This Costco Chicken Bake Copycat is a cheesy and savory recipe, which uses creamy Caesar dressing and crispy bacon. It’s the ultimate food court comfort food, ready in about 45 minutes.
Jump to RecipeCostco Chicken Bake Copycat Ingredients
- 1 lb store-bought pizza dough (refrigerated or thawed frozen)
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces (rotisserie works best)
- ½ cup Caesar dressing (plus 2 tbsp extra for brushing)
- ½ cup cooked bacon crumbles (about 6 strips)
- 1 ½ cups shredded Mozzarella cheese (or a Provone/Mozzarella blend)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for the pan)
- ½ tsp dried parsley (for topping)
How To Make Costco Chicken Bake Copycat
- Prepare the oven and dough: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal portions.
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll each ball of dough into a rectangle, approximately 8×6 inches. It should be thin but not transparent.
- Mix the filling: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chopped cooked chicken, the ½ cup of Caesar dressing, the bacon crumbles, and half of the Parmesan cheese (¼ cup). Toss until the chicken is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Fill the bakes: Sprinkle a layer of shredded Mozzarella cheese down the center of each dough rectangle, leaving about an inch of space at the edges. Top the cheese generously with the chicken and bacon mixture.
- Seal the dough: Fold the short ends of the dough in over the filling (like a burrito). Then, pull one long side over the filling and roll tightly to the other side. Pinch the seams tightly to seal so the cheese doesn’t leak out during baking.
- Top and bake: Place the bakes seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops and sides with the remaining 2 tablespoons of Caesar dressing (this is the secret to the crust flavor). Sprinkle evenly with the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese and dried parsley.
- Bake until golden: Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the cheese inside is melted. Let them cool for 5 minutes before serving, as the filling will be extremely hot.
Recipe Tips
- The secret coating: Most people brush the top with egg wash or oil, but Costco actually brushes the outside dough with Caesar dressing. This creates that distinct savory, salty, and browned crust unique to the food court version.
- Dough handling: If the pizza dough keeps shrinking back when you try to roll it, let it rest on the counter for 10 minutes to relax the gluten, then try again.
- Don’t overfill: It is tempting to stuff them full, but overfilling makes them difficult to seal and often leads to the filling bursting out in the oven.
- Cheese blend: Costco uses a blend of Mozzarella and Provolone. Using 1 cup Mozzarella and ½ cup Provolone will get you closest to the authentic stringy pull.
What To Serve With Costco Chicken Bake Copycat
Since this is a heavy meal, keep the sides light.
- Caesar Salad: Reinforces the flavor profile.
- Fresh Fruit Cup: A refreshing, acidic contrast.
- Berry Smoothie: A classic food court pairing.
- Marinara Sauce: For dipping the crust ends.
How To Store Costco Chicken Bake Copycat
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: These freeze exceptionally well. Wrap cooked and cooled bakes in foil and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: To maintain the crispy crust, reheat in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for 10–15 minutes. Microwaving will make the dough soft and chewy.
Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 680kcal
- Protein: 38g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fat: 34g
- Saturates: 10g
- Sugar: 4g
- Salt: 1.9g
Nutrition information is estimated per chicken bake.
FAQs
No, the baking time is not long enough to safely cook raw chicken inside the dough. You must use pre-cooked chicken (rotisserie, grilled, or poached) for the filling.
You can, but the texture will be flaky and pastry-like rather than chewy and bread-like. It will result in a “Chicken Pocket” rather than a “Chicken Bake.” Pizza dough is essential for the authentic texture.
The original Costco recipe typically includes green onions in the filling, though it varies by location or supplier changes. Feel free to add 2 tablespoons of chopped green onions to the chicken mixture if you like the flavor.
Costco Chicken Bake Copycat Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings20
minutes25
minutes680
kcalA homemade version of the famous food court item, featuring pizza dough stuffed with chicken, bacon, cheese, and Caesar dressing, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
1 lb pizza dough
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
½ cup Caesar dressing (plus extra for topping)
½ cup bacon bits
1 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese
½ cup Parmesan cheese
½ tsp dried parsley
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and divide dough into 4 pieces.
- Roll dough into rectangles on a floured surface.
- Mix chicken, ½ cup Caesar dressing, bacon, and half the Parmesan in a bowl.
- Layer Mozzarella and chicken mixture onto each dough rectangle.
- Fold sides, roll up tightly, and pinch seams to seal.
- Place seam-side down on a baking sheet.
- Brush tops with extra Caesar dressing and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
- Brushing the outside of the dough with Caesar dressing instead of an egg wash is the critical step to achieving the signature savory, browned crust found at the food court.
- If using store-bought bacon bits, opt for “Real Bacon Bits” rather than the crunchy imitation red bits for a better texture and authentic flavor.
- Ensure the pizza dough is at room temperature before rolling; cold dough is elastic and will snap back, making it frustrating to shape into rectangles.
