The 2-½ pound box of Kirkland Signature panko shrimp, which cost $19, was the most expensive meal I purchased. According to its packaging, each box comes with 40 to 50 shrimp that can be prepared in the oven.

The slightly peppery seasoning on the shrimp was tasty, but I thought there was too much breading, making the shellfish feel like an afterthought.

Next time, I'll make my own version with frozen uncooked shrimp, which is also quick and easy to prepare.

The Sandwich Bros. chicken-melt sandwiches, which I'd wanted to try for a while, looked enormous and delicious on the box. But when I opened the package, they were smaller than I'd expected.

A pack of 15 individually wrapped sandwiches cost $12.70, which seemed reasonable to me.

The pita got a little rubbery in the microwave, but no other cooking methods were listed on the box. I tried heating the sandwiches in the oven and air-fryer, but both methods essentially baked the pita into a cracker.

Taste-wise, the chicken had a mildly peppery seasoning. The strongest flavor was the American cheese, which never came out as beautifully melted as it looked on the packaging. The sandwiches tasted best when I added a condiment like spicy mayo or hot sauce.

My 3-year-old loved these sandwiches, which seemed appropriate for someone whose favorite foods are bread, cheese, and chicken nuggets.

I picked up a four-pack of the Kirkland Signature thin-crust pepperoni pizza for $13.70, which came out to just over $3.40 per pie.

I thought the price was reasonable, but I'd prefer to spend a little more money on Target's single Red Baron pie, which doesn't require nearly as much freezer space. 

Each Kirkland Signature pizza was individually wrapped in plastic. However, during transport, most of the pepperoni shifted to one side of the pizza, so I manually redistributed the slices before baking it for about 12 minutes. 

The finished pizza looked exactly how I expected. The cheese melted, the edges of the crust browned, and the pepperoni glimmered with grease.

In my opinion, this pizza was sort of bland — the thin, cracker-like crust had a nice texture but little flavor, the sauce was slightly sweet but light on seasoning, and the pepperoni didn't have much spice. 

It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. I would probably serve one as a convenient appetizer if I needed to cook a more elaborate meal for guests, especially if kids were around.

But since this pizza wasn't better or cheaper than other frozen pies I've had, I don't expect to buy it again.

The Ajinomoto frozen ramen featured big chunks of chicken, noodles, dehydrated carrots, corn, red peppers, and green onions.

This pack came with six individual bowls, which required a decent amount of freezer space.

I added water and microwaved the ramen for four minutes per the instructions. The noodles were tender, the chicken was a bit spongy and sweet, and the salty soy-based broth was tasty without being overpowering.

They were a great size for a small but satisfying lunch, though far less portable than other forms of ramen. And at $18 for six bowls, they didn't seem like a very good value.

I'm somewhat particular about meatballs, but the deal on this Kirkland Signature product was hard to pass up. A 6-pound bag filled with 140 walnut-sized meatballs was only $18.

When I brought them home, the meatballs heated quickly in my air fryer and got a nice crust on the outside.

Unfortunately, the meatballs were a bit too spongy for my taste. Without sauce, they had a fairly strong garlic taste with some mild black-pepper spice. Still, they were neutral enough to take on the flavor of any sauce I paired them with.

I served my kids a few plain meatballs alongside some mac and cheese, and they seemed unimpressed.

When I tried the meatballs on a roll with cheese, barbecue sauce, and pickles, I thought the finished product tasted a bit like a McRib.

However, I liked them best as an appetizer, tossed in a sweet-and-sour sauce I made with ketchup, jelly, Sriracha, and Worcestershire sauce.

Overall, they seemed like a good value, but the 6-pound bag took up so much freezer space that I can't imagine buying these again.

On the day I went shopping, Costco offered samples of these dumplings, so I knew what to expect before I brought them home.

They seemed plain, but I was impressed by the price. The 3-pound bag was on sale for $7.50, though it normally costs $10.

When I opened the bag, I noticed some of the wontons fused in the freezer and didn't easily come apart without ripping. Though it didn't affect the flavor, this might make me less likely to use them as an appetizer while hosting.

I tried pan-frying them, but they took on a lot of the oil flavor. They were better when I steamed them in the microwave, as this cooking method allowed the filling's subtle sweetness and cilantro flavor to shine through.

The Kirkland Signature lasagna requires 65 minutes in the oven, so it's a little less convenient than many other frozen meals from Costco. That is, unless you risk the 24-minute microwave option suggested on the packaging.

But other than the baking time, the lasagna requires very little work. Each two-pack of lasagna was $16.70.

The finished meal looked appealing, covered with brown, bubbly mozzarella cheese. The lasagna was surprisingly spicy, with a black-pepper taste.

The sauce was subtly sweet but more seasoned than I'd like. The noodles came out perfectly tender, and the meaty sausage had a nice fennel flavor.

Each lasagna was enough to feed my family, with plenty left for the next day's lunch.

Red's turkey-sausage egg'wich caught my attention as a quick, protein-forward, low-carb breakfast option at the perfect time — I'm trying to eat lighter meals ahead of three family weddings.

The preparation was fast and simple. I microwaved the egg'wich for 50 seconds on each side, and I had a piping-hot turkey-sausage sandwich with eggs patties for bread. 

This eight-pack of egg'wiches cost $15, which didn't seem especially cost-efficient as far as Costco frozen meals go. 

I was a bit surprised I enjoyed these, as I don't usually like precooked egg patties. However, these were moist without being too greasy (though they were a little greasier than most foods I'd eat with my hands). The flavorful turkey sausage, which had a hint of black pepper, was good, too.

However, the egg'wich, which was only 190 calories and had 17 grams of protein, didn't fill me up. I usually like to spice up my egg breakfasts with some hot sauce, but I was worried it would spill out the sides or off the top of the sandwich.

