Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (2024)

HomeRecipesCopycat Recipes

copycatCreated with Sketch.Copycat Recipes
  • Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (1)by Alyona Demyanchuk
  • Published September 5, 2018
  • 35 comments
  • Jump to Recipe
  • Jump to FAQ

This Costco Chicken Bake recipe tastes like the chicken bake you’d order at Costco! Homemade dough is wrapped around grilled chicken pieces, cheese, bacon, and creamy dressing! You don’t have to stand in line to get one anymore!

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (2)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure.

Costco Chicken Bake

Costco sells these Stromboli-style chicken bakes at their food courts and you can make them at home from scratch! The good thing is, you can mix and match and go with store-bought dough or make it all homemade! At our house, we roll and bake the dough but the dressing is store-bought! Take shortcuts where ever you need to!

As far as making chicken bakes at home, you can make your own grilled chicken pieces or even grate your own Italian cheese blend! You are the cook of the house and can calculate what it will cost you. For that reason, homemade pizza dough is easier to make, than running to the store for me. If you enjoy copycat recipes try our Panera Bread Frontega Chicken Panini or Outback Steakhouse Bread!

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (3)

Homemade Pizza Dough

The dough for this Costco chicken bake is made from a homemade pizza dough recipe that was inspired by aNew York Pizza maker who shared a 50 lb recipe in bakers percentages! I was able to scale down the recipe and added some sugar to create the closest Costco chicken Bake Copycat! I don’t know if anything gets closer to this! I’ve noticed that refrigerated pizza dough creates those surface bubbles you would see on the chicken bakes sold in the food court. If you make it at home, you at least have an idea of the nutrition, as you know what goes into your food! The dough is easy to make but requires fermentation. Feel free to cut the instructions of the whole homemade process and use store-bought pizza dough as the Kitchn did in theirCostco chicken bake recipe.

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (4)

How to make a Costco Chicken Bake:

FAQ

Is a Costco Chicken Bake Healthy?

The Costco Chicken bakes are high in calories. However, if you know what’s going inside and make it from scratch then, perhaps that will be a healthier option. As far as nutrition, the Costco Chicken Bakes are high in Carbohydrates so if you are on a Keto diet you may want to pass.

Are Costco Chicken Bakes precooked?

Costco sells packaged frozen chicken bakes in limited locations. You can purchase the Costco chicken bakes directly from Costco’s website. If they sell them frozen, I am convinced they thaw and bake them in the kitchen daily.

What’s Inside the Costco Chicken Bake?

  • Chicken- According to the ingredient label, Costco uses Chicken breast strips with rib meat and a water solution. To me, that sounds like freezer-grilled chicken breast. Make your own freezer grilled chicken breast strips with this recipe.
  • Bacon– Cured bacon. That’s obviously been cooked. Check out my ultimate favorite way to make freezer bacon.
  • Cheese– Mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses are used among the cheeses. I’m assuming the Mozzarella and Provolone are used for the filling and the Parmesan could be used for the top. I personally only used Mozzarella for the filling and have used both Parmesan and Mozzarella for the top before. Final verdict; opt for Mozzarella for the top it creates a crustier top, whereas Parmesan is usually grated finer thus creating finer texture on top. Or grate Parmesan cheese bigger to get bigger chunks of cheese on top.
  • Caesars Dressing-Probably a creamy kind. Look for these ingredients because these are the exact ones from the ingredient list soybean oil, water, corn vinegar, parmesan cheese (partially skimmed milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), whole egg and egg yolks, salt, sugar, distilled vinegar, xanthan gum, anchovy, dehydrated garlic, lemon juice concentrate, dehydrated onion, sodium benzoate, artificial caramel color, calcium disodium EDTA.) I have used ranch dressing with excellent results so that can make for a great alternative if you are not a fan of the Caesars dressing.
  • Green onions– They are claimed to be in the chicken bakes according to the ingredient list but I left them out. I can’t really recall a distinctive green onion flavor in the Costco versions so I don’t really think it’s crucial to have them.

Ingredients Needed to make them at Home:

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (5)

FILLING:
    • 1 1/2 cups chicken breast strips (freezer kind, thawed)
    • 1 1/2 shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
    • 4 strips of cooked bacon, crumbled
    • 1/3 cup creamy Caesars dressing (could substitute creamy ranch)
    • 1/4 cup heavy cream

How do you make Costco Chicken Bakes at Home?

