Costco Chicken Kebab Recipe Copycat Better Than Store

Introduction

You came here for one thing: a Costco chicken kebab recipe that works, fast. I have two options for you. You can use WestEnd Cuisine Grilled Mediterranean Style Chicken Skewers that are fully cooked. Or, you can make copycat chicken kabobs from scratch with that Mediterranean-style flavor.

I’ll show you how to get browned bites in a grill pan or skillet, keep them juicy in the oven, and nail the air fryer when you’re short on time. I’ll also describe what changes when you’re cooking from frozen vs fresh, and when 165°F matters.

Compare $4.99 Costco rotisserie chicken with WestEnd Cuisine Grilled Mediterranean Style Chicken Skewers. Example pricing: $13.99 for 1.75 pounds is about $7.99 per pound. Raw chicken breast can be about $2.99 a pound in some stores. The extra cost is for convenience.

Pick Your Path in 60 Seconds

You’ve basically got two stylish options with Costco chicken skewers and chicken kabobs. One path uses a fully cooked Mediterranean-style product you just reheat. The other path is a copycat route. You create the flavor from scratch with a quick marinade. Use the method that works for your kitchen: grill pan or skillet, oven, or air fryer.

If You Bought the Pre-Cooked Costco Skewers

Look for WestEnd Cuisine Grilled Mediterranean Style Chicken Skewers in the refrigerated deli area at Costco. Since they’re fully cooked, you’re only trying to warm them and get a slight browning. You can cook them from frozen, just add a few minutes and flip halfway through so both sides heat evenly.

If You Want a True Homemade Costco-Style Kebab Recipe

Begin with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Make a strong marinade using lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and paprika. Thread the chicken with bell peppers and red onion, then cook until the widest piece hits 165°F. That’s the clean line between tasty and safe.

What Are Costco Chicken Skewers Exactly?

When you see Costco chicken skewers, you’re usually looking at WestEnd Cuisine. The product is sold as hand-made and built from chicken breast slices, not random pieces. You’ll also notice label-style trust cues like gluten-free, preservative-free, vegetarian-fed, and raised without antibiotics.

Ingredient Clues From the Label What You’re Tasting

The ingredient list tells you why the texture feels bouncy and the seasoning tastes bright. You’re starting with chicken breast plus water, then potato starch helps bind those chicken breast slices.

Flavor and balance come from several ingredients. These include:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Vinegar
• Salt
• Lemon juice
• Dextrose
• Dried garlic
• Dried onion
• Natural flavor

The Costco Mediterranean Flavor Fingerprint

Here’s the taste pattern you’ll notice in almost every bite. It starts with salt and pepper, then pops with lemon and garlic. The finish leans on onion, plus herb notes like basil and rosemary.

How to Cook Costco Chicken Skewers Perfectly?

Your goal is simple when you reheat these. Warm them up, keep the inside tender, and get some browning on the outside. That’s why I like methods that let you control heat and moisture. No matter what you pick, flip once halfway through so both sides heat evenly.

Method	Temp	Time	Notes
grill pan or skillet	medium heat	6 to 8 minutes	Focus on caramelization and browning. Flip halfway so you heat evenly and keep a tender interior.
oven (option 1)	400°F	8 to 9 minutes (package-style)	Spread skewers out on a sheet pan. Turn halfway.
oven (option 2)	375°F	16 to 18 minutes (alternate label-style)	Slower and gentler. Turn halfway.
microwave (option 1)	N-A	3 minutes	Heat for speed, not texture. Turn halfway.
microwave (option 2)	N-A	1.5 to 2 minutes (1100W) / 3 to 4 minutes (800W)	Stop once hot. Add a quick pan-sear if you want browning.
air fryer	375°F	6 minutes	Pull when until sufficiently warm to reduce the risk of overcooking.
Frozen adjustment (any method)	Same as the method	Add time as needed	Cook directly from the freezer and add a few minutes. Still flip once halfway through for even heating.

