Why Costco's Chicken Sandwich Fillets Are A Bit Of A Gamble According To Customers

Costco has many great must-buy products, but there are others that are best left on the shelf. Costco's Kirkland lightly breaded chicken fillets are one of those products. They may seem perfect for a homemade chicken sandwich, they're receiving mixed reviews online. The Kirkland breaded fillets come in a 3 pound bag for just under $16, and while they may be a good deal and handy for a quick meal, they're not always the best tasting. 

According to comments on social media, some find these fillets to be a go-to for low-effort dinners. "These are a staple in our house," wrote a Redditor in an r/Costco thread about the chicken. But others say these fillets have chewy pieces and weird textures. Another Redditor in the same thread said, "I get weird bits often like chewy grisly and uneven sizes. Quality control isn't there for this line of chicken." One customer even found a mushy consistency inside their chicken breast, making it completely inedible.

Most of the complaints seem to stem from the off-putting texture of the meat, but others aren't a fan of the high sodium content, which is 940 milligrams per fillet. "I'm usually the last one in my group or family to complain that something is too salty, but these are over the top," wrote one Redditor. A similar Costco product, the Kirkland breaded chicken chunks, have had the same problem, and customers have noticed a change in the taste over time. Sodium aside, others say these fillets are moist and crispy, and have not had issues with texture or suspicious pieces.

So will Costco's breaded chicken fillets work for you? Everyone's experience with these chicken breasts seems to be different, and how people prepare them and eat them might have something to do with that. These fillets come fully cooked and can be heated up in the microwave, oven, or air fryer, but most customers leaving positive reviews noted that they used an air fryer. It could be an odd coincidence, but an air fryer might be the perfect tool to highlight these fillets best qualities and hide some their worst. Air frying these so-so chicken breasts will help make them crispy potentially hiding some grisly bits or chewiness and it effortlessly transforms them into a quick and convenient meal. They may not end up on a list of Costco's frozen items to stock up on, but for an easy chicken sandwich or a topping on your salad, many customers say these chicken fillets work well.

However, even fans of the Kirkland brand fillets have noticed these are drier than other brands. If you're someone that needs a juicy piece of meat, these may be a total pass. Instead, many customers seem prefer the Just Bare brand fillets, which you can find at many Costco locations. These may be a better option to avoid a rubbery chicken experience. Many customers noted online that even beyond the consistency issue, they prefer Just Bare chicken in general for its overall quality. If your Costco location doesn't sell Just Bare and you're looking for frozen fillets, the Kirkland fillets might still be an option worth considering, but if you purchase them, do it with cautious optimism — there's no way to know for sure whether your experience will be a positive one.