The Best & Worst In Fast Food Chicken
If beef patties aren't really your thing, you can always rely on delicious chicken served up at fast food restaurants. From nuggets to sandwiches, wings, and tenders, there are so many options out there for you to pick! But like any fast food item, the quality isn't always the same. So while McNuggets tend to be one of the most beloved picks out there, let's use that as a measure to compare with other chicken items. Here are 10 fast food chicken items better than McNuggets, and 10 that are definitely worse. What are your thoughts?
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1. Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
Arguably one of the most popular spots to grab a delicious chicken sandwich at an affordable price, Popeyes is a favorite for many fast food enjoyers. The chicken is always beautifully seasoned, super crispy, and paired with tangy pickles and a fluffy bun. What more could you ask for?
2. Wingstop Wings
If you're craving chicken wings, you can thank Wingstop for being a quick and convenient place to get your cravings satisfied. With an array of great flavors, and even limited edition ones to try, people generally fall in love with their Mango Habanero and Garlic Parmesan the most. You just can't go wrong with those when paired with crispy chicken!
3. Jollibee Fried Chicken
Ever since Jollibee made its way to Western countries, it's been hailed as serving up some of the greatest fried chicken on the fast food market. With its wonderfully seasoned meat, extra crispy exterior, and juicy interior, it leaves you with a satisfying experience every time. It continues to amaze customers just how tasty their chicken is considering its fast food!
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4. Raising Cane's Chicken Tenders
Considering Raising Cane's is a fast food establishment focusing primarily on chicken tenders, it better be good. And the good news is, it is! Their iconic chicken tenders paired with Texas toast and their Cane sauce is a combo too great to be true. These tendies always come out super hot, juicy, with the perfect crunch on the outside. Dipping it in that sauce really just elevates the whole dish!
5. Bojangles Chicken Sandwich
Bojangles is considered a hidden gem in the world of American fast food, especially considering it's only available in certain states! So if you ever get an opportunity to visit one, we highly recommend their delectable chicken sandwich which always gets rave reviews. Their chicken is just delicious, crunchy and perfectly cooked, and when paired with that coleslaw, pickles, and soft bun, it's a fantastic fast food chicken experience.
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6. Wendy's Chicken Nuggets
Move aside McNuggets, you have some serious competition. While Wendy's is a fast food joint most known for their witty social media banter, they're serving up some really awesome chicken nuggets too. People always talk positively about their soft texture, great crust, good flavor, and not to mention, awesome value! Maybe it's time to switch sides for a day to give these nuggies a shot in the limelight.
7. Chick-fil-A Chicken Tenders
Can you even talk about fast food chicken without mentioning Chick-fil-A? While their chicken sandwich already gets tons of love, many say it's often overrated. That's why we're going down a different route - we're giving their delicious chicken tenders a shout out. Many say the tenders are the best chicken item on their menu, providing customers with tasty flavor and solid breading. Pairing it with their iconic sauce really elevates things too.
8. Popeyes Chicken Nuggets
Popeyes chicken nuggets definitely get a gold star in the world of fast food. They're prized for their larger size, crispy breading, and excellent juiciness and flavor. When you're craving those crispy bites, you know they'll always deliver. Many say they're far better than McNuggets!
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9. Church's Chicken Fried Chicken
An undeniable classic, many people still love and go to Church's Chicken for some delicious fried goodies. Not only does it have pretty good flavor, people have noted that their fried chicken doesn't feel too greasy. Dip them in some gravy or ketchup for an ultimate flavor and texture explosion in your mouth.
10. PDQ Chicken Tenders
Perhaps one of the lesser-known chicken places on this list, PDQ has done a great job at standing out amongst the crowds. From their fried chicken to sandwiches, everything tastes pretty good! The biggest stand out is definitely their chicken tenders though, which have received a lot of attention for their crispiness, freshness, and variety of paired sauces. Just note this might cost you a couple dollars extra though!
1. KFC Fried Chicken
KFC might be one of the most well-known, most recognizable fast food chicken restaurants out there, but that doesn't mean they're the best. In fact, over the years, people have noticed a steady decline in the quality of their chicken. When it's cooked perfectly, it can be amazing, but more often than not, KFC fried chicken is disappointing. And with so many other companies opening up, they're simply falling behind.
2. Jack in the Box Chicken Nuggets
As far as fast food joints go, Jack in the Box might just be one of the most inconsistent ones out there. Many people online always love to comment on their hits and misses when ordering here. One item that repeatedly gets a lot of blast is their chicken nuggets. While they can be good if you're lucky, too often are they a bit soggy and not crispy. To put it simply, the texture isn't the best.
3. Burger King Chicken Sandwich
While the Burger King chicken sandwich used to have a great rep, with customers loving its size and taste, it seems to have fallen from grace. In more recent years, many complain about the sandwich being too thin, disappointing, and soggy. It's a far cry from what it once was.
4. Dairy Queen Chicken Strips
Perhaps Dairy Queen should just stick to their frozen treats. At least those always get rave reviews! Because sadly, as far as their chicken strips go, the biggest complaint always has to do with its size - they're just not worth the price! Not only are they nothing out of this world, it's hard to love them when they're a fast food item that isn't even great value.
5. Sonic Chicken Tenders
Similarly, Sonic disappoints audiences with their chicken tenders due to how small, flimsy, and thin they are. When you're craving a delicious tendie, you want to bite into a meaty, juicy, and crispy piece, not a skinny one that feels like it's lacking.
6. White Castle Chicken Slider
One word that perfectly encapsulates White Castle's chicken sliders? Meh. While this establishment is known for serving up sliders that satisfy those who want a quick bite, the quality of their chicken leaves a little more to be desired. Often served up a little too soggy, people are disappointed when they don't get that crispy bite.
7. Sonic Popcorn Chicken
Unfortunately, Sonic is making a second appearance on this side of the list. Because if their chicken tenders aren't great, it only makes sense that their popcorn chicken follows suit. At the end of the day, they're nothing special, and when there's other great options out there that are just as convenient, there's no reason why you'd pick this one over the others.
8. Carl's Jr. Chicken Stars
At the end of the day, these chicken stars from Carl's Jr. just feel a bit gimmicky. The only thing special and unique about them is the shape! And while that might be cute and appeal to younger kids, the taste isn't anything to jump out of your seats for.
9. Whataburger Chicken Tenders
Given that Whataburger isn't known for chicken items and is most popular for its, well, burgers, we're not sure why you'd want to spend your money on chicken tenders here. Combined with the fact that they often get a bad rep for having too much breading and being a bit bland, it might be a better idea heading to somewhere that specializes in these items.
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10. Subway Grilled Chicken
Subway prides itself on serving customers with fresh ingredients, but most people don't feel that way about their chicken. Many people aren't huge fans of their chicken offerings at this fast food sandwich joint, with some even going as far as calling them a bit rubbery and dry.