After some consideration, I took a hamburger bun and put the entire egg'wich between the bread to better protect my hands from grease and condiments. I found the egg'wiches tasted much better and were more satisfying this way, though they were no longer keto-friendly.

I'll probably buy these again — along with more buns.

This was similar to a frozen orange-chicken meal I frequently buy at Trader Joe's. Both the Crazy Cuizine and Trader Joe's versions contain frozen chicken nuggets and pouches of sweet, brown, tangy sauce.

Without the sauce, the meat pieces' crispy, salty, outer breading reminded me of chicken nuggets.

The meal seemed tailor-made for preparation in an air fryer and was ready in about 20 minutes. The chicken pieces came out super crispy and were even tastier than some Chinese takeout meals I've had.

I'd buy this $16.50 box again, especially since the chicken was enough for four meals for my family when I served it with white rice and vegetables.

A box of eight individually wrapped Kirkland Signature breakfast sandwiches, made with bacon, egg, cheese, and a croissant, cost $16 at my Costco.

The sandwiches were extremely easy to prepare — after just six minutes in the air fryer, I had a quick, hot-breakfast option.

We enjoyed these sandwiches. The croissant (though a bit flimsy) had a nice hint of sweetness, the bacon was flavorful with a bit of crunch, and the melted cheese kept the sandwich from becoming too dry.

The sandwich also had enough flavor and moisture that it didn't need ketchup or hot sauce.

They reminded my wife and me of similar options from chain coffee shops. However, at about $2 per sandwich, they cost less than many of the options at my local Starbucks.

I'll likely repurchase the Kirkland Signature sandwiches when I need a break from my typical breakfast routine.

I picked up this 30-count box of the Kirkland Signature tempura shrimp on a week when I needed an easy dinner to make.

I thought I knew what to expect from the $18 box, as I'd previously bought this item for a holiday party. But I didn't try many, and though I remember my kids eating them, I wasn't sure if they'd still like this meal — that was over a year ago, and children can be fickle. 

The box contained a resealable bag of frozen shrimp and pouches of a soy-based dipping sauce.

The shrimp were extremely easy to prepare — I simply heated them in the air fryer at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

The shrimp were light on flavor yet hearty, so each piece felt substantial. When I tried them with the soy dipping sauce, they soaked up the sweet-salty taste.

All four of us liked this meal — which is a rarity. My 7-year-old deemed them "shrimp sticks" and delighted in the way the tails acted like little handles.

I was eager to try this staple of the Costco frozen section. The package came with two six-serving pizzas and was on sale for $10, though it normally costs $13.

It may be a deep-dish pizza, but the crust was nice and airy. Each pie had plenty of molten mozzarella and both sliced and diced pepperoni.

The pepperoni got shaken up in the package, but that allowed me to rearrange the pieces to leave a meat-free section for my 6-year-old, who doesn't like it.

The instructions called for baking the pizza directly on the oven rack in the tray it comes in. I tried this method, but I thought the buttery crust had more texture when I set the tray on top of a preheated cast-iron pizza pan.

A box of Kirkland Signature garlic-butter shrimp cost $16, which seemed like a good price for seafood that wasn't breaded.

The box contained two 1-pound bags of shrimp, which I found convenient — a pound of shrimp is usually just enough for a family dinner.

The meal couldn't have been easier to prepare. I opened the bag and dropped the shrimp into a skillet over medium heat. As the meal cooked, the buttery crust on the pieces of shrimp melted into a sauce.

With frequent stirring, the shrimp was ready to eat in about 10 minutes. 

The shrimp was surprisingly tender, considering it was cooked straight from the freezer. The buttery, rich sauce also burst with garlic and Parmesan flavors.

I served the shrimp over white rice, which was a perfect medium for soaking up the excess sauce. I sometimes make a similar shrimp meal from scratch, but it never goes over as well as this one did.

My only issue with the meal was that my kids wanted more shrimp than their usual share. I'll buy this again, but I'll cook both bags for future dinners.

I experimented a lot with preparing Red's turkey-sausage breakfast burritos. The tortillas tended to burst open when I cooked the burritos in the air fryer, and the microwave made them too chewy.

Eventually, I settled on a combination — 30 seconds on each side in the microwave, then 10 minutes in the air fryer at a low temperature.

I don't normally enjoy precooked frozen eggs in dishes like these. However, these burritos and their egg fillings tasted freshly made. The cheese was gooey, the sausage was tasty, and the flavor was spicy enough to be interesting without turning off my kids.

Don't let the name fool you — these do not have to be reserved for breakfast. Since this taste test, the turkey-sausage burritos have become my go-to lunch.

At $15.70 for 10 small burritos, they're a similar price to some convenience-store burritos, but these taste like premium versions.

This story was originally published on June 6, 2024, and most recently updated on December 19, 2024.

I figured the macaroni and cheese would be the safest bet of the meals I took home, and nothing about how it looked changed my mind.

It was bright yellow and seemed amply portioned. My kids usually love mac and cheese.

The prep was straightforward, as I covered the tray in foil and threw it in the oven for 45 minutes.

In my opinion, the mac and cheese was way too rich. There was a lot of cheese and a lot of sauce, and it was unpleasantly gooey and thick.

I ate a few bites before the grease started working on my stomach. Even my kids turned it away, deeming it "too cheesy."

It was the only Kirkland Signature meal we didn't eat to completion, and the sauce was so thick that I practically had to chisel out the refrigerated leftovers to recycle the tray. 

The Tuscan chicken wraps with sauce looked like something I might pack for an on-the-go lunch. The wraps, which came with a sun-dried-tomato spread, seemed like reasonably sized alternatives to similar options at a deli.  