Best Overall Grill Pan or Skillet

This is the greatest approach for taste since the heated surface enhances caramelization rapidly. Set it to medium heat, then cook for 6 to 8 minutes total. Flip halfway so you get even browning without drying out the center.

Oven Method Hands-Off and Even

The oven is stable and simple when you’re cooking for more than one individual. One usual strategy is 400°F for 8 to 9 minutes (package-style), and you turn halfway. Another label-style method uses 375°F for 16 to 18 minutes. Turn the food halfway through cooking.

Microwave Fastest Option

Use this when you want speed, not texture. A simple baseline is 3 minutes, and you turn halfway so the heat stretches. If you want it more specific, go 1.5 to 2 minutes (1100W) / 3 to 4 minutes (800W) and stop as soon as they’re hot.

Microwave then pan-sear. Microwave the chicken skewers until hot, then move them to a hot grill pan or skillet for 30 to 60 seconds per side. That short finish adds browning and a little caramelization without drying the tender interior.

Air Fryer Method Crisp Edges Without Drying

The air fryer is the easy middle ground between oven and skillet. Cook at 375°F for 6 minutes and check early if your basket runs hot. Pull them when they’re sufficiently warm, because extra time increases the risk of overcooking.

From Frozen vs Thawed Decision Guide

You can cook them directly from the freezer, and it works fine. Just add a few minutes to whichever way you’re using. I still suggest a halfway flip, because frozen skewers tend to heat unevenly at first.

Doneness Safety Note –  Fully Cooked vs Raw Chicken

These fully cooked skewers do not need to be heated to 165°F to be safe, so don’t chase that number. Your goal is heat and texture, not a safety finish. If you push them too long, the risk of overcooking climbs fast, and the inside turns dry.

Costco Copycat Chicken Kebabs From Scratch Mediterranean Marinade Recipe

If you want a true copycat version, this is the chicken kebab recipe I use. It gives you Mediterranean chicken kebabs that taste bright, not heavy. The secret is to keep them marinated in a light Mediterranean-style marinade. This way, the chicken stays juicy, and the herbs stay fresh.

Use this scaling guide: 3 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice, then season with minced garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add one line: “Scale up or down based on how many boneless & skinless chicken breasts you’re using.

Ingredients You Need

Start with boneless & skinless chicken breasts, then add color with bell peppers and red onion. For the marinade, I mix olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. That combo hits the same bright-salty profile people expect from Costco-style skewers.

Marinade Time + Texture Tips

Don’t rush the soak. I tell people to marinate at least 30 minutes, and 30 minutes to 1 hour is the sweet spot for taste. If you want extra tender & juicy chicken, pierce with a fork before marinating so the herb gets in fast.

Too long in acid? If you leave chicken in lemon juice too long, the texture can turn soft and a bit mealy. For the best bite, keep it to 30 minutes to 1 hour and cook right after.

Skewering Prep: Soak Wooden Skewers

If you’re using wooden skewers, you need one fast step first. Soak 15 to 30 minutes in water so they don’t burn. If you’ve got metal skewers, skip the soak and go straight to threading.

Grill Method Classic Kebab Char

Heat your grill and get it ready before the skewers hit the grate. Cook about 5 minutes per side until the edges look golden brown. Before you start, lightly oil the grill grate so the chicken releases cleanly.

Oven Method Rainy-Day Kebabs

Preheat the oven to 425°F and spread the skewers on a sheet pan with space between them. Roast for 10–15 minutes, then turn once and cook another 10–15 minutes. Pull them when the widest piece hits an internal temperature of 165°F.

Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs

If you’re searching for air fryer chicken skewers, you’re usually asking two different questions. Are you cooking raw kebabs to a safe finish at 165°F, or are you heating pre-cooked skewers? Either way, turning halfway through is the easiest trick for even heat and better edges.

