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Recipes by Cost Per Serving

Every recipe, ranked from cheapest to priciest. If your entire dinner costs less than a Costco food court combo, you've won.

This index covers every recipe in the collection, sorted by cost per serving. Prices are based on Costco ingredient costs at the time of writing and will vary by location and season — but the relative rankings should hold up.

Under $1 Per Serving

The "did that really just cost less than a dollar?" tier.

Recipe Category Cost/Serving Servings
Lemonade Concentrate Drinks $0.40 16
Churros Costco Copycats $0.42 12
Agua Fresca Drinks $0.50 8
Cold Brew Concentrate Drinks $0.50 8
Granola Bars Snacks $0.50 16
Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie Costco Copycats $0.50 12
Rice Krispie Treats Desserts $0.25 24
Sheet Cake Costco Copycats $0.50 48
Peanut Butter Cookies Desserts $0.50 24
Egg Muffin Cups Meal Prep $0.75 12
Pumpkin Pie Costco Copycats $0.75 12
Blueberry Muffins Costco Copycats $0.75 12
Scones Costco Copycats $0.75 8
Cinnamon Coffee Cake Costco Copycats $0.75 12
Triple Chocolate Loaf Costco Copycats $0.75 10
Banana Bread Desserts $0.75 10
Bruschetta Appetizers $0.75 12
Spanakopita Costco Copycats $0.35/piece 36
Scallion Pancakes Costco Copycats $0.50 4
Turkey Provolone Pinwheels Costco Copycats $0.50/pinwheel 20
Brownies Costco Copycats $0.50 16
Egg Rolls Costco Copycats $0.60/roll 20
Cinnamon Rolls Costco Copycats $0.75/roll 12
Danishes Costco Copycats $0.75/each 8
Mini Quiche Tray Costco Copycats $0.75/each 24

$1–2 Per Serving

The sweet spot. Real meals for pocket change.

Recipe Category Cost/Serving Servings
Apple Crisp Desserts $1.00 8
Hummus & Veggie Cups Snacks $1.00 8
Costco Hot Dog Costco Copycats $1.00 8
Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos Appetizers $1.00 12
Cookie Skillet Desserts $1.00 8
Pizza Bagels Snacks $1.00 12
Street Corn Dip Appetizers $1.00 10
Berry Protein Pancakes Meal Prep $1.25 6
Chocolate Lava Cakes Desserts $1.25 6
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Soups $1.25 6
Overnight Oats Meal Prep $1.25 5
Iced Chai Latte Drinks $0.75 4
Mango Lassi Drinks $1.25 4
Mango Smoothie Costco Copycats $1.25 4
Spinach Artichoke Dip Appetizers $1.25 12
Berry Smoothie Drinks $1.50 4
Soup Dumplings Appetizers $1.50 6
Pepperoni Pizza Costco Copycats $1.50 8
Tuxedo Mousse Cake Costco Copycats $1.25 16
Potato Soup Soups $1.50 8
Corn Chowder Soups $1.50 8
Broccoli Crunch Salad Salads $1.50 8
Berry Sundae Costco Copycats $1.50 6
Breakfast Burritos Meal Prep $1.50 12
Breakfast Casserole Feeding a Crowd $1.50 12
Buffalo Chicken Dip Appetizers $1.50 8
Butternut Squash Soup Soups $1.50 6
No-Bake Cheesecake Desserts $1.50 12
Trail Mix Snacks $1.50 12
Vegetable Fried Rice Weeknight Dinners $1.50 4
Chicken Noodle Soup Soups $1.75 8
Chicken Quesadillas Rotisserie Chicken $1.75 6
Berry Crumble Desserts $1.75 8
Mac and Cheese Feeding a Crowd $1.75 10
Minestrone Soups $1.75 8
Shakshuka Weeknight Dinners $1.75 4
Chocolate Croissants Costco Copycats $1.00/each 8
Almond Croissants Costco Copycats $1.25/each 6
Six-Layer Dip Costco Copycats $1.25 12
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Costco Copycats $1.50 8
Tomato Basil Soup Costco Copycats $1.50 8
Tteokbokki Costco Copycats $1.50 4
Loaded Baked Potatoes Costco Copycats $1.75 6
Chicken Fried Rice Rotisserie Chicken $1.88 4

$2–3 Per Serving

The "this is a legitimately good dinner" tier.

