4 Easter Meals From Costco That Are Cheaper Than Takeout

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent a combined $24 billion on Easter in 2023, a record high, with the average family shelling out just over $192.

Nearly nine out of 10 planned to spend some portion of that on food, with decorations, candy, baskets, eggs, dye and the rest all adding to the tally.

With so many expenses, Costco members planning a feast would be wise to make their dollars count by purchasing classic Easter fare in quantity to reduce the cost per person to less than they’d spend ordering takeout.

If you have a Costco membership, you know and probably love the wholesale club’s biggest claim to culinary fame.

“One of the best deals at Costco is their rotisserie chicken,” said shopping strategist Alex Zaman, founder of CostcoPickz.com. “It’s cheaper than most takeout options but also flavorful and versatile. Paired with their affordable fresh produce and a baguette from the bakery section, it can easily be turned into a delightful Easter meal for the family.”

The delectable roasted birds are baked into the Costco brand. The company said it sold 137 million of them in 2023 — and depending on where you live, they’re cheaper than a Big Mac. At $4.99 a pop, they’re great if you’re an Easter host on a budget, but bad if you’re a chicken.

Ham is the undisputed king of Easter dinner, and with a Costco membership, you can feed a small army without having to cook if you buy a Heritage Berkshire bone-in spiral ham — and what a ham it is.

Costco writes, “While commodity hogs have been genetically engineered to grow fast and lean, Berkshire hogs have remained virtually unchanged. Berkshire pork contains more intramuscular fat (marbling) than any other breed of pork and is scientifically proven to be juicier. Both traits contribute to its remarkable tenderness. The flavor of Berkshire pork is more pronounced, mildly nutty with a balanced profile.”

It’s hand rubbed with spices then slow smoked before being frozen and shipped. A third party verifies that the pigs were humanely raised, vegetarian fed and free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Each ham weighs eight to 10 pounds and costs $99.99.

According to Food52, you should plan for a half-pound per person with a bone-in ham, which means you can feed 16 to 20 people for $5 to $6.25 per person. That might be enough for a small order of mozzarella sticks at your favorite take-out spot, but probably not.

When it comes to Easter meals, ham snags all the headlines, but it does not have exclusive rights to the center position on the holiday dinner table. In many households, roasted duck is the star of the show, and the legs are always the most delectable part.

The problem is that there are only two of them — unless you have a Costco membership.

This Easter, you can pick up 16 half-pound duck legs for a combined eight pounds of fall-off-the-bone goodness. Each one comes from USDA Grade A ducks that were humanely raised without growth hormones.

They’re shipped frozen in dry ice so you can freeze whatever you don’t plan to use and, best of all, they’re fully cooked and seasoned — just thaw, heat and serve. The cost is $179.99, or $11.25 per person, which is cheaper than a single order of General Tso’s chicken at most Chinese joints.

Lambs factor heavily into Easter’s religious symbolism — and they’re also delicious, making lamb chops a perfect and classic main course for the spring holiday.

According to The Mediterranean Dish, you should plan for two to three chops per person. With nine chops per rack, one will feed three to four people.

But at Costco, it’s go big or go home, so you’ll be buying not one but six Rastelli’s 24-ounce racks for a combined nine pounds of lamb. Like the duck legs, you can freeze whatever you don’t serve and also like the duck, the free-range, purely grass-fed Australian lambs were humanely raised and free of antibiotics or growth hormones.

All nine pounds can be yours for $199.99, which is $150 off the regular price of $349.99. Presuming each rack serves only a conservatively estimated three people, that’s about $11 per person. According to the Motley Fool, that’s not enough to buy a pizza even in Oklahoma, the cheapest pizza state in America, where a single pie costs $12.70.