Chicken Bake (Costco Copycat) is the food court favorite made at home: a golden, chewy pizza-dough roll stuffed with chicken, crispy bacon, green onions and creamy Caesar dressing, melted together with mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan. It is a fun weeknight dinner, a game-day snack and a make-at-home treat for anyone who loves the original.
How to make a chicken bake: Mix cooked chicken, bacon, green onions, Caesar dressing and three cheeses. Roll pizza dough into four rectangles, spread the filling on, roll them up and pinch the seams shut. Brush with egg, top with Parmesan and bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden.
Why You’ll Love It
- Just like the food court: chicken, bacon, Caesar and cheese in a crisp, golden roll.
- Uses cooked chicken: leftovers or a rotisserie bird make it quick.
- Store-bought dough: no kneading, no rising.
- Four big bakes: each one is a full meal.
Ingredient Notes
Pizza dough: One pound, store-bought or homemade. Let it come to room temperature before rolling; cold dough keeps shrinking back.
Cooked chicken: Two cups, diced. Roast chicken, grilled breasts or leftover chicken all work.
Bacon: One cup, cooked and crumbled. Cook it until crisp so it stays crunchy inside the roll.
Creamy Caesar dressing: Half a cup. It is the sauce that makes a chicken bake taste like a chicken bake. Use a thick, creamy bottled Caesar rather than a thin vinaigrette-style one.
Three cheeses: Four ounces each of shredded mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan. Mozzarella and provolone melt together inside, and Parmesan goes both in the filling and on top.
Green onions and egg: Half a cup of sliced green onions for freshness, and one beaten egg to brush on top so the crust bakes up shiny and golden.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough, room temperature
- 1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
- 1 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced (about 4 to 5)
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces provolone cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded (about 1 cup), divided
- 1 large egg, beaten
- All-purpose flour, for rolling
How to Make a Chicken Bake
1. Heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 13×18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the filling. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, bacon, green onions, Caesar dressing, mozzarella, provolone and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Mix until evenly coated.
3. Roll the dough. On a lightly floured surface, divide the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each into a 6×8-inch rectangle, keeping it thick enough that it does not tear.
4. Fill and roll. Spread a quarter of the filling over each piece, leaving a 1-inch border. Starting from a long side, roll each piece into a log and pinch the edges and seams tightly to seal.
5. Top. Place the logs seam side down on the baking sheet. Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan.
6. Bake. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the dough is golden brown, the cheese is melted and the filling is hot (165°F).
7. Cool and serve. Let the chicken bakes cool for a few minutes before serving.
How to Roll and Seal a Chicken Bake
The filling is loose and cheesy, so the roll has one job: keep it inside. Leave a clean 1-inch border of dough all the way around when you spread the filling. That bare edge is what seals.
Fold the short ends in over the filling first, then roll the dough away from you, starting at a long side, like a burrito. Keep it snug but do not stretch the dough thin as you go.
Pinch the long seam and both ends firmly closed with your fingertips. Then set each roll seam side down on the sheet. I run a finger along every seam a second time before the egg wash goes on.
Tips for Success
Why does my dough keep shrinking back?
It is still cold. Let the pizza dough sit on the counter until it reaches room temperature; it will roll out easily and stay in shape.
Why is my dough tearing?
It was rolled too thin. Stop at about 6×8 inches for each quarter pound, and patch any small tear by pinching the dough together before you add the filling.
Variations
- Ranch instead of Caesar: use ranch dressing in the filling and on top for a chicken bacon ranch version.
- Refrigerated dough tubes: use two 13.8-ounce tubes, roll each to 12×12 inches and cut them into 6×12-inch pieces for 3 extra-large bakes.
- Homemade dough: make your own pizza dough with bread flour and yeast if you prefer.
Storage & Reheating
USDA FSIS says to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in shallow, covered containers and eat them within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for 3 to 4 months. Reheat in the oven until the filling reaches 165°F.
What to Serve With It
Serve chicken bakes with a Caesar salad, extra dressing for dipping, or a bowl of tomato soup. For more pizza-dough dinners, try chicken bacon ranch stromboli, Philly cheesesteak cheesy bread or crescent pizza rolls. For a party platter, add chicken bacon ranch pinwheels. If you love Caesar flavor, there is Caesar chicken with asparagus, and for a creamy casserole instead, million dollar chicken casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a chicken bake?
A chicken bake is a hand-held roll of pizza dough filled with chicken, bacon, cheese and creamy Caesar dressing, baked stromboli-style until golden. The Costco food court made it famous.
What is the filling of a Costco chicken bake?
Chicken, crispy bacon and green onions tossed with creamy Caesar dressing and cheese. Here that means mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan.
What sauce is in a Costco chicken bake?
Creamy Caesar dressing. It is mixed into the filling; you can also smear a little on top before the cheese.
Final Notes
Roll all four before the first one goes in the oven, so they bake together. If you have a question or make these, tell me how they turned out in the comments.
Chicken Bake (Costco Copycat)
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Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough room temperature
- 1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing
- 2 cups cooked chicken diced
- 1 cup bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup green onions sliced (about 4 to 5)
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces provolone cheese shredded (about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces Parmesan cheese shredded (about 1 cup), divided
- 1 large egg beaten
- all-purpose flour for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 13x18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, bacon, green onions, Caesar dressing, mozzarella, provolone and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Mix until evenly coated.
- On a lightly floured surface, divide the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each into a 6x8-inch rectangle, keeping it thick enough that it does not tear.
- Spread a quarter of the filling over each piece, leaving a 1-inch border. Starting from a long side, roll each piece into a log and pinch the edges and seams tightly to seal.
- Place the logs seam side down on the baking sheet. Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the dough is golden brown, the cheese is melted and the filling is hot (165°F).
- Let the chicken bakes cool for a few minutes before serving.
