While the original Costco Chicken Bakes are undeniably delicious, they are also known for being high in calories and carbohydrates, making them less suitable for diets like Keto. However, when you make them from scratch at home, you gain complete control over the ingredients. This allows you to choose leaner chicken, adjust the amount of cheese and bacon, or even experiment with lighter dressing options, potentially making them a healthier choice tailored to your dietary needs. Understanding what goes into your food is key to mindful eating!

Costco does offer packaged frozen chicken bakes in select locations, primarily through their Business Delivery service. These frozen versions, such as the Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes, are indeed pre-cooked or partially cooked. It’s safe to assume that the chicken bakes served fresh in the food court are either thawed from a similar frozen product and then baked, or prepared fresh daily using a similar recipe. This means that if you plan to make and freeze your homemade chicken bakes, a partial bake before freezing is a good approach to ensure they cook perfectly when reheated.

The magic of the Costco Chicken Bake lies in its simple yet flavorful components. Here’s a breakdown of what makes up the iconic filling:

• Chicken: According to the official ingredient labels, Costco uses chicken breast strips with rib meat, often processed with a water solution. This typically points to a pre-cooked or freezer-grilled chicken breast product. For your homemade version, consider using freezer grilled chicken breast strips, leftover rotisserie chicken, or freshly grilled chicken for the best flavor and texture.
• Bacon: Crispy, cured bacon is a non-negotiable component. It adds a crucial smoky, salty dimension. We highly recommend cooking your bacon to a perfect crispness and crumbling it. Check out our guide on making oven-baked bacon and freezing it for easy meal prep.
• Cheese: The original bake features a delightful blend of mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses. The mozzarella and provolone contribute to that signature gooey, stretchy melt, while Parmesan adds a sharp, nutty kick. For the filling, a generous amount of mozzarella is perfect. For the topping, using mozzarella creates a fantastic crispy crust, while Parmesan, if grated larger, can also provide a wonderful texture. Experiment to find your perfect cheese blend!
• Caesar Dressing: A creamy Caesar dressing is the secret sauce that ties all the flavors together. The ingredient list for Costco’s dressing reveals components like soybean oil, water, corn vinegar, Parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, sugar, and various seasonings, including anchovy. If you’re not a fan of Caesar dressing or want a different flavor profile, a creamy ranch dressing works wonderfully as an alternative.
• Green Onions: Although listed in the original ingredients, green onions are somewhat subtle in the Costco version. We’ve often omitted them without a noticeable difference in flavor, suggesting they aren’t absolutely crucial. However, if you enjoy a touch of freshness and mild onion flavor, feel free to finely chop and add them to your filling.

To embark on your homemade Costco Chicken Bake adventure, gather these essential ingredients:

FILLING:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast strips (thawed if freezer kind, coarsely chopped)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 4 strips of cooked bacon, crumbled
• 1/3 cup creamy Caesar dressing (or creamy ranch for an alternative)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

(Note: You will also need about 1 lb of pizza dough, as detailed in the full recipe card below.)

The process of assembling your homemade Costco Chicken Bakes is straightforward and fun. It involves preparing your dough, mixing the irresistible filling, and then rolling everything up into those familiar Stromboli-style shapes before baking to golden perfection.

1. Step 1: Prepare the Dough and Oven. Preheat your oven to a high 450°F (230°C) and lightly grease a baking sheet or pizza pan. Take your pizza dough and divide it into 4 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into an approximate 11 by 8-inch rectangle. Set these prepared dough rectangles aside.
2. Step 2: Mix the Filling. In a medium bowl, combine all the filling ingredients: the cooked chicken breast strips, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, 1/3 cup of creamy Caesar dressing, and the heavy cream. Make sure to RESERVED 1/2 cup of mozzarella, 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and 3 tablespoons of creamy Caesar dressing; these will be used for the delicious topping!
3. Step 3: Fill the Dough. Take one rolled-out dough rectangle. Spoon about 1 cup of the prepared filling across the center of the dough, leaving a border around the edges.
4. Step 4: Roll and Seal. Carefully fold in the shorter sides of the dough over the filling, then starting from one of the longer sides, roll the dough up jelly-roll style. Pinch the seams firmly to ensure the filling is completely enclosed and won’t leak out during baking. Repeat for all four chicken bakes.
5. Step 5: Top and Bake. Place the sealed chicken bakes seam-side down onto your greased baking pan. Brush the tops generously with the reserved Caesar dressing and then sprinkle with the reserved mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake on the bottom rack of your preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. The bottom rack helps ensure a crispy bottom crust!

For a truly exceptional Costco Chicken Bake, our homemade pizza dough recipe is highly recommended. It provides the ideal texture and flavor that elevates this copycat dish. For a complete, in-depth tutorial on how to prepare this dough, including fermentation tips and handling instructions, please refer to our dedicated homemade pizza dough recipe. Follow the instructions to create one portion of the dough from that recipe, which is perfectly sized for these four chicken bakes.

Absolutely! If you’re looking to save time or prefer not to make homemade dough, store-bought pizza dough is a perfectly acceptable and convenient alternative. While our homemade dough is designed to mimic the authentic texture of the Costco version, a good quality store-bought dough will still yield delicious results. Just ensure it’s fresh and easy to roll out to the desired dimensions.

Yes, you can definitely freeze homemade chicken bakes! Since Costco itself sells frozen chicken bakes, it’s a proven method for meal prepping. To freeze your homemade bakes effectively, we recommend partially baking them first. Bake your chicken bakes for about 10 minutes (less than the full cooking time), then remove them from the oven and let them cool completely. Once cooled, wrap each chicken bake individually in foil and transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy them, there are a couple of reheating options:

• Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the frozen, foil-wrapped chicken bake directly on a baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until heated through and golden. For a crispier crust, remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
• Microwave: For a quicker option, unwrap a frozen chicken bake and microwave it on high for about 4 minutes, or until thoroughly hot. Be aware that the crust may not be as crispy as an oven-reheated bake.

DOUGH:

FILLING:

• 

  Pre-heat oven to 450°F (230°C). Lightly grease a pizza pan or baking sheet. Cut the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into an 11×8-inch rectangle.
• 

  Combine all the filling ingredients (chicken, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/3 cup Parmesan, bacon, 1/3 cup Caesar dressing, heavy cream) in a bowl. RESERVED 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.
• 

  Fold in the short sides of the dough over the filling, then roll the dough from the bottom up (jelly-roll style), pinching the seams firmly to seal.
• 

  Place all the Chicken bakes onto your prepared pizza pan, seam-side down. Brush the tops with the reserved dressing and sprinkle with the reserved cheeses. Bake for 20 minutes on the bottom rack, or until golden brown and delicious.

• Chicken breast pieces: For the best texture, coarsely chop any ready-to-use chicken breast pieces, as some store-bought chunks can be quite large.
• Dressing Swap: Creamy ranch dressing can be used as a flavorful alternative to Caesar dressing if preferred.
• To Freeze Chicken Bakes: Follow the instructions above, but reduce the initial baking time to 10 minutes. Let them cool completely, then wrap each chicken bake individually in foil and freeze. To reheat from frozen, bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 35-40 minutes, or microwave on high for 4 minutes.
• For Extra Crisp Bottoms: For a deliciously crispy crust on the bottom, brush the bottom of your rolled-out dough with a thin layer of creamy dressing instead of plain oil before adding the filling. This adds both flavor and helps with browning.

Nutrition per serving