Costco’s freezer section is a treasure trove of quick and easy appetizers that can save the day when unexpected guests arrive. Some of these frozen treats taste so good, you’d swear they came from your favorite restaurant.
Others, unfortunately, fall flat and might leave you with freezer-burn regret. I’ve tried them all so you don’t have to waste your money or taste buds on the duds.
1. Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita – A Flaky Greek Dream
Golden, crispy phyllo triangles filled with spinach and feta cheese that would make any Greek grandmother proud. The buttery layers shatter delicately with each bite, revealing a perfectly seasoned filling that’s never watery or bland.
What sets these apart is the balance of flavors – the spinach remains bright and the feta delivers just the right amount of saltiness. Pop these in your air fryer for best results.
They’re fancy enough for a dinner party but simple enough for a quick snack when you’re craving something savory and satisfying.
2. Foster Farms Take Out Crispy Chicken Wings – Better Than the Sports Bar
Forget delivery on game day! These wings develop a seriously crunchy exterior while maintaining juicy meat inside – a combo many restaurant wings fail to achieve. The secret lies in their double-cooking method.
Unlike other frozen wings that turn rubbery, these crisp up beautifully in the oven or air fryer. The seasoning is spot-on without being overpowering, creating the perfect canvas for your favorite dipping sauce.
A fun hack: toss them in buffalo sauce, garlic parmesan, or honey BBQ after cooking to create your own wing flavor variations that rival any sports bar.
3. Kirkland Signature Italian-Style Meatballs – Family Dinner Hero
Versatility champion! These perfectly seasoned beef and pork meatballs have saved countless weeknight dinners at my house. Unlike many frozen meatballs that taste like processed mystery meat, these actually taste homemade.
The texture hits that sweet spot – tender without being mushy, with authentic Italian herbs and just enough garlic. Simmer them in marinara for classic spaghetti, add to soups, or serve with toothpicks and sauce for an instant appetizer.
My Italian neighbor (who makes everything from scratch) actually asked for my meatball recipe after trying these – that’s when you know they’re good!
4. Royal Asia Coconut Shrimp with Thai Chili Sauce – Tropical Vacation Vibes
Jumbo shrimp wearing golden coconut coats that actually stay crispy? Yes please! The coconut flavor comes through without being overwhelmingly sweet, and the shrimp inside remain plump and juicy.
The included Thai chili sauce deserves special mention – tangy, sweet with just enough heat to keep things interesting. Most frozen appetizer sauces are forgettable, but this one actually enhances the experience.
These transform a regular weeknight into something special. My trick: arrange them in a circle around a ramekin of the sauce for that restaurant presentation that makes everyone think you went to culinary school.
5. Bibigo Mini Wontons – Dumpling Party Starter
Packed with chicken and fresh cilantro, these bite-sized flavor bombs cook in minutes and disappear even faster. The wrappers achieve that ideal texture – tender without being soggy or tough.
Unlike many frozen dumplings that leak their filling, these maintain their integrity while cooking. The chicken filling is well-seasoned with notes of ginger and garlic that taste freshly made.
Serve them with the traditional soy-vinegar dip or get creative with chili oil or peanut sauce. They work equally well as soup additions or standalone appetizers. My guests always assume I ordered from our local dumpling spot – I’ll never tell them my secret!
6. Petite Cuisine Mozzarella Sticks – Cheese Pull Champions
Remember those disappointing mozzarella sticks with barely any cheese inside? These are the opposite! The bread crumb coating stays crispy while protecting rivers of melty cheese that stretch impressively with each bite.
The breading is seasoned with Italian herbs that complement rather than compete with the mild, creamy mozzarella. They cook evenly without the dreaded cheese explosion that ruins your oven or air fryer.
A marinara dunking sauce is the classic choice, but try them with ranch or even a drizzle of hot honey for an unexpected twist. Perfect for kids’ snacks or adult cocktail hours – these transcend age barriers with their universal cheesy appeal.
While these top picks deserve a permanent spot in your freezer, not everything in Costco’s frozen aisle lives up to the hype — here are the ones you’re better off skipping.
1. Bibigo Steamed Dumplings – Flavorless Disappointment
Expectations were high after loving their mini wontons, but these larger steamed dumplings fall tragically flat. The wrappers turn gummy rather than tender, clinging unpleasantly to your teeth with each bite.
The filling lacks any distinctive flavor profile – just vague meatiness without the aromatic ginger, garlic, or scallion notes that make dumplings craveable. Even with generous dipping sauce, they remain forgettable.
The cooking instructions don’t help either – follow them exactly and you’ll end up with either soggy or dried-out dumplings with no happy medium. Save your freezer space for something more worthy of your taste buds and dinner table.
2. Don Miguel Mini Tacos – Tiny Texture Disasters
Adorable in concept, awful in execution. These mini tacos promise convenience and fun but deliver confusion instead. The shells occupy an odd middle ground – neither crispy nor soft, just strangely chewy and stale-tasting regardless of cooking method.
The filling is sparse and mysteriously bland, with meat that has an unidentifiable texture somewhere between granular and mushy. Even loading them with toppings can’t mask their fundamental flaws.
The final insult? They’re incredibly messy to eat, falling apart after one bite and creating more cleanup than they’re worth. Even hungry teenagers at my last gathering left these untouched after trying one – a damning verdict indeed.
3. TGI Fridays Potato Skins – Sad Shadow of Restaurant Version
Nostalgia lured me into buying these, remembering the loaded potato skins from actual TGI Fridays restaurants. Big mistake! The potato base is oddly dry and mealy, nothing like the fluffy interior you expect.
The cheese and bacon toppings are the biggest letdown – sparse, artificial-tasting, and they never melt properly no matter how you cook them. The bacon bits remain hard and chewy rather than crisp, with a smoky flavor that tastes more like liquid smoke than actual bacon.
After trying multiple cooking methods (oven, microwave, air fryer), I’ve concluded it’s not my technique but the product itself that’s flawed. These belong in the “never again” category.
4. Ling Ling Potstickers – Filling Disappointment
Marketing promises “authentic Asian flavors,” but these potstickers deliver confusion instead. The wrappers are inconsistent – some paper-thin and tearing during cooking, others thick and doughy, never achieving that crisp-tender balance true potstickers are known for.
The filling is the real mystery. Is it pork? Chicken? The meat has an indistinct flavor and grainy texture that leaves you checking the package ingredients. Vegetables inside are unidentifiable mushy bits rather than fresh-tasting additions.
The sauce packet might be the worst offender – overly sweet and oddly thick with artificial undertones. The amount provided is also stingy for the quantity of potstickers, forcing you to either ration or supplement with your own dipping options.
5. El Monterey Chicken & Cheese Taquitos – Cardboard Tubes of Regret
Microwave these and you’ll get soggy sadness. Bake them and you’ll create tooth-threatening tubes that could double as building materials. The corn tortilla exterior achieves an impressive feat – simultaneously tough and soggy in different areas.
Peek inside and you’ll find the sparse filling – a mysterious chicken substance and congealed cheese-like product that bears little resemblance to actual cheese. The seasoning is one-dimensional, just vaguely “Mexican-inspired” without any depth or authenticity.
Most concerning is the oily residue these leave behind – on your plate, in your mouth, and even on your fingers. Save yourself the disappointment and calories. If you’re craving taquitos, almost any other brand would be an improvement.
Leave a comment