6 Overpriced Costco Deli Items, According To Reviews

We all know that Costco is renowned for specific food items, like its rotisserie chicken or the food court chicken bake. However, prepared foods at Costco have some hits and misses. Sure, there are deli-item flops, but we wanted to take a closer look at some products deemed overpriced. Some are disliked; others are flavorful and enjoyable yet still draw complaints about the cost. 

We found plenty of customer complaints on platforms like Reddit and Facebook about each food item that is mentioned. That way, you can determine for yourself whether it's worth the price. These items range quite a bit, from meant to be cooked and served hot to cold foods, but then there's everything from pasta to fish. As there are various options, it's not as though customers are annoyed at a specific type of dish. The general sentiment is that folks think the deli is getting close to the cost of restaurant food or going out to eat. You may want to reconsider before you add these to your shopping cart.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

Pasta salad is certainly a comforting option, and there's a slew of add-ins and ways to make it. The Kirkland Signature Pesto Pasta Salad with Mozzarella Pearls & Italian Pesto features the famous Kirkland Signature Italian pesto, slow-roasted tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh arugula. The use of the trottole pasta shape adds a fun touch and texture to the bite, but people are still displeased with the price — $6.80 per pound via Costco Same-Day. In January 2026, customers on Reddit had a lot to say about the premade pasta product. The original poster seemed to appreciate the flavor but couldn't get behind the cost, noting that it wasn't exactly affordable. "A little underwhelming with respect to the cost," they said, responding to another comment. 

Others in the same thread said they purchased it but didn't realize how expensive it would add up to be or that it was a waste of money altogether. Some folks seem shocked at the price point. "It's 18$ of pesto and 2$ of everything else," one person said. The imported Costco pesto undoubtedly tastes really good, but you could get two containers for the $20 fee people mentioned. It may be better to whip up a large batch of pasta salad at home, which typically lasts three to five days in the fridge. If it has more acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice, it could last a couple of days longer.

Mac and cheese is a highly personal dish, as some like particular pasta shapes, cheeses, seasonings, and mix-ins. However, the Kirkland Signature's Mac and Cheese is one of several Costco meal options that could outshine your grandma's cooking, but it won't beat the price of making it a home. Plenty of folks like this premade pasta dish, and some can even justify the price point even if they find it hair expensive. But not everyone is on the same page. 

One person posted a review on TikTok that garnered tens of thousands of likes, only to have comments poking fun at the high cost. "Not for that price!!!" someone exclaimed. People called out the prepared food for being "just some pasta and cheese." Other comments flat-out called it expensive or said that you can get cheaper options at other wholesalers or stores. 

Costco's may cost $3.99 per pound, which sounds appealing, but you typically have to get close to 4 pounds, according to the initial review. It's certainly a well-loved dish (to some, that is), but that doesn't stop people from thinking it's expensive, primarily because it's merely pasta and cheese. Try making a slow cooker mac and cheese recipe that lets the cooker do most of the work for you; plus, optional add-ins like cayenne offer a smidge more flavor since many people think Costco's is bland. 

There are plenty of incredible enchilada recipes to follow to spice up your week, but you might have considered just buying Costco's version if you wanted to save a few steps. Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken Enchilada is speckled with black beans, pinto beans, three bell peppers, chicken, cheddar cheese, a smidgen of cilantro, and then chipotle sauce for added flavor. A TikTok video from February 2026 shows that the deli item cost $5.99 per pound. That means it can run you around $24 for about 4 pounds. Some folks say prices have shot up considerably, if not doubled over the years. They mentioned that it used to cost closer to $14 to 16 for a batch. Even if you tack on a few bucks for wiggle room based on weight, that is still a noticeable difference. 

A YouTube video about the enchiladas garnered a lot of comments, with people saying it seems to cost a pretty penny. "Costco premade meals are so egregiously priced now," someone said. Others said it's unappealing in both appearance and price, while another called the price itself "disgusting" or that the appearance didn't look appetizing. There was even a Salsa Verde enchilada version that people also thought was pretty steep. But regardless of the flavor, customers say they can't keep buying enchiladas from Costco; at one point they were a worthy splurge, but now they can no longer justify the cost. Others say you can get a cheaper product at Sam's Club, which prices its Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas at $3.98 per pound as of writing — admittedly, that's a much better deal.