There were a lot of different elements inside the yellow tortillas — Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken, spinach, bell peppers, olives, cream cheese, and red-pepper pesto — but I was disappointed in how little chicken I found in the wraps I brought home.

The most prominent flavors in this wrap were the salty olives and oily red peppers. My first bite contained almost entirely olives, which turned me off slightly.

I thought the cream cheese and red-pepper pesto made the wrap a bit too soggy on the outside and goopy on the inside. The spinach inside the wrap was also wilted, so it didn't offer any crunch.

Though I ate the wraps the day I bought them, I thought they tasted like the flavors had started to meld together — like a meal that had been sitting in the refrigerator for a while. 

Still, I liked that the wrap was pleasantly sweet and didn't fall apart under the weight of its ingredients. The sun-dried-tomato spread also had a nice, almost cheesy tang and worked well when I repurposed it for other sandwiches. But overall, I'd skip this meal the next time I'm at Costco.

I'd seen raw, seasoned wings on previous Costco trips, but this was the first time I'd noticed a precooked version. The Kirkland Signature garlic-seasoned party wings came with a mix of 25 drums and flats and two containers of ranch dressing.

The instructions on the packaging said to heat the wings in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees or in the microwave for 10 to 20 minutes. Still, I found that my air fryer was the best method for heating them.

I experimented with temperatures, but even at the hottest settings, the chicken skin didn't crisp up the way I like it to when I make my own wings at home.

The garlic seasoning, though visible, didn't add much more than a touch of salt and a vague aroma to the wings.

On the bright side, the wings weren't spicy at all, so my kids were able to eat them. But I found myself constantly reaching for hot sauce.

The air-fried chicken was fairly moist, but the wings weren't quite tasty or convenient enough for me to buy them again. With only slightly more effort, I can make better wings myself.

This massive beef-and-pork meatball sandwich with marinara sauce was elegantly displayed in a long, narrow container.

I'm somewhat particular about meatballs, but this meal looked appealingly enormous. However, when I took it out of the container, I didn't think the bread looked thick or wide enough to hold the sandwich together while eating.

It was also difficult to transfer the sandwich to a baking sheet without the bread falling apart under the weight of its contents.

After 30 minutes in the oven, the meatballs were hot, the cheese was melted, and the bread was toasty. I also heated some of the included marinara sauce and poured it over the meatballs to serve. 

Just as I feared, the sandwich was a mess. The bottom half of the bread basically disappeared under the grease that seeped in while it heated in the oven.

Still, a messy sandwich isn't necessarily a bad thing. The provolone cheese gave the sandwich a hint of nuttiness that distinguished it from the meatball subs available at my local pizzerias, which all use mozzarella.

However, I thought the meatballs were bland. They were also so densely packed into the sandwich that they were more likely to fall out of the bread than scrunch inside when I squeezed it. Overall, I wouldn't buy this meal again.

The shepherd's pie was filled with meat and vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes. My family already loves pie, so the novelty of mashed potatoes and pastry immediately appealed to my kids.

I removed the pie from its plastic container, placed it onto a baking sheet, and put it in the oven for about 45 minutes until golden. Individual pieces of pie fell apart as I served them, which wasn't surprising.

I thought the mashed potatoes were mealy and dry, the vegetables were mushy, and the filling was overseasoned and too sweet.

The filling was stew-like, but the ground beef was dry and crumbly. I thought I noticed pieces of steak, but these were just hunks of ground beef resembling burger meat.

Overall, my family wasn't a fan of the meal.

The Kirkland Signature Southwest wraps were the only meal that required no prep whatsoever, making it a good option for on-the-go eating.

They came with a pinkish chipotle sauce. When I unwrapped a wrap to put the sauce inside, I saw that the employee who made the meal sealed the wrap with a tangy, creamy spread.

I thought the wraps were good because they tasted fresh, and the spread that glued them together helped prevent dryness.

There was ample chicken, and the seasoned mix of corn and beans reminded me of a burrito from Chipotle. The pinkish chipotle sauce tasted like a Buffalo sauce to me, but that's not something I'd ever complain about.

Each wrap made for a viable lunch, and at less than $4 each, they're way less expensive than takeout. I could imagine buying them again when I need a lunch that saves time and money.

At nearly 6 pounds, I thought the Kirkland Signature chicken pot pie was huge and surprisingly heavy.

Some of the latticework on top of the pie broke in transit, but it was only cosmetic damage.

The instructions called for at least an hour of baking time, which I thought sort of defeated the purpose of making it as a quick weeknight meal.

Nevertheless, I baked the pie until it was golden brown, which took about an hour and 10 minutes.

The first bite of the pie was great.

The pie crust was sweet, flaky, and crisp, the hunks of rotisserie chicken were huge, and the pea-heavy cream and vegetables were rich and salty without being mushy or overcooked, as they sometimes are in pot pie.

But in subsequent bites, the initial richness became a goopy sort of heaviness that didn't sit well, and the whole pot pie started to taste a little too salty.

At the very least, the crust was good enough to make me want to try one of Costco's dessert pies.

The Kirkland Signature beef bulgogi Korean BBQ is one of the more bare-bones options among the meal selections at my local Costco. The container had a large portion of thinly sliced raw beef and white onions drenched in brown bulgogi sauce.

My kids don't have much experience with Korean-inspired food, but I thought the meal would appeal to them because it's sweet, tender, and gooey.

I figured I'd cook the meal in a skillet over medium-high heat until the beef was browned. However, I quickly realized it was difficult to tell when the beef was cooked through because all sides of the meat were covered in a dark-brown sauce.

I went by instinct, stirring frequently to make sure it cooked evenly. Some slices fell apart due to the constant stirring, but the dish seemed fully cooked after five minutes.

Unfortunately, the small pieces of meat made the bulgogi look more like a stew, and its appearance alone turned off my kids.

