The chicken bake from Costco is a popular baked sandwich sold exclusively at Costco warehouse stores. It consists of diced chicken, bacon, cheese, Caesar dressing and diced tomatoes wrapped in a par-baked crust. Chicken bakes are prepared fresh daily in each Costco location and are a favorite lunchtime meal or snack for many Costco shoppers. With its convenient portable size and delicious flavor combination, the Costco chicken bake has achieved an almost cult-like following among fans. This article will explore the ingredients, nutrition information, price, preparation method and history behind Costco’s iconic chicken bake sandwich.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in a Costco chicken bake are:
- Chicken – The chicken bake contains diced, rotisserie chicken breast meat.
- Bacon – Small bits of crispy bacon are added for extra flavor.
- Cheese – The chicken bake uses a blend of mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan cheese.
- Caesar dressing – A zesty Caesar dressing brings creaminess and binds the ingredients.
- Tomatoes – Diced Roma tomatoes provide juiciness and freshness.
- Crust – The ingredients are wrapped in a par-baked bread crust.
The full list of ingredients is: Chicken, mozzarella cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), parmesan cheese (pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), bacon, Caesar dressing (soybean oil, water, vinegar, egg yolk, anchovy paste [anchovy extractives, water, salt], Parmesan cheese [pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], garlic, sugar, spices and seasonings, lemon juice concentrate, anchovy extractives), tomatoes, water, modified food starch, salt, potassium chloride, sugar, yeast, spices, yeast nutrients (monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, mono and diglycerides, DATEM, calcium peroxide, enzymes, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide), natural flavor. Contains: Milk, eggs, fish (anchovy), soy, wheat.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information for a standard chicken bake from Costco:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 760 |
| Total Fat | 32g |
| Saturated Fat | 12g |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g |
| Cholesterol | 115mg |
| Sodium | 1280mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 57g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Total Sugars | 3g |
| Protein | 38g |
As you can see, the chicken bake is high in calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium. The high protein content comes mainly from the chicken. With 57g of carbohydrates per chicken bake, this makes it a higher glycemic food choice.
Price
Chicken bakes are only available at Costco warehouse stores. The price for a chicken bake is:
- $2.99 – This is the regular price for a single chicken bake.
- $9.99 – A tray of 4 chicken bakes.
- $17.99 – An 8-pack of chicken bakes.
So on a per-chicken bake basis, the best value is to buy them in the 8-pack for $2.25 each. The 4-pack saves a little bit at $2.50 per chicken bake. Buying them individually at $2.99 is the most expensive per-item price.
Costco occasionally runs promotions or coupons that discount the price of chicken bakes. Overall though, the pricing has remained very consistent over the years.
Preparation
Chicken bakes are prepared fresh in each Costco warehouse store every day. Here is an overview of how they make chicken bakes:
- The dough is prepared and rolled into rounds that will form the crust.
- The dough rounds are par-baked until they form a hardened crust, but are still pale in color.
- The chicken filling is prepared by combining diced, rotisserie chicken breast with bacon pieces, cheese, Caesar dressing and tomatoes.
- Portions of the filling are spooned onto each par-baked crust.
- The filled crusts are sealed shut and the edges are pressed with a fork.
- The assembled chicken bakes are baked until the crust is golden brown and the filling is hot and melted.
- The chicken bakes are removed from the oven, allowed to cool slightly and then placed in the warming trays at the Costco food court.
This preparation method allows the chicken bakes to be served fresh and hot throughout the day at Costco food courts.
History
The origin of the Costco chicken bake lies with founder Jim Sinegal and his desire to give customers an affordable, filling meal they could enjoy while shopping. The first chicken bakes were sold in warehouses in the early 2000s after years of development to create the right recipe.
Some key milestones in the history of the chicken bake:
- 1993 – Early Costco food courts begin selling inexpensive pizza, hot dogs and churros to enhance the shopping experience.
- Late 1990s – R&D begins on a portable chicken sandwich concept after the success of pizza.
- Early 2000s – First chicken bakes appear on menus at select Costco locations.
- 2007 – Chicken bakes rolled out to food courts chainwide after popularity is proven.
- Present – Chicken bakes remain top sellers, with over 18 million sold per year. Recipe and price remain largely unchanged.
The chicken bake’s lasting popularity shows how Costco succeeded at creating a affordable, tasty handheld meal for shoppers on the go. The simple tasty combination of chicken, cheese and crispy crust make it a food court classic.
Conclusion
The Costco chicken bake is the perfect quick meal for hungry shoppers. It combines the delicious flavors of chicken, bacon, savory cheese and a hint of tangy Caesar dressing wrapped up in a crispy par-baked crust. At under $3 for a filling and tasty meal including protein, carbs and a bit of veggies, it’s easy to see why customers have been flocking back for chicken bakes for over 20 years. A Costco membership offers the tempting bonus of access to this iconic baked sandwich. So next time you need a meal at Costco, look no further than the ever-popular chicken bake.