shrimp to add some protein or just have it as a vegetarian meal.”

A box of the noodles contains six packages, and each veggie-packed serving has 11 grams of protein.

Buy now: Ajinomoto Yakisoba with Vegetables

3. Redd’s Egg’wich Turkey Sausage

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, but a lot of times it’s an afterthought if you’re rushing through the morning. Between all the steps that it takes to get ready for the day, sometimes there’s just not enough time to make breakfast. Conveniently, Redd’s Egg’wich Turkey Sausage turns breakfast into a breeze as it takes just two minutes in the microwave to prepare.

Not only is the breakfast sandwich quick to put together, it’s also keto-friendly and gluten free, making it a suitable, and protein-dense breakfast option for people on all types of diets.

“Made with quality ingredients like cage-free egg patties, real cheese, and antibiotic-free sausage, this keto-friendly sandwich is ready to enjoy after simply heating it in the microwave,” says Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, CPT. “Since this sandwich uses fluffy egg patties instead of bread, it is gluten free too, making it a nice addition for those who avoid gluten.”

Buy now: Redd’s Egg’wich Turkey Sausage

4. Amylu Organic Chicken Burger

Cutting red meat out of your diet helps lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke, but sometimes it’s hard to completely cut some of your favorite foods out of your life. For burger lovers, there’s a whole host of red meat substitutes that help to make the transition easier, including the Amylu Organic Chicken Burger.

“Amylu Foods offers chicken patties, sausages, and meatballs in unique flavors for a protein-packed meal solution,” says Amy Davis, RD. “Since the burgers are fully cooked, simply serve them on a whole grain bun with a veggie or assemble a burger salad for the perfect easy meal.”

The protein-packed burgers come pre-cooked, so they just need to be warmed in the microwave, which takes under a minute, or in an air fryer, which takes approximately six minutes.

Buy now: Amylu Organic Chicken Burger

5. Veggies Made Great Spinach Egg White Frittatas

Some egg dishes, like a plate of scrambled eggs, are easy to make quickly. Others, like a frittata, take a lot more time, unless, of course, you’re making the Garden Lites Veggies Made Great Spinach Egg White Frittatas.

“They can be prepared quickly in the microwave or toaster oven making them a perfect choice for those fast-paced mornings when you’re short on time,” says Brittany Werner, RD, the director of coaching at Working Against Gravity. “Each frittata contains a nice balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats to help keep you full and satisfied while also giving your body energy to get through a busy morning.”

The frittatas, which can be ready in minutes, contain just 70 calories and five grams of protein in each serving.

Buy now: Garden Lites Veggies Made Great Spinach Egg White Frittatas

6. West End Cuisine Grilled Chicken Skewers, Mediterranean Style

One of the biggest perks of buying pre-cooked chicken, like the West End Cuisine Grilled Chicken Skewers, is that it’s so versatile. Add your favorite sides to the skewers to complete your dish, chop it up and put the chicken in a soup, or eat it on its own for a protein-packed meal.

“Purchasing pre-cooked protein can significantly cut your prep time and ensure you always have high quality protein on hand, even on those busiest days,” Werner says. “These skewers are a particular favorite as they’re made from vegetarian-fed poultry, without added antibiotics or growth hormones.”

The Mediterranean-inspired skewers have 24 grams of protein in each serving, and only three grams of carbohydrates.

Buy now: West End Cuisine Grilled Chicken Skewers, Mediterranean Style

7. Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Frozen pizzas aren’t typically the healthiest dinner options, but when the crust is made out of cauliflower, it makes the meal a lot more nutritionally beneficial. Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza, available at Costco, takes just 15 minutes to cook in the oven, making it a quick and easy dinner to put on the table. Another perk? As the crust is made out of veggies, the pizza is considerably lower in carbs, and packed with veggies, including toppings like roasted zucchini, onion and bell pepper.

“Because the first ingredient is cauliflower, Milton’s actually delivers real veggies in every bite,” Manaker says. “Their thin and crispy crust is so good you’d never know it was made from cauliflower. It tastes just like my favorite restaurant pizza. Many frozen pizzas are loaded with some pretty questionable ingredients. Milton’s Craft Bakers Cauliflower Crust Pizza is a better option that’s ready in just 15 minutes and certified gluten-free, which means everyone can enjoy it.”

Buy now: Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza

8. Aidells Chicken Meatballs, Teriyaki & Pineapple

Making meatballs from scratch is a labor-intensive process, but it doesn’t have to take a long time to make a meal if you want to incorporate meatballs. Aidells Chicken Meatballs, which are available at Costco, take just eight minutes to cook on the stovetop, or 10 minutes to cook in the oven.

As the meatballs are made with chicken instead of beef, they’re also lower in fat than traditional meatballs, and more nutritionally-dense, while remaining a great source of protein, with 14 grams in each serving.

“These meatballs are an excellent source of protein, and they contain no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and no MSG,” says Catherine Rall, RD. “You can cook these either on your stovetop or in the oven, taking only six to 10 minutes. Ultimately, I like this meal because it checks all the boxes, being really tasty, being relatively healthy for a quick meal, being a great source of protein, and being reasonably priced at under $15.”

Rall recommends pairing the meatballs with white rice for an easy-to-make meal that’s on the table quickly.

Buy now: Aidells Chicken Meatballs, Teriyaki & Pineapple

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