The old adage to never shop on an empty stomach is certainly one Ive broken many times. I usually leave the store with an over-full cart, full of snacks and other things that caught my eye at the moment. Finally, I always grab a quick bite on the way home, even though my trunk is full of groceries. Its not a great sequence of events to get sucked into, but Costco and Sams Club have something of a solution. There are ready-to-eat or cooked meals that I can choose from instead of just snacks. I can heat them up as soon as I get home. While it wont be a meal I prepared for myself, I certainly cooked it, and on a hungry stomach, surely thats better for the old pocketbook than the additional food pickup on the way home.
Perhaps the most appetizing of these ready-to-heat and eat offerings at both stores is the chicken pot pie. Both stores offer it in large portions that easily feed a family. After you get home, its simply a matter of heating up your oven and cooking the pot pie for roughly an hour. Its hard to go wrong with a comforting dish like chicken pot pie, but I wondered how the two warehouses pot pies compared. I tried both to see if there was a clear winner.
For people who shop at Costco all the time, the chicken pot pie has almost become a legend. This hearty pie is loved for its convenience, low price, and most importantly, its huge size. But how big is the Costco chicken pot pie? Let’s find out.
A Brief History of Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie
Costco first introduced its chicken pot pie in the early 2000s in its stores across the United States It quickly became popular due to its classic flavor profile and generous portions. The Costco pot pie features tender chunks of chicken, carrots, peas and potatoes in a creamy sauce, all encased in a golden, flaky crust
Costco has kept making changes to the recipe over the years while keeping the things that fans love about it. The pie makes a hearty meal that can feed a lot of people. It’s easy to see why the huge pie has become almost legendary among Costco customers.
The Impressive Dimensions of Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie
So exactly how big is the Costco chicken pot pie? Well, it’s certainly not your average single-serve pot pie. According to the product details, the uncooked pie measures 10 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 3 pounds.
A 10-inch diameter is bigger than a normal dinner plate, to give you an idea. It’s about the same weight as a medium pineapple at 3 pounds.
Once baked, the pie grows even more massive in size. It fluffs up to about 2-3 inches in depth. Volume-wise, the pie can feed anywhere from 4 to 6 people depending on appetite and portion sizes.
It’s clear that this pie really lives up to the claims that it is huge. This pie is big enough to satisfy even the biggest hunger pangs.
The Pie’s Impressive Ingredient List
Aside from its size, another factor that has contributed to the Costco chicken pot pie’s popularity is its high-quality ingredients.
The filling contains premium white meat chicken, harvested from Costco’s popular rotisserie chickens. The cubes of chicken are tender and juicy.
There is also a colorful medley of farm fresh carrots, peas, potatoes and onions. These chunky vegetables provide texture and flavor to every bite.
All the ingredients are immersed in a rich creamy sauce. The sauce is perfectly seasoned, providing a comforting backdrop to the veggies and chicken.
Crowning the filling is a flaky, golden pastry crust that provides a satisfying crunch. The crust complements the creamy interior beautifully.
As you can see, the Costco chicken pot pie hits all the right notes when it comes to ingredients and flavors.
Nutrition Profile of Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie
With its generous portions, you may be wondering – how healthy is Costco’s chicken pot pie? Here is a quick nutrition run-down:
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A 1/6 portion of the pie contains approximately 420 calories.
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It has a decent amount of protein (20g) which helps keep you full.
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The pie provides 6% of your daily recommended vitamin A and vitamin C.
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It does contain a high amount of fat (26g) and sodium (740mg).
Overall, while the chicken pot pie is not the most diet-friendly choice, the ample protein and vitamins make it a reasonably nutritious comfort food. Enjoying it in moderation is key.
Heating Instructions for Optimal Enjoyment
To enjoy the Costco chicken pot pie at its best, follow these simple heating instructions:
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Preheat the oven to 375°F.
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Place the uncooked pie on a baking sheet or pie plate.
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Bake for 60-70 minutes until the crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling.
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Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
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Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Following these guidelines ensures that the crust reaches optimal crispiness and the filling is heated through.
Pro Tip: Cover the edges with foil if the crust browns too quickly.
Storage and Freezing Guidelines
The Costco chicken pot pie is conveniently frozen so you can enjoy it anytime. Follow these storage tips:
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Keep the unbaked pie frozen below 0°F until ready to bake.
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Once baked, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
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The baked pie can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Properly storing the pie preserves the quality and locks in the flavor. Freezing is perfect for meal prepping or whipping up quick dinners on busy nights.
Costco Chicken Pot Pie Alternatives
While the Costco version remains a top choice for many, there are a few alternatives worth considering:
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Marie Callender’s chicken pot pie – Comes in various sizes including single-serve and family-size.
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Banquet chicken pot pie – A budget-friendly frozen option sold at most grocery stores.
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Publix chicken pot pie – Freshly prepared option with a homemade taste.
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Homemade chicken pot pie – Allows for complete customization and control over ingredients.
While none can match the mammoth size of the Costco original, these alternatives offer comparable flavor and convenience.
Is Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie Worth It?
Given its cult following, it’s safe to say the Costco chicken pot pie is well worth the price tag. At just $10-12 per pie, it offers exceptional value compared to other pot pies.
Factor in the premium ingredients, generous size and satisfying homemade flavor – and Costco’s pot pie is hard to beat. It offers an indulgent, fuss-free meal with enough left for second helpings.
For those days when you need some no-fuss comfort food, the Costco chicken pot pie definitely delivers. This Costco specialty is truly in a class of its own.
The Verdict
So there you have it, all the nitty-gritty details on the legend that is the Costco chicken pot pie. To recap:
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It’s a 10-inch wide pie that weighs approximately 3 pounds when raw.
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The cooked pie can serve anywhere from 4 to 6 people thanks to its 2-3 inch depth.
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Premium ingredients like white meat chicken, veggies and creamy sauce make it super flavorful.
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At just $10-12 per pie, it’s a serious bang for your buck.
With its generous portions, hearty flavors and convenience, it’s no wonder why Costco shoppers are potty for this famous pot pie. If you love comfort food that can feed a crowd, grab one of these Costco colossal pies on your next visit. Just be sure to come hungry!
Taste test: Costco chicken pot pie
Costcos ready-to-heat pot pie had wavy-cut crust strips forming a lattice-like top to the pot pie. Underneath, you can see big pieces of rotisserie chicken sticking out of the filling. Its contained in a large holder that is not simply a circle. Instead, its slightly wavy in places, making the removal of the pie from its container easier.
I cooked the pot pie according to package instructions until it reached 165 F. The package said it could take up to an hour and a half, but it was ready in just one hour. I let it rest for a little to allow cooling and congealing time. Still, it wasn’t the most beautiful pie cutout I’ve ever made, but I could see big chunks of chicken and baby carrots in that first one.
Not only did it look a little less like it was made by a machine, but it also tasted that way. The crust wasnt much special, but I was more excited about the abundance of veggies. Seeing so many big pieces of bright colors makes it feel a little less heavy, even if a pot pie is nearly always a heavy dish.
What is a chicken pot pie?
A classic chicken pot pie is a hearty meal. It often looks like a sweet fruit pie, like apple or cherry, but it has a savory filling. Its easy to confuse a chicken pot pie and cobbler, but a big giveaway will be the shape: A pie is round, but a cobbler will often be rectangular. Many times, youll find pot pies with a decorative lattice crust, like the classic apple pie. In most chicken pot pies, youll find chicken, carrots, celery, peas, and onion, all combined to form a filling that is the epitome of comfort food.
While you could always make a chicken pot pie from scratch at home, there are also plenty of brands that offer frozen pot pies that you heat in your oven. It takes the work out of this comforting meal and makes it something achievable, even during the busiest of weeks.
Some stores, notably Costco and Sams Club, offer many heat-and-eat meals, and one of the more impressive offerings at these warehouse stores is the chicken pot pies. Rather than being frozen, these meals are in refrigerator cases, ready for you to take home and eat.
At Costco, youll find the chicken pot pies in refrigerator coolers in front of a large bay of windows leading to a kitchen where employees are preparing the ready-to-cook meals. Sams Club also has its meals in large refrigerated coolers, but based on what Ive seen through various videos and social media posts, they arent directly in front of windows so that you can watch employees prepare the dishes. The kitchens at Sams Club arent so open to shoppers to view.
Price-wise, both stores price pot pies by weight. Costcos price per weight is $3.99 per pound. The pot pie I picked up was $22.58 total. Sams Club offers its pot pies for a little less, $3.78 a pound. If purchased in-store, my pie would have been $17.69. Unfortunately, since I do not have a Sams Club membership, I needed to purchase my pot pie over Instacart, which has a rather high markup. I paid $4.80 per pound for a total of $24 for the Sams Club pot pie.
Costco Chicken Pot Pie | Chef Dawg
FAQ
How many inches is a Costco pie?
The entire 12-inch pie weighs 58 ounces, which means a slice is just under five ounces. In that five ounces, there’s nothing too glaringly worrisome on the nutrition front, with all of the major nutrition calories coming in at 20% or less of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommended daily values.
Is the chicken pot pie from Costco good?
The crust on the Sam’s Club pie was more enjoyable than Costco’s, but the filling is where a majority of the flavor comes from, so I’ve gotta give this one to Costco. The way Costco packages and presents the pot pie is also very good, even though it has little to do with how good it tastes.
What is the diameter of a pot pie?
5″ Chicken Pot Pie – Personal Size | Kelly’s Pot Pies & More.
Are Costco chicken pot pies already cooked?
The filling ingredients, including the chicken and the vegetables, are pre-cooked. But the crust isn’t; it needs to be baked according to the directions on the package to be fully cooked. How to cut Costco chicken pot pie? Use a sharp knife with a pointed tip.