The 5 Costco Prepared Foods to Avoid, According to Customers

The prepared foods section at Costco is diverse, affordable and delicious—the perfect solution for picking up a quick dinner on a busy night or a ready-to-eat dish for a potluck. In fact, the prepared meals are quite popular with customers and there is a wide variety to choose from.

However, a couple of items seem to be less satisfying and not worth the purchase, according to Costco fans and customers on Reddit. Actually, several users had a lot to say in a Reddit thread discussing the worst Costco prepared foods available based on personal experience and preference. (Plus, for the most part, users agreed on which ones to avoid, creating a general consensus.) 

Here are the top suggestions from Redditors on which prepared foods to skip the next time you go to Costco.

1. Costco’s Three-Layer Hummus

The three-layer dip at Costco is what actually sparked intrigue and participation among users, by opening a discussion as an initial inquiry from Reddit user CactusBoyScout created a thread titled, “‘In your opinion, what is the single worst prepared food that Costco sells?’” and answered, “I'd say the 3-layer hummus. Totally bland. And it's just a dupe of Trader Joe's 3-layer hummus which is really good.” 

And don’t forget, you can’t ever go wrong with making a basic fresh hummus dip recipe from scratch, which can be enhanced by adding ingredients including seasonings, sauces, nuts, seeds, and veggies to boost the flavor. A big batch of hummus can last a week in the fridge.

2. Costco’s Mac and Cheese

Several users complained about the mac and cheese at Costco, claiming it lacks flavor, which is a shame since mac and cheese is a classic comfort food. Redditor @ULinear commented, “The macaroni and cheese. It's BLAND!” and received a few replies from users who agreed, offering tips to upgrade it so it’ll taste better. For example, users suggested mixing in a little (or “a ton,” said Redditor @No_Statement_9728) bacon or Cheddar (or hey, get a little crazy, and add both). Redditor @gramathy mentioned cheese, commenting, “I just add Cheddar. For whatever reason they use a soft cheese blend that doesn't have much flavor but has a good consistency, so it needs more punch to even it out.” 

3. Costco’s Potato Salad

Prepared deli salads are ideal for weekday lunches, quick sides, and as an offering to any potluck. Unfortunately, many customers don’t advise buying the Costco potato salad Costco, since it’s often disappointing in comparison to other store offerings. It’s possible the recipe changed within the last two years or so, which users noted, so if you’re not a fan of Costco’s, make your own rich, creamy and delicious potato salad recipe instead. (Great for meal-prepping when made in bulk and budgeting, too!)

One user wrote, “The big container of potato salad used to be my favorite, and now it is trash. I don't know what happened to it, but it is definitely not the same!” while another agreed, saying, “I got some bacon potato salad like two years ago and it was so bad. I returned it and it gave me a whole perspective of what not to buy at Costco.” If you need a deli-style salad from Costco consider a pasta salad over potato, like the Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad, with grilled salmon as a topper. 

4. Costco’s Prepared Sandwiches and Wraps

Wraps and sandwiches from the prepared foods department at Costco don’t gain a ton of praise from customers,mas many feel they’re low in quality and taste, and not worth the money. For instance, Reddit user elsie78 wrote in the thread, “The spinach wraps that come in a pack of 2 or 3, cut in half. Bland and mushy.” Another Reddit user @zinky30 agreed, mentioning, “Their premade sandwiches are awful.” 

Another item to avoid as mentioned in the thread is the turkey and cheese croissant due to poor quality and flavor. Instead, buy a Costco rotisserie chicken (a classic that’s good and reliable) to combine with greens, bread or wraps, in various ways for easy, no-hassle sandwiches and wraps. 

5. Kirkland Smoked Pulled Pork

While it’s in a heat-and-serve tray, it’s still considered a prepared meal at Costco. “If you count the heat and serve stuff in trays: The Kirkland ‘smoked pulled pork’ is actually ham. It’s full of nitrates and it’s gnarly in both taste and texture,” explained Reddit user Ambivalent_Witch, who then suggested a better alternative, “(The Del Real carnitas [are] wonderful.).”