We recently got a new Costco in our town. It wasn’t long before I discovered the Costco rotisserie chicken. Have you ever wondered what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken? If so, I’ve got you covered!
Costco rotisserie chickens cost just $5 in our store. And they are huge! I can’t buy a raw whole chicken of that size for $5, so getting one already cooked is a great deal.
After buying several of these and realizing that I can feed my family of 6 twice from one chicken, I decided to try using them to stock my freezer.
Your mileage may vary, but for my family there’s enough meat for me to make 5-6 meals out of 3 chickens. The last time I went to Costco, I bought three chickens. We brought them home and took all the meat off the bones. The meat yielded enough for 5 different recipes.
I froze the meat in plastic freezer bags in about 2 cup quantities. It’s so nice to have chicken already cooked and frozen, ready to go. There are lots and lots of recipes that use cooked chicken on this site alone. I’ve pulled 13 of my favorite recipes to share with you here.
Of course, if you don’t have a Costco, or you’d just rather cook your own chicken to freeze, that works too. Try this Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker.
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And here are the 13 recipes to use Costco rotisserie chicken in:
Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce and White Cheese
Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Chicken Casserole – Lightened Up
Chicken and Broccoli Stuffed Shells with Alfredo Sauce
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole
Pumpkin Black Bean Chicken Chili in the Slow Cooker
Quick and Easy Chicken Tomato Basil Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings with Gnocchi
Vietnam Fried Rice
Vietnamese Style Chicken Noodle Soup
White Chicken Enchiladas
You could also make a good stock or broth with the chicken bones.
Tracy, I thought about doing that, but my lazy side won. I’ll have to give it a try sometime!
Put the crock pot to use, stock is better if simmered long enough to extract gelatin from bones.
Throw the bones of the chicken into the crockpot at night with water, onion, carrot, celery – salt and pepper and some garlic and thyme. Set to low and cook overnight. Wonderful broth in the morning. strain and discard the solids. Freeze or use the broth. =) I started doing this with my rotisserie chickens and the whole chickens I roast in the crock pot.
If you cover the bones with cold water, to shock them, ad add a couple tablespoons of vinegar, it helps to extract all the bone marrow. Nothing better than homemade stock
You do this before simmering overnight with other veggies?
That is such a great idea. !!!
that is a great idea. Never thought to do that. I definitely will now.
Thanks for the tip
Not much effort at all! I take most of the meat off the bones, put the bones in a pot, cover with water, boil, let cool and then take bones out. Best broth ever!
we totally do that too. save the bones, throw them in a freezer bag in the freezer, and pull out if we want to make stock.
I use always make stock with bones and freeze some of it in 1 cup portions for sipping when a cold or flu hits. Nothings more comforting than homemade chicken stock when you’re sick!
I thrown mine in the crockpot with water and it makes a great stock! I throw it in after dinner on low all night as we sleep. Turn it off, cool for a while in the am, then ziplock and freeze in ziplock bags
Ice trays work too.
I am a single empty nester now… how would you freeze this??? Cook per instructions, divided into portions i want then freeze????
Yes, you could divide it into portions and then freeze.
Muffin tins (either large or small muffins) work well for freezing stock in … just dip the bottom into some lukewarm water to release, bag (in bulk – no need to do individually) and freeze
We make chicken tacos with avacado for a quick dinner. Also, chicken tortilla soup and chicken salad.
This chicken makes the best Chicken Pot Pie. My husband loves it especially on a cold winter day.
I make pot pie often with rotisserie chickens, chicken noodle soup after making stock. I really like the ones Walmart does with garlic butter seasoning. I buy the ones that have been in the warmer to long at a discount and shred the meat for my dogs…………they LOVE it!
They actually sell huge chicken pot pies at Costco made with their own chickens. It’s delicious.
I have!! Best chicken broth!! I made homemade chicken noodle soup out of costco’s chicken. I am going to try these recipes! Even pass this on to my daughter!
I regularly use Costco chickens to make chicken soup. The only thing that is a problem is the very small bones and bits of bones that fall off. Last time I just simmered the carcass for a long time then drained through a strainer. Worked so much better. I get at least 4 dinners and some lunches plus about 6-8 servings of soup. Not bad for $5.
What a great idea. I’ll definitely remember to add that to my list when we go next week.
Making stock is so easy and so awesome. Toss everything leftover (except big hunks of fat) in a pot after you pick the meat. Cover with water about an inch or two higher than the bones. Add a shake of salt, pepper, thyme , sage, or poltry seasoning. You can always add more later. Simmer. It will be done about the time it takes you to prep or bag up the meat for other things. (About 30-60 min). Freeze in containers or in ice cube trays for small portions and dump them into a freezer bag.