We thought the meal was tasty but too sweet, as the sauce's flavor overwhelmed the beef. I'd prefer this dish if the beef came in thicker pieces that I could remove from the sauce before cooking.

This meal, which included rigatoni and six enormous meatballs, cost $20 and was enough to feed my entire family twice.

The meatballs were a little spongy in texture, and something about how the ground-beef-and-pork mixture was seasoned tasted more like sausage than I expected (though that's hardly a bad thing).

The rigatoni held up surprisingly well after 50 minutes in the oven — not quite al dente but not at all mushy. However, the sauce was a bit too sweet and seasoned for me.

My kids liked the pasta but not the meatballs. I also thought the shredded cheese on top seemed like an afterthought, and I could've gone for more.

The Kirkland Signature udon-noodle salad was extremely easy to assemble — it already came with a shredded-vegetable slaw, peanuts, lime wedges, and a miso sauce.

I tossed all the ingredients into a bowl and served the finished salad alongside some chicken wings. 

The dressing was sweet and tangy with a strong miso flavor, but I thought the udon noodles were a bit mushy. I also wished the vegetable mix of shredded bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots was crisper to balance out the noodles' softness.

Overall, the salad wasn't too heavy or saucy, so it would likely be a nice, no-cook option for a quick meal or picnic.

The Kirkland Signature butter chicken with naan came in a tray filled with a generous portion of meat, sauce, and bread. In total, I got eight pieces of naan with the meal. 

The butter sauce lived up to its name — it was thick, rich, and creamy. Still, it didn't have a ton of flavor, with garlic and tomato paste being its most prominent elements.

It got a lot better when I added jalapeño and Trader Joe's Green Dragon hot sauce to amplify the warm notes of spice.

However, I didn't love the texture of the chicken, which seemed a bit different than the meat I've had in other Kirkland Signature meals. In my opinion, it was moist in a way that almost felt unnatural. I don't see myself buying this meal again.

The Kirkland Signature quesadillas came with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

The instructions on the packaging called for heating them up in a frying pan with some oil, so my first batch got a chimichanga-esque crunchiness I don't always expect from quesadillas.

I thought it was a big portion, as there were eight wedges, and two of them felt like more than enough for an adult-sized meal.

It was sort of the perfect meal to suit my family's quesadilla needs.

The chicken was seasoned but not spicy, and there was tons of cheese without being too greasy.

The salsa, a sweet, fresh, restaurant-style dip with jalapeño, was the surprise star for me. The Kirkland Signature quesadillas were my wife's favorite of all the meals. 

The Kirkland Signature yakisoba stir fry was a fun and easy-to-prepare dinner.

I heated the meal in a Dutch oven because I didn't have a wok or a large enough frying pan. Per the instructions, I heated up oil and first added the vegetables, then chicken, then noodles, and then sauce.

It was ready in less than 10 minutes. And because there were plenty of vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, onions, peppers, and snow peas, I didn't have to prep a side or a salad.

We thought the yakisoba noodles were warm, comforting, and satisfying, with tender hunks of chicken and some nice texture from the fresh vegetables.

It was a bit sweeter than I usually like, but a hit of hot sauce helped balance out the sweetness.

If I bought this again (and I would buy this again) I'd use only one container of sauce. My kids liked the noodles, and we finished most of the portion in a single sitting.

I figured — correctly — that something called ravioli lasagna would appeal to my kids, who love a novelty.

The ravioli were stacked in twos and topped with a meaty Bolognese sauce and mozzarella. It was easy to prepare, as all I needed to do was cover it with foil and bake it for an hour.

At the end of the hour, I deviated from the instructions and gave it five more minutes uncovered in the oven to get the cheese nice and bubbly on top.

The lasagna was good. The Bolognese sauce was hearty and sweet and my kids appreciated that the ravioli were glued together with melted mozzarella.

It was about a dinner and a half's worth of food for my family, though it felt like a smaller portion than a traditional lasagna made in an equivalent pan size.

The Kirkland Signature chipotle-chicken bowl with cilantro-lime rice — nearly 3-½ pounds of food in a casserole tray — came with chicken pieces, cilantro-lime rice, fire-roasted corn, beans, shredded cheese, lime wedges, salsa, and Kirkland Signature guacamole.

The packaging had heating instructions for both the oven and the microwave, but I chose to prepare it in the former because I thought it seemed like the best way to judge the meal's quality. Still, it was nice to know I had Costco's blessing to quickly heat it in the microwave.

I removed the lid, lime wedges, salsa, and guacamole, mixed the rice, beans, cheese, and chicken, and heated the tray in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.

When it was ready, the shredded cheese had fully melted, and the chicken, rice, and beans were piping hot. I squeezed the lime wedges over the whole dish and served it with the salsa and guacamole. 

I liked this meal a lot. Not surprisingly, the combination of rice, beans, cheese, and chipotle chicken reminded me of meals from fast-casual Mexican-food chains. The melted cheese gave the whole dish a pleasant creaminess. 

There was plenty of chicken, though some pieces seemed a little dry. The lime's lively citrus flavor amplified the rice and beans' heartiness. The guacamole helped make the dish extra creamy, and the salsa added sweetness and a spicy kick. 

My kids enjoyed the guacamole but thought the rest of the meal was too spicy. This meant my wife and I had plenty of leftovers for satisfying lunches.

This dish came with many components, which made me appreciate Costco's attention to detail and how much goes into prepping a gyro.

Only the gyro meat and the pitas needed to be heated, but the meal also came with a cucumber and tomato salad, red onions, feta cheese, and tzatziki.

Unfortunately, I needed to find my own hot sauce.

I thought the gyros were delicious. If there was a weak link in the sandwich, it was probably the gyro meat itself, which was a little heavy on the onion powder and heated up to a scrapple-like consistency.