The chicken bakes from Costco are made from their signature dough and are filled with the classic chicken bake filling. The filling includes; chicken, bacon, cheese, a creamy Caesars dressing, and green onions. To replicate this at home, use a pizza dough, ready to use grilled chicken pieces, bacon bits, pre-grated cheese, prepared dressing, and onions if you have any, (they can be omitted.)

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (6)

  1. Step 1:Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  2. Step 2:Cut pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out each piece to an 11 by 8-inch rectangle. Set aside.
  3. Step 3:Combine all the filling ingredients, RESERVING 1/2 cup of mozzarella, 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and 3 tbsp of creamy Caesar dressing for the topping.
  4. Step 4:Place 1 cup of filling across the center of each piece of dough. Slightly fold in the sides and start rolling dough from the bottom up. Pinch seams and place them onto a greased pan.
  5. Step 5:Brush tops with reserved dressing and sprinkle with reserved cheeses. Bake for 20 minutes on the bottom rack.

How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough For Costco Chicken Bakes:

For a complete tutorial on the homemade pizza dough recipe I used for these Chicken Bakes, check out the clickable tutorial. Follow the recipe and use one portion from the recipe (the recipe makes 4 pizzas.)

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (7)

Can I use store-bought pizza dough?

Yes, store-bought pizza dough can be used if you don’t make the homemade pizza dough. However, I do think you’ll get more from making your own.

Can you freeze Homemade Chicken Bakes?

Since Costco sells frozen chicken bakes I do think it’s possible. Furthermore, it seems to me they are partially baked before being individually wrapped. So, if you’re making homemade dough, bake for a 10-minute period then cool and freeze. Baking time for frozen chicken bakes takes around 35 minutes in an oven and 4 minutes in the microwave coming from the freezer.

Tips for Chicken Bakes:

  1. Use store-bought pizza dough for homemade!
  2. Make your own Freezer Grilled Chicken Pieces!
  3. If you don’t have Caesars Dressing use ranch dressing!
  4. To serve a crowd make my Pizza Dough Recipe and quadruple the filling!

More Articles on Costco’s Food Court

Copycat Costco Chicken Bake Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Chicken Bakes

Author: Alyona Demyanchuk

ThisCostco Chicken Bakerecipe tastes like the chicken bake you'd order at Costco! A homemade dough is wrapped around grilled chicken pieces, cheese, bacon and a creamy dressing! You don't have to stand in line to get one anymore!

Ingredients

DOUGH:

  • 1 lb pizza dough

FILLING:

  • 9 oz grilled chicken breast strips

  • 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

  • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided

  • 4 strips cooked bacon chopped

  • 1/3 cup creamy Caesar dressing

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (9)

    Pre-heat oven 450°F. Lightly grease a pizza pan. Cut the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into an 11x8-inch rectangle.

  • Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (10)

    Combine all the filling ingredients, RESERVING 1/2 cup of mozzarella, 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and 3 Tbsp of Caesars dressing for the topping. Place 1 cup of filling across the center of each piece of dough.

  • Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (11)

    Fold in the sides and roll jelly-roll style pinching seams.

  • Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (12)

    Place all the Chicken bakes onto a pizza pan and brush tops with the reserved dressing and cheeses. Bake 20 minutes on bottom rack.

Notes

NOTE: 1 pound of pizza dough is equivalent to 1 (1lb & 6oz) ball of dough from my pizza dough recipe.

  • Chicken breast pieces: I like to coarsely chop the ready to use Perdue chicken breast pieces from the bag as some chunks are huge.
  • Use creamy ranch dressing in place of Caesars dressing.
  • To freeze chicken Bakes: Follow the instructions given only reducing the baking time to 10 minutes. Cool completely then wrap each chicken bake in foil and freeze. To heat bake frozen in a preheated 400°F oven for 35-40 minutes or microwave on high for 4 minutes.
  • For extra crisp Bottoms: brush bottoms with creamy dressing instead of oil.

Nutrition per serving

Serving: 1chicken bakeCalories: 777kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 44gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1862mgPotassium: 363mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 761IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 487mgIron: 4mg

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (13)

Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is in the chicken bake at Costco? ›

Product Details. Foster Farms chicken breast strips, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan cheeses, smoky bacon, creamy Caesar dressing and green onions in a hand-rolled crust.