Another easy one is adding BBQ sauce (we like sweet baby rays original) to shredded chicken. Make sandwiches with slaw or use it to top salads or nachos.
I also add all my veggie scraps… Onion skin, celery tops. Carrot peel, pepper trimmings…all this goes either into my worm farm, compost bin or freezer bag for bone broth. Once you start saving, you’ll be surprised how much you accumulate.
I make stock, too! But I throw everything into the crockpot and cook on low for at least 4 hours. Easy peasy.
I even cook it longer over night!! I will never buy chicken stock again!! So easy!!
Sounds like some really great recipes. Thanks for the info!
I make chicken salad with either chopped celery or cucumbers and a little bit of onion and mayo…Also make soft chicken tacos…Also other one is cook about 4 packages of ramen noodles, add cooked peas and carrots and cut up chicken and some ginger and soy sauce. Chicken fajitas with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and whatever else you like on them. I work at Costco so this has been an ongoing thing if mine as well. Especially helped recently when I got home from hospital still sick from the flu and couldn’t do much so had hubby go buy the chickens! What a lifesaver!
Lisa, those are great ideas! I hope you’re on the mend from the flu now.
Hiw long can you keep in the fridge. I wanted to make some chicken salad and use on sandwiches and over salad for a weeks lunch. Not real sure on how that would do. Thanks!
Carrie, I usually only keep leftover chicken for 2-3 days in the fridge.
I save the root ends and tops of both celery and onions (even onion skins which are essentially just dehydrated onion lol) toss th in the ziplock with the carcasses until I’m ready to crock pot a batch of stock. I grow my own herbs but if you use fresh thyme , parsley, rosemary or even cilantro save the stems from those as well. Herbs can be expensive if you have to get them through the grocer so getting a second use from the “trash” or trimmings is great.
I read normal shelf time is four days but Costco rotisserie chicken would be up to five days.
Was very disappointed with a chicken from Lodi Costco, came in a clear bag, no hard bottom, most crispy skin was gone off the top. Anyone else?
How many cups of chicken do you get off of one bird? (great recipes, thanks for sharing!)
Cary, I would guess about 4-6 cups. With Costco chickens, it would be closer to the higher amount.
Costco also sells just the rotisserie chicken breast meat! It’s big hunks of meat u can chop or shred! It’s packaged at costco and about $4.99 a pound and comes in 3 pound packages! It’s about $12! U get tons and tons of meat! I use it in tons of recipes and almost every day in my salads for lunch! It’s fsntastic! We love to even pour bbq sauce on it and make barbecued chicken sandwiches! In our costco it’s with the pre made meals near the pizzas! I look forward to trying your recipes!
Do you know how long the packaged breast meat is good? The use by dates I’ve seen are way out in the future, but I can’t finad any consume within a number of days after opening.
Thanks,
I would think you’d need to eat it within 2-3 days after opening.
My Mom just bought two packages of the prepackaged meat from Costco and used it for a bridal shower. It saved her tons of time. I just had some leftovers for lunch today and it was good.
Also my Mom does make broth all the time with the carcass from the precooked chicken(s), and it is good.
The bad thing about the prepackaged rotisserie meat is they add water and some preservatives……so taking the time to shred the chicken yourself is better for your pocket book and for your health.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing that.
That what I like then you don’t have to debone it and it’s so moist!!! I divide the meat into freezer ziplocks into quart size. It unthaws very quickly. That 12.00 package makes a lot of meals.
Thanks so much for this! We just recently discovered the Costco chicken, and it’s great to have different ideas of how to use it. Shredded on nachos is one of ours. I adapted your fried rice tonight–we didn’t have rice, but we did have quinoa, so I used that. My kids who HATE cooked veggies ate it right up.
One of everyone’s favorites, Chicken Pot Pie:
Makes a lot, very savory and good, especially on a cold winters evening. I use two rotisserie chickens from Costco, deboned with fresh or frozen vegetables. Can be made in individual servings or in an over sized casserole. My family eats Gluten Free, but change the GF Flour to your favorite flour and the crust could be an already made frozen pie dough, easy. Enjoy!
