Keto Chicken Bake Recipe: A Costco Copycat

If you're a fan of the iconic Costco Chicken Bake, you're in for a treat! This homemade version nails all the flavor and allows for customization to match your own taste buds. You can easily switch up the ingredients to match your own taste buds. I love making a big batch at home using fresh ingredients-it’s like a better version of frozen food. No membership card required here!

What is a Costco Chicken Bake?

Costco sells these Stromboli-style chicken bakes at their food courts. It is a savory golden dough filled with chicken, cheese, bacon, and a creamy parmesan garlic sauce. The chicken bakes from Costco are made from their signature dough and are filled with the classic chicken bake filling. The filling includes; chicken, bacon, cheese, a creamy Caesars dressing, and green onions. Costco Chicken Bakes are stuffed with chicken, bacon, and a creamy dressing-a combo that’s been a longtime favorite for Costco shoppers and our family alike.

Why Make a Homemade Version?

While convenient, Costco Chicken Bakes are high in calories. If you make it from scratch then, perhaps that will be a healthier option. When you make it at home, you at least have an idea of the nutrition, as you know what goes into your food! Unlike ordering this dish out, you can completely customize it when you make it at home.

Benefits of making it at home:

• Customization: Use store-bought or homemade Caesar dressing, mix up the cheese with your favorite variety, add in extra veggies, and use whatever seasonings you have on hand.
• Healthier Option: Knowing exactly what goes into your bake allows for healthier choices.
• Convenience: Make a big batch at home using fresh ingredients-it’s like a better version of frozen food. When the craving hits or you’re short on time, you’ll be so glad to have a few ready to go in the fridge or freezer.

Key Ingredients for the Costco Chicken Bake Copycat

The filling includes chicken, bacon, cheese, a creamy Caesars dressing, and green onions.

Dough

• Homemade Pizza Dough: The dough for this Costco chicken bake is made from a homemade pizza dough recipe that was inspired by a New York Pizza maker who shared a 50 lb recipe in bakers percentages! I was able to scale down the recipe and added some sugar to create the closest Costco chicken Bake Copycat! You can make your own grilled chicken pieces or even grate your own Italian cheese blend!
• Store-bought Pizza Dough: Yes, store-bought pizza dough can be used if you don’t make the homemade pizza dough. Hot tip: Trader Joe’s has a great dough in the refrigerated section. You can snag a plain dough or one that is packed with Italian herbs. Both will work great.

Filling

• Chicken: According to the ingredient label, Costco uses Chicken breast strips with rib meat and a water solution. To me, that sounds like freezer-grilled chicken breast. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken hanging out, this recipe is the perfect way to make sure it doesn’t go to waste. If you don’t, plain grilled chicken or instant pot chicken will do.
• Bacon: Cured bacon. That’s obviously been cooked. If you’re in a pinch and don’t want to fry bacon, buy some pre-made bacon bits from the store. We love using air fryer bacon for this recipe.
• Cheese: Mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses are used among the cheeses. I’m assuming the Mozzarella and Provolone are used for the filling and the Parmesan could be used for the top. I personally only used Mozzarella for the filling and have used both Parmesan and Mozzarella for the top before. Final verdict; opt for Mozzarella for the top it creates a crustier top, whereas Parmesan is usually grated finer thus creating finer texture on top. Mozzarella cheese is our top pick, but you can use any shredded cheese that you like. Make sure you don’t forget to add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for that signature taste.
• Caesar Dressing: Probably a creamy kind. Ranch or caesar dressing work great.
• Green onions: They are claimed to be in the chicken bakes according to the ingredient list but I left them out.

General Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb pizza dough
• 2 cup cooked chicken
• 1 cup bacon crisps
• 3 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 1 cup caesar dressing or Ranch dressing
• flour

