KFC Is Trying Out New Ultimate BBQ And Spicy Slaw Chicken Sandwiches
If you regularly chow down on fast food, chances are one of your favorite indulgences is some variation on a fried chicken sandwich. Once an overlooked fast food option, chicken sandwiches are now so popular among diners that every major chain offers one, from McDonald's Crispy Chicken Sandwich to Wendy's Classic Chicken Sandwich to Burger King's Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich and more.
The majority of these sandwich offerings were introduced after August 2019, when fried chicken chain Popeye's debuted its Chicken Sandwich — to an almost unbelievable amount of fanfare and major, major profits.
As the so-called "chicken sandwich wars" continue apace, KFC is keeping up by introducing several more variations of its super-popular Chicken Sandwich, originally added to its menu in February 2021. Amid record sales of that sandwich, the chain announced today (via Nation's Restaurant News) that it's testing two new variations of the sandwich in Tampa, Florida to start — and also recently introduced KFC Chicken Wraps nationwide — all in an effort to keep chicken sandwich lovers happy and well fed.
The newest contenders in the chicken sandwich wars
Today, KFC announced an area test run of two new variations on its Chicken Sandwich: the Ultimate BBQ Chicken Sandwich and the Spicy Slaw Chicken Sandwich. The first option features a crispy fried chicken filet, crunchy fried onions, hickory-smoked bacon, melted cheese, and pickles, all served on a brioche bun with Honey BBQ Sauce, while the latter contains a crispy fried chicken filet, a heaping serving of coleslaw, spicy mayo, and pickles, and is also served on a brioche bun.
If you're looking for similar flavors and textures in a wrap, rather than on a bun, the chain added two new wraps to the nationwide menu earlier this month. For just $5, you can snag two wraps: Either the Classic Chicken Wrap, a warm flour tortilla stuffed with a chicken tender, pickles, and mayo, or the Spicy Slaw Chicken Wrap, which features coleslaw, spicy mayo, and pickles.
The goal of adding new sandwiches to its menu is to appeal to a wider audience, according to KFC U.S. CMO Nick Chavez (via Nation's Restaurant News). The move is also no doubt motivated by profits: In a recent earnings call, David Gibbs, CEO of parent company Yum Brands, commented that the brand expects "the chicken sandwich platform to continue to be a significant driver of our positive sales momentum for the business going forward."