GF Chicken Pot Pie
2-Rotisserie Chicken, deboned
1-onion, chopped
1/2 cup frozen pearl onions
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup frozen green beans
4 small carrots, sliced thin
2 celery ribs , thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chives, sniped 1/4″
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon base
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup GF Flour
PREHEAT oven 375 degrees-In Dutch Oven melt butter, add onions, carrots, peas, corn, celery, chives, garlic and sauté until tender. Heat chicken broth and bouillon base until hot in large saucepan. Add salt and pepper to sautéing vegetables. Add flour and stir until vegetables are coated and pasty, lump free, about two minutes. Stir hot broth into vegetables, adding chicken and cream, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Pour mixture into greased deep 9″x13″ dish or individual serving dishes. Top with pie crust. I use the RECIPE from King Arthur (GF PIE CRUST). Brush crust with melted butter and salt and pepper. BAKE 375 degrees for 35 minutes. A BIG HIT AT MY HOUSE!
I make my Christmas chicken mole using Costco rotisserie chicken saves lots of time and family loves it.
I love this! I’m always looking for new GF recipes.
If you are feeding a family of 6 a half a chicken, that is not enough protein ! Each person doesn’t even get a piece of chicken!
It’s important to remember not only meat has protein. There are lots of different ingredients to add to make it nutritionally sound, and side dishes as well. 🙂
Well just buy more chicken.
When using the frozen chicken pieces for recipes, do you thaw the meat first or thrown it in frozen? Thanks
Casey, I usually thaw it quickly in the microwave.
Thank you!
I make chicken, wild rice french green bean casserole. Meat of one chicken, box of Uncle Bens original wild rice cooked, 2 cans seasoned french style green beans drained, celery and onion sautéed in olive oil or butter, a can of chopped water chestnuts drained, a can of cream of chicken or celery soup, 1 cup mayonnaise. Mix together, bake at 350 about 30 min. Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Great company dish. Serve with cooked apples and salad.
We love their chickens too. Another recipe I make with them is chicken corn chowder . It one of our go to’s in the fall and winter
Kathe, can you share how to make chicken corn chowder? Sounds yummy! Thanks.
We do this, but with the raw whole chickens.
Put the whole chicken in the crockpot along with a cup of water and some Wyler’s chicken bouillon granules. It makes the best broth! Then I take the broth and cook noodles in it. Do not strain the noodles, it should soak up most of the broth. This is something my mother used to do when I was young … so yummy!
A couple of our chicken meals are:
#1 Walmart pizza dough (quick and easy in the deli), let it thaw and rise a little, spread onto cookie sheet or pizza pan. Spread BBQ sauce on top (we use Sweet Baby Rays). In a bowl, take some of that cooked chicken, shred it up and stir in bbq sauce to coat chicken. Add to pizza dough, top with cheddar/jack shredded cheese and sliced red onion and bake 425 for desired doneness.
#2 Chicken wraps … too easy! Tortillas, chicken, ranch dressing, shredded cheese, sliced onion, lettuce, tomato, whatever else you like in your wraps.
and of course just chicken sandwiches, chicken noodle soup and I can’t wait to try your suggestions above!!
We use it for Chicken Roll ups and Chicken and dumplings (2 of my family favs)
My Costco sells the chicken already taken off the carcass and shrink wrapped. Each package is enough for 2 meals (talk about LAZY!!) 2packages for about $10
I would prefer to buy it that way because I am vegetarian and trying to cook for my meat loving daughter haha!!
I buy a whole chicken and pick it and lay it in 3-4 packs of store dry packs of chicken gravy mix and it makes,DELICIOUS HOT CHICKEN SANDWICHES, with mashed potatoes, corn, and cranberries it takes 30 minutes to make and you have a wonderful dinner the family we LOVE….
Yum!
We use the rotisserie chicken to make “street vendor” tacos. I spray my frying pan with Pam & brown corn tortillas on medium, 3 at a time, flip them over & sprinkle each with grated cheddar cheese. When the cheese is melted, remove from pan & top with shredded chicken & shredded cabbage. Garnish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and thinly sliced radishes if you like. They are delicious and even my picky teenage boys love them!
I love this idea!
I make my left over chicken into chicken donair. Saute it with mushrooms , Greek dry seasoning, feta cheese. Wrap in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Add a little ranch dressings.
That sounds great!
I would add to the 13 chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, chicken noodle soup, chicken divan, curried chicken salad and chicken cordon bleu casserole.
Do you use all the dark meat too in these recipes?
You can use the dark meat too, if you like.
You could get the same big chickens for 4.99 at Sams Club. That’s where I get mine and they are big.
Costco are huge too
i use it to make chicken salad. Any rotisserie chicken will do actually, but I like Cosco’s because it’s bigger.
