Cooking Instructions for Costco’s Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes Meal!

The Costco Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes take and bake meal is available in the deli coolers and makes for a surprisingly delightful dinner.    This post will cover how to cook this meal, calories, tips, and everything else needed to give you the best review possible.

Keep reading to learn more about this Costco dinner solution!

Costco Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Summary Review

The Costco meatloaf meal has a lot going for it with very few drawbacks. I think the meal is great and buy it at least once a month when it is available.

Here is a quick summary of the Pros and Cons.

On the Positive Side

  • Meatloaf is Well Seasoned
  • Mashed Potatoes are Creamy and Buttery
  • Easy to Prepare

On the Negative Side

  • Glaze is Too Sweet for Some People
  • Not Always Available
  • Cheaper to Make From Scratch

Cooking Instructions

The cooking instructions for this meal are:

  • Preheat oven to 375F.
  • Remove the clear plastic lid.
  • Cover the meal with aluminum foil and seal the edges.
  • Place the tray on a cookie sheet.
  • Put the meal in the oven and bake for 60-70 minutes until an internal temperature of 165F is reached.

I followed the provided instructions and our meal was ready in 65 minutes.

Most of Costco’s ready to bake meals have instructions to bake at 400F instead of 375F.  I suspect the lower temperature is required for this meal so the meatloaf glaze does not scorch.

Meatloaf Cooking Instructions

Ready to Eat Costco Meatloaf

Costco Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

A tray of Costco's Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes is heated and served with fresh veggies for an easy weeknight meal.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 395 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tray Costco Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
  • 1 lb Frozen Vegetables (Peas and Carrots)

Instructions
 

  • Remove plastic lid from the tray of Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes.
  • Preheat Oven to 375F.
  • Cover tray of food tightly with aluminum foil.
  • Place tray on a baking sheet and place in oven.
  • Bake for 60-70 minutes until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
  • Prepare frozen vegetables according to package directions.
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven, allow to cool for 5 minutes and serve.

Notes

The leftover are great for making meatloaf sandwiches!
Keyword Costco Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Taste Test!

I was surprised at how good this meal was.

The meatloaf was well seasoned with a texture that was firm but not dense.  My only complaint about the meatloaf was the glaze which was both thicker and sweeter than I preferred.  That being said, the glaze wasn’t bad, it just could have been better.

The Yukon Gold mashed potatoes were rich, silky and buttery and made the perfect bite when scooped up with a piece of the meatloaf.

Ready to Eat Costco Meatloaf

It was just my wife and me for dinner last night so we had plenty of leftovers.  I suspect I will be having a meatloaf sandwich for lunch and I might even slip a little to one of my pups when the other two aren’t looking.

Tips for Improving the Meal

Not everyone enjoys the sweet glaze on the meatloaf and I can appreciate that.

I found several people who suggest scraping off the sweet glaze before cooking and pouring a jar of Rao’s marinara sauce over the meatloaf.  Other favorite replacements for the sweet glaze is a savory mushroom gravy or a spicy barbecue sauce.

Some folks have suggested adding shredded cheddar cheese to the potatoes before baking which sounds pretty good to me!

Serving the Meal

The official Facebook Page for Costco says that the meal has 12 servings but that is pretty comical.

You get four pounds of food per tray which means you should be able to easily feed six people.

One thing to keep in mind though is that the number of servings is going to be determined by how you slice the meatloaf.  To get six even slices start by using two cuts to slice the meatloaf into thirds and then use three more cuts to slice the thirds in half.

While the meatloaf and potatoes are fine on their own you will want to add some vegetables to stretch the meal and put some color on your plate.

One of the things that I really like about this meal is that it is a hearty “fill you up” type meal but comes in a reasonable four pound package. This is a stark contrast to Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie which is also a belly filler but is so massive that you will be eating it for a week.

Four Pounds of Meatloaf and Potatoes

Suggested Side Dishes

Here are some delicious side dishes that pair well with meatloaf and mashed potatoes:

Roasted Vegetables: Try roasting a medley of vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper until they are tender and caramelized. Roasted vegetables add a burst of flavor and color.

Green Beans: Sautéed or steamed green beans with garlic and butter make for a classic side dish. You can also blanch them and toss them in a simple vinaigrette for a refreshing and crunchy addition to your meal.

Creamed Spinach: Creamed spinach is a rich and creamy side dish that complements the savory flavors of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. You can make it by sautéing spinach with garlic and onions, then adding cream, Parmesan cheese, and seasoning.

Cornbread: Soft, fluffy cornbread is a popular side dish that goes great with this meal. You can bake a batch of cornbread using cornmeal, flour, eggs, buttermilk, and a touch of sugar for a slightly sweet and savory treat.

Caesar Salad: A crisp and refreshing Caesar salad from the Costco deli is always a hit.

Coleslaw: Crunchy Coleslaw provides a nice contrast to the smoothness of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. When you serve the Coleslaw cold it also makes a nice temperature contrast.  You can make the slaw while the meatloaf is cooking with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing made from mayo, vinegar, sugar, and a little salt.

Baked Beans: Baked beans are a classic side dish that adds another layer of comfort onto the meal. Make like easy on yourself and just heat up a can of Bush’s Baked Beans and everyone will be happy.

Calories

One serving of the meatloaf and potatoes has the following nutritional information:

  • Calories: 350
  • Fat: 19g
  • Cholesterol: 123mg
  • Sodium: 845 mg
  • Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Protein: 22g

This is a hearty “stick to your ribs” type meal so you really should expect the nutritional information to look like diet food 🙂  The nutritional information for this meal is on par to what you find with Costco’s Gyro Meal Kit.

The nutritional information for this and all of the prepared deli meals is posted at the kiosk where you place your order for party platters from Costco’s catering menu.

Storing the Meatloaf

The meal comes with a “Pack Date” which indicates the day that it was prepared.  It is also marked with a “Sell By” date which is always three days after the Pack Date.

The meal is perfectly fine to use for about 4 days after the Sell By date.  If you haven’t cooked the meal by this point then it is best to throw it in the freezer where it will last for a few months or until you are finally ready to stick it in the oven.

Freezing the Meatloaf Meal

This meal does great in the freezer so you can stock up and have an emergency meal ready to go for those crazy days when “life happens”.

You can bake the meal straight from frozen and do not need to defrost it first.

If you are cooking the meal from frozen you will need to give it about an extra hour in the oven.

Cost

The meal is Item Number 30783 and is fond in the refrigerated deli counter with the other Take and Bake meals.

The meatloaf  comes in a four pound tray and costs $3.69 per pound so the full tray will cost about $15.

Considering the cost of ground beef is currently around $6 per pound this meal looks like a pretty decent bargain!

David

Good morning and welcome to the site dedicated to helping you find great products at Costco and other stores! My name is David Somerville and these are hands on reviews of products that I have bought and used or am seriously considering purchasing. I do most of my shopping at the Costco in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but will check out any other Costco warehouses I find while travelling. Please get in touch with any questions and let me know of any great products that deserved to be featured in this blog!

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