That being said, the assertive seasoning on the meat was mellowed by the sweetness and crunch of the veggies and the tangy creaminess of the tzatziki and feta.

It wasn't better than a gyro I might get from a street cart, but the price was right, and there's no street cart inside my apartment.

My first impression of the chicken Alfredo was that it was heavy. The label said it was a little over 4 pounds, and though it might not sound like much, it was a lot of food for my family.

There was an impressive amount of chicken but I expected a higher ratio of noodle-to-meat. Like the macaroni and cheese, the whole tray was covered with foil and baked in the oven.

The chicken Alfredo was better than I expected.

Alfredo sauce is often a bit too indulgent for my tastes, but I thought Kirkland Signature's version of the creamy, cheesy sauce wasn't overwhelmingly heavy. The chicken was also moist and flavorful.

My kids liked it even though they normally prefer their chicken and their pasta separated. Alongside some steamed broccoli, the chicken Alfredo stretched to two full meals for my family with little effort on my part. 

The Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken is a popular item at my local store. When staff members display a new batch of birds, customers veer their shopping carts toward the shelves to get the freshest roast chicken.

I'd been meaning to try it for a while, but I wanted to make sure I bought it when my whole family could eat it the same day, and our schedules never lined up until recently. 

The price was hard to believe — $5 for a large chicken — and it came in a microwave-safe bag, which seemed convenient even though I didn't use it. The chicken was still warm when I brought it home, so I reheated it in the oven for only a few minutes.

The skin was lightly seasoned, but it wasn't nearly as tasty as other grocery-store rotisserie chickens I've tried. The chicken itself was less salty than I expected, and despite its size, it was fairly moist, even in white-meat portions.

It had a noticeable poultry flavor but was otherwise neutral-tasting, making it easy to use the leftovers in other meals (like the store does for many of its prepared Kirkland Signature meals).

My family loves chicken, and one bird provided two full meals' worth of meat. Considering its price and versatility, we'll likely continue to buy rotisserie chicken on most Costco trips. 

For whatever reason, the chicken street tacos came in a longer container than the other meals.

I thought it was vaguely festive but difficult to fit into a shopping bag or a refrigerator. Like the gyros, the street tacos came as a kit.

I heated the chicken and tortillas and topped them with cheese, shredded veggies, salsa, cilantro-lime crema, and a squeeze of fresh lime.

The chicken street tacos were excellent. The chicken was smoky with a chipotle flavor but not too spicy for my kids, the veggies were fresh and crunchy, and the sauces were tasty. I think the salsa was the same kind that came with the quesadillas.

If I were at a restaurant and got these tacos, I'd be more than satisfied with my purchase. 

I'm normally not a big fan of meatloaf, and my kids' exposure to it has been limited. It's often grayish and covered in a dark red goo that looks like ketchup.

I'm also not much of a mashed potato guy and, in my experience, they never keep well.

By the time I put the Kirkland Signature meatloaf and mashed potatoes in the oven, they had been sitting in my fridge for a few days so I wasn't sure what to expect.

Like almost every one of these meals, the meatloaf and mashed Yukon potatoes were surprisingly good.

It was heavy (but of course, most meatloaf is), and I don't think I'd usually choose it over tacos. But my family ate the meatloaf on an unseasonably cold day when I was hungry, and the sweet, juicy, and beefy dinner hit the spot.

My son, who's normally hesitant about unfamiliar foods, took to it like he was a paid spokesperson. "I'm very happy with this," he said.

I thought the mashed potatoes were just a touch mealy, but overall, they weren't bad.

I normally cook for my family and, for whatever reason, prepared meals like those from Kirkland Signature have never been part of our dinner rotation.

But aside from the mac and cheese and rigatoni with meatballs, every one of the meals we tried was better than I expected it to be, and my kids enjoyed them more than I would've guessed.

Now, I'll likely regularly buy some of the Kirkland Signature meals when I don't have much time for meal prep.

This story was originally published on October 27, 2023, and most recently updated on December 11, 2024.

Tumblers have been super trendy this year, and these Simple Modern ones caught my eye as soon as I walked into Costco.

The 40-ounce cups can keep drinks either hot or cold for 24 hours, and the handle makes it easy to take them on the go.

I grabbed two for my cousins, and I may go back to get one for myself.

When I came across pairs of ladies' Dearfoams slippers for $15 each, I knew I had to grab a pair for both my mom and mother-in-law.

The slippers, available at my Costco in gray or black, have an ultra-thick memory-foam insole and are perfect for anyone who works from home or doesn't like to walk around the house in shoes.

My dad works outside, so I always like to get him a few things to keep him warm throughout the winter.

He's a big fan of hand and toe warmers, but I thought he might like these Avalanche thermal socks, which promise all-day warmth. I got a pack of three for $10.

If you're looking for a gift that's delicious and beautiful, I recommend looking for Hammond's snowball cookies, which come in a Christmas-tree-shaped jar at Costco.

I grabbed one for my aunt, but think this would also make a great gift for friends or coworkers.

At $17, I thought this was a great deal.

Last Christmas, I got my dad a Freedom Foundry shacket that he still wears all the time. In fact, he loved the warm, plush shirt jacket so much that he dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he'd love another one this year.

I was super excited when I came across more colors of the shackets for only $20 each.

Every year, I like to browse Costco's selection of gift cards, many of which are for local restaurants and chains. The best part is most gift cards sold here are worth more than what shoppers pay for them.

For example, I grabbed $100 worth of gift cards to Bubbakoo's Burritos for just $70. The pack I got came with four gift cards, which makes it easy to split this up for multiple people on my list.

I always struggle with what to get the little ones in my life — but I added this adorable Bluey book-and-toy set to my cart as soon as I saw it.

