Costco is a must-have membership if youre shopping for a big family or need specific items in bulk, but the grocery chain also has a popular food court. You need to be a member to shop or eat in the food court. There are different levels and prices of membership to meet different needs. Costcos food court is always buzzing with people as they wait for their orders. Pizza with pepperoni, rotisserie chicken Caesar salad, hot dogs, and, of course, the chicken bake are all things you can choose from. Members can easily visit the store, order, and then be on their merry way back home. People with full shopping carts will also wait in line at the food court to get a snack to enjoy after shopping.
Seeing as it made the number one spot on our ranking of every Costco food court item, I wanted to try the chicken bake from the food court menu and compare it to the frozen version they sell in the store. From the cheesy goodness to the crusts texture, Ill compare the two products in terms of flavor, texture, size, appearance, cost, and nutrition to see if one is better. Keep reading, as Ill taste-test both and determine if theres one you should skip.
The chicken bake from Costco has become a famous food court item for the well-known warehouse chain. Those who like to shop on the go love this tasty calzone-like item wrapped in hand-rolled crust that they can take with them. How much is a Costco chicken bake, though, since you can find them in both the food court and the freezer section?
An Overview of the Costco Chicken Bake
The classic chicken bake contains chicken breast strips, bacon pieces, a blend of mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses, and Caesar dressing. All the components get sealed up in a bread crust that’s browned to perfection. The resulting bake is doughy yet crispy, loaded with cheese, meat, and a creamy dressing taste.
It was named the number one food court item in a ranking of all the Costco options. The food court chicken bake comes hot and ready to eat. The frozen version requires heating at home, with microwave and oven instructions provided.
Costco Food Court Chicken Bake Price
If you want to grab a chicken bake during your Costco trip, head to the bustling food court area. The self-serve kiosks allow you to order a chicken bake for $3.99. This price gets you a full sized and freshly made bake hot out of the oven.
The food court chicken bake is the best value, as this large sized portion is just pennies more than the smaller frozen version. You don’t have to wait or prep anything either when ordering it hot on the spot.
Frozen Chicken Bake Price at Costco
At Costco, you can find the Kirkland Signature chicken bakes in the freezer group. A box contains 6 individually wrapped 8-ounce bakes for $13. 49. This equals $2. 25 per frozen chicken bake.
The frozen bakes are smaller in size compared to the food court version. You also have to bake the frozen variety at home, following the instructions for the microwave, oven or toaster oven. So the frozen pack works if you want the convenience of Costco chicken bakes anytime at home.
Chicken Bake Size Comparison
You’ll notice a difference in size between the food court and frozen options. The fresh baked food court chicken bake is a lot bigger, but it doesn’t say how much it weighs.
Each frozen chicken bake weighs 8 ounces. For comparison, the chicken bake from the food court is thought to weigh about 16 ounces, which is about twice as much. If you order the bigger baked version, you get more for your money.
Chicken Bake Variations at Costco
The traditional chicken bake described above is the standard offering at Costco food courts nationwide. But some locations may offer limited time variations or seasonal versions. For example:
- BBQ Chicken Bake – topped with onions, bbq sauce and cheddar cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Bake – adds Frank’s Redhot buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing
Check your local food court menu boards to see if any special chicken bakes are currently available But the classic Caesar chicken bake remains the staple,
Nutrition Information Comparison
When looking at nutrition, the food court chicken bake unsurprisingly packs a higher calorie and sodium punch:
- Food court chicken bake (16 oz): 840 calories, 2,650mg sodium
- Frozen chicken bake (8 oz): 540 calories, 1,370mg sodium
The food court one also has more fat, carbs and protein since it’s larger in size. So if you’re watching your sodium intake, the take-home frozen version may be better suited.
Freezer Aisle Alternatives to Kirkland Chicken Bakes
Besides the Kirkland Signature chicken bakes in the Costco freezer section, you can also find similar options from other brands:
- Foster Farms chicken bakes
- El Monterey chicken bakes
- Marie Callender’s chicken pot pies
The key difference is that these all come in a pot pie-style dish, not enclosed in a roll. But they can still satisfy the craving for a chicken filled pastry at home. Check for any offerings on coupon or instant savings.
Tips for Enjoying Costco Chicken Bakes
- Eat the food court chicken bake right away while hot and crispy
- Refrigerate and reheat leftovers in the oven, not microwave
- Allow frozen bakes to thaw slightly before baking for more even cooking
- Brush frozen chicken bakes with Caesar dressing or oil before baking
- Pair with side of fruit or veggie to help balance the high sodium
No matter which way you choose to enjoy a Costco chicken bake, this cheesy, saucy, protein-packed handheld meal will satisfy your hunger. The food court bake is the best value at just $3.99. But the frozen 6-pack allows you to keep this iconic Costco item on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a chicken bake cost at Costco?