Raw air fryer chicken skewers must reach 165°F, and you should be turning halfway through for even cooking. Pre-cooked Costco skewers are a reheat only, so warm them until hot without tracking 165°F.

Air Fryer for Raw Chicken Kebabs

Set the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 7–9 minutes total. Turn halfway so the chicken browns evenly on both sides. Check the thickest piece and stop when it hits an internal temperature of 165°F.

Air Fryer for Pre-Cooked Costco Skewers

This one is just a reheat, so don’t overthink it. Cook at 375°F for 6 minutes, then check if they’re hot all the way through. If your basket runs hot, pull them early and rest them for a minute so the heat finishes the job.

Sauces and Dipping Ideas That Make Costco Chicken Kebabs Taste Restaurant-Level

Chicken skewers can taste a little plain if you don’t give them a sidekick.

That’s why I always pair them with one of these sauces.

Here are my favorites:

• tzatziki
• sriracha mayo
• peanut sauce
• pesto
• BBQ sauce
• teriyaki sauce
• spicy dip

Pick one creamy option and one bold option, and you’ll never get bored.

5-Minute Tzatziki Shortcut Pairing

This is my fastest fix when you want something cool next to hot chicken. Stir up a homemade tzatziki-style sauce, and you’ve got a dip that’s refreshing and flavorful. It also balances salty skewers and makes leftovers taste new.

Flavor Variations (Sweet, Spicy, Colorful)

If you like sweet, add pineapple on the skewer and brush with a little teriyaki sauce. If you like heat, shake on red pepper flakes or dunk into a spicy dipping sauce. For color and crunch, skewer peppers, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes right alongside the chicken.

What to Serve With Costco Chicken Kebabs

Think of chicken kebabs like a blank page. You can go wrap, bowl, or salad in about five minutes. My favorite foods are pita wraps and shawarma wraps. I also like a quick Caesar salad. For a base, I enjoy rice, quinoa, Greek salad, or cauliflower rice.

1 protein + 1 base + 1 sauce + 1 crunchy veg. Examples: chicken kebabs as protein, rice or quinoa as base, tzatziki or pesto as sauce, and Greek salad veggies for crunch.

Bowls and Wraps

If you want a no-stress dinner, make Greek chicken bowls. Start with naan or pita, then pile on sliced chicken, crunchy veg, and a sauce like tzatziki. It eats like a fast, simple meal, but you made it at home.

Sides That Match Mediterranean Chicken

Roasted veggies make this meal feel complete with almost no work. Toss potatoes and Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan with olive oil and salt, then roast until browned at the edges. While they cook, your chicken can heat up, and dinner lands at the same time.

5 Easy Meals Using Costco Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Strips

If you’ve got Costco Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Strips, you’re already halfway to dinner. These ideas are built for 30 minutes or less, with about 10 minutes of hands-on time. A toaster oven works great here too, especially for small batches.

Meal	What You Make	Key Items	Time Budget
Meal 1	Grilled Chicken Caesar Salads	Caesar bagged salad kit, naan, cucumbers, and tomatoes	Prep 5 minutes – Cook 8 minutes (toast naan in a toaster oven)
Meal 2	Chicken Caesar Flatbreads	naan or pita, shredded mozzarella	Prep 5 minutes – Cook 6 to 10 minutes (works in toaster oven)
Meal 3	Chicken and Rice Pilaf With Peas	Near East Rice Pilaf, frozen peas, olives, toasted pinenuts	Prep 5 minutes – Cook 15 to 20 minutes
Meal 4	Sheet Pan Chicken With Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts	parchment, potatoes, Brussels sprouts	Prep 10 minutes – Cook at 425 for 20 minutes (veg on bottom rack), then chicken additional 8 minutes (move to top rack)

 Meal 1 Grilled Chicken Caesar Salads

Grab a Caesar bagged salad kit and make it feel like a real meal. Warm the chicken, then serve it with naan, plus chopped cucumbers and tomatoes for crunch. If you’re using a toaster oven, toast the naan for 8 minutes while you toss the salad.

