Costco Food Platters, Ranked From Worst To Best

7. Vegetable tray with ranch dip

Unless you have a strong affinity for vegetables, the veggie tray is merely average and is likely to end up at the back of the buffet table. The ranch dip isn't particularly impressive, and you can't choose your preferred veggies. This tray is similar to those found at other grocery stores, just larger, which is to be expected since Costco specializes in bulk items. It features five types of vegetables: cauliflower, broccoli, baby carrots, small peppers, and snap peas. If you're considering picking up a couple of trays from another store, Costco may offer a slightly more economical option.

If the dressing were more distinctive, we might feel more excited about this tray. Costco has a variety of excellent dips available in the gourmet refrigerated section, so think about adding one to your cart for some extra flavor. Tzatziki and hummus are our top picks, but keep in mind that this will increase the overall cost of the dish if you serve them with the tray. This could negate any savings you gain from buying in bulk at Costco and may require you to navigate more aisles, which can lead to impulse buys.

6. Fresh cut fruit bowl

Another typical Costco food platter is the bowl of mixed fresh fruit. It features pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, and purple grapes. Weighing in at an impressive 3 pounds, each piece of fruit is also quite large. The strawberries, in particular, are so sizable that we often consider slicing them before serving to enhance the eating experience. This adds some extra preparation to the tray, which isn't ideal when we're seeking something that's ready to serve.

While it doesn't come with a dip, the fruit is consistently fresh and of high quality. However, because it is presented in a deep, sectioned bowl, the pieces at the bottom can become a bit waterlogged and soggy. If you're serving the fruit immediately, this isn't a concern, and the quality remains intact. If you have leftovers, it's best to transfer them to a smaller container to keep them fresh and crisp.

5. Kirkland Signature shrimp salad

The Kirkland Signature shrimp salad offers a vibrant and fresh flavor, but it can be somewhat challenging to eat. The salad features whole shrimp—sans tails—that are not exactly bite-sized. If you plan to enjoy this salad in smaller portions, you might want to grab a knife and fork first. The creamy dressing is delicious, but it shortens the salad's shelf life and makes freezing difficult. Be sure to consume it within the suggested three to four days, and discard any leftovers afterward to prevent the risk of foodborne illness.

The salad includes chopped celery, adding a nice crunch to the mix. Overall, it resembles a coastal variation of rotisserie chicken salad, though the larger shrimp pieces make it trickier to spread on a sandwich compared to the shredded chicken. This salad is a delightful choice to serve on Costco's oversized croissants available in the bakery, but it also pairs well over a bed of greens. In terms of flavor alone, it would score much higher, but the inconvenience of having to cut the large shrimp before eating brings it down a notch.

4. Kirkland Signature Caesar salad with Caesar dressing & Croutons

The Caesar salad food platter is incredibly easy to prepare, offering everything you need to assemble a generous salad perfect for sharing. The romaine lettuce is crisp and fresh, providing an essential foundation for a great Caesar salad. There are also plenty of croutons included, stored in a sealed bag to maintain their crunch until serving time, preventing them from becoming soggy when mixed with the fresh greens. The platter comes with two packets of Caesar dressing; we suggest using one packet to coat the salad, then adjusting with more dressing as desired. Costco is generous with the dressings in their salad kits, and we often find we use less than what’s provided.

The large shreds of Parmesan cheese elevate this salad, giving it a taste and appearance that feels much more luxurious than its price suggests. This was our favorite feature of this salad, though you can also find shaved Parmesan in the gourmet foods section nearby if you want to enhance the salty flavor. The only element we found unnecessary were the lemon wedges. While some may appreciate that extra zing, it’s a nice option to have for those who prefer to customize their dish.

3. Kirkland Signature chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken

Many Costco shoppers are already familiar with the store's renowned rotisserie chicken, which is an incredible deal that actually results in a loss for the warehouse on each sale (though it ultimately drives significant profits by attracting customers). But did you know that this chicken is also used to create their rich and creamy chicken salad? This is another economical choice from the prepared foods section, available in a size that's ideal for sharing or meal prepping for the week. We typically grab a single pack for $18, along with a tray of croissants from the bakery, providing us with lunches for the entire week.

Before purchasing chicken salad in bulk from Costco, it's important to consider whether you'll be able to consume the entire 2.5-pound tray before it spoils. The recommended storage time for chicken salad in the fridge is between three and four days, due to the mayonnaise in the dressing. Unfortunately, it doesn't freeze well, so think about how much chicken salad you plan to use and assess if it remains a good value per meal. Another option is to share the purchase with a friend who loves chicken salad, splitting the cost. While you can't share your membership unless you live in the same household, you can always offer some of the chicken salad to friends for their lunches instead of letting it go to waste.

2. Kirkland Signature chicken sandwich on sprouted grain bread

Costco truly excels with their chicken sandwiches, and the addition of sprouted grain bread brings a delightful texture and flavor to the platter. It features roasted chicken paired with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. The tray includes two generous tubs of a mayo-mustard blend, allowing everyone to customize their sandwiches or opt to skip the condiments altogether. We found there was more than enough to generously spread across four sandwiches, with some leftover to use as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets.

While the sandwich ingredients are tasty, it’s the sprouted grain bread that elevates it beyond a standard deli sandwich. Not only is it incredibly soft and flavorful, but it also offers health benefits that other breads lack. One thing to keep in mind with this platter is that sharing it among a large group can be a bit challenging. The tray comes with four substantial sandwiches, and while we’ve cut them into smaller pieces for a larger gathering or buffet, that does require some extra effort. Additionally, it’s trickier to keep the sandwiches intact when we attempt to cut them ourselves instead of having them pre-sliced.

1. Kirkland Signature roasted chicken & swiss roller tray

This is one of Costco's most sought-after food trays, frequently seen at baby showers, birthday celebrations, and even large lunches. These roll-ups feature roasted chicken and Swiss cheese, along with sliced tomatoes and green leaf lettuce. However, it's the inclusion of cranberry cream cheese instead of traditional condiments like mustard or mayo that secures these wraps a top spot on our list. In fact, we've made multiple special trips to Costco, braving long weekend lines just to grab these wraps. Every time we've brought them to a shared event like a barbecue or class party, we've returned with an empty tray. Most guests tend to have at least one, unless they are specifically avoiding ingredients like meat or dairy. Even those who are usually hesitant about wraps have found these delightful and ended up having more than one.

Each clamshell contains 12 individual servings. They are crafted with soft, flexible Lahvash flatbread. They are remarkably uniform and hold together well, which is uncommon for wraps in our experience. Additionally, they are tightly packed and feature generous amounts of cream cheese that help bind all the ingredients together with the bread.

Methodology

With years of experience shopping at Costco, we've tried out all these options in various situations and have identified our top picks. As anticipated, some of the trays and platters we've been purchasing for years remained our favorites, but we also discovered new contenders thanks to their delightful flavors and textures.

We took into account the initial cost of each option as well as their overall value. Some items that were pricier in-store turned out to be better bargains because we could freeze leftovers or share them with a larger group. Conversely, some less expensive options didn’t hold up well, leading us to discard a significant portion of the tray.

Additionally, we focused on platters that are exclusive to Costco, giving priority to those we loved that weren't available elsewhere. Even some decent options found at our local grocery store, albeit in smaller quantities, ended up ranking lower on our list.