We’ve all been there – staring at the freezer after a long day, too tired to cook but hungry enough to eat the ice cubes. Frozen dinners can be total lifesavers, but some are more like money pits with a side of disappointment. Costco’s frozen food section is massive and overwhelming. I spent a month trying different options (my microwave got quite the workout) to save you from wasting your hard-earned cash. From meals that taste like cardboard to ones that are surprisingly good, here’s the real scoop on which Costco frozen dinners to skip and which ones deserve space in your freezer.
Snapdragon chicken pad thai should be avoided
The Snapdragon Chicken Pad Thai sits firmly at the bottom of our list, and for good reason. This microwavable meal promises chicken, rice noodles, bell peppers, and bean sprouts in what’s described as a “tangy” stir fry sauce. The reality? The noodles turn out gummy and clump together in sad, sticky masses. The chicken pieces are tiny, rubbery nuggets that bear little resemblance to actual chicken. And that “tangy” sauce? It’s mostly just sweet with an artificial aftertaste that lingers unpleasantly. The vegetables lose all their crunch in the microwave, turning into limp, unidentifiable bits scattered throughout.
What makes this meal particularly disappointing is that pad thai is a dish with such vibrant flavors and textures when made properly. The Snapdragon version misses every mark. There’s none of the complex balance between sweet, sour, and savory that makes real pad thai so craveable. At around $4 per serving, it’s not even particularly cheap compared to other options. If you’re in the mood for Asian-inspired frozen meals from Costco, there are much better choices (which we’ll get to later). Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one entirely – your taste buds and wallet will thank you.
Marie Callender’s chicken pot pies disappoint
The Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pies from Costco sound promising – who doesn’t love a comforting pot pie? – but they fall flat in almost every way. The crust is the first letdown. Instead of being flaky and buttery, it often turns out soggy on the bottom and either too dry or burnt around the edges. The filling doesn’t fare much better. The chunks of chicken are typically dry and sparse, making you hunt through the sea of sauce to find them. The vegetables inside – mostly carrots, peas, and potatoes – are mushy and lack any distinct flavor, as if they’ve surrendered all their identity to the bland sauce.
The sauce itself is the biggest disappointment. It should be rich, creamy, and comforting, but instead, it’s oddly gelatinous and tastes mostly of salt and flour rather than anything resembling chicken. The texture is inconsistent too – sometimes watery, sometimes gloopy, but rarely just right. Multiple reviewers have noted these same issues, confirming this isn’t just a one-off bad experience. For a meal that takes nearly an hour to heat properly in a conventional oven (or comes out unevenly heated in the microwave), the payoff simply isn’t worth it. Your freezer space and dinner expectations deserve better than this mediocre pot pie.
Ajinomoto shoyu ramen falls short
The Ajinomoto Tokyo-Style Shoyu Ramen with Chicken sounds like it could be a quick and satisfying meal, especially for ramen fans. But this frozen version is a shadow of what good ramen should be. The broth, which should be the heart and soul of any ramen, lacks depth and complexity. Instead of a rich, savory liquid that warms you from the inside, you get a thin, overly salty soup that tastes more like a bouillon cube than something that’s been simmering for hours. The noodles fare even worse – they often come out either too soft and mushy or still slightly frozen in the center, depending on how carefully you follow the heating instructions.
The chicken and vegetables are the biggest letdown. The chicken pieces are sparse and often dry or rubbery, while the vegetables are so small and mushy they’re almost unrecognizable. Several taste testers have noted that the few vegetables included lack any freshness or crunch. For something that’s supposed to mimic a beloved comfort food, this frozen ramen falls embarrassingly short. Real ramen has a beautiful balance of textures and flavors, but this frozen version misses the mark entirely. When you consider that you could make a much better instant ramen by adding a few fresh ingredients to a basic package for less money, this frozen option becomes even harder to justify.
Bibigo shrimp fried rice lacks flavor
The Bibigo Shrimp Fried Rice looks promising in the package with visible pieces of shrimp, vegetables, and egg scattered throughout the rice. But appearances can be deceiving. Once heated, the texture becomes the first issue – the rice often turns out either too dry or too mushy, losing that distinct grain separation that good fried rice should have. The shrimp, which should be a highlight, are tiny, sparse, and often overcooked to the point of rubberiness. They contribute almost no seafood flavor to the dish, making you wonder why they bothered including them at all. The vegetables, mainly peas, carrots, and corn, are unremarkable and lack freshness or crunch.
The biggest problem is the overall blandness. Fried rice should be savory, with hints of soy sauce, perhaps some garlic or ginger, and the flavors of its ingredients working together. Instead, this frozen version tastes predominantly of salt with little else going on. Even after adding soy sauce or hot sauce at home, it’s difficult to elevate this dish to something truly enjoyable. Multiple customers have compared it unfavorably to much cheaper frozen fried rice options from regular grocery stores. When a premium-priced Costco option can’t beat the $2 bags from the regular freezer aisle, that’s a problem. If you’re craving fried rice, either order takeout or make a quick version at home with leftover rice – both options will surpass this disappointing frozen meal.