Pasta is a comforting dish you can jazz up in any number of ways. This Kirkland Signature's Chicken Alfredo with Penne Pasta combines the rich creaminess of Alfredo with chicken protein to create a hearty dish. However, it costs $4.49 per pound, with portions being in the 4-pound ballpark. It certainly has an element of convenience going for it, but you still have to bake it. And many customers are not impressed with the price. Some say it would be better to make it at home because it's too costly to get it at Costco. They said you could make a huge batch with many portions if you go the homemade route, and it'll taste better too. Many report that the chicken and other elements have funky textures and don't taste fresh anyway. 

Multiple people call out the dish as a victim of shrinkflation too, after someone on Facebook complained that the chicken was so sparse they felt embarrassed serving it to guests. "It's shrinkflation......they've cut down on a lot of protein portions in the deli," one person commented. People also say that the suggested portion size seems bloated, seeming inaccurate to how much a person would actually eat. For example, something was advertised as a six-portion serving that people said may only feed two. That further ramps up the cost per portion. "You can make this same meal for less than that, half the time and taste way better," one person wrote on Instagram.

Salmon arguably isn't the cheapest fish out there, but there's still a point at which it seems pricey for what you get. Costco sells its Kirkland Signature Salmon Milano with Basil Pesto Butter at the deli area, which you take home to bake yourself. It typically has three salmon fillets with a chic basil compound butter and herbs sprinkled on top. Still, people think of it as a pricey option to buy. 

Customers say the price has continued to rise over the years. A Reddit thread discussing the prices at Costco's deli drew a lot of comments, and one commenter shared that the salmon dish was getting pricier due to price hikes. They said the price was around $14 in August 2023, but it has crept up to $15.99 per pound as of the time of writing. Though it is prepped with some butter and herbs, people still think it's overpriced, given that it's raw salmon you still have to cook. 

People do not think it is worth it, and it is consistently considered a ripoff deli item. "Not much flavor and I could have gotten way more salmon for that price and made my own butter with seasonings," one TikTok reviewer noted. Even those who enjoy it say it's not really something they can afford to buy regularly now. Others say they think it's too pricey for farm-raised salmon.

Admittedly, the Kirkland Signature Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef & Rice are pretty tasty. Typically, you'll get six peppers stuffed with a mixture of rice, beef, seasonings, and Parmesan cheese on top. They are (supposed to be) filled to the brim; all you have to do is bake them, and you're ready to eat. However, people cannot justify the cost, which is $4.99 per pound. Some even say that you can make it for a fraction of the price. 

A Reddit thread asking for a copycat recipe to make at home garnered a lot of traction, with people generally scoffing at the price of Costco's version. People commented that it shouldn't cost nearly that much. Even people who can justify the money say it is still costly per pepper. It doesn't help that some say it took about 90 minutes to cook, which isn't very fast or convenient. A Facebook post received significant feedback where the initial poster claimed that there wasn't as much meat in their latest batch and that the cheese seems different; their photo showed a sad, wet-looking batch of peppers. Many people responded that it's cheaper just to make your own stuffed peppers, and Costco's quality has clearly declined. 

"They found a way to prepare it at a lower cost and didn't hesitate for a minute," one person responded. Another person said Costco is trying to save money by reducing the amount of meat, while simultaneously hoping customers wouldn't notice. "Probably the same price too! It's called shrinkflation," they said.

We started looking at customer opinions on websites like Reddit and Facebook to identify the top Costco deli foods that came up most often. It was important that people specifically called out the cost — being overpriced or not being worth the money were all qualifying concerns. It didn't necessarily matter whether people liked the food; it was only about the cost. Something can be tasty but expensive. 

These are Costco members' opinions, and there is no set definition of what counts as "overpriced," as it is deeply personal. We listened to reviewers, compiled information, and sought out multiple complaints about a particular item, rather than a single person calling it out as pricey. That way, there was a more well-rounded look at customer views. In our reporting, we also noticed concerns about shrinkflation and a decrease in the quality of the food.