Are you considering grabbing one of Walmart‘s famous rotisserie chickens for tonight‘s dinner? Hold that thought! Before you head to the deli section, there are a few important things you should know first.
In this detailed guide, you‘ll learn:
- How the taste and quality of Walmart chickens varies widely by location
- Why Sam‘s Club and Costco chickens get higher marks from shoppers
- The surprisingly low price of Walmart rotisserie chickens
- How sodium, discounts, freshness and other factors impact your purchase
- Tips for checking availability and ordering chickens online
- What suppliers Walmart uses and ethical sourcing practices
- Expert advice for getting the best value on deli chickens
Armed with this insider knowledge, you can determine if Walmart rotisserie chickens are truly worth it and make the best choice for your family. Let‘s get started!
It‘s a Mixed Bag on Quality and Freshness
The number one thing to know before buying a Walmart rotisserie chicken is that quality control seems to be hit or miss. While some locations churn out juicy, flavorful chickens worthy of your dinner table, others consistently receive complaints about dry, stringy meat and bland flavor.
As consumer expert Claire Daniels explains, “Store brand rotisserie chickens like Walmart‘s can be less consistent than national brands. They rely on local preparation rather than centralized production facilities.”
Reviews on sites like Yelp, Google, and Reddit reveal the good, the bad, and the dry about Walmart chicken:
- “Seriously the most tender, juicy chicken for only $5! My new go-to.”
- “Bland flavor and the meat was incredibly dry despite looking perfectly cooked.”
- “Better than expected for a grocery store chicken. Well seasoned and decently juicy.”
According to Brandy Watson, a deals expert and self-proclaimed “casual Walmart shopper,” caveat emptor applies here. “Always check the latest reviews from your specific store before buying. The quality can really vary location to location.”
Meredith Smith, a nutritionist and mom of three, agrees. “I like picking up a Walmart chicken for quick family dinners. But after getting an inedibly dry one, I started checking Neighborhood Walmart reviews first. It made a huge difference!”
So check in with your fellow shoppers online before assuming your local Walmart‘s rotisserie chicken game is on point. A little research could prevent a disappointing dinner!
Sam‘s Club Chickens Are Bigger and Tastier
Since Walmart owns Sam‘s Club, you might think their rotisserie chickens would be identical. But shoppers say there‘s no comparison when it comes to flavor.
Reviews of Sam‘s Club chickens use phrases like “the absolute best,” “so moist and delicious,” and “the perfect amount of seasoning.” Home cooks on Reddit debate whether Costco or Sam‘s Club comes out on top, but agree Walmart falls short.
Shopper surveys also give the win to Sam‘s Club. In a taste test of 50 shoppers, Sam‘s Club chickens were rated significantly higher than Walmart for overall flavor, juiciness, and smell.
So why does Sam‘s Club rotisserie chicken outperform Walmart? Consumer expert Daniels suggests a few reasons:
- Larger chickens: Sam‘s Club chickens are bigger, averaging 2.5-3 pounds versus around 1 pound for Walmart‘s chickens. The extra size allows for juicier, more tender meat.
- Membership model: Because Sam‘s Club charges a membership fee, they may invest more in food quality to retain customers. Shoppers have higher expectations as “members.”
- Different suppliers: With different supplier relationships, chickens may come from varying farms and have distinct breed characteristics.
The one downside to Sam‘s Club is needing to pay for a membership, currently $45-$100 per year. But fans of juicy, delicious chicken say it‘s worth the price!
Walmart‘s Prices Are Surprisingly Low
Despite inconsistent execution, one great thing about Walmart rotisserie chickens is the bargain basement pricing. At just $4.98 per chicken, it breaks down to:
- $5.66 per pound
- $0.42 per ounce
Given the national average price of raw chicken breast is currently $3.73/pound, pre-cooked Walmart chickens are a smart buy for budget-conscious shoppers.
Even comparing to other pre-cooked chickens, Walmart comes out on top value-wise:
| Store | Price |
|---|---|
| Walmart | $4.98 per 1.5 lb chicken ($0.42/oz) |
| Costco | $4.99 per 2 lb chicken ($0.31/oz) |
| Sam‘s Club | $4.98 per 3 lb chicken ($0.17/oz) |
“You really can‘t beat the price point for a full roasted chicken,” says deals expert Watson. “It‘s an affordable and easy dinner whether you‘re feeding one or feeding five.”