Recipe Category Cost/Serving Servings
Caesar Salad Salads $1.75 6
Chicken Caesar Wraps Rotisserie Chicken $2.00 6
Italian Wedding Soup Soups $2.00 8
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup Slow Cooker $2.00 8
Chicken Tortilla Soup Rotisserie Chicken $2.00 8
French Toast Casserole Meal Prep $2.00 8
Pizza Dough Costco Copycats $2.00 8
Turkey & Provolone Sandwich Costco Copycats $2.00 6
Greek Salad Salads $2.00 6
Grilled Chicken Thighs Grilling $2.00 6
Buffalo Chicken Wraps Snacks $2.00 6
Quinoa Power Salad Salads $2.00 6
Sheet Pan Sausage & Peppers Weeknight Dinners $2.00 5
Taco Pasta Feeding a Crowd $2.00 10
Tres Leches Cake Desserts $2.00 12
Asian Sesame Noodle Salad Salads $2.25 6
Carnitas Feeding a Crowd $2.25 12
Chicken Salad Rotisserie Chicken $2.25 6
Chicken Wild Rice Soup Soups $2.25 8
Dump-and-Go Chili Weeknight Dinners $2.25 8
White Chicken Chili Slow Cooker $2.25 8
Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches Meal Prep $2.33 6
Pesto Chicken Pasta Weeknight Dinners $2.33 6
Chicken Alfredo (Deli) Costco Copycats $2.50 6
Chicken Pot Pie (Deli) Costco Copycats $2.50 8
Honey Garlic Pork Slow Cooker $2.50 8
Yakisoba Stir Fry Costco Copycats $2.50 6
Classic Smash Burgers Grilling $2.50 8
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Grilling $2.50 6
Bibigo Dumpling Stir-Fry Weeknight Dinners $2.50 4
Chicken Burrito Bowls Meal Prep $2.50 6
Chicken Lettuce Wraps Weeknight Dinners $2.50 4
Chicken Salad Croissants Snacks $2.50 6
Chickpea Pasta Marinara Weeknight Dinners $2.50 4
Combo Calzone Costco Copycats $2.50 6
One-Pot Lasagna Weeknight Dinners $2.50 6
Chicken Pot Pie Rotisserie Chicken $2.50 8
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Feeding a Crowd $2.50 12
Southwest Chicken Salad Salads $2.50 4
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Weeknight Dinners $2.50 6
Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken Weeknight Dinners $2.50 6
Baked Ziti Feeding a Crowd $2.75 10
BBQ Chicken Pizza Rotisserie Chicken $2.75 4
Chicken Alfredo Pasta Weeknight Dinners $2.75 6
Chicken Tikka Masala Slow Cooker $2.75 6
Sheet Pan Fajitas Weeknight Dinners $2.75 6
Chicken Caesar Salad Costco Copycats $2.00 6
Clam Chowder Costco Copycats $2.00 8
Gimbap Costco Copycats $2.00 4
Meatloaf Costco Copycats $2.00 8
Quiche Lorraine Costco Copycats $2.00 8
Tourtière Costco Copycats $2.00 8
Beef Chili Costco Copycats $2.25 10
Chinese Chicken Salad Costco Copycats $2.25 6
Cochinita Pibil Costco Copycats $2.25 10
Chicken Karaage Costco Copycats $2.50 6
Chicken Street Tacos Costco Copycats $2.50 8
Char Siu Costco Copycats $2.50 8
Enchilada Bake Costco Copycats $2.50 8
French Onion Soup Costco Copycats $2.50 6
Japanese Curry Costco Copycats $2.50 6
Ravioli Lasagna Costco Copycats $2.50 8
Shepherd's Pie Costco Copycats $2.50 8
Stuffed Bell Peppers Costco Copycats $2.75 6
Chicken Enchiladas Rotisserie Chicken $2.90 5

$3–5 Per Serving

Weeknight dinners that feel like going out.

