Cooking Instructions for Costco’s Italian Sausage and Pasta in Wine Sauce

We bought the Costco Italian Sausage Pasta in Garlic Wine Sauce for the first time last week just to try something different for dinner.  Our family had mixed reviews on the meal which is pretty consistent with what I read on different Reddit threads.

Keep reading and we will cover the most commonly asked questions about the pasta including:

• Cooking Instructions
• Taste Test
• Service Ideas
• Location
• Value

Summary Review

We were a house divided when it came to this meal.  I loved the flavor combinations and textural contrast but my wife felt it was a bit too much.

On the Positive Side

• Easy Weeknight Meal Solution
• Very Flavorful
• Something Different for Dinner
• Fairly Priced

On the Negative Side

• Not for People Who Don’t Like Garlic
• Homemade is Cheaper
• Seasonal Item

Overall Impressions

The Italian Sausage Pasta meal was an easy and tasty dinner.  Not everyone at my house liked the dish as much as I did but I will buy it again.

Cooking Instructions

The instructions for cooking the Italian sausage pasta are:

• Preheat your oven to 400F.
• Remove the clear plastic lid.
• Cover the meal with aluminum foil.
• Place on a cookie sheet on the center rack of the oven.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes until an internal temperature of 165F is reached.

These are pretty much the same cooking instructions that Costco provides for their Chicken Alfredo.  We followed the provided instructions and the meal came out perfect.

Taste Test!

My daughter and I thought the pasta was great but my wife thought it was just “okay”.

I enjoyed the ear shaped orecchiette pasta which did a great job of collecting the wine sauce into little puddles.  The sausage was delicious and well seasoned.

I was surprised and delighted by the intense flavors of the cherry tomatoes that burst while cooking.  Even more of a delight was the creamy baby spinach that was plentiful throughout the meal.

The dish was light on sauce which can be either a pro or con depending upon your preferences.

Serving Ideas for the Sausage Pasta

We had a nice Caesar salad with the pasta and, in hindsight, really wish I had thought to add some garlic bread.  You could top the pasta with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano after it has cooked if you wanted a little more saltiness and authentic Italian flavor.

There are enough different flavors going on with the pasta that it would pair well with just about any vegetable side dish like steamed broccoli or asparagus.  Roasted Brussel sprouts or sautéed summer squash would also be a hit with this dish.

The pasta typically comes in a tray that holds a little under four pounds of food.

If you are just serving the pasta for dinner then plan on feeding four people.

If you are serving the pasta with a couple of side dishes then you will have enough to feed six people.

Item Number and Location

This pasta dish is Item Number 42323.

This meal is located in the deli coolers alongside the other Take and Bake meals like the Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes and Chicken Enchilada Bake.

This meal is not always available in the warehouse so if you like it then you should stock up and store a couple in the freezer.

Value

The Italian Sausage Pasta meal costs $4.79 per pound.

There is a little over 3.5 pounds of food in the tray so expect to pay around $20 for the meal.

You could certainly make this meal from scratch for less money if you were so inclined.  The real value in the meal is that it is a ready to go meal solution hat will make your life easier.