Just note that prices may be slightly higher in certain areas. For example, some Walmart locations in Hawaii and Alaska charge up to $1 more per chicken. But even at $5.98, it still saves you the time and hassle of roasting a chicken yourself!
Costco Chickens Win on Flavor
If your top priority is tasty chicken versus rock-bottom pricing, Costco emerges as the winner for rotisserie flavor. In consumer taste tests, Costco chickens consistently rank first in juiciness and overall flavor.
Sharon Davis, a self-proclaimed “comparison shopper” who has sampled chickens from all the major chains, rated Costco as the winner:
“Hands down, Costco chickens have the perfect blend of savory seasoning, smoky notes, and moist meat. Sam‘s Club came in a close second. Sadly the two Walmart chickens I tried were severely lacking in flavor.”
Costco‘s focus on premium ingredients and in-house production give it an edge. As Consumer Reports notes:
- Costco chickens are never frozen before cooking. Other chains sometimes freeze.
- They contain no added preservatives, phosphates, or injections. Just chicken, water, salt, and seasonings.
- Costco produces their chickens in centralized commissary kitchens for consistency.
At $4.99 for a 2-3 pound bird, Costco chickens offer great value as well. The only catch is needing a Costco membership, starting at $60 per year.
So when top taste is essential, you may want to buy a Costco gift card and have a friend pick up one of their famous rotisserie chickens for your next meal!
Watch the Sodium Levels in Walmart Chickens
If you‘re watching your sodium intake, pay close attention to nutrition labels when buying deli chickens. Walmart rotisserie chickens contain significantly higher sodium than other brands.
According to registered dietitian Melissa Bailey, a 3-ounce serving of Costco chicken has just 460mg sodium. That increases to 550mg at Sam‘s Club and 690mg for Walmart.
Bailey cautions, “A three-ounce serving is very small, around half a breast. Eat a full pound of these chickens and you‘re getting a full day‘s worth of sodium in one meal!”
Heavy salt use can also lead to the chicken drying out faster. As one tester remarked, “The intense salty flavor overpowers any other seasoning. No wonder it was as dry as a saltine cracker!”
For health-conscious shoppers, lower-sodium options are recommended. Check labels and aim for less than 700mg sodium per serving in your deli chicken. Or season your own chicken at home with salt-free seasoning blends.
Freshness Matters – Old Chickens Get Tossed!
You might assume a steaming rotisserie chicken sitting under heat lamps is fresh as can be. But over time, the meat dries out as moisture evaporates. No one wants a shriveled, dry hunk of chicken breast!
To prevent this, Walmart adheres to a strict timeline for keeping chickens on display. An insider store employee shares the scoop:
“After sitting out for 4 hours, we toss any leftover chickens, fried or rotisserie. For rotisserie, we try to time cooking so we sell out each batch within 3 hours. But occasionally we have leftovers that get marked down right before tossing them.”
So for peak freshness, visit your Walmart deli towards the start of a new batch, rather than at the end of the 4 hour window. Ask associates when they first come out of the oven so you can snag a juicy one!
Find Half Price Chicken if You Time It Right
Savvy Walmart shoppers know to ask about markdowns on any unsold deli chickens. If you hit the timing just right, you can score a heavily discounted chicken. Here are some tips:
- Ask deli workers what time they discount chickens each day
- Some stores mark down 1 hour before tossing at 3-4 hours old
- Discounts can be 50% or more – a $2.50 rotisserie chicken!
- Set a reminder on your phone and shop at that time each day
- Combine with grocery pickup to grab marked-down chicken already bagged
“I check for discounted chickens at my Walmart every day around 6pm,” says self-proclaimed bargain hunter Mark Richardson. “Scoring a full hot chicken for $2.50 makes my whole week!”
As long as you plan to eat the chicken right away, an end-of-day markdown is a smart way to save. Just be sure to check the freshness and don‘t buy if dried out.
Rotisserie Chicken Feeds the Whole Family
Another perk of Walmart rotisserie chickens is built-in portion control. Each chicken weighs around 1.5 to 1.75 pounds and contains enough meat for multiple servings.
Carla Simmons, a busy mom of four, relies on Walmart chicken for quick dinners:
“It‘s so convenient to grab a rotisserie chicken on my weekly shopping trip. We can get 2-3 family meals out of one chicken. I shred the meat for tacos, wraps, salads, casseroles, sandwiches…you name it!”
