Costco Vs Walmart: Who Has The Better Rotisserie Chicken?

When you've had a long day, and the last thing you want to worry about is spending the next hour scrounging up dinner, nothing comes to the rescue quite like rotisserie chicken. Made fresh at most grocery stores, a rotisserie chicken is one of the most cost-effective grab-and-go meals. Not only that, it makes for killer leftovers. 

However, the quality of rotisserie chickens can vary, and as many major grocery stores have their hats in the ring, it's hard to know which one will give you your money's worth. I tested out rotisserie chickens from two of the biggest players in the grocery market, Walmart and Costco, to determine which affordable chain should serve up your next stress-free meal.

One single chicken can be transformed into savory soups, creamy pot pies, or a myriad of chicken salads. Roasted until golden and kept warm and toasty, with steam condensed on the container's edges, it's hard to find a rotisserie chicken that doesn't hit the spot. Let's see which retailer does it better.

I found Costco and Walmart locations within minutes of each other to maintain consistency and guarantee that both rotisserie chickens were still warm and had a similar sitting time from purchase to consumption. I purchased both within the same hour and began the review immediately upon arriving home. For this review, I focused on the texture of the skin, the moisture of the meat, and the seasoning of the chicken. I also looked at the versatility of each chicken for use in other recipes as well as the quantity of chicken relative to its price point.

Costco is known for its low prices and solid deals that keep people coming back. Its $1.50 food court hot dog has a loyal following, but its rotisserie chicken is where the real deal lies. Costco's rotisserie chicken is 3 pounds, larger than many other grocery chains, and comes out to only $4.99. 

The rotisserie chicken's skin had a golden hue, but after transporting it home, it lost any semblance of crispiness it could've had fresh. I prefer crispy skin, so this was a bit of a bummer. The meat, however, easily separated from the bone, and there was a ton of it. It could definitely feed a family of four for dinner or be stretched into meals for the week. The meat itself was extremely moist, with a subtle saltiness. As for the flavor, it tasted slightly of chicken bouillon, but overall didn't have any major notes other than chicken. It was a little underseasoned for my liking, but for the amount of meat at that price point, it's a tough one to beat.

The retailer sold over $150 million in rotisserie chickens last year, and didn't even make a profit from them. The losses from selling the roast bird at such an affordable price point are compensated for by the number of customers it attracts to the store. The idea is that customers will go for the chicken and grab other items. I witnessed this in action: Many shoppers around me had full carts, with a rotisserie chicken plopped next to items like air fryers or 3-liter bottles of olive oil.

When it comes to grocery retailers, Walmart is the top dog. The food retailer beats out both Amazon and Costco in terms of annual revenue and has locations in every U.S. state. The brand has millions of regulars, many of whom frequent the stores for everyday essentials and grocery staples. Walmart's hot deli section has ready-to-eat classics like Nathan's hot dogs, mac and cheese, and two different rotisserie chickens: traditional and lemon pepper. The traditional variety costs $5.97 and comes out to a little over 2 pounds. I went to two different Walmart locations to get my hands on this rotisserie chicken, since it was around dinner time and the first spot was sold out completely by the time I arrived.

The chicken itself had a strong roasted chicken aroma, and the skin was deeply charred, which helped it to maintain a crispy exterior texture. The chicken was covered in a spice rub, which included an unspecified spice mix, along with salt, garlic powder, dehydrated lemon peel, citric acid, dehydrated parsley, and natural flavors. The meat of the chicken was strongly seasoned. Each bite was salty, a little too salty for my liking. The dark meat was moist, but the white meat was much drier than I'd prefer. The skin added a powerful herbaceous flavor profile to the chicken. After a few bites, though, I found myself looking for a reprieve from the seasoning blend. A simple chicken gravy or mashed potatoes would pair well and mellow out the intensity of the skin's flavor.

While both Costco and Walmart provide a solid rotisserie chicken, Costco pulled slightly ahead. One of the best aspects of a rotisserie chicken, aside from the fact that it is an affordable ready-to-eat meal, is its versatility. There are endless ways to use rotisserie chicken. The bones can be simmered to make a savory broth; the skin can be baked to make cracklings or faux bacon. The meat can be incorporated into a chicken cobbler or used for shredded chicken tacos. 

Walmart's rotisserie chicken was heavily seasoned, but because of its distinct flavor, I found it less flexible for other applications. Also, the white meat was really dry, which is a big thumbs down for me. While Costco's chicken was less flavorful, its meat was incredibly moist. The chicken also had around 1 pound more meat than Walmart's, and for nearly a dollar less. In terms of moisture, versatility, quantity, and overall bang for your buck, Costco is the better rotisserie chicken.