The best rotisserie chicken is at this store, Consumer Reports says

Deciding which rotisserie chicken to buy isn't an easy choice, but a new Consumer Reports test hopes to help shoppers make the right decision for dinner time.

Various grocers sell their own variation of rotisserie chicken; however, Consumer Reports found that six stores in particular have the most flavorful, delectable birds.

The nonprofit bought rotisserie chicken from 10 stores and conducted a blind taste test to find the chicken with the best flavor and texture. To do this, Consumer Reports determined the sodium content, compared the chicken’s weight to its label and even observed the levels of plastics in the packaging and meat.

Coming in at No. 1 in the best overall category was Sam’s Club’s chicken, which Consumer Reports said has a paprika rub that "gave the bird a beautiful bronzed color.

“The meat was very moist and juicy, with a deep roasted flavor and hints of onion and garlic," the nonprofit continued.

Shana DeSmit, Sam's Club's divisional merchandise manager of meat and seafood, said on June 30 that the company knows customers count on Sam's Club to feed their families, especially when it comes to rotisserie chicken.

"We take that responsibility seriously when it comes to flavor and freshness," DeSmit said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Our focus is entirely on delivering that consistent, seasoned-to-perfection quality every single time, while maintaining a price that brings genuine value to our members."

Following closely behind Sam's Club were Costco at No. 2 and Stop & Shop at No. 3 in the best overall category.

"Our customers are looking for meals that are both delicious and affordable, and our rotisserie chicken delivers on both," Stop & Shop President Roger Wheeler said in a June 30 statement to USA TODAY.

Who came out on top in the best overall category?

Consumer Reports conducted the testing among 10 retailers, including BJ's, Costco, Hannaford, Sam’s Club, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, The Fresh Market, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods.

Here’s how the stores ranked.

No. 1 – Sam's Club Member's Mark Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken

• $1.66 per pound
• 130 calories per serving
• 6 grams of fat per serving
• Sodium: Labeled 430 milligrams per serving; testing showed between 172 and 253 milligrams.
• Brine ingredients: Natural flavors, salt, sodium phosphate and sugar.
• What Consumer Reports had to say: "A paprika rub gave the bird a beautiful bronzed color. The meat was very moist and juicy, with a deep roasted flavor and hints of onion and garlic."

No. 2 – Costco Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken

• $1.66 per pound
• 140 calories per serving
• 7 grams of fat per serving
• Sodium: Labeled 460 milligrams per serving; testing showed between 112 and 194 milligrams.
• Brine includes: Carrageenan, salt, sodium phosphate and sugar.
• What Consumer Reports had to say: "One of the plumpest birds in our test. The meat was moist and well seasoned, although the saltiness varied in the samples we tested."

No. 3 – Stop & Shop Whole Rotisserie Chicken

• $4.57 per pound
• 120 calories per serving
• 4 grams of fat per serving
• Sodium: Labeled 340 milligrams per serving; testing showed between 169 and 227 milligrams.
• Brine ingredients: Carrageenan, salt and sugar.
• What Consumer Reports had to say: "The skin was shriveled, and two samples appeared almost burnt. But the chicken tasted a lot better than it looked. The meat was very flavorful and tender."

No. 4 – Walmart Traditional Fully-Cooked Rotisserie Chicken

• $2.65 per pound
• 250 calories per serving
• 19 grams of fat per serving
• Sodium: Labeled 250 milligrams per serving; testing showed between 251 and 273 milligrams.
• Brine ingredients: Carrageenan, natural flavors and salt.
• What Consumer Reports had to say: "The meat was well seasoned with hints of lemon and rosemary, and the texture was moist and tender."

No. 5 – Wegmans Whole Roasted Chicken, Plain

• $4.69 per pound
• 180 calories per serving
• 9 grams of fat per serving
• Sodium: Labeled 440 milligrams per serving; testing showed between 188 and 206 milligrams.
• Chicken is brined in salt.
• What Consumer Reports had to say: "A good choice for purists. The sea-salt-only seasoning let the roasted chicken flavor shine through. It was paler in appearance than the others in our test."

No. 6 – Whole Foods Market Classic Rotisserie Chicken

• $5.14 per pound
• 200 calories
• 11 grams of fat per serving
• Sodium: Labeled 310 milligrams per serving; testing showed between 127 and 145 milligrams.
• Chicken is not brined.
• What Consumer Reports had to say: "The only seasonings were salt and cracked black pepper, which added some heat. The meat was a bit drier than the others in this category but still tender and very flavorful."

Whose chicken didn’t do so well with tasters?

In addition to ranking rotisserie chicken for its flavor, Consumer Reports noted that some rotisserie chicken brands aren’t great when eaten on their own and are best used in recipes such as soups, stews, sandwiches and salads.

BJ's Wellsley Farms Whole Rotisserie Chicken, for example, had a "fairly mild flavor, and the meat was on the dry side and slightly chewy," the organization wrote.

Tasters also tried the Fresh Market’s Roasted Natural Chicken, noting that it has a "very mild flavor (that) didn’t wow our tasters, and the texture was slightly dry."

Consumer Reports said there are ways customers can choose better-tasting chicken while making their grocery store runs.

Tips for buying the best bird include:

• Choose chicken with an overall golden color. The coloring signals that the chicken has been cooked evenly. 
• Pick chicken with smooth (not shriveled) skin. Shriveled skin could mean the chicken has been sitting too long.
• Check the timestamp on the chicken’s package to see how long it has been sitting out. If there is no timestamp, ask an associate when the most recent batch was set out.
• Lift the packages to compare their weight. 

What’s the verdict on sodium and plastic in grocery store chicken?

Sodium was another factor Consumer Reports looked at when testing chicken from the 10 stores. Testing found that chicken from Sam's Club, Costco, Stop & Shop, Wegmans and Whole Foods contained less sodium than the amounts printed on the nutrition labels. 

Walmart, however, showed slightly higher sodium levels per serving than what’s printed on the rotisserie chicken’s nutrition label.

Because rotisserie chicken is often served in plastic packaging with clear lids that customers can peer into before buying, the nonprofit also looked into whether plastics had seeped into the chicken.

Testing found one chemical in all of the chickens except ShopRite’s – phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals used in plastic products to make materials softer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Costco and Walmart had the highest amounts of phthalates. The levels were lower than what was previously found in other foods the nonprofit has tested, but high enough to raise concern, Consumer Reports said. 

In October 2025, Walmart announced that it would eliminate synthetic dyes and 30 other ingredients, including phthalates, in its private-branded products.

"The levels we found weren’t high enough to pose a health risk for adults unless someone ate a lot of those chickens—more than 45 ounces per week," Consumer Reports wrote. "But with 978 nanograms in 3 ounces, the levels were above the 600 nanograms per day limit our experts consider safe for young children."

This story has been updated to add new information.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].