Easy Costco Meals for a Crowd!

You have a crowd to feed and Costco has some great time and money saving solutions!  This post is designed to give you some meal ideas for different situations to make your life just a little bit easier.

Costco changes the products they carry based on seasonality, geography and sales performance so you may not be able to find everything listed at your warehouse but these lists should give you an excellent starting point and provide a little inspiration.

Fun and Easy Meal Ideas for Game Day Parties

For sports fans and casual gatherings, Costco offers plenty of game day essentials that are quick to prepare and always a hit.  Here are some ideas that are tasty, festive and easy to serve.

Main Dishes

It’s game time so we are focusing on easy to eat finger foods and the like.

Chicken Wings: Game day pretty much requires chicken wings and when it comes to wings at Costco you have a few options.

One option is Kirkland’s pre-cooked wings that are sold over in the deli section by the rotisserie chickens.  The cooked wings typically come in a 2.5 pound tray and are easy to reheat.

A second option is the ready to bake frozen wings in the freezer section.  Costco usually has a couple of frozen wing options, sold in three pound bags, that are pretty easy to throw into the oven or air fryer.

Pork Ribs: There are a couple of fully cooked pork rib options at Costco that are great for game day.  You will need to slice the ribs into individual servings (single bones) before game time but that will only take a minute of time.

Your first option is the slab of fully cooked St Louis style pork ribs for sale that they keep near the deli counter with the pre-cooked wings and rotisserie chicken.  I am not a huge fan of the flavor profile of these ribs but they are fine if you toss them with some barbecue sauce.

Your second option is the fully cooked Kirkland Smoked Pork Back Ribs that they keep in the refrigerated coolers near the sausages, hams and ravioli.  These ribs are very tasty and easy to heat up.

Food Court Pizza:  Game Day and pizza is a classic combination and it is hard to beat a Costco food court pizza in terms of flavor, value and ease. The Costco pizzas are better than any fast food delivery pizzas that I have ever had.

There are currently only two options, Cheese or Pepperoni, but both are delicious and will be ready for pick up if you call your order in about 30 minutes before you get to the warehouse.

Sides

Chips & Dips: Costco has a whole refrigerated cooler dedicated to their tasty dips so grab a couple of types to give your guests some variety.  The Spinach and Artichoke dip is amazing, the Seven-Layer dip is festive and it’s hard to go wrong with the hummus.

Pair the dips with some whole grain tortillas, Kirkland Kettle Brand chips or some Everything Seasoned Bagel Crisps and you will have some happy guests!

Veggie/Fruit Tray: Chances are that you will have a couple of guests who will appreciate something on the lighter side so go ahead and grab a Veggie/Fruit tray for them to graze upon.  The bite sized carrots and celery slices will go great with your dips so they can pull a little double duty.

Make it a Little Bit Fancy

If you want to put in just a little bit of extra effort then you can make a tray of sliders that your guests will love!  I strongly suggest that you start with a package of King’s Hawaiian rolls, split them in half and fill with one of the following proteins:

• Kirkland Signature Fully Cooked Beef Pot Roast
• Kirkland Signature Fully Cooked Smoked Pulled Pork
• One of the several prepared chicken salads

Meal Ideas for a Family Reunion or Holiday Dinner

When you’re hosting extended family for a holiday meal or reunion, Costco’s bulk items help create a feast with minimal hassle.

Main Dishes

Ham: Ham’s are great for family gatherings as they are economical, large enough to feed a crowd, look semi-elegant and require minimal preparation.  Costco usually has two great ham options to choose from.

Option 1 is the large, Kirkland spiral sliced ham that is in stock around all of the major holidays.  The spiral sliced hams are already fully cooked and can be enjoyed cold.  You can also gently warm them in the oven and coat them with the included sweet glaze.

Option 2 is the smaller Kirkland Master Carve Ham that is almost always in stock.  The Master Carve Ham is also fully cooked but is smaller than the Spiral Sliced Ham and does not come with a glaze.

Both hams are delicious.

Turkey: A lot of families enjoy serving some form of turkey for holidays and Costco usually has 2-3 options to choose from.

