The best holiday dishes at Costco this year

Costco is basically a backup plan in building form. If you’re hosting and don’t want to cook every single thing from scratch, their prepared meals and sides can carry a lot of the weight without tasting fake or sad. Prices and availability vary by store, but these are the dishes people keep talking about this season.

1. Thanksgiving turkey dinner kit

Costco’s Thanksgiving turkey dinner kits bundle turkey breast, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, cranberry relish, and desserts into one big box. You mostly heat, arrange, and take credit.

2. Kirkland Signature Lobster Mac & Cheese

The new lobster mac and cheese is getting a lot of attention for being rich, over-the-top, and easy to slide into your holiday table as a “special” side. It’s a nice upgrade when you want something that feels more restaurant than box mix.

3. Shrimp cocktail tray

Costco’s shrimp cocktail platter still comes up constantly in prepared-meal reviews. It saves you from peeling and deveining pounds of shrimp and gives you a ready-made appetizer that looks like you tried.

4. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes

Their classic meatloaf and mashed potato combo shows up near the top of “best prepared meals” lists for flavor and value. It’s not specifically holiday-only, but it works well for nights when you’ve got family in town and don’t want to cook again.

5. Big trays of mashed potatoes

If you already have a main but don’t want to peel ten pounds of potatoes, Costco’s mashed potato trays are a solid shortcut. Some bundles feature Yukon gold potatoes with crème fraîche and herbs, ready to heat.

6. Green bean casserole and veggie sides

Seasonal vegetable sides—like green bean casserole, corn dishes, and mixed roasted vegetables—often show up in their holiday lineup. These are easy to transfer to your own dish, sprinkle with something crunchy, and serve.

7. Holiday salads and kits

Pre-measured salad kits with greens, toppings, and dressing can round out the table without more chopping. You can bulk them up with extra nuts, cheese, or fruit and call it good.

8. Pumpkin pie

Costco’s pumpkin pies have their own fan base. They’re big, inexpensive, and usually taste way better than the price suggests. If baking dessert is what stresses you out most, this is an easy hand-off.

9. Cheesecakes and specialty desserts

Between their in-house cheesecakes and special holiday desserts (like apple cobblers or crème brûlée packs), you can cover the whole dessert table without turning on your oven.

10. Smoked salmon and brunch add-ons

Smoked salmon and fancy brunch items from the refrigerated section are favorites for holiday mornings or “day after” spreads. Pair with bagels, eggs, or a simple board and you’ve got an easy, nice breakfast without a full hot meal.