Are Costco’s Ribs Even Better Than the Famous Rotisserie Chicken?

A this-versus-that debate is no stranger to those of us in the food world, but when it comes to Costco, I don't think I've ever heard anyone make even a mild attempt to rival the popularity of the store's famous rotisserie chicken against another product in the store's prepared foods section. Until now.

There have been several articles circulating that dare to claim that Costo's ribs may be just as good as the store's famous rotisserie chicken. The internet is claiming that Costco's prepared ribs have the potential to rival, or even outshine, the rotisserie chicken. Realizing quickly that this has sparked a rather heated food world debate, and out of general curiosity sparked by the fact that I've never heard of anything matching the deliciousness of that $4.99 bird, I promptly drove to the nearest Costco and picked up my own package of ribs and a rotisserie chicken. My husband and I needed to know if they would live up to the hype, and the only way was with a side-by-side taste test showdown.

What's the Story With Costco's Prepared Ribs?

Costco's seasoned and cooked ribs are prepared in traditional St. Louis style. The ribs are the meatier cut from the belly of the hog, and are usually a bit flatter than baby back ribs, making them easier to brown. They have a nice bone to hold on to for easy dining, but with a higher amount of fat, they're meaty, extremely tender, and flavorful. Costco's ribs are generously coated with a savory dry rub made with a combination of spicy and salty flavors, and then fully cooked, packed up, and ready to eat. All you have to do is stick them in the oven on a foil-tented sheet pan for about 30 minutes, and then dig in!

If I had to break down the experience, it would go as follows:

Pros:

• The ribs are $21.00 for a main dish that fed my entire family, plus some leftovers.
• They're very flavorful, with a seasoning that is well-balanced and savory.
• The ribs were perfectly cooked and extremely tender, which surprised us because at first glance, they looked dry, and that was before they were reheated in the oven for 30 minutes.
• They have an impressive meat-to-bone ratio! These ribs are very meaty but also have a solid bone to hold onto for eating.
• They have a dry rub for those that prefer that style, rather than those coated in BBQ sauce or a sticky glaze.
• The flavor and texture stand up to those of the rotisserie chicken.
• They reheat well the next day and aren't dry, even after reheating twice.

Cons:

• If you're looking for a price that aligns closely with the $4.99 chicken, these ribs will definitely cost you more.
• They are definitely on the salty side. I would not prefer a bland seasoning, but if you're sensitive to sodium, I wouldn't indulge too much.
• If you prefer sauce-slathered ribs over a dry rub, you may not enjoy this style of preparation.

Are the Ribs at Costco a Good Deal?

Unlike the rotisserie chicken with its unwavering price of $4.99, Costco's ribs are not a deal that will force you to bring your cart to a screeching halt. However, the ribs are not overpriced either. For the quality of flavor and how tender and meaty these ribs are, I think an average of $22.00 is a fair deal when it comes to buying a fully prepared main dish that can feed my entire family, with potential leftovers for lunch or repurposing in a second dinner recipe the following day. For reference, the price of Costco's ribs is on par with similar items available at other major retail supermarkets.

Comparisons for context:

• Costco's Cooked Seasoned St. Louis Style Ribs: $21.00 for 2.63 pounds, about $7.99/pound with an average price of $22.00 per package
• ShopRite Dry Rubbed St. Louis Style Fully Cooked Hickory Smoked BBQ Ribs: $17.99 for 1.5 pounds, about $12.00/pound
• Wegmans Fully Cooked Kansas City-Style BBQ Center Cut Pork Spare Ribs: $23.99 for 2.25 pounds, about $10.75/pound
• Stop&Shop TGI Fridays Fully Cooked Pork Baby Back Ribs With Sweet Carolina Sauce: $10.00 flat rate for 1.5 pounds
• Mighty Quinn's Full Rack of St. Louis Style Pork Spare Ribs: $39.50 (according to a Mighty Quinn's location near me)

So, Are Costco's Ribs Really Better Than the Rotisserie Chicken?

You smell the waft of roasting chicken upon entering Costco and see the slowly rotating spit as the skin reaches golden perfection. And at about 3 pounds for $4.99, it's a hard deal to beat—the cherry on top of this famous Costco product. Packages of pre-cooked racks of ribs are located in the same section, and in the case of my nearest Costco, on the same heated shelving as the chicken. It's as though this divide was inevitable! The thing is, these are two very delicious, yet quite different chicken and pork products. So here's a breakdown:

• Price goes to chicken: At $4.99, versus $21.00 for the ribs, there's no question that the chicken is an exponentially better deal.
• Tender meat goes to the ribs: The chicken meat is tender, but it's that perfectly roasted golden exterior that gives the interior a lot more juiciness. The exterior of the ribs is dry because of the dry rub, but we found the meat of the ribs to be much more tender than the chicken meat. Chicken just tends to be dryer than pork due to a slightly lower amount of fat content, so this did not come as much of a surprise.
• Flavor is a tie: Both items are packed with flavor. It just depends on your personal preference. If you prefer a leaner yet still tender protein, savory chicken, and enjoy eating the skin of a roasted chicken, the rotisserie is for you. If you like saltier foods with a slightly higher fat content, an extra punch of flavor using different spices, and the very slightest hint of heat, I'd opt for the ribs.
• Reheating goes to the ribs: The chicken dries out more than the ribs when reheated. That could present an issue since both precooked meals often require reheating if you purchase them ahead of time. I reheated the ribs twice and they remained very tender. By the second reheat, the chicken was simply too dry for our liking. I wound up transforming it into a mayonnaise-based chicken salad.

Overall, if I had to select a winner, I would stick with the iconic rotisserie chicken because of the price. The ribs are a close second that we will definitely purchase again, and if I could call a tie between the two, I would feel confident with the decision!

Do These Ribs Live Up to the Hype?

When it comes to flavor, meatiness, and maintaining quality when reheated to enjoy again as leftovers or repurposed meals for like a rib sandwich or pork hash, Costco's ribs did not disappoint at all. They are not sold at a jaw-dropping price, but they are on par with other premade supermarket ribs, and I don't know how much better prepared they would be elsewhere. These ribs are delicious.

Costco's pre-cooked ribs definitely deserve a spot on your grocery shopping radar, as well as a shot at being the star of the dinner table one night this week. They may not be $4.99 like the rotisserie chicken, but at an average of $22.00, they can still feed a family, are worth the price, and definitely live up to the hype.