Costco's Cheapest Prepared Meal Revealed in New Analysis
Kirkland Signature Mac and Cheese is estimated to be the most affordable per serving, while rotisserie chicken wraps are the most expensive.
A recent analysis of Costco's Kirkland Signature prepared meals has identified the most and least expensive options per serving. The food site Tasting Table estimated costs using Denver-area prices, package weights, and nutrition label serving sizes. According to the report, Kirkland Signature Mac and Cheese offers the lowest estimated cost per serving.
A tray of the mac and cheese is estimated to cost about $17, or approximately $1.42 per serving, based on a price of $4.53 per pound and an estimated weight of 3.76 pounds. The nutrition label suggests about 12 servings per container.
Conversely, the Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken Asian Wrap with Dressing was found to be the most expensive among the analyzed meals. These wraps are estimated to cost about $7.93 per pound, with a package weighing approximately 2.38 pounds, resulting in an estimated cost of $4.72 per serving. Each package contains four wraps, counted as four servings.
The analysis acknowledged that these figures are based on regional prices and estimated weights, which can fluctuate as Costco's prepared deli meals are sold by weight. Prices and availability may also vary by warehouse location.
Customer reception to these prepared meals is mixed. On a Reddit forum dedicated to mac and cheese, some users found the Kirkland Signature offering not worth the cost, while others praised it as better than many other ready-made options, suggesting additions like breadcrumbs or bacon. For the rotisserie chicken wraps, opinions on Reddit were also divided, with some appreciating the dressing and convenience, while others found them bland.
Toshie Lucas, a content creator known online as @costcotv, stated she was not surprised by the findings. She described the mac and cheese as delicious and a good value for families, noting, "You really can't beat the price for how much you get." However, she found the wraps to be expensive for a single serving, calling them "good to grab for an easy lunch." Lucas advises shoppers to consider factors beyond price, such as how much their family will eat and the convenience factor.
Tasting Table did not specify if all Kirkland Signature prepared meals were evaluated in their comparison. The publication also noted that serving sizes listed on nutrition labels might not always align with actual customer consumption habits.