8 Easy Lunch Ideas We Spotted at Costco

Easy lunch ideas save time, money, and mental energy. Take it from someone who has been extremely lazy with his lunch prep—your wallet will thank you for having even the slightest bit of foresight. It’s hard to stay on top of things when you have to constantly cook at night to make your lunch for the next day, but you’ll go broke ordering lunch via Postmates every day. But you don’t have to spend your Sunday toiling over twee little bento boxes for the week to have lunch covered—you just have to fill your fridge and freezer with quick, easy lunch ideas, like the ones I found on a recent trip to Costco. These are the best easy lunches you can grab from Costco in a jiffy to save yourself (and your bank account) some grief.

Del Real Foods Birria & Cheese Pupusas

When it comes to easy lunch ideas, pupusas are a no-brainer. If you’re not familiar, they’re round pockets of masa that are filled with cheese and/or meat. Now, I haven’t tested this premise, but they appear to be virtually indestructible. You can wrap one in foil and toss it in your bag, drop it on the ground, whatever, and still have a tasty mound of corn masa, birria, and cheese to dig into for lunch. These Del Real pupusas from Costco can be cooked in the microwave, or air fryer if you’re getting fancy at home. Best of all? You can eat them by hand so you don’t have to worry about using the half-washed, crusty office silverware! Del Real makes some of Sporked‘s favorite tamales, so we believe in their pupusas, too.

Read our ranking of the best frozen tamales

Blue Hill Bay Smoked Salmon Poke Bowl

Poke bowls are an office worker’s ultimate best friend. They’re easy to order and damn delicious, but ordering out adds up. Sure, this grab-and-go poke bowl from Costco—which comes with a microwavable packet of rice, cubes of smoked salmon, poke sauce, and “spicy seasonings”—doesn’t come equipped with all the customization options that your usual takeout spot offers, but you can spend the money you would have used that delivery fee to buy accoutrements, like fried onions and frozen edamame. And you can file this one under healthy easy lunch ideas—big win.

Read our ranking of the best smoked salmon

Nathan’s Famous Coney Island Pretzel Dogs

The best part of being an adult is that no one can tell you you can’t have two or three pretzel dogs for lunch! A pretzel dog for lunch is an incredible easy lunch idea because the bun’s already attached. And they come individually wrapped so you can just take a couple with you when you’re headed out the door instead of the whole dang box. It’s a brilliant plan, honestly, and the best part is that Nathan’s hot dogs are Sporked approved because they taste so good. Just swing by the Costco snack aisle and grab an enormous bag of chips to go with them!

Read our ranking of the best pigs in a blanket

Giovanni Rana Butternut Squash Ravioli

I know. You’re like, “How is pasta one of your easy lunch ideas?” But hear me out: Rana ravioli cook in just four minutes flat. That’s less time than it takes to cook a lot of microwave meals. This girthy package of butternut squash ravioli from Costco comes with two pounds of pasta, so you’re set for at least a week. Or a little lunch here, a dinner here—you get the idea. What I like best about using butternut squash ravioli in particular is that you don’t need to add much to it before you dig in. I’d throw in a tablespoon or two of butter (depending on the size of your bowl) and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and you’re all set!

Read our ranking of the best cheese ravioli

Taylor Farms Mediterranean Crunch Chopped Salad Kit

A salad kit is a quintessential “I want a salad but I don’t want to chop anything” sort of easy lunch. That’s why they exist! For the novices, there is a proper technique for turning a bagged salad into a desk lunch, but don’t worry though, Sporked’s Jordan Myrick has got you covered so you won’t look a fool! Snag a two-bag pack of this Mediterranean chopped salad with all sorts of crunchy greens, feta cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette at Costco to get you through the week.

Read our roundup of the best salad kits from our taste tests

Don Lee Farms Shredded Chicken Crispy Tacos

The future of easy lunch ideas is here, and it comes in the form of crispy chicken tacos that you can heat up in the air fryer! What will they think of next?! No longer do you have to leave the house for your midday street taco fix. Install a salsa bar and tortilla chip warmer in your house, and the only time you’ll have to go outside is to stop by Costco to grab more food!

Read our ranking of the best frozen taquitos

Mason Dixie Chicken & Waffle Sandwich

This might be my new go-to easy lunch from Costco. I am a little biased though. I often sleep past 10:30 a.m. on the weekends and wake up with a hankering for a McGriddle. Why don’t I just wake up earlier and actually get a McGriddle? Why do I only crave a McGriddle on the weekends? Because life is hard, that’s why! You know what is easier though? Getting a freaking eight-pack of chicken and waffle sandwiches from Costco. Then I can sleep in on the weekends and have something fun to eat on workdays, too.

Read our ranking of the best breakfast sandwiches