Are you looking for easy cooking shortcuts? Luckily, Costco has a lot of products that make meal prep easy and save you a lot of time in the kitchen. From ready-to-eat staples to quick-fix ingredients to kitchen appliances, here are the best Costco cooking shortcuts you need to know about!
MamaMancini’s Beef Meatballs
Don’t waste your time making meatballs from scratch! MamaMancini’s Beef Meatballs are fully cooked and ready to add to your pasta dishes in minutes. Simply heat them in a pan or microwave and add them to pasta with marinara sauce (I suggest Rao’s Marinara). Don’t feel like dealing with extra dishes? Skip the pan and microwave them for an even quicker meal.
Foodi Possible Cooker Pro
The Foodi Possible Cooker is a game-changer in the kitchen. This versatile appliance replaces 14 cooking appliances and functions as a slow cooker, nonstick pan, steam oven, food warmer, and even a bread maker.
Oven-safe, it allows you to sear and sauté directly in the pot, then finish cooking in the oven without the need to transfer to a separate casserole dish. It’s the perfect solution for cutting down on cleanup by eliminating the need for extra pans.
Grilled Mediterranean-Style Chicken Skewers
These Grilled Mediterranean-Style Chicken Skewers are a tasty and convenient option from Costco. Fully cooked and packed with flavor, all you need to do is pop them in the microwave, and they’re ready to eat. Perfect for quick lunches, dinners, or even as an easy appetizer.
Tattooed Chef Sheet Pan Vegetables
Tattooed Chef Sheet Pan Vegetables are the ultimate cooking shortcut. The slicing and seasoning are already done for you—all you need to do is spread the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven. In no time, you’ll have perfectly roasted, flavorful veggies with zero hassle.
Kirkland Garlic Butter Shrimp
Cooking doesn’t get easier than with Kirkland Garlic Butter Shrimp. Heat them in a pan and serve over pasta for instant shrimp scampi. Want something even simpler? Microwave them for a quick, garlicky shrimp dish—perfect with crusty bread or a fresh salad.
Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie
Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie is the ultimate dinner shortcut. Pre-assembled and ready to bake, all you have to do is bake it in the oven, and a hearty, comforting meal is on the table in no time. It’s delicious, packed with tender chicken and veggies, and comes at a really low price (less than $25 for a giant pot pie!) You can’t go wrong!
Amylu Chicken Burgers
Costco carries a variety of Amylu Chicken Burgers, making meal prep easy. At my local warehouse, you’ll find flavors like Organic Caramelized Onion with White Cheddar and Greek-Style Chicken Burgers. These chicken patties are fully cooked—just heat them up and enjoy them as a quick, protein-packed addition to salads or on a bun for a fast meal.
Seeds of Change Quinoa and Brown Rice
No time to cook rice from scratch? No problem! Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice is a microwavable option ready in just 90 seconds. Seasoned with garlic and full of flavor, it’s the perfect, easy side dish. Check out 26 Things I Never Pay Full Price at Costco
Kirkland Minced Garlic
Who has time to peel and mince garlic? Kirkland Minced Garlic is a major time saver, making any dish with garlic easy to prepare. It’s a convenient, mess-free option that eliminates the need for an extra cutting board and knife to clean! Check out 23 Costco Items that are a Total Waste of Money for Small Households
Costco’s Ready-to-Heat Salmon
Costco’s prepared food section sells ready-to-heat salmon that will cut your cooking time in half. Whether you choose the Stuffed Salmon or Salmon Milano with Basil Pesto Butter, all you need to do is heat it in the oven, and dinner is ready in no time. It’s a simple, delicious way to enjoy a salmon dish without the hassle. Check out 21 Best Bulk Buys from Costco that Will Last You All Year (and Save You Money)
Mashed Potatoes
Costco’s Mashed Potatoes are the side dish shortcut. Fully prepared and topped with slices of butter, all you have to do is transfer them to an oven-safe casserole dish and heat. No peeling, boiling, or mashing required—just creamy, delicious mashed potatoes ready in minutes. Check out 18 Easy Meals from Costco for When You’re Too Lazy to Cook
Chicken Alfredo
Costco’s Chicken Alfredo is the perfect shortcut for an easy pasta dinner. This fully assembled dish comes with pasta, Alfredo sauce, chicken, and shredded cheese. Simply heat the casserole in the oven, and you have a delicious pasta dish ready to serve. My kids love this! Check out 24 Best Kirkland Products I Always Buy at Costco
Pre-Seasoned Meats
Costco’s selection of Pre-Marinated Meats makes meal prep really easy. There is no need to spend time marinating—just buy a pre-marinated pack and cook! For example, their Garlic-Seasoned Party Wings are pre-seasoned and ready to bake. Just heat them in the oven for a quick chicken wings dish. Check out 10 Costco Shopping Mistakes that Waste Money for Couples and Small Families
Kirkland Frozen Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend
Kirkland’s Frozen Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend cuts your meal prep in half. This mix has all the veggies you need for a stir-fry—even mushrooms! Just toss it in a pan with teriyaki or soy sauce, and you have a quick, healthy stir-fry in minutes. It’s the perfect shortcut for busy weeknights. Check out 24 Best Costco Asian Food that You Need to Try
Amylu Chicken Crumbles
Amylu Chicken Crumbles are the ultimate cooking shortcut. Fully cooked and ready to go, you can simply heat them in a pan or microwave. Plus, they come with a delicious sesame ginger sauce! Toss them over rice or noodles for a quick, delicious meal—no need to cook ground chicken from scratch.