Around most holidays Costco will stock a whole, fully cooked Smoked Turkey that is amazing.

If smoked meats aren’t your jam then you can always pick up an Oven Browned Turkey Breast that is super juicy and easy to serve.  These are smaller than a whole turkey so you might want to get a couple depending upon the size of your crowd.

Sides

When it comes to side dishes for holiday gatherings Costco simply cannot be beat.

You can head to the deli section and find trays of Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and sometimes even trays of stuffing.

Head over to the refrigerated coolers and you can often find containers of turkey gravy, scalloped potatoes and various dressings. The produce coolers will usually have a great selection of salads and I can highly recommend the Mediterranean Salad Kit.

Make it a Little Bit Fancy

Rack of Pork: A Costco holiday stable is the rack of pork that you can either get pre-seasoned or plain.  This cut has already been brined with a flavorful liquid which makes it ridiculously juicy.  These roasts are simple to cook in the oven and come out spectacular when smoked on a bbq grill.

Outdoor BBQ or Lake Party

For summer cookouts or casual lake days, Costco provides all the essentials to make grilling and entertaining a breeze.

Main Dishes

Burgers: Costco has a great selection of frozen hamburgers that make grilling for a crowd a breeze.  In general you are going to have two types of options.

Option 1 includes the different raw frozen patties that range from Grass Fed Patties to Sirloin Patties to Turkey Burgers.  You can grill these burgers (usually 1/3 pound patties) directly from frozen in about 15 minutes and they taste great.

Option 2 includes the frozen pre-cooked burgers that have already been flame grilled.  You can make these burgers fantastic by thawing them on the grill/microwave/oven and then letting them simmer in a bath of beef broth with a packet of onion soup mix.

Hot Dogs: The Kirkland 1/4 Pound All Beef Hot Dogs are perfect for grilling and feeding a crowd.  The biggest tip I have for you here is to buy them at least a week before any major summer holiday because they sell out fast.

Brats: The Kirkland bratwurst are available during the summer months and are an excellent addition to a barbecue menu.  I like to grill them until they hit an internal temperature of 165F and then let them simmer in a beer bath with caramelized onions and charred bell peppers.

Sides

After I go through the trouble of firing up my grill I like to use it for as much of the meal as possible and that extends to the sides.

Baked Beans: It’s pretty simple to pour a container of baked beans into a pan and let that simmer on the side burner.  You can go with the beans “as is” out of the container or spend some time “doctoring them up” with your own touches (onions, bacon, etc).

Bruschetta: Swing by the Costco bakery and grab some baguettes.  Slice the bread into rounds, brush with olive oil and then grill until nicely toasted.  Serve the toasts with diced tomatoes dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, grated Parmesan and a little basil and/or a simple side of Costco hummus.  Simple, impressive looking and delicious.

Grilled Veggie Skewers: Head over to the walk in cooler for the veggies and grab a pack of mushrooms and some brightly colored bell peppers.  Wash off the mushrooms, slice up the peppers and then thread them onto skewers.  Rub with a little oil, season with salt and pepper then grill until tender.  The skewers will look and taste amazing!

If your crowd doesn’t care for mushrooms/peppers then you can easily substitute summer squash, pineapple or cherry tomatoes.

Make it a Little Bit Fancy

If you want to take things to the next level, without really breaking a sweat, then consider setting up a DIY fajita bar.  This is a great option if your warehouse carries the marinated skirt steak product Arrachera, from RYC Foods.  The skirt steaks is already PACKED with flavor from the marinade and grills up quickly.

Set up the fajita bar with sliced steak, grill peppers and onions, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and a pile of tortillas.  You will have an easy way to feed a crowd and it will be delicious!

Kid-Friendly Party Ideas

Hosting a children’s birthday party or a casual gathering for little ones? Costco has a variety of fun, easy-to-serve, and kid-approved options that minimize prep time for busy parents.

Main Dishes

Food Court Pizza: Pizza has been a hit at every single kids party that I have ever attended.  Place an order for both Cheese and Pepperoni pizzas and you are 90% done with your planning.

Mini Tacos: Costco usually carries packages of mini tacos, typically with chicken, that are easy enough to heat up in the oven.  The mini-tacos are a little bland, which is perfect for kids, and make for a fun treat.

