Hosting a party or small gathering? Costco Catering might be your best option for feeding a crowd on the cheap with ready-made party platters. Even though the Costco Catering menu has only three options these days, you can end up paying as low as $1.67 - $2.78 per person if you order one of their premade party platters.
But picking up a Costco party tray will require a little planning on your part, since the process isn't as simple as ordering off the Costco Food Court menu. You'll actually need to place your catering order in-person, in advance, which is a major difference between Costco and competitors like Sam's Club.
And even though they don't have baked goods on the catering menu, I can teach you a few of my Costco Bakery secrets, plus recommend some Costco premade meals worth the cost (like their prepared salads and mac 'n' cheese!).
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What is Costco Catering?
Costco Catering is a service available to all Costco members that lets you place advance orders for party platters. There are only three party platter options as of 2024 — a fruit, meat, and cheese platter; a shrimp platter; and a sprouted-grain sandwich platter.
To place your catering order, you'll have to fill out a paper form at Costco at least 24 hours in advance.
How to Order Costco Catering
First things first — you can't order Costco party trays online, even in 2024. They make you place your order in-person by filling out a form in the Costco Deli. It's a pretty similar process to how you order Costco sheet cakes from the Costco Bakery.
How to place your order in-store:
Go to the Deli or Bakery and look for the in-store kiosk that says "Order Party Platters Here" or "Deli Order Selection."
Fill out the form and include your pickup date (they need at least 24 hours' advance notice).
Slip your form into the slot on the submission box.
Return to the Deli at the designated time to pick up your order.
Pay for your order in the regular checkout lines.
TIP: If you don't want to trek over to Costco to place your order, try calling your local store instead. Choose the option for the Deli department, explain what you need, and they'll most likely accept your order over the phone.
What Foods Can You Get Through Costco Catering?
The Costco Catering menu is small but mighty — there are only three types of party platters you can pick from as of 2024.
According to a Costco employee I spoke with, their most popular party platter is the Fruit, Meat, and Cheese Platter — and that's also one of the best values if you look at the cost per serving. The second-most popular option is the Shrimp Platter.
Just keep in mind that the Fruit, Meat & Cheese Platter doesn't include crackers, so you'll need to buy those separately.
Current Costco Catering Menu:
Fruit, Meat & Cheese Platter ($39.99, feeds 18 - 24): Includes slices of Italian salami, soppressata, red and green grapes, aged cheddar cubes and aged Gouda cubes.
Shrimp Platter ($39.99, feeds 20 - 24): Includes 3.5 pounds of shrimp, plus lemon wedges and three containers of cocktail sauce.
Artisan Bread Sandwich Platter ($49.99, feeds 18 - 20): Includes roasted chicken, salami, and roast beef sandwiches, topped with slow-roasted tomatoes, Swiss and cheddar cheeses, garlic herb aioli. Includes a container of Grillo's pickle chips.
KCL TIP: If you need a few more items than what Costco Catering offers, I recommend picking up some ready-made extras (like Costco's chocolate chip cookies or a premade salad) while you're at the warehouse. While these items might not be as freshly prepared as your catering order (check the "packed on" date), they're good in a pinch.
So Is Costco Catering Actually a Good Deal?
For game-day munchies, family birthdays, PTA meetings, or other laid-back events, Costco Catering is a solid option if you don't mind making a trip to the warehouse twice (once to place your order, and another time to pick it up).
While their party platters consist of finger food fare — and they won't deliver to you — you can feed a crowd with freshly made food for a fraction of the cost you'd pay at a restaurant or from a private caterer. Just don't expect to be able to customize your order.
But when I did the math on their cost per serving, they don't actually beat the price per serving of party platters at Sam's Club, their other major competitor. Though, the types of party platters offered by the two warehouses are slightly different. Check it out:
Cost per serving with Costco platters:
Cost per serving with Sam's Club platters:
Frequently Asked Questions About Costco Catering
Do I need a membership for Costco Catering?
Yes, you need a Costco membership to order catering items (you have to show your membership card at the entrance when you go to place your order, and another time when you pick it up). They also ask you to include your membership number on the catering order form.
Does Costco still have pinwheel sandwiches?
Sadly, not anymore! Costco used to have a few more options on the catering menu — like the fan-favorite Chicken & Swiss Pinwheel Platter ($39.99), a Croissant Sandwich Platter ($39.99), and a Meat & Cheese Platter ($26.99) — but these options disappeared from the catering menu at the end of 2023, according to shoppers.
So, no more pinwheel sandwiches, and no meat and cheese platter in 2024. The pinwheel sandwiches were replaced by the Artisan Bread Sandwich Platter (which costs $10 more), and the meat and cheese platter was replaced with the Fruit, Meat & Cheese Platter (a whopping $13 more).
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