How to Cook a Delicious Costco Turkey Dinner for the Holidays

Looking for a quick shortcut to a complete Thanksgiving Dinner or just need a smaller meal? Costco has a Turkey Dinner Meal Kit at Thanksgiving time and it’s a great deal! The complete Turkey Dinner contains a turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potato, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce. See below for cooking and heating instructions for the Costco Turkey Thanksgiving Meal. We love this kit for a small group or individual – it’s got all the Thanksgiving favorites/basics and is saves a ton of money and time if you don’t have a large gathering. Or, see all our Thanksgiving Finds at Costco to prep a larger meal.

October 2023 Update: The premade turkey dinner kit is now available in the Costco Deli – and it’s the same price as last year – in fact, there’s no inflation on most of your Thanksgiving meal from Costco this year including whole turkeys and most sides!

You’ll find this popular complete Thanksgiving dinner kit hits the prepared food/meat department refrigerated deli cases about one week before Thanksgiving (and it’s there again now!), with a sell by about 5 days after the purchase date. The turkey breast is uncooked, and you should plan for about 2 hours to prepare the entire kit. Scroll down to see price info, serving sizes and cooking instructions. You can either print the cooking directions or toggle “hands free mode” on to keep your computer from sleeping while you’re using them (on laptop/desktop). Don’t forget the grab some apple pie or pumpkin pie from the Costco bakery we recommend both of those!

Don’t forget, Costco is closed on Thanksgiving day, so do your shopping early! Happy Thanksgiving! Table Of Contents

The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to start planning that big turkey dinner. If you want an easy, delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen, the Costco turkey dinner is the way to go. We’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook a perfect Costco turkey meal for your family.

Overview of Costco Turkey Dinner

Costco offers complete turkey dinner kits during the holidays that include a turkey and traditional sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, rolls, and pie. They provide an easy shortcut to a full Thanksgiving-style meal.

The turkey is typically an uncooked 10-12 pound whole turkey breast. The side dishes are fully cooked or ready-to-heat. Each dinner kit serves 7-8 people.

Costco turkey dinners average $40-50 and are available in November leading up to Thanksgiving They sell out quickly though, so plan to purchase yours early

Benefits of Choosing a Costco Turkey Dinner

There are several benefits to choosing a Costco turkey dinner for your holiday meal:

  • Convenient – Everything is included in one kit so you don’t have to shop for and prepare each dish separately.

  • Time-saving – You can cook the entire meal in about 3 hours instead of spending all day in the kitchen.

  • Budget-friendly – At around $4-7 per serving, it’s an affordable way to feed a crowd.

  • Delicious – The turkey and sides are tasty and appealing for a holiday meal.

  • Easy – Simple, straightforward cooking instructions make it a no-fuss dinner

How to Cook a Costco Turkey Dinner Step-By-Step

Follow these step-by-step instructions for cooking your Costco turkey dinner:

Ingredients

  • Costco turkey dinner kit (feeds 7-8 people)
  • Olive oil or butter for Turkey (optional)
  • Water (for roasting pan)
  • Herbs for seasoning (rosemary, thyme etc.)

Directions

  1. Take the turkey out of the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This helps it cook more quickly and evenly.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Use the convection setting if you have it for optimal roasting.

  3. Prepare the turkey. Remove giblets and neck from cavities. Rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Rub with olive oil or butter if desired and season generously with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with herbs or lemons if desired.

  4. Place turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Add 1 cup water to the bottom of the pan to prevent drippings from burning.

  5. Roast uncovered for 2 1/2 – 3 hours, basting occasionally with pan juices, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

  6. Make gravy with drippings if desired while turkey rests.

  7. Heat side dishes according to package instructions. Cover with foil to keep warm until ready to serve.

  8. Let turkey rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. Slice and arrange on a platter.

  9. Serve with warmed side dishes and enjoy!

Handy Tips for Cooking Your Turkey Dinner

  • Plan for 15 minutes of roasting time per pound for an unstuffed turkey. Add 15 minutes per pound if stuffed.

  • Use a meat thermometer to check doneness instead of relying on roasting time.

  • Tent foil loosely over turkey the last hour if skin browns too quickly.

