Costco’s food court is widely recognized for its famous $1.50 hot dog combo and automated pizza slices, often overshadowing the true standout on the menu: the chicken bake!

This hidden gem features hearty chicken chunks, bacon bits, and creamy Caesar dressing, all enveloped in pizza dough, rolled stromboli-style. The once mysterious favorite from Costco’s food court is now revealed, and you can recreate it at home.

Costco Chicken Bake

A Reddit user, going by the handle ricecracker420, purportedly an employee at Costco’s food court, caused a stir by sharing the fundamental steps to recreate the warehouse’s chicken bake. This revelation brought joy to devoted Costco enthusiasts and lovers of hot sandwiches alike, as the chicken bake is arguably more delightful when made at home rather than enjoyed at the store.

The reason lies in the potential shortcomings of Costco’s in-store offerings — the bread may turn soft under heat lamps, and the cheese loses its gooey texture. In contrast, crafting chicken bakes at home ensures a delightful experience, with a crisp exterior, warm interior, and the pleasure of savoring steaming-hot chicken and melted cheese.

Making Yummy Chicken Bake: Mixing Easy Stuff from the Store with Homemade Goodness!

Customize your approach by combining homemade and store-bought components for a simplified baking experience. In my kitchen, I opt for store-bought dough and dressing.

Chicken: Achieve tender and mildly seasoned chicken by bypassing the rotisserie option and instead cooking boneless, skinless breasts on the stovetop.

Bacon: Utilize the skillet for more significant, smoky chunks of thick-cut bacon, avoiding the time-consuming small bacon bits that can get lost within the chicken bake.

Dressing: Opt for a high-quality creamy Caesar dressing from the store, selecting one with a tangy and peppery profile. Incorporate Caesar dressing into the filling and brush it on the exterior; this not only enhances the flavor but also helps the extra sprinkle of cheese adhere, resulting in a luscious golden-brown finish in the oven.

How many calories in a costco chicken bake ?

811kcal calories in a costco chicken bake.

Costco Chicken Bake

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

811

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 pound pizza dough (thaw if frozen, or let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour)

• 1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing (plus more for brushing)

• 2 cups diced cooked chicken (divided)

• 1 cup crumbled cooked thick-cut bacon (about 6 slices, divided)

• 1 1/2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese (divided)

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 400°F and position a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
• Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rectangle that's about 5x7 inches and 1/4-inch thick. Make sure a long side is facing you.
• Brush each rectangle with 2 tablespoons of Caesar dressing, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chicken, 1/4 cup of bacon, and 1/4 cup of cheese over the dressing on each rectangle.
• Roll up each piece tightly, starting from the long side closest to you. Pinch the seam and the ends closed. Place the rolled dough seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat this step for the remaining pieces of dough.
• Brush the top and sides of each rolled dough with more Caesar dressing. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese evenly over the tops.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken bakes are golden-brown, which should take about 15 to 17 minutes.
• Allow the baked rolls to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before serving. Enjoy your delicious chicken bakes!