Updated

Updated · Fox Business · Jul 16

Costco Rolls Out $6.99 Chicken Strips Nationwide as Food Court Expands Beyond $1.50 Hot Dog

Updated

Updated · Fox Business · Jul 16

Costco Rolls Out $6.99 Chicken Strips Nationwide as Food Court Expands Beyond $1.50 Hot Dog

Q: Baked, not fried: What is the secret behind the massive calorie count in Costco's controversial new chicken tender meal?

The most likely reason is not the oven itself, but what is in and on the product: a very large portion of heavily breaded chicken, likely pre-processed with oil before reheating, plus a calorie-dense dipping sauce. Costco’s new meal is a five-piece order, and multiple shoppers have described the tenders as unusually large. That matters because portion size alone can push calories sharply higher, even before sauce is added. The breading also adds substantial calories through refined starches and fat. Food industry practice is another likely factor. Many frozen or pre-made breaded chicken tenders are par-fried or flash-fried by the manufacturer before they are baked or reheated in-store. If that is the case here, the tenders can still carry much of the fat and calories associated with frying, even if Costco finishes them in an oven rather than a deep fryer. The dipping sauce may be a major contributor as well. Reports describe it as a honey-mustard-style sauce, and creamy or sweet sauces are often one of the biggest hidden calorie sources in fast-food meals. Nutrition experts routinely flag combo meals and sauces as the easiest way calories climb into four digits. So the “secret” behind the 1,640-calorie figure is likely the combination of oversized tenders, dense breading, oil absorbed earlier in processing, and the included sauce—not simply whether the final cooking step is baked instead of fried.

3 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Jul 16

$6.99 chicken strips have moved from select test markets to Costco food courts nationwide, giving shoppers a new five-piece meal with dipping sauce.
The new item includes five breaded chicken breast strips and a sauce cup, and the combo totals 1,640 calories.
Costco is adding the strips to a lineup anchored by its $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combo, pizza slices, sandwiches and desserts, making the chicken a pricier premium option.
Shopper reaction has split: some praised the portion size and value, while others called the strips salty, dry or overly breaded.
The launch follows recent food court tweaks including a large chocolate chip cookie replacing the churro and new sandwich offerings.