Between working full-time and doing household tasks, it’s a wonder that any of us have time to get things done. Unfortunately, for the most part, we don’t.
With so little time on our hands, it’s often meal preparation that gets lost in the shuffle. If the last thing that you feel like doing after work is making dinner, then these Costco shopping hacks are for you.
Here are some incredibly easy meals you can make using ready-made items or ingredients from your local Costco.
Earn 2% cash rewards at grocery stores and Costco
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) is a powerful rewards card that allows you to earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — including on groceries, even at warehouse stores like Costco.
New cardholders can also earn a one-time cash rewards bonus — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months!
If you’re looking for a powerful rewards card that offers an extended intro APR period, look no further, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card checks that box too!
This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.
The best part? There's no annual fee.
Click here to apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card now.
Bibigo Beef Bulgogi Mandu
Translating into the phrase “fire meat,” bulgogi is a Korean dish made of high-end beef cuts coated in a sweet and savory sauce. Mandu, on the other hand, are Korean-style dumplings.
Combine the two, and what you get is absolute deliciousness. Plus, these dumplings are ready in only eight minutes.
Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks
If someone tells you Costco’s Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks aren’t a full meal, they just might be right.
But there are easy ways to rectify the situation. Pair a quick salad with these delicious mozzarella sticks, and you’ve got yourself a meal.
Crazy Cuisine Mandarin Orange Chicken
Have a favorite local place for Chinese takeout? While it’s great to support local businesses, it’s not always the best thing for your wallet.
Luckily, you can mimic some of your favorite dishes at home with the help of the Costco frozen foods section.
This highly-rated mandarin chicken comes fully cooked. All you need to do is heat it and add some rice and/or veggies.
Stop overpaying when you shop online at Costco
Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.
Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.
Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1
Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Beef Patties
Burgers are such an obvious choice that we almost didn’t include them on this list. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t let you know that Costco’s Kirkland house brand makes a great burger patty.
This classic American meal also happens to be one of the easiest ones to put together. Just add a toasted bun and your favorite toppings. Heads up: Hamburger buns will last quite a while if you freeze them.
Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes
Since its inception in 1995, Kirkland Signature has come to be known as an indicator of quality. Luckily, Costco offers a wide variety of products under the Kirkland brand, including these tasty chicken bakes.
Made from an enticing blend of cheeses (mozzarella, provolone, parmesan), these chicken bakes are also stuffed with bacon, green onions, and Caesar dressing. Not bad for a quick weeknight meal.
Trending Stories
Armanino Basil Pesto
Pesto is one of those foods that tastes amazing homemade. However, there’s no denying that making it yourself takes a lot of work (and equipment). Plus, recipes that include pine nuts can be very expensive. Have you seen the price of pine nuts?
Fortunately, Costco offers a delicious pre-made frozen pesto product. Simply heat it, boil some pasta, and enjoy.
Frontera Chicken Fajita Bowl
Sizzling fajitas at a restaurant are great, but Costco offers a ready-made fajita bowl that makes a delicious weeknight dinner.
Instead of the other options on this list which require you to make pasta or rice to accompany your meal, this fajita bowl comes ready to go with chicken, fajita sauce, peppers, and grain.
El Monterey Mexican Grill Taquitos
These taquitos come already frozen and are easy to make. All you have to do is pop them in the oven or microwave and wait for them to heat up.
Made from real cheese, charbroiled chicken breast, and flour tortillas, they’re a wonderful after-work snack or meal.
Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza
Sometimes, the most simple meals are the best ones. Often underappreciated and misunderstood, the cheese pizza is not just the choice of picky eaters and children at a birthday party.
Pizza is also a delicious meal, especially when it’s dunked in your favorite hot sauce or even just ranch dressing. This Costco-brand pizza is made from 100% real cheese and comes with a delicious breadcrumb crust.
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Ready Pac Bistro Turkey and Bacon Cobb Salad Bowl
There’s a misconception out there that all prepackaged/ready-made meals are unhealthy. This might have been true at a time when microwave dinners were all the rage, but it’s simply not true any longer.
Case in point: This turkey and bacon cobb salad bowl comes complete with fresh iceberg lettuce and a hard-boiled egg.
Rotisserie chicken
Costco is famous for its rotisserie chicken. Not surprisingly, the company loses money on these chickens, which it sets at a bargain-low price point.
However, since you have to travel to the back of the store to pick up one of these chickens, Costco likely makes up for its losses when shoppers pick up other items.
In addition to eating the chickens on your own, you can also cut them up and add them to a stir fry or soup.
Ajinomoto Yakisoba with Vegetables
A stir-fry on its own is already a pretty quick meal. But, a stir fry out of a box is even quicker. The best news? It tastes way better than “stir fry from a box” sounds.
Made from all-natural ingredients, these Japanese-style noodles come with a delicious savory sauce and frozen vegetables. Another item on this list that’s suitable for vegetarians.
La Boulangerie Ham and Swiss Cheese Pockets
If somebody tries to tell you that a ham and cheese croissant isn’t a suitable meal on its own, then we give you permission to scoff at them. It’s obvious they haven’t spent a great deal of time in France.
These delicious pastries are perfect for when you’re looking for a small dinner or are feeling too burnt out to cook.
Trident Seafoods the Ultimate Fish Stick
Made from wild Alaskan pollock, these breaded pieces of fish are the perfect accompaniment to a rice or pasta dish.
They’re packed with protein, super versatile, and help change things up a bit if you’re tired of eating chicken for the fourth time that week.
Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pies
Chicken pot pies are about the closest thing to comfort food that you can get. However, there’s a lot of prep that goes into making them, from chopping vegetables to making a sauce. Not to mention if you’re making your own crust from scratch.
Luckily, we live in modern times, and modern times allow us to have a delicious ready-made chicken pot pie at the ready. Pick one up at Costco and see for yourself.
Bottom line
Energy seems to come at a premium these days, and you need to conserve yours whenever you can.
Not only can you save money on groceries at Costco, but you can also save time on meal prep for the week. So, next time you’re wondering what you’re going to make for dinner, try these quick and easy Costco meals.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.