Why doesn t Costco sell chicken bakes anymore? ›

The original chicken bakes were once removed from menus briefly back in 2020 due to inventory issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately for the few who enjoyed the menu item's cousin filled with seasoned beef, it doesn't seem likely that the carne asada bake will also be making a return.

What seasoning does Costco use on their rotisserie chicken? ›

It's worth noting that Costco calls the dish "Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken" and has the "seasoning" ingredients listed on the label: salt, sodium phosphates, hydrolyzed casein, modified cornstarch, sugar, dextrose, chicken broth, isolated soy protein lecithin and mono-and-diglycerides.

Is Costco chicken bake healthy? ›

Costco's chicken bake is full of unhealthy calories

"Financially for the business, the item itself is probably a 52 percent markup above cost of goods, but they are so labor intensive that it doesn't really make sense," she explained. "But many of the food court items exist just to get you in the door.

What are the ingredients in Kirkland chicken bakes? ›

Filling Ingredients: Chicken Breast Strips With Rib Meat [chicken Breast With Rib Meat, Water, Isolated Soy Protein Product (isolated Soy Protein, Modified Food Starch, Starch, Carrageenan, Lecithin), Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Sugar, Dextrose, Flavorings]; Caesar Dressing [soybean Oil, Water, Corn Vinegar, Parmesan ...

Can you get a chicken bake from Costco without a membership? ›

Since early 2020, Costco has required a membership card to buy anything at the food court, including chicken bakes, barbecue beef brisket sandwiches, ice cream and churros.

What is the Costco chicken scandal? ›

Costco breeds and slaughters approximately 100 million chickens per year. The shareholders alleged that Costco—which has near total control over the genetics, lives, and deaths of the birds it sends to these contract growers—has abdicated its legal obligation to protect the animals.

Did the chicken bake at Costco change? ›

Chicken Bake

According to a Reddit user, they used to be made fresh in the food court, but "now they just come in frozen and are thawed out and baked." Consequently, customers have observed that the chicken bake is not just smaller and drier, but also more costly, with a price increase of $1 in July 2022.

Can you air fry a Costco chicken bake? ›

The Air Fryer Cuts The Cooking Time In Half

Since most air fryers are relatively compact, Erin Johnson says the cooking time for this homemade Costco food court fare is approximately six minutes, which is just under half of the cooking time you would need when using a traditional oven.

Why is Costco rotisserie chicken pink inside? ›

Often meat of younger birds shows the most pink because their thinner skins permit oven gases to reach the flesh. Older animals have a fat layer under their skin, giving the flesh added protection from the gases. Older poultry may be pink in spots where fat is absent from the skin.

Does Costco inject anything into their rotisserie chickens? ›

Many of the ingredients found on the label of a Costco rotisserie chicken are injected into the flesh of the bird. This is typically done to add flavor.

Why is Costco rotisserie chicken so salty? ›

The reason Costco's chicken is so juicy is because of a salt solution pumped inside, which is basically like super-brining. That makes the meat moist and evenly seasoned every time, delivering a consistent—though there has been some Reddit uproar about weird-tasting chicken lately in some states—tasting chicken.

What is the healthiest Costco food? ›

7 Healthy Costco Foods
  • Ruta Maya Organic Whole Bean Coffee.
  • Go Raw Sprouted Organic Pumpkin Seeds.
  • Kirkland Signature Organic Diced Tomatoes.
  • Kirkland Signature Organic Quinoa.
  • Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna.
  • Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, Unflavored.
  • Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy Almond Butter.
6 days ago

How much does a chicken bake cost at Costco? ›

Chicken Bake, $3.99: The chicken bake is a lot of food for less than $4. It includes chicken breast, cheese, bacon, and Caesar dressing wrapped in bread.

Is a Costco chicken bake a calzone? ›

If you haven't had the luxury of eating one, the chicken bake is like an oblong-shaped calzone stuffed with grilled chicken breast, bacon, cheese, and its special ingredient: Caesar dressing. It might sound like an odd pairing, but trust us, the Caesar dressing elevates the taste and texture of the chicken bakes.

Can you cook a Costco chicken bake in an air fryer? ›

Cook in airfryer for 18-22 minutes at 190C. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.

How many calories in a Kirkland chicken bake? ›

There are 540 calories in 1 piece (227 g) of Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 6570

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.