  • Let roasted turkey rest at least 15 minutes before carving so juices redistribute.

  • Reheat leftovers to 165°F and eat within 3-4 days.

Answers to Common Costco Turkey Dinner Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking a Costco turkey dinner:

How long does it take to cook the turkey?

For an approximately 10-12 pound turkey, plan on roasting for 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Always use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.

What temperature should I cook the turkey to?

Cook until the thickest part of the breast and thigh reaches 165°F. The thighs and wings may cook quicker than the breast.

Can I cook the turkey from frozen?

It’s best to thaw the turkey in the fridge for 24-48 hours before roasting. Cook time will be significantly longer from frozen.

What if my turkey is still pink?

Some pink in the meat is normal, especially in the joints, as long as it’s 165°F. Letting it rest helps color distribute.

Can I microwave the side dishes?

Yes, you can reheat the side dishes in the microwave. Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent splattering.

How long will leftovers last?

Store turkey and sides separately. Leftovers should last 3-4 days in the fridge. Reheat thoroughly before eating.

Make Your Holiday Easy with a Costco Turkey Dinner

Cooking a complete holiday meal doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. With its convenient all-in-one kit, Costco makes it easy to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving-style turkey dinner any time. Follow the straightforward roasting directions and serve for an impressive meal with minimal effort. With tasty turkey and classic sides ready and waiting, you can focus on spending time with family instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

how to cook costco turkey dinner

Servings in the Turkey Dinner Kit

The Thanksgiving Turkey kit package says it serves 7-8 adults. Maybe I just eat a lot, but personally I think that’s generous…I would plan on 5-6 if it were me (and was going to serve some salad, rolls, or other sides), or 4 if you have big eaters, aren’t serving additional sides and/or want a little leftovers.

Full disclosure, I’m an Italian Mom and I am known to over prepare food, so take the former with a grain of salt. Luckily, I also really like leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches lol, so I prefer to err on making too much

2021 Costco Item Number & Price

Costco Turkey Dinner Meal Kit is Costco Item Number 14882 and costs $2.99 per lb, or about $25-$30 each.

how to cook costco turkey dinner

how to cook costco turkey dinner

Kirkland Smoked Turkey from Costco Review | Chef Dawg

FAQ

How long do you cook a turkey dinner from Costco?

Heating Instructions: Conventional Oven: Remove plastic and place the Turkey and all of the juices into an oven safe roasting pan. Add 1 cup of water, cover tightly with aluminum foil and place in a 350°F for 2 to 2.5 hours, basting every 30 minutes, every 15 if possible.

Does Costco have a pre-made Thanksgiving dinner?

Costco brought out the full pre made Thanksgiving meals. We tried this out last year and it was awesome.

How long to cook Costco turkey burgers?

How to properly cook frozen Costco turkey burgers? Defrost patties in microwave for less than 2 minutes. Season and cook 7 minutes on first side. Cook 5-6 min on the other side.

How do you cook a Costco turkey dinner?

1. In a large casserole dish, combine the turkey, potatoes, vegetables, cheese, and gravy. 2. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted. 3. Serve with a side salad. Cooking a Costco turkey dinner is a great way to feed a large crowd.

Does Costco have turkey dinner?

Costco has a Turkey Dinner Meal Kit at Thanksgiving time and it’s a great deal! The complete Turkey Dinner contains a turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potato, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce. See below for cooking and heating instructions for the Costco Turkey Thanksgiving Meal.

How much does a turkey dinner kit cost at Costco?

In 2022 they’ll cost you $3.99 per pound, that’s $1 per pound more than last year. Turkey Dinner Kits at Costco are Item# 14882. Each kit tends to hover around 9 lbs or so, or about $36.00. Costco Turkey Dinner Meal Kit is Costco Item Number 14882 and costs $2.99 per lb, or about $25-$30 each.

What to serve with a Costco turkey dinner?

Another option is to serve the turkey dinner with your homemade cranberry sauce or gravy or to add your twists to the sides, such as topping the mashed potatoes with garlic or cheese or roasting the green beans with bacon or almonds. The possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative and make the Costco Turkey Dinner your own.

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