Great ideas. I am vegetarian and my fiance is not so if I buy a chicken (or make a whole one), it’s difficult to make good use of it. Thanks!
Buy the Chicken, a pack of the croissants and the Guacamole at Costco. Then you will be able to make the best Chicken sandwich you ever had in your life. Simple, Quick and inexpensive.
That sounds amazing!
I usually buy two rotisserie chickens every week at Sam’s Club and shred them all up and put them in zip lock snack size bags. They are for my dog LOL thanks for the post now maybe I can get me some chicken too
I love to use the chickens for quick Nacho’s, quesadillas, taco’s, homemade pizza, chicken wraps, club sandwiches. and so on. They are so handy and convenient to use…..
Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Costco Chicken
Bag of frozen mixed vegetables
Can Cream of chicken soup
Can of Crescent rolls on top
Sounds great!
Another method of saving/freezing chicken broth or stock – simply pour into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen, place in plastic storage bags.
I just buy the bags of already deboned rot chix most of the time – 11.99 and it covers 4 or 5 meal for us. Great option although we miss the chicken stock from bones. 😉
For those that love deli-style chicken liver spread or pate, I like to use the drippings from the chicken (fat) as schmaltz and then throw in a food processor with cooked chicken livers, shallots, a little wine and perhaps some mushroom . Tasty!
I love a rotisserie chicken from Costco! I too make a Chicken Pot Pie out of this!
I use the Pillsbury Pie Crust – shredded chicken…1 bag of mixed frozen veggies….cream of mushroom soup with garlic….salt & pepper to taste…..bake! Simple and delish!
Of course I then use the carcass to make a broth.
Best $5 spent by a long shot.
A CostCo membership is worth it for the rotisserie chickens alone! These look delicious!
I use deli ckns often,it can be a healthy simply meal,thanks for sharing
Your recipes look delicious but sadly none are good for those of us with diabetes. Sigh. I miss carbs so much.
What an awesome post! Thank you! BTW, several links on this page are broken. I have to search for the recipes manually.
I’ll get that problem fixed asap!
great ideas, thank you for the idea’s. After many years of cooking rarely use recipe box, however I use it re-fresh my mind for ideas. Going over from time ti time I think “oh I haven’t made chicken-alla-king for a long time”. Mom’s chicken curry salad hasn’t crossed my mind in a long time. Can even use a master list of suggestions, use all the ideas posted then glance at it to refresh your memory. If you can’t recall all the veggies that go into a recipe you can then look up the recipe then.
I also find if I re-roast the chicken bones in the oven. spread the cooked chicken bones on a cookie sheet lined with foil. good time to add more seasoning (season for mexican flavors, or Italian flavors. Turn oven to 450 degrees and roast up to 40 minutes) Your looking for deep brown just before burning. This step deepens the flavor of the bones to improve the stock flavor. You also remove any fat that you don’t want. scrape up the chicken bites that remain on your foil.
Lynda
I always make stock from store bought rotisserie, after l pick the meat off, l put all the bones in my crock pot, and fill the bottom tray (container chicken came in) with water, to get all the drippings & yep, let it slow cook overnite. I don’t add anything else, strain it & have the best tasting stock on hand for other dishes or soup
We freeze the carcass to use for crab bait when crabbing season opens up. works great.
That sounds pretty exciting Amanda!!
After I eat most of the meat (about 4 meals), I use the rest of the carcass to make Chinese rice “jook” soup or congee. About 1.5 cups white/brown rice mix, cover the carcass and rice with water and boil until the rice kernels “break open.” I usually then add some frozen vegetables that thaw/cook in the hot soup (and cool the soup down some. That is an easy bachelor’s meal for a few days!
Roast chicken served with coleslaw and Jasmine rice with Thai Sweet pepper sauce. Bed of rice with chicken on top and sauce over all.
Prepare lovely chicken salad red grapes cut in half, celery also cut in Small wedges, mixed nuts chopped, table mayo, mixed together just great.
Thanks for the confirmation I can freeze them. I’ve been getting 2 but lately it’s not enough between Costco trips, which I’m trying to minimize during this COVID nightmare.
I soak the bones & skin in a big glass jar (used to hold pickles) & refrigerate rather than crockpot. It’s sort of like making sun tea vs brewing.
I pour liquid off the hot chickens first, as that gels & won’t pour out with my “fridge stock”.
This way I can separate the fat, also.
I can usually leave my bone-y jar in the fridge until garbage day, when I pour off the liquid & put bones in trash. In the winter, it’s soup stock. In summer, I use some to steam more flavorful veggies, rice or freeze for winter soup.