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven 450°F. Lightly grease a pizza pan.
2. Cut the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into an 11x8-inch rectangle.
3. Combine all the filling ingredients, RESERVING 1/2 cup of mozzarella, 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and 3 Tbsp of Caesars dressing for the topping.
4. Place 1 cup of filling across the center of each piece of dough.
5. Fold in the sides and roll jelly-roll style pinching seams.
6. Place all the Chicken bakes onto a pizza pan and brush tops with the reserved dressing and cheeses.
7. Bake 20 minutes on bottom rack.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough: You will need to either purchase or prepare pizza dough prior to making this recipe. When you make a full portion of pizza dough, you can double up the recipe and keep the remainder of the dough refrigerated for a different day. You can use it for garlic knots. Cut pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out each piece to an 11 by 8-inch rectangle.
2. Prepare the Filling: Mix the chicken, oil, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt and crushed red pepper. Cook over medium heat, until almost fully cooked. Set aside and cool. Combine all the filling ingredients, RESERVING 1/2 cup of mozzarella, 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and 3 Tbsp of Caesars dressing for the topping.
3. Assemble the Chicken Bakes: Place 1 cup of filling across the center of each piece of dough. Slightly fold in the sides and start rolling dough from the bottom up. Fold in the sides and roll jelly-roll style pinching seams.
4. Add Toppings: Brush tops with reserved dressing and sprinkle with reserved cheeses. Apply a tiny bit of ranch on the outside. Sprinkle on the parmesan cheese.
5. Bake: Bake 20 minutes on bottom rack. Bake it at 415°F for about 17-20 minutes. Bake at 415°F for 15-18 minutes, until golden.

Keto-Friendly Version

For those following a ketogenic diet, a low-carb version of the chicken bake is possible.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Fat Head Dough Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese plus additional for filling
• 2 tablespoons of cream cheese
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup of almond flour

Filling Ingredients:

• 3 chicken breast washed, dried, and chopped
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of paprika
• ½ teaspoon of REAL salt (Discount code: Lowcarblove)
• ¼ teaspoon of pepper
• 4 ounces of Cream cheese softened
• 2 ounces of mayonnaise
• 2 ounces of sour cream
• ½ tablespoons of dried parsley
• ½ tablespoons of Garlic Powder
• ½ tablespoons of Onion Powder
• 1 cup fiesta blend or any shredded cheese
• 6 to 8 bacon strips cooked and chopped
• Egg Wash 1 egg whisked with 2 tablespoons of water

Directions:

1. Make dough: start by melting mozzarella cheese and cream cheese.Add in remaining ingredients.Knead until you get a dough.
2. Take your leftover chicken casserole, (click chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe for how to), break it up into pieces, and add one ranch packet and additional mozzarella cheese and mix well.
3. Roll out and fill with the chicken filling.
4. Wrap up the dough like a burrito.
5. Brush with the egg wash.
6. Preheat your oven to 350.
7. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until done.

Tips for Nailing the Recipe

• Pizza Dough: I’ve noticed that refrigerated pizza dough creates those surface bubbles you would see on the chicken bakes sold in the food court.
• Cheese: Opt for Mozzarella for the top it creates a crustier top, whereas Parmesan is usually grated finer thus creating finer texture on top.
• Serving: The Chicken Bake alone will fill you up. These things are hefty! But, if you want to round out your dinner a bit more, try pairing your Chicken Bake with: Caesar Salad - Homemade caesar salad is way better than the bagged variety you’ve been eating. This one comes together lightning quick! Garden Salad - A simple garden salad is always welcome at the dinner table. Broccoli Cauliflower Salad - Broccoli and cauliflower slaw is full of crunchy veggies and tossed with a creamy dressing.

Freezing and Reheating Instructions

Since Costco sells frozen chicken bakes I do think it’s possible. Furthermore, it seems to me they are partially baked before being individually wrapped.

Freezing Instructions:

You can freeze the Chicken Bake raw or after it has been baked. Either way, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the Chicken Bakes across it. Pop the entire baking sheet in the freezer to allow the individual pieces to freeze entirely. Once frozen, remove and place in a freezer-safe bag.

To freeze chicken Bakes:

Follow the instructions given only reducing the baking time to 10 minutes. Cool completely then wrap each chicken bake in foil and freeze.

Reheating Instructions:

To reheat your Chicken Bakes, follow these below instructions:

• Frozen Raw: Thaw on the counter and bake according to the recipe instructions.
• Frozen Baked: Thaw on the counter and then reheat in the oven for about 5 minutes.

Hot tip: Try not to microwave frozen Chicken Bakes to reheat. While tempting, microwaving will make the Bakes soggy.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Serving Suggestions

The Chicken Bake alone will fill you up, but if you want to round out your dinner a bit more, try pairing your Chicken Bake with:

• Caesar Salad - Homemade caesar salad is way better than the bagged variety you’ve been eating. This one comes together lightning quick!
• Garden Salad - A simple garden salad is always welcome at the dinner table.
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad - Broccoli and cauliflower slaw is full of crunchy veggies and tossed with a creamy dressing.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

tags: #keto #chicken #bake #recipe #costco #copycat