The fresh baked chicken bake at the Costco food court costs $399. The frozen 8-ounce chicken bakes are $13.49 for a box of 6, equaling $225 per bake.
Are Costco chicken bakes precooked?
The food court chicken bakes are fully cooked and ready to eat. The frozen chicken bakes require baking at home prior to consumption.
Can you buy chicken bakes at Costco without a membership?
No, you need an active Costco membership to purchase items in the food court or enter the warehouse to buy the frozen baked.
Are Costco chicken bakes healthy?
While tasty, the chicken bakes are high in calories, fat, carbs and sodium. The food court version contains over 800 calories and 2,650mg sodium.
How long do Costco chicken bakes last?
The food court chicken bakes are best consumed right away while hot. Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated within 3-4 days. Frozen bakes last 4-6 months in the freezer.
So when asking how much is a Costco chicken bake, the answer is just $3.99 for the large, ready-to-eat option from the food court. This Costco staple is perfect for a quick bite during shopping trips or taking home frozen for later.
What is the Costco chicken bake?
The Costco chicken bake has chopped chicken breast strips, bacon pieces, mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses, and creamy Caesar dressing as the secret ingredient, all wrapped up in a hand-rolled crust. Its available for purchase at the food court, where you can order at the self-serve kiosk and then wait for your order number to be called. Its fully coated in crust, making it a portable food that you can eat with your hands. This is especially helpful if you stay and eat it at the food court since it makes it less messy to consume. You can eat it as is or cut it into pieces, but this might prove difficult with the plastic cutlery.
A frozen packaged version is also available in the protein area of the freezer section near items like chicken breasts and hamburgers. The one from the food court is already hot, but the one from the freezer needs to be warmed up in the microwave, oven, or toaster oven. The frozen bakes come in a box. Each one is individually wrapped so that it can be sold again. There are six bakes in a box that weighs 8 ounces (the food court option doesn’t say how much it weighs). There are directions for how to heat the bakes on the box as well as on each chicken bake itself. This is useful if you get rid of the container to save space in the freezer.
At my Costco in the San Diego area, the frozen chicken bake costs $13. 49 for a box, while the ready-made one at the food court comes in at $3. 99. You should be able to locate the frozen one in your Costco by the other frozen meats. If youre unsure if yours has it, call your local store and ask. When I did that, they told me they had the item, how much it cost, and how many they had in stock. You will be asked for a product number because it helps them find the right item. If you don’t have one, they can still help you. I first looked on Costco’s website to see if they had it, but when I searched for “chicken bake,” nothing came up. ” You can, however, find them on the Costco Business Center website.
As for the food court version, the item was clearly displayed on the menu, but this might vary based on the store. It seems they cook the food court ones in batches, which explains why numbers were called out of sequence. As I was waiting, there were several people whose numbers were called to get their chicken bakes. I waited maybe five minutes for my order. Heres a Costco shopping hack: Ask the checkout clerk if you can order your food as youre paying for your the rest of your items. Not all locations have this feature, but it doesnt hurt to inquire.
Accessing the nutritional information allows patrons to make choices based on personal dietary needs. And youll notice a considerable nutritional difference when comparing the two chicken bakes. The boxed frozen bakes clearly show the nutritional facts label, making it easy to view the data as well as the ingredients. Each sandwich has 540 calories, 19 grams of fat, 1,370 milligrams of sodium, 58 grams of carbohydrates, and 35 grams of protein.
The food court option only displays the calories directly on the menu, but I was able to locate more nutrition facts online. This chicken bake — which is physically larger than the frozen version — has 840 calories, 32 grams of fat, 2,650 milligrams of sodium, 83 grams of carbohydrates, and 52 grams of protein. Notably, if you were to eat the whole food court chicken bake, you would exceed your daily recommended amount of sodium, which is recommended at 2,300 milligrams.
Taste test: Costco food court chicken bake
The Costco chicken bake remains at the top of the ranked food court items for a reason. Its a fresh and piping hot rolled-up calzone-Hot Pocket hybrid thats baked to perfection with a browned crust and cheese. The abundance of crisp cheese on the exterior makes every bite flavorful. The bread is soft and doughy on the inside but flaky on the outside. You get the taste of Caesar dressing and a piece of smoky bacon with every bite. Chicken, which can easily get chewy and gross, remains supple and juicy, coated in the creaminess of the cheeses and Caesar. Theres a filling amount of chicken, too.
The only qualm was that the paper bag it came in had a slit down the whole thing, likely to alleviate sogginess, but I didnt realize it was packaged as such. It nearly fell onto the ground when I picked it up as they called my number. Once you understand the packaging, its a fantastic grab-and-go transportable food. The size is rather large, which makes it an absolute bargain for $3.99. Nowadays, there arent many places to get a meal for that price. Its at its peak when fresh, but its still pretty good if you refrigerate and reheat any leftovers (which is best warmed in the oven or toaster oven to maintain the crusts crispness).