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Costco Chicken Bake Air Fryer Recipe
Ash Tyrrell

Costco Chicken Bake Air Fryer Recipe

I still remember the first time I skipped the Costco food court line and made my chicken bake at home instead. I popped it straight into my air fryer, and honestly, the crust came out even crispier than the store version. Now I keep a couple of boxes in my freezer at all times for busy weeknights.
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Total Time 18 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 frozen Costco chicken bakes – no need to thaw they cook perfectly straight from frozen
  • Oil spray – a light coating helps the dough crust turn golden and crisp instead of pale

Method
 

  1. Pull your frozen chicken bakes out of the freezer and remove all the plastic wrapping. I always double-check that every bit of plastic is off before it goes anywhere near the basket, since leftover wrap can melt onto the food.
  2. Place the chicken bakes directly into your air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one. I've found that giving them room lets the hot air circulate evenly, so the crust cooks all the way around instead of staying soggy underneath.
  3. Lightly spritz the tops of the chicken bakes with oil spray. This small step makes a noticeable difference in how golden and crisp the dough turns out, so don't skip it even if you're in a rush.
  4. Set your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 16 to 17 minutes. I like to peek in around the 12-minute mark just to see how the color is developing, then let it finish the rest of the way.
  5. Before serving, insert a meat thermometer into the center to confirm it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the step I never skip, since it guarantees the chicken inside is fully and safely reheated.
  6. Let the chicken bake sit for a minute or two after cooking so the cheese inside can set slightly. Then slice it in half and serve it warm while that melty center is still gooey and inviting.

Notes

  • I always use oil spray instead of skipping it, since it's the difference between a flat crust and a nicely browned one.
  • I never overcrowd my basket, because the bakes touching each other steam instead of crisp.
  • I like flipping mine gently around the 10-minute mark for even browning on both sides.
  • I let it rest for a minute before cutting so the filling doesn't spill everywhere.
  • I keep my air fryer preheated for a minute before adding the bakes, which seems to speed up crisping.