This Might Be The Heartiest Prepared Family Meal In Costco's Deli (And It's Under $15)

Costco's prepared food section has something for everyone, though people do have their opinions on what the best and worst premade meals are. Regardless, they're always extremely convenient and usually involve baking something in the foil pan it comes packaged in, like with Costco's popular enchilada bake. One meal kit that's always in the cooler is the Kirkland Signature Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef and Rice, which includes six bell peppers stuffed with a raw beef and rice mixture that's topped with a bit of shredded cheese.

It's one of the heartier, more filling options in the cooler, unlike the pasta items which tend not fill you up as much. Plus, they cost less than $15 for all six stuffed peppers, which in Costco terms is a screaming deal (just compare that price to some of the other premade meals). Each pepper is pretty much a square meal in and of itself considering a single stuffed pepper contains a vegetable (the pepper), some protein from the beef, and carbs in the form of rice. 

There's one key element missing from Kirkland Signature Stuffed Bell Peppers, however, and that would be sauce. If a lone stuffed bell pepper doesn't sound appealing to you, you're in the right place to remedy that. Costco stocks several tomato sauces, like high-quality Rao's along with Carbone's spicy vodka sauce, which Redditors gush over. (There's also a cheaper red sauce that people enjoy, which is Victoria brand.) Just grab a jar of tomato sauce, pour some beneath the bell peppers before baking, and you're all set.

If you need a side, I'd recommend a simple salad. Again, you're in the right spot for that, and even in the same department. All you need to do is grab the family-sized Caesar salad kit which is also located in the deli section. These come with a handy bed of romaine lettuce, lemon wedges, garlic and cheese croutons, shredded parmesan, and the most important part: two packets of Caesar dressing. Now this is a complete meal, something that should tide a hungry family over — or leave you with plenty of leftovers. Some customers on Reddit use the stuffed peppers for meal prep too, which comes in handy for a quick office lunch.