Morey’s Wild Alaskan Salmon
Morey’s Wild Alaskan Salmon is a go-to for a quick salmon dinner. These pre-marinated salmon fillets just need to be defrosted and baked. Don’t worry, defrosting is quick—I usually immerse the fillets in a mixing bowl filled with water, and they’re ready in no time. It’s an easy, healthy meal. Check out 24 Best Healthy Foods that I Only Buy at Costco Because It’s Cheaper
Bagged Salad Kits
Costco’s Bagged Salad Kits are total time savers. The veggies are pre-washed, pre-sliced, and come with dressing and toppings. All you have to do is toss and serve! My favorites are the Caesar Salad Kit and the Sweet Kale Salad Kit—both make it super easy to add a fresh, tasty side to any meal. Check out 28 Things I Always Buy at Costco
Kirkland Egg Bites
Costco makes quick breakfasts easy with Kirkland Egg Bites. These delicious egg bites are a perfect cooking shortcut—just microwave, and they’re ready to eat. It’s a fast egg dish that beats making breakfast from scratch. Check out 17 Costco Meals Cheaper than Restaurant Take Out to Save You Money
Breakfast Sandwiches
For busy mornings, Costco’s frozen Kirkland Breakfast Sandwiches are a lifesaver. With bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant, all you have to do is microwave, and you’ve got a tasty, on-the-go breakfast in minutes. Check out 15 Best Costco Breakfast Items for Busy Mornings
Rao’s Marinara Sauce
Rao’s Marinara Sauce is my go-to for delicious, authentic pasta sauce. Once you try it, you won’t want to go back to other brands. It’s hands-down the best tasting marinara, making pasta nights easy. Check out 25 Easy Costco Frozen Food Staples for Quick Dinners
Kirkland Tonkotsu Ramen Broth
Kirkland tonkotsu ramen broth is an easy way to skip the long simmering process typically required to make a rich, flavorful ramen base. Instead of spending hours developing depth, this broth gives you a ready-made foundation that tastes savory and well-rounded.
It turns a simple bowl of noodles into an easy meal in minutes. Just heat the broth, add noodles, and build it out with toppings like soft-boiled eggs, scallions, or leftover proteins. It is especially useful for quick weeknight dinners when you want something comforting without the time commitment.
Kirkland Beef Patties
Kirkland beef patties make it easy to skip the prep work of shaping and seasoning ground beef. They go straight from the freezer to the grill or pan, saving time.
They are especially useful for quick dinners when you want something quick. It’s not only for burgers, you can use these patties as a shortcut for other meals like chopped burger bowls, wraps, or even quick ground beef substitutes in a pinch.
Soules Kitchen Grilled Chicken Strips
Soules Kitchen grilled chicken strips are a major time-saver when you want to skip cooking and slicing chicken from scratch. They come fully cooked and seasoned, so all you need to do is heat and add them to your meal.
They are especially useful for quick salads, wraps, pasta dishes, or rice bowls. Having pre-cooked chicken on hand makes it easy to put together a balanced meal in minutes without dealing with raw meat or long cook times.
Kirkland Pulled Pork
Kirkland pulled pork is an easy way to skip the long cooking time typically needed to make tender, slow-cooked pork. It comes fully cooked and pre-shredded, so you just need to heat and serve. It works well for quick sandwiches, tacos and rice bowls.
Kirkland Chicken Sausage
Kirkland chicken sausage comes fully cooked, so you only need to heat it through, making it a quick and reliable protein.
It works well in a variety of meals, from pasta and sheet pan dinners to breakfast scrambles or grain bowls. Sliced and added to vegetables or rice, it helps turn basic ingredients into a complete meal with very little effort.
Kirkland Five Cheese Tortelloni
Kirkland five cheese tortelloni is a true cooking shortcut. Instead of waiting around 8 minutes for dry pasta, this cooks in just about 2 minutes. It is filled with a blend of cheeses that adds a built-in flavor without any extra prep.
It pairs well with simple sauces like marinara, pesto, or even just butter and parmesan. You can also toss it with vegetables or pre-cooked proteins for a quick, complete dinner that comes together with minimal effort.
Amylu Chicken Meatballs with Basil and Parmesan
Amylu chicken meatballs with basil and parmesan are a simple way to skip mixing, seasoning, and shaping meatballs from scratch. They come fully cooked, so all you need to do is heat them up, making them ideal for fast, no-prep meals.
They work well in a variety of dishes, from pasta and marinara to grain bowls or quick appetizers. You can also toss them into soups or serve them with a simple sauce for an easy dinner that comes together in minutes.