Kirkland chicken bakes need improvement
The Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes have a loyal following among some Costco shoppers, but they’re surprisingly divisive. These large, bread-wrapped logs contain chicken, bacon, cheese, and caesar dressing. In theory, that should be delicious. In practice, they’re hit-or-miss. The main issue is the bread exterior, which often comes out of the oven or microwave with an uneven texture – crispy and dry in some spots, doughy and undercooked in others. The filling can be problematic too. The chicken pieces are sometimes dry and sparse, with the cheese and dressing doing most of the heavy lifting flavor-wise. The bacon, which should add a nice smoky note, is often barely detectable.
Another common complaint is the uneven distribution of filling. You might take one bite that’s mostly bread, followed by another that’s an overwhelming glob of cheese and dressing. The size is also awkward – too big for a snack but not quite satisfying enough for a full meal for most adults. The sodium content is worth mentioning too – each chicken bake packs a significant salt punch that leaves many consumers feeling thirsty afterward. While these aren’t the worst frozen option at Costco by far, they’re inconsistent enough to make this list. If you do try them, the conventional oven method yields much better results than microwaving, but requires about 45 minutes of heating time, which defeats the purpose of a convenient frozen meal.
Frankly Fresh chicken breast burrito bowl is mediocre
The Frankly Fresh Chicken Breast Burrito Bowl sits firmly in the middle of our ranking – not terrible, but not great either. This refrigerated (not frozen) meal consists of grilled chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and cheese with a side of salsa. On paper, that sounds like a solid option for a quick lunch or dinner. The reality is more mixed. The chicken quality is decent – actual identifiable pieces of breast meat rather than the mystery chunks found in many frozen meals. The rice is acceptable, if sometimes a bit dry. The beans and corn add some texture and nutrition, though they can lack flavor. The included salsa helps, but it’s usually a basic, mild variety that doesn’t add much excitement.
What holds this meal back from being truly good is its overall blandness and lack of fresh elements. There’s no crunch, no brightness, nothing to make it feel like more than the sum of its parts. It’s missing the fresh elements that make a real burrito bowl enjoyable – no crisp lettuce, no zesty lime, no fresh cilantro. Multiple reviews suggest adding your own toppings like avocado, hot sauce, or fresh vegetables to make it more appealing. While it’s not a bad base, having to doctor it up with your own ingredients defeats the purpose of a convenient ready meal. For the price point, you might expect something more impressive than what is essentially a blank canvas that needs your input to become truly enjoyable.
Cafe de Chine beef & broccoli is actually good
The Cafe de Chine Beef & Broccoli Skillet Stir Fry starts to elevate us into the realm of frozen meals worth buying. This kit includes strips of beef, broccoli florets, and a savory sauce – all meant to be quickly cooked in a skillet rather than microwaved. That cooking method makes a big difference in the final quality. The beef maintains a decent texture without becoming tough or chewy, which is a common problem with frozen meat. The broccoli cooks up with some actual crunch left in it, avoiding the mushy vegetable problem that plagues so many frozen meals. The sauce has a nice balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavors that coats everything well without becoming gloopy or overpowering.
What makes this meal stand out is how close it comes to tasting like actual takeout. The portions are generous – the package serves about three people – and it cooks up in about 10-15 minutes, making it faster than delivery. Multiple reviewers have praised its restaurant-quality taste and ease of preparation. The only downside is that you’ll need to supply your own rice as a base, but that’s easily solved with a quick-cooking variety or even a microwave packet. For busy weeknights when you’re craving Chinese food but don’t want to wait for delivery (or pay delivery fees), this frozen option is surprisingly satisfying. It’s a good reminder that not all frozen meals are created equal – some, like this one, are genuinely worth keeping on hand.
Kirkland pepperoni pizza is the best choice
The Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza Thin Crust claims the top spot on our list, proving that a frozen pizza can actually be something to look forward to rather than just a last resort. What sets this pizza apart is first and foremost its crust – achieving a truly crispy crust is the downfall of most frozen pizzas, but this one delivers. When baked properly, the thin crust develops a satisfying crackle around the edges while maintaining just enough chew. The sauce strikes a nice balance between tangy and sweet, avoiding the overly sugary or metallic taste that plagues many frozen options. The cheese melts beautifully, with actual stretchy pulls when you grab a slice – something surprisingly rare in the frozen pizza world.
The pepperoni is the real star though. Unlike the tiny, bland circles on many frozen pizzas, these are generous in both size and flavor, with a slight spicy kick and that quintessential pepperoni curl that creates little cups of delicious oil. The overall ratio of toppings to cheese to sauce to crust is spot-on. Multiple reviewers have noted that it rivals delivery pizza, especially when you consider the value – you get four large pizzas in a pack for about what you’d pay for a single delivery pizza. For an easy dinner that will please even picky eaters, this frozen option stands head and shoulders above the competition. Keep a pack in your freezer for those nights when cooking feels impossible but you still want something genuinely tasty.
After weeks of taste-testing (and some occasional indigestion), the verdict is clear: not all Costco frozen meals deserve your money or freezer space. Skip the Snapdragon Pad Thai and Marie Callender’s pot pies unless you enjoy disappointment with a side of regret. Instead, stock up on the Kirkland pepperoni pizza and Cafe de Chine beef & broccoli for those nights when cooking feels impossible. Your wallet – and taste buds – will thank you for doing the research before your next Costco trip.