The book felt high-quality and features many of the show's characters. It also comes with 10 figurines and a play mat.

It seemed worth more than the $11 I paid for it, and I think it's perfect for my cousin's daughter.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

I was looking everywhere for the Pillsbury holiday sugar-cookie dough, so I was happy to see this item stocked at my Costco.

Each 60-count box comes with precut, ready-to-bake cookies with Christmas-tree, reindeer, and snowman designs.

At my store, the Pillsbury holiday cookies can be found in the refrigerated section for $8.

This month, my Costco has a new premade item: the beef-and-pork meatball sandwich with marinara.

The sandwich, made with artisanal bread, provolone and Parmesan cheese, and ground beef and pork, is large enough to serve a few people. I recommend heating it in the oven or an air fryer to get a nice, cheesy melt.

This meatball sandwich costs $6 per pound, which comes out to about $13 to $15 total. 

The Bayside Furnishings heater could be a great winter addition to your home.

The device has a metal frame, an infrared-heating element, a sleep timer, and three flame colors. At 24 inches wide and just over 23 inches tall, it's also compact enough to fit into small spaces.

This electric heater is $125 at my Costco.

The Shark FlexStyle air-styling and drying system, which allows users to curl, straighten, smooth, or add volume to their hair with less heat damage, could make the perfect gift.

This set includes two multi-style curlers, a diffuser, a concentrator, paddle and oval brushes, a FrizzFighter finishing tool, and a storage bag to keep everything secure.

The Shark FlexStyle system is regularly $300, but at my location, the set is on sale for $230 until December 24.

This month, you can take home your own statue of the Grinch and his dog, Max, designed by artist Jim Shore.

The hand-painted Grinch collectible stands about 20 inches tall and weighs just over 8 pounds. At my Costco, it costs $50.

Costco's holiday-cookie tray is the perfect dish to bring to parties. Each tray contains 60 cookies in chocolate-chunk, brown-butter-sugar, double-chocolate-chip, double-nut, and candy-gem-chip flavors.

Customers can find the holiday cookies in the bakery section for $25.

This month, you can get ready and illuminate your bathroom or bedroom with the Conair LED double-sided vanity mirror — an item that seems to be selling fairly quickly at my Costco.

The model includes a square mirror, an accessory tray, and three touch-control light settings.

At my store, the Conair vanity mirror — regularly $30 — is on sale for $24 until December 24.

If you ask me, the Phantom A10, an electric scooter with a 400-watt motor, is one coolest things at Costco right now.

It has puncture-proof tires, cruise control, a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, and a Gogo Connect companion app. The scooter is also foldable, so it's easy to store.

The Phantom A10 smart electric scooter is $400 at my location.

This month, my Costco is carrying a variety pack of the Dr. Squatch all-natural bar soap. Each pack contains six bars of soap with two of each scent: wood-barrel bourbon, fresh falls, and pine tar.

I was excited to see this soap at Costco because it's a great deal compared to the prices I've seen at other retailers. At my store, a pack of Dr. Squatch natural bar soap costs about $20.

Costco gets lots of name-brand clothing throughout the year, and this month, my location is carrying the Adidas men's hoodie.

The Adidas hoodies come in blue, gray, and green colors and range from small to 2XL sizes. My Costco even carries matching joggers to complete the outfit.

At my location, each Adidas fleece hoodie is $16.

The Swissgear weekender tote would be the perfect gift for someone who loves traveling or going to the gym.

The versatile tote features sturdy handles, a removable shoulder strap, and a padded bottom compartment for extra storage. The bags come in black, cream, and pink colors. 

Hello Kitty has been pretty popular this year, so I didn't want to miss my chance to get this pillow-and-blanket set as a Christmas gift for my daughter.

Each bundle comes with a Hello Kitty plush cloud pillow and a reversible, 60-by-70-inch polyester throw. This set would make the perfect addition to a kid's or collector's room.

Costco gets great seasonal homeware items, and this year, I'd recommend picking up the Bellevue luxury candle set.

Each pack has four 12-ounce candles with removable labels and metal lids. The candles, which are formulated with essential oils, come in mistletoe-frost, sapphire-cashmere, heirloom-apple-grove, and cinnamon-pumpkin-chai scents.

I like to split these candles up and give them by themselves or with a gift card in a clear bag with a bow.

Buying Christmas presents can be difficult, especially if you come from a big family like mine. Luckily, these Ghirardelli baskets make gift-giving easy.

The gift baskets contain a selection of the brand's popular items, like chocolate-covered pretzels and signature candies. Each set also comes with a resealable tin that can be used for storage.

This year, my location is carrying two basket sets with different combinations of caramel- and chocolate-flavored treats.

This Skullcandy Kilo speaker-and-case bundle can be split into two gifts for the price of one.

The Bluetooth speakers have aluminum carabiners, a durable design, and a 24-hour battery life.

This electric-tool set could be a great gift for a white-elephant exchange or for someone who loves wine.

The five-piece set has two USB-C charging cables, two bottle stoppers, a foil cutter, an electric corkscrew, and a wine dispenser.

I like this set because the tools make it easy to open a bottle of wine and keep it tasting fresh.

This Stanley workbench tool set would likely make any kid happy. The cute set comes with a workbench, different tools, and wooden-birdhouse and forklift kits.

I like this set, meant for ages 8 and older, because it's a great way to make kids feel included when they want to help with adult-level projects.

Slippers are one of my favorite gifts to give, and lately, my Costco has been carrying lots of men's and women's Dearfoams.

The machine-washable slippers can be worn both inside and out, and come in a few different sizes and colors.

This year, I'm getting a KitchenAid stand mixer as a gift to myself.

The bundle includes five attachments: a flat beater, a dough hook, a six-wire whip, a pouring shield, and a flex-edge beater. The stand mixers themselves are available in red and silver hues.

