As someone who cooks for a living (and for joy), even I fall into a dinner rut when it comes to deciding what’s for dinner. When I’m short on inspiration, my favorite move is to pick up rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. It checks all the boxes for a weeknight dinner: It’s quick and easy, budget-friendly, and something my whole family will enjoy. Plus, there may be leftovers for a salad or sandwich the next day.
With so many grocery stores nearby selling rotisserie chicken, I wanted to know which one was worth buying. I bought and taste-tested seven rotisserie chickens to find out.
What Makes a Top-Tier Rotisserie Chicken?
Although rotisserie chicken is about as easy as dinner gets, a disappointing one can ruin a meal, while a great one makes all the difference. To find the best, I taste-tested rotisserie chickens from several grocery stores, evaluating each one based on the following criteria:
I can confirm that not all rotisserie chickens are created equal. One is a clear winner, another is a close contender, and several are mediocre but would do in a pinch. Then there’s one total flop that made me want to toss it and have cereal for dinner instead.
The 7 Grocery Store Rotisserie Chickens I Taste-Tested
I weighed each chicken at home to compare sizes. Prices reflect what I paid at stores in my area of New Jersey.
Costco (3 lbs., $5.49)
Costco’s Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken keeps things simple: Each bird costs the same and weighs roughly three pounds. Sold hot and ready to eat, it’s made from a whole Grade A chicken and coated in a savory, salty seasoning with a hint of smokiness.
Credit: Simply Recipes / Christine Fiorentino
Wegman’s (2 lbs. 3 oz., $9.99)
Wegmans’ rotisserie chickens vary in size, but most weigh around two pounds. At about $10, this is one of the pricier options, especially for a relatively small bird. You can choose between two varieties: plain roast and rosemary roast. Unlike chickens sold hot and ready to eat, these chickens are sold cold and need to be reheated before serving.
Shop Rite (2 lbs. 1 oz., $9.07)
ShopRite’s Bowl & Basket rotisserie chicken is one of the smallest birds on this list, yet it’s still relatively expensive. The chickens vary in size, but most weigh around two pounds and cost about $9. Some shoppers praise the juicy meat, while others complain that it’s dry, underseasoned, and has more bone than meat. I’m firmly in the latter camp.
Sam’s Club (3 lbs., $4.98)
Sam’s Club offers one of the largest rotisserie chickens I tested at the lowest price. Each bird weighs three to four pounds and costs less than $5. The chicken is coated in a spice blend that includes salt, paprika, garlic powder, sugar, and onion powder. While the other chickens I tested came in bags, Sam’s Club packages its bird in a sturdy, recyclable plastic dome container.
Credit: Simply Recipes / Christine Fiorentino
Whole Foods (1 lb. 12. oz, $8.99)
Whole Foods has the most expensive rotisserie chicken on this list, despite its relatively small size. The birds generally weigh around 1.5 pounds. Whole Foods emphasizes that its chickens are raised without antibiotics or added hormones, a selling point for shoppers who prioritize those standards. Depending on the location, you may find varieties such as plain, barbecue, or lemon herb. Amazon Prime members also receive a $2 discount.
Walmart (2 lbs. 4 oz., $5.97)
Walmart lands in the middle of the pack, offering a solid balance of price and quality. At less than $6 for a chicken weighing about 2.25 pounds, it’s a good value. Walmart also offers a lemon pepper variety for shoppers who want something beyond the classic roast. And unlike Costco, which requires a membership to shop at its warehouses, Walmart sells its rotisserie chicken to everyone.
Stop & Shop (1 lb. 14 oz., $6.99)
Stop & Shop strikes a nice balance between price and quality, with rotisserie chickens costing around $7 and weighing about two pounds. Shoppers praise the tender, juicy meat and savory flavor, but opinions on the skin vary. Some find it crispy, while others report inconsistent results. Based on my own taste test, I agree with the mixed reviews.
The Best Grocery Store Rotisserie Chicken
Sam’s Club is the clear winner, with Costco a close contender. Sam’s Club offers the best combination of price and size, with chickens that are among the largest on this list. Its sturdy, leakproof packaging keeps the chicken warm and secure. The skin is crispy, golden, and savory; the meat is tender, juicy, and flavorful; and the seasoning is perfectly balanced.
Truth be told, I would have happily paid double—it’s that good. I was blown away, and so was my family when we ate the chicken again later that day, reheated in a dish and basted with the juices from its original packaging. Not only would I buy this chicken again and again, but I’d also go out of my way to find a Sam’s Club, pick one up, and add it to my regular weeknight dinner rotation. It’s a 12 out of 10!
If you don’t have a Sam’s Club nearby, Costco’s rotisserie chicken is an excellent alternative, with similar qualities and reliable consistency.
Rotisserie Chicken Worth Skipping
I love you, Whole Foods, but rotisserie chicken is not your forte. Not only is this chicken one of the most expensive I tested, but it’s also the smallest. It’s heavily overseasoned and scrawny, with dry meat and skin that’s neither crisp nor golden. The overcooked, dried herbs give it a slightly burnt taste, yet somehow, the chicken still lacks flavor.
Because some Whole Foods locations sell rotisserie chicken cold (though you may find it warm in the hot case), the skin can take on a slimy texture, and the already-scarce meat seems even drier and less flavorful after reheating. There are no juices to baste it with, making it difficult to revive this sad little bird. This is a hard pass, and I won’t be buying it for dinner anytime soon.
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, I’d skip the rotisserie chickens at Whole Foods and ShopRite.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes