5 Costco Prepared Meals Perfect For Cozy Fall Nights

It's officially autumn, which means it's time to stock up on canned pumpkin, crisp apples, and all the cozy autumn spice blends for seasonal baking and latte-making. But beyond the desserts and sugary sweets lies a whole world of easy dinner possibilities to make those chilly evenings way more comforting. If you haven't given your weeknight menu much thought, now's the time — but there's no need to whip everything up from scratch. Just head to Costco's prepared foods section.

Costco's prepared meal selection is one of the things we — and other Costco fans — love most about the warehouse. Many of its offerings are available year-round but make excellent additions to the autumn dinner table for their heartiness, warmth, and overall comforting flavors. Plus, the warehouse offers a few seasonal options that are particularly delicious this time of year. So, grab your Costco membership card and stock up on these grab-and-go favorites to bring that cozy vibe strong into the evening. 

Mac and cheese is among the most comforting foods out there. Whether you use your favorite boxed mac and cheese or your mom's classic recipe, more often than not, it comes together fairly quickly. However, not all of us have five different types of cheese on hand at all times, which is where Costco comes in.

Costco's take-and-bake mac and cheese weighs around four pounds per tray and features Cheddar, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses. To make it, all you have to do is stick it in the oven, and it's ready to serve. It's already an incredibly soul-warming dinner, but if you're looking for the ultimate fall vibes, we can recommend a couple of upgrades that don't require a ton of effort. After all, you're buying a take-and-bake meal for a reason!

If you're a fan of bacon, crumbled bacon or bacon bits is a great way to add a bit of smokiness to Costco's mac and cheese. A sprinkle or two of smoked paprika helps achieve a similar smoky effect while adding some color to the dish as well. And if you're feeling fancy, sprinkle some breadcrumbs or crushed crackers on top before throwing the mac and cheese into the oven. You can even toast your breadcrumbs in advance with autumnal herbs like sage and thyme, if you really want to fool people into thinking it's homemade.

Purchase the Mac and Cheese for about $17.

Nothing screams "cozy fall night" more than a warm and flaky chicken pot pie, and Costco's version is a crowd favorite. Unlike Sam's Club's version, which is available year-round, Costco's Chicken Pot Pie only appears on shelves during the fall and winter months. However, that seasonal exclusivity is how you know it's a total must-try, especially if you're looking for a homemade-style meal without all the additional prep. 

This pot pie features Costco's legendary rotisserie chicken in addition to carrots and peas. It's wrapped up in a lovely lattice crust and can be baked in about an hour and a half in the oven. At five and a half pounds, this pot pie can serve anywhere from four to six people. You could also buy it for yourself and enjoy it in the form of leftovers throughout the week.

Since chicken pot pie is already filling, you probably don't want to pair it with something equally as rich. For a true fall-inspired dinner, pair it with a nice crisp salad, like our Fall Harvest Caramelized Mushroom Salad, Apple Harvest Salad, or Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad. These recipes highlight some classic fall flavors like apple, pecan, mushroom, and pomegranate. Each recipe offers a simple but delicious ways to get some extra greens onto your plate.

Purchase the Chicken Pot Pie for about $22.

Grilling season might be over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying barbecue classics — and luckily, Costco's prepared food section features one of the very best: Ribs. The St. Louis Ribs are pre-cooked and pre-seasoned, so all you need to do is heat them up in the oven (or the grill, if you happen to keep yours out year-round) before digging in. They're meaty, tender, and their dry rub doesn't overpower their flavor like a barbecue sauce coating might. Plus, a nearly three-pound package comes with two racks of ribs, making it a pretty good purchase if you're feeding a small family.

By themselves, ribs are an extremely hearty and filling meal. This Costco offering is perfect for those chilly nights where all you want to do is bundle up and enjoy a warm dinner. However, try pairing these with some other fall comfort foods for a more well-rounded meal. For a true BBQ feast, pair it with Costco's mac and cheese. Throw in a side of your favorite greens while you're at it, and you've basically brought the smokehouse home.

A brussels sprouts-based coleslaw is another excellent option if you're looking to add some extra greens to your plate. And, potatoes of any shape or form add an instant level of warmth to your plate. Scalloped potatoes, hasselback potatoes, or simply roasted potatoes: The options are endless.

Purchase the Seasoned St. Louis Ribs for about $24.

What's warm, filling, and full of flavor? Meatloaf and potatoes, of course. It's a fairly simple dish to whip up on your own, but let's be honest: Not everyone has time to make meatloaf from scratch after a long day — and the same goes for mashed potatoes. Costco's pre-made version of this dish eliminates that stress. And at around four pounds, it should easily feed four people, making weeknight prep a total breeze.

While this dish is the epitome of a cozy fall meal, there are a couple of ways you can give it a true autumnal twist. For starters, you can serve it alongside a seasonal vegetable. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans, butternut squash, and pumpkin are all excellent choices, and prepping a quick veggie side is much simpler than making an entire meal from scratch. You can even use some frozen vegetables to speed up the process.

Costco shoppers seem to really like the mashed potatoes in this dish, but if you want to give it your own homemade flavor, don't be afraid to season them with some extra herbs. For example, sage, nutmeg, and garlic are a few warming spices that sound simple but work wonders, so don't hesitate to open up your spice drawer and get creative.

Purchase the Meatloaf with Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes for about $20.

We couldn't put together this list without mentioning the most iconic prepared meal in Costco's lineup: The rotisserie chicken. You might find it difficult to leave the warehouse with yours still intact, but if it happens to make it home in one piece, you should absolutely serve it with dinner (or as dinner itself, if you simply can't wait to devour this store-bought delight) alongside a bunch of equally comforting sides.

Costco's rotisserie chicken certainly isn't bland, but it is fairly simple in its seasoning; thus, you can think of it as a blank canvas of sorts when it comes to pairing it with side dishes. There are plenty of delicious side dish recipes to pair with yours, but during the fall season, we highly recommend hearty staples like our Vegan Scalloped Potatoes, Classic Buttery Garlic Knots, and Roasted Garlic Parmesan Broccoli. These are sure to warm your heart and your stomach as the leaves continue changing color outside. 

You can also mix and match the rotisserie chicken with other Costco prepared food staples. If you've got a plate of mac and cheese, there's nothing stopping you from combining these two comfort foods. Simply mix shredded pieces of the chicken in with the mac and cheese after it's cooked, and you've got yourself a new meal we're sure you'll be enjoying all fall long.

Purchase the Rotisserie Chicken for about $6.