Recipe Category Cost/Serving Servings
Korean BBQ Bulgogi Costco Copycats $3.00 6
Italian Beef Slow Cooker $3.00 8
Birria Tacos Kit Costco Copycats $3.00 8
Beef Stew Slow Cooker $3.00 8
French Dip Sandwiches Slow Cooker $3.00 8
Butter Chicken Weeknight Dinners $3.00 6
Caprese Salad Salads $3.00 4
Charcuterie Board Appetizers $3.00 10
Chicken Bake Costco Copycats $3.00 4
Costco Meatloaf Dinner Feeding a Crowd $3.00 8
Greek Chicken Meal Prep Meal Prep $3.00 6
Ravioli Bake Weeknight Dinners $3.00 6
Thai Green Curry Weeknight Dinners $3.00 4
Chicken & Waffles Costco Copycats $3.50 4
Tempura Shrimp Tacos Costco Copycats $3.50 6
Acai Bowl Costco Copycats $3.50 4
Birria Tacos Weeknight Dinners $3.50 8
Chicken Parmesan Weeknight Dinners $3.50 4
Fish Tacos Weeknight Dinners $3.50 4
Gyro Bowls Weeknight Dinners $3.50 6
Mississippi Pot Roast Slow Cooker $3.50 8
Pad Thai Weeknight Dinners $3.50 4
Bulgogi Rice Bowls Weeknight Dinners $3.67 6
Coconut Curry Shrimp Weeknight Dinners $4.00 4
Street Taco Bar Feeding a Crowd $4.00 10
Baby Back Ribs Grilling $4.50 6
Crab Cakes Costco Copycats $3.00 8
Korean Fried Chicken Costco Copycats $3.00 6
Gyro Meat Costco Copycats $3.00 6
Gyudon Costco Copycats $3.00 4
Chicken Marsala Costco Copycats $3.50 6
Chicken Wings Costco Copycats $3.50 6
Shrimp Scampi Pasta Weeknight Dinners $4.50 4

$5+ Per Serving

The "treat yourself" tier. Still cheaper than a restaurant.

Recipe Category Cost/Serving Servings
Smoked Tri-Tip Grilling $5.00 6
Steak Kabobs Grilling $5.00 4
Teriyaki Salmon Bowls Weeknight Dinners $5.00 4
Poke Bowls Costco Copycats $5.00 4
Beef Short Ribs Costco Copycats $5.50 6
Garlic Butter Steak Bites Weeknight Dinners $5.50 4
Grilled Salmon Grilling $5.50 4
Salmon Milano Costco Copycats $6.00 4
Miso Glazed Salmon Weeknight Dinners $5.50 4
Korean Short Ribs Weeknight Dinners $13.00 4
Lemon Butter Salmon Weeknight Dinners $6.50 4
Seared Scallops Weeknight Dinners $8.00 4
Stuffed Salmon Costco Copycats $7.00 4
Baked Stuffed Salmon Weeknight Dinners $8.50 4

By the Numbers

  • Cheapest recipe: Lemonade Concentrate at $0.40/serving — literally cheaper than water from a vending machine
  • Most expensive: Baked Stuffed Salmon at $8.50/serving — still less than a sad airport salad
  • Average cost per serving across all recipes: ~$2.60
  • Total recipes indexed: 181
  • Recipes under $2/serving: 66
  • Recipes under $3/serving: 112

The Costco food court combo (hot dog + soda) costs $1.50. If your homemade dinner beats that per serving, you're basically a financial genius.