Once upon a time, I started a little food blog that quickly grew legs and led to me private cheffing for parties and events around Chicago. I’ve catered, taught cooking classes, and developed recipes for over a decade now. There’s a long list of foods I prefer to make at home rather than pick up at the store. (It includes stock, croutons, and biscuits.) There’s one exception, though, and it’s a Costco rotisserie chicken.
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Why I Prefer To Buy Rotisserie Chicken
The rotisserie chickens at Costco are consistently well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. I’ve had my share of rotisserie chickens, and some of them don’t have as good a flavor as the Kirkland roast chicken. Costco roasts its chickens all day long, so I don’t have to go early to guarantee a fresh bird. Best of all, the spice mix Costco uses on its rotisserie chickens makes for a delicious bird that can be used in many recipes, whether I plan to serve it that night or prep meals for later in the week.
This prepared food has stayed at a reasonable price despite other food costs rising steadily. For $4.99, I can buy a whole chicken that I don’t have to prepare or roast myself. To pick up a whole chicken, olive oil or butter, and spices at the store would cost me two to three times that, and rotisserie chickens at other stores cost almost double. It’s more cost-effective (and faster) to buy an already-prepared rotisserie chicken from Costco than roast it myself.
What I Do With Rotisserie Chicken
I put my chef skills to work on transforming the Kirkland rotisserie chickens into a variety of dishes for the week. I love using the well-seasoned meat in enchiladas, soups, grain bowls, and salads. My best tip? Don’t throw away the bones. I save the bones from my rotisserie chickens in the freezer, and once I have enough, I make a big batch of chicken stock with the leftovers. I use that stock for soups, rice, and chicken pot pie all winter long!
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