Meal 2 Chicken Caesar Flatbreads

This is the quickest“pizza night” trick I know. Pile chicken on naan or pita, add shredded mozzarella, and toast until the cheese melts. Slice it up and eat it like a handheld dinner.

Meal 3 Chicken and Rice Pilaf With Peas

This one tastes like comfort food, but it’s still clean and bright. Start with Near East Rice Pilaf, then fold in frozen peas at the end so they stay sweet. Finish with chopped olives and toasted pine nuts for salt and crunch.

Meal 4 Sheet Pan Chicken With Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

This is the meal I use when I want dinner and leftovers in one shot. Line a pan with parchment, then roast at 425 for 20 minutes on the bottom rack so the veggies get color. Add the chicken for an additional 8 minutes on the top rack to warm it through without drying it out.

Nutrition Calories Protein Sodium and Cost Is It Worth It

If you’re choosing whether to buy these again, the math matters. You’re weighing calories, protein, and sodium against price per pound and the comfort markup. In the end, the “right” choice comes down to your time and your value line.

Nutrition snapshot	Cost snapshot
2 skewers	1.75 pounds for $13.99
140 calories	About $7.99 per pound (price per pound)
25 grams of protein	Raw chicken can be about $2.99 a pound
600 mg of sodium	Convenience markup can feel like a $5 markup
Focus: calories, protein, sodium	Focus: value vs prep time

Nutrition and pricing can vary by region and package label, so confirm your Costco digits before you plan

Nutrition Snapshot (Pre-Cooked Costco Skewers)

Here’s the standard label-style snapshot people look for. A serving of 2 skewers can land around 140 calories, with about 25 grams of protein. The trade-off is salt, often around 600 mg of sodium per serving.

Price Comparison and Markup Reality Check

Let’s talk cost, because this is where opinions get loud. One example is 1.75 pounds for $13.99, which works out to about $7.99 per pound. If raw chicken is about $2.99 a pound, that gap can feel like a $5 markup for convenience, seasoning, and prep.

Rotisserie Chicken Reference (Value Anchor)

If you’re chasing pure budget, this is the baseline I use. A $4.99 Costco rotisserie chicken gives you a lot of cooked meat for the money. It’s not kebabs, but it’s a good anchor when you’re judging value.

Storage, Reheating, Freezing, and Food Safety

Leftovers are only useful if they still taste good tomorrow. Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you’ll eat it soon. If you want it later, freeze it, then thaw it the right way so the texture stays solid.

Storing Leftover Homemade Kebabs

For leftovers you’ll use this week, store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, freeze up to three months in a freezer-safe bag or container. If you’re freezing skewers, pull the meat off first so it packs tighter and reheats more evenly.

Freeze smart. Pack leftovers in a flat, even layer in a freezer bag before you freeze them. Push out extra air, seal it, and label it. The thin shape helps it thaw faster and reheat more evenly, so the chicken stays juicier.

Reheating Tips to Avoid Dry Chicken

Dry chicken usually comes from one thing: overcooking. Reheat only until heated through, then stop and let it rest for a minute so the heat finishes gently. If you want it juicier, add a small splash of water or a spoonful of sauce before reheating and keep the heat moderate.

Conclusion

If you want a fast dinner, I’d grab Costco chicken skewers and reheat them until hot. Use a grill pan or skillet for quick browning and a tender inside. You can also use an oven or air fryer for easy cooking. Just flip once halfway through and stop before the risk of overcooking kicks in.

If you want the real deal, I’d make copycat Mediterranean chicken kebabs with a light Mediterranean-style marinade. Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Add olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Throw in bell peppers and red onion, and you’ve got a chicken kebab recipe that feels like a full meal, not a shortcut.

FAQ’s