Aim: To evaluate the role of dressed chicken in the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and methods: 190 chicken carcass rinsates were subjected to culture and biochemical analyses to isolate and identify MRSA. PCR was used to amplify mecA gene that is responsible for methicillin resistance. Results & conclusion: Culture and molecular analysis showed 19.5% (37/190) of the rinse had MRSA on oxacillin-resistance screening agar base (ORSAB) with 7.9% (15/190) possessing the mecA gene. Significant association (p = 0.044) exist between local-chicken and presence of MRSA, being twice more likely to have MRSA compared to exotic-chickens (odds ratio [OR] = 2.132). Results indicate possible role of dressed-chicken in the spread of MRSA. Authorities should regulate the sale and use of antibiotics by farmers, and enhance hygienic practices at slaughterhouses. Lay abstract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that can be spread from animals to humans and vice versa. The occurrence of this pathogen in chicken is linked to indiscriminate antimicrobial usage by poultry farmers in a bid to improve productivity and maximize profit. This work was conducted to explore the potential role of dressed chicken in spreading MRSA among humans. It was found that due to the unhygienic nature with which chicken are dressed in the study area, such dressed chickens are contaminated with MRSA, thus can serve as vehicle for spread of MRSA among processors and consumers of chicken.