If you've ever stood in Costco staring at the giant tub of Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad wondering, "Is this actually good?" - you're not alone. We picked it up, tested it at home, and put it to the test for taste, value, ingredients, and convenience.
Here's our honest, real-life review to help you decide if it's worth adding to your cart or if you're better off making your own.
Quick Verdict: Is Costco Chicken Salad Worth It?
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
- Taste: Creamy, mild, and crowd-pleasing
- Value: Great for families and meal prep
- Convenience: Excellent for fast lunches and parties
- Downside: Can be watery and gets soggy over time
- Best For: Sandwiches, wraps, potlucks, next-day lunches
- Skip If: You hate creamy salads or prefer ultra-fresh homemade
- Some shoppers have reported texture and moisture changes over time, so your experience may vary by location.
If you want a fast, easy protein option with no prep, this is a solid buy. If you're picky about texture or love homemade chicken salad, you may prefer to DIY.
If you're comparing prepared Costco meals, you may also want to see our reviews of Costco Caesar Salad and Costco Chicken Pot Pie.
Costco Chicken Salad Review
I'm always on the lookout for easy lunch and dinner shortcuts that actually taste good. The Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad is one of Costco's most popular prepared foods, so we brought it home to see how it really holds up for everyday meals.
The container is large and clearly designed for families, gatherings, or meal prep. It's made with shredded chicken, mayonnaise, celery, onion, and spices, and it's served cold.
Overall, we found it to be flavorful, filling, and very convenient - but not perfect.
What Does Costco Chicken Salad Taste Like?
The chicken is tender and fairly juicy, with a good amount of chopped celery and onion for crunch. The dressing is creamy and smooth, making it easy to spread on bread, crackers, or wraps.
Flavor-wise, it's mild and approachable. Nothing overpowering, which makes it a good option for kids and picky eaters.
That said, we did notice that excess liquid tends to pool at the bottom of the container over time. This can make the salad feel a bit watery, especially after a couple of days in the fridge.
Best texture: The first day or two after opening.
If you're serving this at a party, and are curious about other salad ideas, see our Costco quinoa salad review and Costco caesar salad review.
Price & Value (2026)
Pricing varies by location and weight. We paid $10.64 CAD (about $7.91 USD) for our container, which felt very reasonable considering how many servings it makes.
Realistically, you can get 8-10 sandwiches from one tub, making it a good value for families or for meal prepping lunches.
One thing to note: Costco's shredded rotisserie chicken is cheaper per pound. If you're willing to spend a few extra minutes, you can often make a fresher homemade version for less money.
So this really comes down to convenience vs. cost savings. You're paying more per pound in exchange for time saved and zero prep.
Where is it located in the store?
You'll find the Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad in the pre-made meals section, usually near:
- Refrigerated deli items
- Pre-made chicken meals
- Prepared salads and casseroles
Item Number: 26954
This can be helpful if you ask a Costco employee for help locating it. We found our close to the pre-made chicken pot pie and ground beef with rice stuffed bell peppers - both are some of our favorites!
Costco Chicken Salad Ingredients
You can see that I took a picture of the ingredients on the package that I bought. I've listed them below if you want to read them:
- Seasoned Chicken (Chicken, Water, Manioc Starch, Salt, Modified vinegar, Sugars [Cultured Dextrose, Corn Syrup solids], Sodium phosphate, Carrageen [Maltodextrin, Potassium chloride], Yeast Extract, Lemon juice powder, Sunflower oil, Calcium Silicate, Xanthan gum)
- Mayonnaise (Canola oil, Liquid whole egg and liquid yolk, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Sugar, Spices, Concentrated lemon juice, Calcium disodium edta, Citric acid)
- Celery
- Sour cream (Modified milk ingredients, Cornstarch, Bacterial culture, Carob bean gum, Sodium citrate)
- Onion
- Spices
Note: It also says that this product contains egg and milk and may contain wheat, fish, molluscs, crustaceans, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, soy, and mustard. This is important to know for anyone with food allergies.
The ingredients may vary from location to location so it's always important to read the package of the one you purchase personally.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large portion for the price
- Lots of chicken compared to dressing
- Mild flavor most people enjoy
- Extremely convenient
- Great for parties and quick lunches
Cons
- Can become watery
- Short shelf life
- Higher sodium
- Not ideal for making sandwiches several days ahead
- Not as fresh as homemade
Costco Chicken Salad vs Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Salad
If you're deciding between buying Costco's prepared chicken salad or making your own with a rotisserie chicken, here's the real tradeoff:
Costco Chicken Salad
- Faster and more convenient
- Ready to eat with zero prep
- Consistent flavor
- Slightly higher cost per pound
Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Cheaper per serving
- Fresher texture
- You control the mayo and seasoning
- Takes extra prep time
If convenience is your top priority, Costco's version is hard to beat. If you care more about freshness, texture, and saving money, homemade rotisserie chicken salad usually wins.
How to Use Costco Chicken Salad
There is no preparation required with this recipe, the chicken salad is ready to be served. There are so many ways to use this flavorful dish. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- SANDWICHES - The classic way is to enjoy a chicken salad sandwich. Use your favorite type of bread, add some lettuce, sliced tomatoes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper and you have a delicious and easy lunch.
