Costco’s iconic $4.99 rotisserie chicken has gained a cult following among shoppers for years, but Consumer Reports says Sam’s Club now has the best bird in the warehouse club business.
After evaluating rotisserie chickens from 10 grocery chains, warehouse clubs and big-box retailers, Consumer Reports named Sam’s Club Member Mark The Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken is his top choice, beating out Costco’s Kirkland Signature Bird.
According to Consumer Reports, tasters gave Sam’s Club the edge for its flavor, seasoning and juicy texture. Costco’s chicken was also among the publication’s top picks, although reviewers found the seasoning to be less consistent between samples.
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Roast chickens cook in a commercial roasting oven. Consumer Reports rated chickens from warehouse clubs, grocery stores and major retailers based on taste, nutrition and other factors. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The results may surprise Costco shoppers, whose dedication to the retailer’s rotisserie chicken has helped make the $4.99 bird one of the company’s flagship products.
Costco has kept the price stable for years despite inflation, using the popular item as one of its best-known value offerings and a draw for shoppers. The retailer’s loyal customers have even expressed frustration over seemingly minor changes to the product, including a 2024 shift from plastic clamshell containers to bags.
Consumer Reports has not published a traditional ranking from first to 10th. Instead, he grouped chickens into those he considered flavorful enough to serve on their own and those better suited to recipes such as soups, salads, and sandwiches.
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Rows of freshly cooked rotisserie chickens are displayed for sale in a grocery store. Consumer Reports recently ranked rotisserie chickens from 10 major retailers, naming Sam’s Club its top pick overall. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Alongside Sam’s Club and Costco, the first group included Stop & Shop, WalmartWegmans and Whole Foods Market. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Hannaford, ShopRite and The Fresh Market fell into the second category.
FOX Business contacted Costco and Sam’s Club for comment.
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A Costco store in Vallejo, California on May 29, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The evaluation went beyond taste. Consumer Reports purchased between 10 and 13 chickens from each retailer at several stores and races.
Researchers weighed each bird, compared sodium levels with nutrition labels, conducted blind taste tests, and examined the meat and packaging for chemicals commonly associated with plastics.
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Among its findings, Consumer Reports said it detected no PFAS in the meat or packaging tested. The study also found that many chickens weighed more than the net weight listed on their labels, with Whole Foods birds weighing on average about a pound more than advertised, lowering their cost per pound.
