How to Prepare the Costco Gyro Meal Kit!

The Costco Gyro Meal Kit finally showed up at my local Costco Warehouse and I had to give it a try.  I have been reading about this gyro kit for a while on some different Facebook groups and was curious to see what the fuss was about!

It turns out that the gyro kit is pretty tasty and is a meal that I can recommend!

What Comes in the Meal Kit?

The meal kit weighs in at three pounds and a full third of the container, one pound, is gyro meat.

The gyro meat comes in strips similar to the Daphne Gyro Meat you can often find at Costco.  The strips are made from beef, lamb and breadcrumbs and are thin enough that they look like they could have been shaved off a spit.

The rest of the tray contains:

• Six pitas
• A pile of chopped Romaine lettuce
• Two containers of Tzatziki sauce
• One container of feta cheese
• One container of diced cucumbers and tomatoes
• One container of diced onions

So, basically everything you need to make six gyros.

I really appreciate that they kept the onions in their own separate container as I am not a fan of raw onions.

How to Prepare the Gyros

To prepare the gyros you need to brown and crisp the meat strips in a skillet for a few minutes and warm up the pitas in the microwave.

Add the lettuce to the pita and then top with the meat strips veggies, feta and Tzatziki sauce.

Fold the pita up and dig in!  These are great when served with rice pilaf and a Greek salad or any of the other side dishes listed later in this article.

Taste Test!

I was pleasantly surprised that the gyros were extremely tasty.

The combination of the seasoned meat with the soft and fluffy pita bread, along with the fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and tzatziki, creates a harmonious balance of flavors. The tangy and creamy tzatziki sauce complements the rich meat flavors, while the freshness of the tomatoes and cucumbers adds a contrasting brightness.

The tzatziki sauce was better than expected as it really popped and brought everything together.  The meat was crispy with a smoky and slightly charred taste.

Overall, the gyros were flavorful and satisfying with a blend of savory, tangy, and slightly smoky notes.  These were not the best gyros that I have ever had but they were absolutely respectable.

Side Dishes for Gyros

There are several delicious side dishes that can complement gyros. Here are some ideas!

Greek Salad: A classic Greek salad made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese, tossed in a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs. It’s a refreshing and tangy side dish that pairs well with the rich flavors of gyros. Here is a great recipe for Greek Salad from Ina Garten over at Food Network.

Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as bell peppers, eggplants, and zucchini, seasoned with olive oil, garlic, and Mediterranean herbs, are a great side dish to serve with gyros. They add a burst of flavor and texture to the meal and complement the meaty flavors of the gyros.

Rice Pilaf: A fragrant and flavorful rice pilaf made with basmati rice, onions, garlic, and Mediterranean spices like cumin and coriander can be a delicious side dish for gyros. It’s a great option for those who prefer a carb-based side dish to balance out the protein in the gyros.

Lemon Roasted Potatoes: Greek-style lemon roasted potatoes are a fantastic side dish for gyros. They are typically made with potatoes tossed in lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs such as oregano and thyme, then roasted until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The tangy and savory flavors of the potatoes complement the gyros beautifully.

Hummus: Hummus, a popular Middle Eastern dip made from chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice, can be a delicious and healthy side dish to serve with gyros. It can be used as a dip for pita bread or as a condiment for the gyros, adding a creamy and tangy element to the meal. The Costco hummus cups are pretty tasty and come in a convenient size.

Problems with the Meal Kit

I ran into some quality control issues with the meal kit that were not deal breakers for me but would be for some people.

The first was that there isn’t enough room in the plastic clamshell for everything to properly fit.  In the meal kit I bought both containers of Tzatziki sauce had busted open when the deli employee forced the clamshell to close.

The kit had been packed the day before so I wasn’t really worried about the sauce going bad but it was not a nice thing to find upon opening the kit.

The second issue that I had was the quality of the lettuce.

The lettuce in the kit that I bought had more stems/stalks than leaves and on top of that most of them were browned and looked unappetizing.

The way the kits are put together there really isn’t any way of telling if the lettuce is good or bad before you buy.

Calories and Nutrition

One serving is 8.1 ounces (about 1/2 pound) and has the following calories and nutritional information.

• Calories: 520
• Fat: 31g
• Cholesterol: 65mg
• Sodium: 980mg
• Carbohydrates: 39g
• Protein: 21g

The gyros are not a low calorie meal and are high in fat, sodium and carbohydrates.  You can find the nutritional information for this and other deli meals at the kiosk where you order party platters from Costco’s catering menu.

Price

The gyro meal kit is Item Number 27230 and is found in the refrigerated deli counter with the other premade meal options.

The kit costs $6.49 per pound and with three pounds of food will cost you around $20.

With each kit making six gyros that comes out to a cost of $3.33 per gyro.  Overall this is a pretty fair price for some decent gyros.

How Long do the Gyros Last?

The gyro meal kit id marked with a “Pack Date” that tells you when the meal was assembled and a “Sell By” date that is always three days after the “Pack Date”.

The meal kit should stay good in your refrigerator for 4-5 days past the “Sell By” date.  However, the quality of the diced tomatoes is going to drop dramatically every day.  The tomatoes will get mealy and since they are mixed up with the cucumbers those will not be appetizing either.

I will suggest buying a fresh tomato and cucumber and dicing yourself if the meal kit has been sitting in your fridge for a couple days.

Other Costco Meal Options to Consider

I enjoyed the novelty of the gyro kit and think it is worth trying at least once.

If you are on the fence about this meal, then let me suggest going with Costco’s Street Taco Kit instead.  The street tacos are tasty, fun and more familiar to the palate if you are trying to feed some kids. Just be careful carrying the taco kit to your car as the package is notorious for falling apart in the parking lot.

Another great beefy option is the Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes Meal Kit at Costco.  This comforting meal is always a hit with picky eaters.

Another great option would be to grab a rotisserie chicken, a package of Reser’s Scalloped Potatoes and a Caesar salad.  This is a simple, but tasty, combination that fills a lot of bellies on a budget.

Happy Shopping!