Sides

Costco has a great selection of individually wrapped treats designed for school lunches that will work great as side dishes.  Some suggestions include:

• Crustless PB&J Sandwiches
• Fruit, Nut and Cheese Packs
• Nutella & Breadsticks Go Packs
• Fruit Cups

Corporate Lunch or Training Session

Need to feed a professional crowd? Costco provides elegant yet practical solutions for corporate events that are easy to serve and enjoy.

Main Dishes

Deli Party Platter: The pre-made Party Platters are perfect for gatherings where you need tasty food to look pretty while staying light enough for people to stay awake 🙂  Costco switches up which platters are available so check the kiosk at your warehouse and order your platter of choice at least a day in advance.

I suggest sticking with the sandwich options and skipping the shrimp platter because, although it is very tasty, it can cause silly drama.  “Can you believe that Billy took THAT MANY shrimp??”  I have no idea why people get so worked up over shrimp but it seems to happen every.single.time.

Chicken Skewers: The Mediterranean Chicken Skewers are tasty as all get out, easy to eat without making a mess and provide a high protein, low calorie option for the health conscious folks in your crowd.  These are fine served either hot or cold and can easily be dressed up by serving with a dipping sauce like the Cilantro Lime Crema.

Sides

Deli Salads: Costco usually has at least one specialty salad sitting in the deli case over by the Take and Bake meals.  My personal favorites are the Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad, Quinoa Salad and the Tuscan Tortellini Salad.

Meat, Cheese and Fruit Tray: This tray isn’t always in stock but will be your best friend if its available.  If this isn’t in stock you can make your own by grabbing the individual components and assembling.  Serve this with some type of crackers on the side.

Make it a Little Bit Fancy

Chicken Salad Croissants: The croissants at Costco are incredibly cheap and amazingly tasty.  You can pre-slice the croissants and serve them along with a Costco chicken salad and sliced tomatoes for a light, elegant lunch.

Beverages

You will have to be the judge of which gatherings need which beverages but my general suggestions are:

Kirkland Bottled Water: Every gathering needs a selection of cold and refreshing drinks and nothing beats water.  It’s not sexy but it will be popular.

Flavored Sparkling Water: The Kirkland Sparkling Water variety pack is decent and you will usually find at least two other name brands (Waterloo, Spindrift, etc) if you want things to look fancy.

Kirkland Pre-Mixed Margaritas: The pre-mixed margaritas come in a 1.75 liter bottle and are well balanced.  One thing I love about these for a gathering is that since they are pre-made it keeps people from making their own and adding “double shots” which can end up with some folks getting too rowdy.

Kirkland Lemonade: Light, crisp and refreshing.  It is not the World’s Best Lemonade but it will be just about perfect for a large crowd.

Chocolate Milk: You can usually find packages of individual servings of chocolate milk at the warehouse.  These are ALWAYS a massive hit with the kids.

Desserts

The problem with desserts at Costco is that you have too many choices!  My personal favorites are:

Apple and/or Cherry Pie: These pies are massive, delicious and absolutely perfect when served with of scoop of Kirkland Super Premium Vanilla ice cream.  By the way, the term “Super Premium” is not a marketing gimmick but is actually a regulated term in the ice cream world.  In other words, the ice cream is amazing.

Kirkland Chocolate Almond Ice Cream Bars: These are absolutely decadent and, without question, BETTER than the similar product from Hagen-Dazs.

Island Way Sorbet: The Island Way Sorbets are fun, whimsical and borderline healthy desserts.  Each sorbet is served in a natural fruit shell and tastes delicious.

Sheet Cakes: You can grab these in the refrigerated coolers at the bakery.  You have the option to get a personalized message written on the cakes but please give the staff a days notice if you go this route.

Assorted Cookies: The cookie selection in the bakery is limited but usually includes some chocolate chip cookies that are worth buying.

Bar Cake of the Month: There is a constantly changing selection of bar cakes and they are usually pretty good.  We are talking about Tres Leeches cakes, Tuxedo cakes, Strawberry and Cream cakes, etc.