As soon as I saw this charging pad, I knew I had to get it for my husband. It will help him keep everything in one place while charging his must-have electronics.

This charging pad, compatible with only Apple products, can charge an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch. Its foldable design makes it compact so you can take it almost anywhere. 

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I'm a self-proclaimed aspiring Martha Stewart, so I've always prided myself in cooking elaborate Thanksgiving dinners for my family from scratch.

I'd spend days doing food prep and writing out a detailed plan of when to make certain dishes, how to store them, and which time each needed to go in the oven.

Last year, after cooking a full Thanksgiving meal from Ina Garten recipes for an assignment ahead of Thanksgiving, I was ready for a break. That's when we first tried ordering a heat-and-serve Thanksgiving meal instead.

Because my family had eaten at Cracker Barrel for the first time last year and enjoyed it, we decided to order its heat-and-serve Thanksgiving dinner last year.

The $130 meal included everything from turkey to dinner rolls and actually cost way less than what I'd normally spend on Thanksgiving groceries.

Even better? The dishes tasted just as good as my homemade menu items and saved us hours in the kitchen.

Our Cracker Barrel meal last year included turkey, gravy, and essential sides like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and green beans — plus a few extras.

This year, we ordered a full Thanksgiving meal from Costco for an early Thanksgiving celebration with my visiting mother-in-law. We were treated to a full spread for eight guests for $180.

The dinner included staples like green-bean casserole, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, corn, mac and cheese, and pumpkin pie. There was nothing we missed having on our dinner table.

Although I could make mac and cheese from scratch the day before the holiday and pull out Crock-Pots from storage to keep mashed potatoes and gravy warm on Thanksgiving, it's nice not to have to.

In fact, I wish I could've told myself about this amazing holiday hack 10 years ago, as it would have saved me so much time in the kitchen.

Instead of cooking elaborate Thanksgiving meals, my family all pitches in with heating up our premade dinner, which takes a matter of minutes compared to the days of cooking in years past.

With that out of the way, we can spend time doing things as a family, like running Turkey Trots, playing board games, or even going to the movies.

My kids are teenagers now, and with their busy schedules, we rarely get a day all together in the house. I'm thankful that I don't have to spend the day cooking and can actually hang out with my teens instead.

Although I may return to cooking family recipes on Thanksgiving in the future, there's something lovely about letting an outside party handle the meal so I can focus on my family instead.

While my kids are teenagers with jobs, school schedules, and social lives, I'd prefer to spend the holiday being present with them instead of frantically managing the kitchen.

For this reason, I'll continue to order Thanksgiving dinner from chains for the foreseeable future. After all, homemade pies and mashed potatoes can wait — but making memories with my kids can't.

As a professional baker, I know how to make a solid pumpkin pie at home — but sometimes grabbing one from a local grocery store is the best option. 

To find the best store-bought pumpkin pie, I put four desserts — from Costco, Safeway, Kroger, and Walmart — to the test.

There are plenty of pies on display at most grocery stores in the fall, so I didn't call ahead at any of the places I went to and just walked in and grabbed the seasonal treat.

Because pumpkin pies are typically made with a custard filling, which contains milk and eggs, the USDA recommends keeping them refrigerated. At the Costco and Safeway, I went to, the pumpkin pies were kept in a refrigerated area.

At Walmart and Kroger, they were on display at room temperature, which means they likely contain preservatives or artificial ingredients to make them shelf-stable.

With all of these factors in mind, I judged each one for flavor and texture.

Walmart had a huge display of pumpkin pies sitting out at room temperature so I grabbed a 10-inch one.

The pie came in an aluminum pie pan for easy serving and was packaged in a cardboard box.

Walmart's pumpkin pie was easy to cut at room temperature so it was simple to get a clean slice that didn't fall apart. The crust was nice and light with a tasty flavor and the filling had good structure while still being smooth.

The balance of flavors was ideal, as the pie itself wasn't too sweet and the pumpkin-spice flavor wasn't overwhelming.

I found this pie on display at room temperature, which meant that Walmart's pumpkin treat likely had some added ingredients to make it shelf-stable.

Kroger sells pumpkin pies under the store's Bakery Fresh Goodness brand. According to the employees working at Kroger's bakery, the pies are baked and frozen prior to arriving at the store.

I bought an 8-inch pumpkin pie, which was packaged in an aluminum pan and a plastic container.

Kroger's pumpkin pie was the smallest of the four I tried, but it sliced beautifully at room temperature and looked appealing. However, I couldn't enjoy more than one bite.

In my opinion, the crust was lackluster without much flavor, and the taste of the filling was overpowering, with an odd combination of spices. I thought it had a slightly artificial taste to it as well.

Because this pie was shelf-stable, I'd guess that some of the preservative ingredients added to the mixture changed the classic pumpkin-pie taste I was looking for.

I used to work at Safeway's bakery, so I already knew the chain sells pumpkin pies that come prepared and frozen and are then baked in the store.

I had the option to grab pies with or without whipped cream, both of which were kept in a refrigerated case in the bakery section. According to the label on the pie, the whipped cream is made fresh on-site from real heavy whipping cream.

I bought an 11-inch pumpkin pie, which was packaged in an aluminum pan and placed in a plastic container.

By the appearance of Safeway's pumpkin pie, I definitely could tell it was baked fresh in the store. It had a great structure and was easy to slice at room temperature.

The crust was light and flavorful, with a hint of salt that paired well with the filling, which was absolutely delicious. The balance of the pumpkin filling with the cinnamon and other spices was spot on.

You'll need a Costco membership to grab one of the jumbo pumpkin pies, which can be found in a refrigerated case in the bakery section.

When I asked the employees at the bakery, they told me Costco's pumpkin pies are baked at the warehouse.