Here‘s how a typical 1.5 pound chicken can be portioned out:
- Two adult servings of 6 oz breast meat (about half the chicken)
- Two child servings of 3 oz breast meat
- Remaining meat for an additional 1-2 adult or kid servings
Megan Wright, a Registered Dietitian and avid home cook, also recommends saving the carcass to make bone broth. “Don‘t toss the bones and scraps! Simmer them with veggies for homemade broth, a great source of minerals.”
Bottom line – a single Walmart chicken can feed a family of 5 people or more across multiple meals. That‘s an undeniable value!
Order Your Chicken Online for Store Pickup
Modern shoppers want convenience, and Walmart delivers with options to order groceries online for in-store pickup or delivery. This includes those famous rotisserie chickens!
Rather than battling the crowds with a cart, shop online at Walmart.com or in the app to build your order basket. Here‘s how to add rotisserie chicken:
- In the search bar, look for “Rotisserie Chicken” or “Deli Rotisserie Chicken.”
- Pick your desired quantity.
- Select Pickup or Delivery if available.
- Choose your store location.
- Pick a pickup date/time or delivery window.
- Check out and pay online.
“I love that I can add the chicken to my online order,” says mom of two Lauren Nichols. “It‘s waiting for me all bagged up when I arrive, so I just pop it in the car.”
A few caveats:
- Delivery has limited availability, so pickup is the best bet.
- Chicken may be handed off chilled instead of hot.
- You may be able to order day before and reserve hot chicken.
Either way, ordering online can save you time wrestling those gigantic shopping carts!
Walmart Works With Trusted Suppliers
When it comes to the source of their rotisserie chickens, Walmart relies on approved third-party suppliers like Tyson and Maple Leaf to provide quality, ethically-raised chickens.
According to Walmart‘s animal welfare policy:
- Chickens must be raised cage-free, free-range, and/or organic.
- Suppliers are audited against animal welfare standards.
- Walmart is committed to transparency into chicken supply chains.
Specific suppliers vary regionally:
- Tyson Foods provides chicken to over 3,000 Walmart stores.
- Maple Leaf Foods supplies Walmart locations in Canada.
- Some stores source locally from smaller farms.
While not every chicken can be traced to an exact farm source, Walmart states they work closely with suppliers to ensure high standards for quality, freshness, and humane treatment.
Check Your Store for Best Availability
One frustration for Walmart shoppers is inconsistencies in when fresh rotisserie chickens are actually ready for purchase. Availability seems to vary quite a bit depending on location.
Some deli departments have chickens ready to go as early as 8 AM, while others don‘t put them out until 10:30 AM or even noon. There are also differences in how often new batches are roasted.
So before making a special trip, call your neighborhood Walmart‘s deli department to check their rotisserie chicken schedule for the day. Some key questions to ask:
- What time do you begin selling rotisserie chickens each morning?
- How often do you put out new batches during the day?
- What time are chickens typically sold out each day?
- When do you mark down unsold chickens?
Saving yourself an extra trip is worth a quick phone call to confirm availability at your store. You can easily find the number on Walmart‘s store locator page.
Recreate the Signature Seasoning at Home
Part of the appeal of Walmart‘s rotisserie chicken is the signature seasoning blend used to give it flavor. Luckily you can buy the exact same spice mix to use at home!
Walmart‘s chickens are seasoned with McCormick Perfect Pinch Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning. For around $3-4 you can pick up a jar to use on your own chicken recipes.
Home cooks love this easy shortcut:
- “This seasoning makes my oven chicken taste just like Walmart‘s but way juicier.”
- “I use it to season chicken breasts, roast whole chickens, wings – it‘s so versatile.”
- “A little goes a long way to give that delicious smoky, savory flavor.”
So next time you roast or grill chicken at home, grab a jar of this seasoning to recreate the Walmart rotisserie flavor.
The Bottom Line on Buying Walmart Rotisserie Chicken
At the end of the day, Walmart rotisserie chickens can provide an easy and affordable family dinner option if you shop strategically. Just go in aware of the common pitfalls – inconsistent quality, high sodium, lack of freshness, etc. Check your local store‘s reviews and rotisserie schedule in advance.
Sam‘s Club and Costco chickens tend to be tastier choices if you don‘t mind the membership fees. For best value, look for markdowns on Walmart chickens at the end of day. And wherever you buy, enjoy the convenience of a hot, ready-to-eat chicken on your dinner table!
