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Wrapped in a crispy, golden-brown shell, this knockoff of Costco's beloved Chicken Bake packs juicy chicken, crunchy bacon, and oozy cheese inside freshly baked pizza dough. You'll enjoy the perfect mix of tangy dressing, rich meats, and stretchy cheese in every mouthful.
I tried making this food court hit countless times before figuring it out. The magic really comes down to grabbing top-notch ingredients and putting everything together the right way. Fresh dough and well-flavored chicken totally change the game.
Key Components
- Pizza dough: Works as your wrapper - homemade or bought, make sure it's not cold when you roll it out. The stuff from Trader Joe's works amazingly well because it's just the right mix of chewy and tasty.
- Chicken from rotisserie: Gives you perfect moisture and flavor, though any cooked chicken can do the trick. Pull it apart while it's still hot for better mixing with other stuff.
- Bacon bits: Brings that smoky punch and satisfying crunch. Cook until it's good and crisp but watch it doesn't burn, then break it into tiny pieces so it spreads evenly.
- Real mozzarella: Grate it yourself - the bagged kind has stuff that stops it from melting right. Let the cheese sit out a bit so it melts better in the oven.
- Block Parmesan: Grate it fresh instead of buying the container kind for sharp, salty kicks that make everything taste better. It doesn't have much water in it, which helps make your crust super crispy.
Making It Step By Step
- Get Your Dough Ready
- Take your room-temp pizza dough and roll it flat into a rectangle on a floured counter. Try to make it all the same thickness so it'll bake evenly.
- Add Your Fillings
- Smear dressing all over the dough but leave a little space around the edges for sealing. Scatter your shredded chicken and bacon pieces evenly, then pile on lots of mozzarella. Make sure everything's spread out so each bite tastes amazing.
- Roll It Up
- From the long side, start rolling everything up tight, kind of like you would with cinnamon rolls. Press the edges and ends firmly to close them up so nothing leaks while baking. Roll firmly but don't squeeze so hard you tear the dough.
- Prep The Outside
- Rub some olive oil on the outside and sprinkle Parmesan all over. This will give you that gorgeous golden crunch when it bakes. Cut a few small slashes on top so steam can escape.
- Bake It Right
- Stick it in your oven at 415°F until it turns a deep golden color. The hot oven gives you that crispy outside while keeping everything inside gooey and moist.
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Keeping It Fresh
Store any leftovers properly to keep them tasting great. Pop them in an airtight box in your fridge and eat within three days. When freezing, wrap each one in baking paper before putting in freezer bags so they won't stick together.
Prep Ahead Tricks
Make several chicken bakes at once and freeze them unbaked. Wrap them carefully and they'll keep for up to three months in the freezer. Just move them to your fridge overnight before you want to bake them.
What To Eat With It
Turn this into a full dinner by adding a fresh Caesar salad or some oven-roasted veggies. The tangy dressing inside your chicken bake tastes amazing with some crisp, fresh vegetables on the side.
What started as me trying to copy a food court snack has turned into my go-to recipe for quick dinners and meal prepping. The mix of crunchy crust, melty cheese, and tasty filling shows that homemade can beat the original any day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Is rotisserie chicken okay?
- Sure! It’s super flavorful and saves you prep work.
- → Can I prep them early?
- You can prep ahead and chill, but they’re yummiest when freshly baked.
- → Which dressing tastes closest?
- Caesar feels more authentic, but Ranch adds great flavor too.
- → Can I freeze these unbaked?
- Yep, freeze before baking. Wrap tight and freeze for 3 months. Thaw before cooking.
- → Is store-bought pizza dough fine?
- Totally! Fresh or frozen dough works perfectly for this.