I bought the 12-inch pumpkin pie, packaged in an aluminum pan and plastic container.

The pumpkin pie I got at Costco was over 3 pounds, so I knew it would certainly dish out plenty of servings. Notably, I found it difficult to get a clean slice out of the Costco pumpkin pie at room temperature, but I had an easier time when it was chilled.

The crust was thin, without much flavor or texture, and the filling was incredibly fluffy, as opposed to other richer, denser pies.

It had a sweeter taste, with notes of vanilla, but it didn't have as much pumpkin-spice flavor as the other pies did. Though it tasted good, I also wanted a bit more cinnamon.

As a baker, a homemade pie will always be at the top of my list. Still, I think some of the store-bought versions I tried were pretty tasty.

The textures of both Costco's and Safeway's pumpkin pies were very good. However, I thought Safeway's was the best store-bought pumpkin pie. Its flavor gave it an edge over Costco's famed dessert.

Though Costco's pie was really good and a great deal, in comparison to Safeway's, it was just a bit dull.

Next time I'm in a rush and want to grab a pumpkin pie, I'll head to Safeway's bakery section.

This story was originally published on November 18, 2022, and most recently updated on November 25, 2024.

Every time I go to Costco, I glance wonderingly at the enormous muffins from the bakery.

For years, I've yearned from afar, but I decided to try them all for the first time and rank them from worst to best.

I purchased and sampled them plain, at room temperature, and on the same day. Half were baked that morning, and the other half were from the day prior.

The first thing that struck me about these muffins was how incredibly heavy they were. Squat with a nearly ideal, almost equal top-to-bottom ratio, they felt remarkably dense.

Enticed by the generous, visible toppings, I dug in.

Editor's Note: Availability may vary as some of the muffin flavors are limited-edition or have been discontinued.

This muffin looked promising with a rich-brown base studded with large chunks of chocolate. 

There was no discernible aroma once I opened the package, but a closer sniff revealed the scent of basic chocolate cake, which intensified when I cut the muffin open. 

The center rise seemed slightly liquidy, which was likely a batch-specific problem since the blueberry muffins also made that day were even more undercooked.

I still appreciated that the chocolate chunks were embedded throughout the muffin and not just tossed on top for visual appeal. These pieces were great for taste and texture, adding moisture and dimension to the otherwise somewhat dry and flat-tasting chocolate base.

They also melted down nicely in each bite, like inverse frosting.

On its own, this muffin reminded me of a Dutch-cocoa cupcake, with a shy hint of chocolate that wouldn't quite commit. It wasn't rich like Devil's food cake, but also wasn't fudgy or moist.

Typically, poppy seeds are paired with lemon in muffins, but in this case, they're combined with a lusciously aromatic almond flavor.

It was the only muffin that had an immediately discernible scent as soon as I opened the package. It also had the highest tops of them all, with a firm, dry surface. 

Slicing through it sounded like cutting a slightly wet sponge, which was a bit off-putting, but eating this muffin continued to be a sensory experience.

The seeds pleasantly popped in my mouth, cracking between my teeth even after I ate the base. If you like to savor your sweets, this flavor is the one for you.

A hybrid between a heavy pound cake and a white-almond wedding cake, it felt plush and tasted slightly nutty and sugary, with a sweetness that ramped up as I ate it. 

This was definitely the easiest to eat in a large quantity since it was consistent from bite to bite, each of which was predictably good.

Some hybrid baked goods — like the double-chocolate muffin — lack an identity. But this flavor really went for it, tying together three delectable breakfast treats in one powerful package.

It had the shape and density of a muffin, the hit-you-over-the-head flavor of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and the texture of coffee cake, all topped with a crispy crumb streusel. 

This muffin didn't smell like much when I opened the container, so I didn't expect it to pack such a sugary wallop.

As I cut into it, I was greeted with a visual of ribbons of cinnamon layers, swirling like a galaxy.

Once I bit into the muffin, the crumb topping remained crisp, but the dense center melted into a moist, airy mouthful.

I was first hit with the cinnamon and sugar, and I loved that the toppings weren't excessive since the batter itself was a flavor bomb. It had an intense sweetness that settled and lingered. 

I adore blueberry muffins, so the mere sight of the plentiful, baked berries tumbling down the crests of these tops was enough to cause a Pavlovian reaction.

I tempered my excitement, though, because the surfaces looked dry, and unless I held them close to my face, these treats barely smelled like anything. However, I could feel through the knife that this muffin was outrageously moist.

Baked the same day as the double-chocolate muffins, this batch also felt a bit underdone — what I thought might be custard was likely batter. 

But this muffin was excellent enough that I still ranked it first. Despite the appearance of the outer crumb and the flaw in its technical execution, it went above and beyond in nearly every way.

It was really well-balanced since the taste was subtly sweet, and the texture was dense and heavy without feeling like a pound cake. Plus the dry-looking top was actually quite soft, and the bottom edges easily melted away.

The cascades of blueberries were everything I'd hoped they'd be — naturally sweet and juicy.

Pairing this muffin with milk or coffee would also nicely bring out the vanilla finish.

Between dry textures and disproportionate toppings, many commercial and supermarket muffins often fall flat, but Costco's suffered no such issues.

Tasting them was easy. Not a single one needed additional toppings or adjustments to shine.

Despite there only being four muffin flavors to rank, this taste test was an excellent example of good curation. You don't need to have a million varieties of something to excel in it — just a few exceptionally well-done options.

There was no worst flavor, and handing out the blue ribbon was a challenge since the options were diverse enough to make it subjective. 

So I can say with certainty that there isn't a wrong choice, and I can't wait to try the seasonal flavors.

This story was originally published on August 30, 2021, and most recently updated on November 20, 2024.