- WRAPS - Spread onto a tortilla wrap and serve along with some sliced avocado, lettuce and tomatoes.
- SALAD - Skip the bread altogether and add the chicken salad to a bed of mixed greens. Top with some dried cranberries, nuts or seeds.
- APPETIZER - Use it as a dip for crackers, veggies, or pita chips. It's a great option for parties or gatherings.
- PASTA SALAD - Mix the chicken salad with some cooked pasta and a side of roasted veggies for a filling pasta salad.
If you're looking for an easy Costco meal idea, check out our Shepherd's pie review (a classic comfort meal) and our thoughts on the Cosco thin crust frozen pepperoni pizza (a classic at Costco!).
How to Store Leftovers
Here are some tips on how to store your Costco chicken salad leftovers:
- REFRIGERATE - If you have any leftover chicken salad, make sure to refrigerate it promptly. The USDA recommends refrigerating perishable food within two hours of cooking or serving.
- AIRTIGHT CONTAINER - When storing chicken salad, make sure to use an airtight container to prevent any bacteria or odors from contaminating the food. You can use the plastic container that it was purchased in, a glass container, or even resealable plastic bags.
- CHECK BEST BEFORE DATE - Check the expiry date on the label before purchasing and be sure to use it all up before then.
- DO NOT FREEZE - This will not taste good after it's been frozen. The creamy dressing can break down and separate while frozen. This will affect the overall taste and texture.
Nutrition Information
Unfortunately, Costco doesn't list the nutrition info on the side of the package, however, you can always request any nutritional facts through Costco customer service at your local warehouse. Here's the nutritional info that I received (this might vary at your location):
- Calories: 240 per serving (100g)
- Fat: 15g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sodium: 405mg
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Protein: 24g
Compared to other chicken salads, the Costco chicken salad is lower in fat and calories. However, it does contain a moderate amount of sodium, so it may not be the best choice for those on a low-sodium diet.
It's important to note that the nutritional information may vary depending on the other ingredients used in the salad. For example, if you add dressing or other toppings, the calorie count and fat content will increase.
What Other Costco Shoppers Are Saying
Based on reader feedback and online discussions:
- Many love it for quick lunches
- Common complaint is that it's too wet
- Some feel it's mayo-heavy
- Texture changes over time are frequently mentioned
- A lot of shoppers prefer making their own with rotisserie chicken
If you've noticed changes at your local Costco, drop a comment below. I update this review based on real reader experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people find Costco's Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad to be creamy, mild, and easy to like. It's a popular choice for quick lunches and parties, though some shoppers feel it can be too wet or mayo-heavy.
Some shoppers have reported changes in texture and moisture over time. Ingredients and preparation can also vary slightly by location, so your experience may differ depending on your local Costco.
Once opened, it's best to use Costco chicken salad within 3 to 5 days, following the best-before date on the package. Always keep it refrigerated and sealed tightly.
It's high in protein but also moderate to high in sodium and fat. It can fit into a balanced diet, but it may not be ideal for those watching sodium or fat intake.
Pricing varies by location and weight. Most containers are priced per kilogram or pound, so the final cost depends on the size of the tub you choose.
It's made with seasoned shredded chicken, which is often similar to rotisserie-style chicken. However, it's not the same as buying a whole rotisserie chicken and making chicken salad from scratch.
If it's too wet, you can:
Drain excess liquid from the container
Add extra chopped celery or onion
Mix in a bit of cooked, chopped chicken
Stir in a thicker dressing or Greek yogurt to rebalance texture
It works best for short-term meal prep. It's ideal for lunches over the next couple of days, but not for making sandwiches several days in advance due to moisture buildup.
It does not contain obvious gluten ingredients, but the label notes it may contain wheat due to cross-contact. Always check your local package if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Final Verdict
Overall, we think Costco's Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad is a solid, convenient option for busy families. The flavor is good, the portion size is generous, and it works well for sandwiches, wraps, and gatherings.
It's not perfect - the watery texture and short shelf life are real downsides - but for saving time during the week, it's a helpful shortcut.
If you'll use it within a couple of days, it's worth buying. If you want the best texture and lowest cost, homemade rotisserie chicken salad is still king.
This review is based on our personal purchase and testing at home. Pricing, ingredients, and texture may vary by Costco location.
Have you tried the Costco chicken salad? What did you think of it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Helen says
Whatever dressing they are using on the chicken salad is watery and tastes terrible. Also, they don't shred the chicken like they used to. Very disappointed how the chicken salad tastes now.
Anne Kreutinger says
I've had the chicken salad. It's very good but the price at my Costco is about $15
Carrie Hawk says
I agree. There were pieces I had to cut up.
Tiff says
I realize I'm on the late freight, I have had the Kirkland chicken salad before. But last week it was offered at our work potluck... it is VERY tasty... I told my coworkers that someone's auntie is in the back making that salad.
Ray says
I might try stuff peppers, they sounded good