19 Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked Worst To Best

Long gone are the days of burgers being the only sandwich available at the drive-thru — chicken sandwiches have clucked their way into the fast food game, and they're here to stay. Sure, burgers and fries make for a classic pairing, but have you ever had a fried chicken sandwich and fries? It's a pretty good combo, a great one even, and more and more casual restaurants are coming to this conclusion. The typical three-piece chicken tender meal is no longer the only poultry option on fast food menus; chicken sandwiches are all the rage, but unlike so many food trends that have come and gone, chicken sammies have proven to be a staple, not a trend.

Some chains, like Bojangles and Chick-fil-A, have been serving up nothing but chicken for decades, whereas others, like Shake Shack, have hopped on the chicken train in more recent years. Regardless of how long these restaurants have been serving them, they each have chicken sandwiches to bring to the table — some good, some bad, and some abhorrently dry. Whether you're a poultry pro or a bird beginner, this list will guide you through the fast food chicken sandwich must-haves and those that aren't worth the wait in the drive-thru.

While it's definitely a good thing that many restaurants on this list added chicken to their menus at some point, the same cannot be said for White Castle. Home of the classic slider, White Castle is a love-it-or-hate-it sort of place. Some people swear by the slider, whereas others avoid them at any cost. Now, the beef slider is one thing, but a chicken slider? It's an insult to chicken sandwiches everywhere, both small and large.

The biggest issue with White Castle's chicken breast slider is that there is nearly nothing to it. There's a chicken patty and there's a bun. Sure, you could order it with cheese, but chicken sandwiches don't need cheese the same way a burger does. Otherwise, you've just got a plain and incredibly dry sandwich and a sad one at that. Perhaps White Castle thinks it's doing you a favor by allowing for customization, but we think that this is just a bad chicken sandwich, no matter how much sauce one might attempt to slather on.

Sonic is another good example of a fast food place with quite an extensive menu. It's ideal for those late nights when you're craving something savory, and boy does the classic drive-in restaurant deliver on that end. From burgers to hot dogs to tater tots, there are munchies to please just about anyone at Sonic — but what about chicken lovers?

If you fall into the poultry fan club, then it's very possible you've tried Sonic's chicken sandwich. If you haven't tried it, well, don't be too disappointed, as you're not missing anything special. Sure, Sonic gets some points for at least bothering to slap a couple of pickles on there. But otherwise, this supposedly "crispy" chicken sandwich is anything but. It's certainly not the worst one in the world, but it's far from the best, so you're better off sticking with a burger or coney the next time you pull up to the drive-in.

We're officially hitting the spot on this list where the sandwiches are not bad by any means, but with such stiff competition, they still fall somewhat low on the ranking. Case in point: Wendy's Classic Chicken Sandwich. Right off the bat, Wendy's earns some points for the classic toppings on this sandwich, which include mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Revolutionary? No. Better than what many other places have to offer? Yes.

Speaking of the chicken patty, this one is just okay. It's neither the crispiest nor juiciest patty on the market, but it gets the job done. It works well with the toppings, and moreover, the sandwich as a whole is terrific when paired with some fries or maybe a chocolate frosty. If the OG chicken sandwich doesn't tickle your fancy, then Wendy's also offers plenty of other poultry options, including a grilled chicken wrap if that's more up to your speed.

Checkers is one of those fast food places that tends to fly under the radar, and if we're being honest, it's for pretty good reason. While there are no doubt some Checkers enthusiasts out there, the restaurant doesn't bring any stiff competition to the table. That said, its Classic Mother Cruncher is certainly a solid option, and the name alone earns it at least one bonus point.

The success of this sandwich lies in the sauce, which smartly sits on both the top and bottom buns. Sauciness is important with a chicken sandwich, as even the juiciest of patties have a pretty neutral flavor profile. This one features Checkers' "Squawk Sauce," which is no Raising Cane's or Chick-fil-A sauce, but it's certainly better than just plain mayo. Like so many other sammies, the Mother Cruncher features the iconic lettuce, tomato, and pickle-topping trio, but we can't fault the sandwich for featuring the classics.

Very few people go through Arby's drive-thru in search of a chicken sandwich. They pull in for a roast beef sandwich, or maybe curly fries, but a chicken sandwich? It's highly unlikely. As it turns out, however, Arby's Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich should be one more people's radars, because it's a surprisingly decent sandwich. 

Featuring a fairly crispy chicken patty, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and a sesame seed bun, Arby's certainly isn't reinventing the wheel. But it lives up to its "classic" title well — it's an all-around good chicken sandwich, and the fact that it carries no frills works to its advantage. Is there any real competition between this and Arby's roast beef sandwiches? No, but to be fair, it's pretty hard for any sandwich to beat the classic roast beef. Needless to say, Arby's wasn't lying when it claimed to have the meats, and if chicken is your meat of choice, then this is a solid option.

For a fast food restaurant that specializes in chicken, Raising Cane's surprisingly doesn't have the most inspired chicken sandwich. There's but one sandwich on the menu, and it doesn't even feature a chicken patty but instead features three chicken strips slapped onto a bun. This description may make the sandwich come across as lazy or pedestrian, but there's one key feature that sets it apart from the rest: the sauce.

Indeed, the iconic Cane's Sauce is what separates this sandwich, and that's both a good and bad thing. It's a good thing because the sauce is undeniably excellent, so when it's slathered onto a sandwich, there's very little doubt that the sandwich will be delicious by default. It's also a bad thing because, aside from the sauce, there's nothing remarkable about the sandwich itself. But, if you're a fan of chicken tenders and tasty sauces, then this chicken sandwich just might be the one of your dreams.

If you're looking for a chicken sandwich that you have to unhinge your jaw to take a bite out of, then Popeyes has you covered. And, no, we're not saying that as a diss to Popeyes, but rather from a place of admiration, because one thing is for sure with its Classic Chicken Sandwich: You will be getting your money's worth. And, if you were keeping up with food trends back in 2019, then you might recall the absolute frenzy that ensued when Popeyes first dropped the sandwich — if you've since tried the sandwich, then you know that it was popular for a reason!

Aside from the huge chicken breast, this sandwich features mayo on both buns and some pickles. It's probably for the best that Popeyes keeps the toppings minimal — after all, you already have to open your mouth wide enough to fit the chicken, so anything else stacked on top might result in a trip to the ER.

Any fast food chain that has a signature sauce is a winner in our book, especially when the sauce is as good as Zaxby's Zax Sauce. That tangy, savory sauce plays a pretty big role in Zaxby's Signature Sandwich landing such a high spot on this list, as it perfectly complements the large, crispy chicken breast that makes up the bulk of the entree. Otherwise, the sandwich isn't all too complex, featuring only pickles as the garnish of choice — it's simple, but it works quite well.

The key to the success of Zaxby's chicken sandwich is the ideal balance that it strikes. Between the thick-but-not-too-thick chicken patty, the layer of pickles, and the double layers of sauce, each bite has the perfect balance of juiciness, crispiness, acidity, and soft carby goodness from the bun. This is just an all-around delicious chicken sandwich, and if the classic version doesn't quite do it for you, Zaxby's also offers a spicy version and even a "Kickin'" version which features Texas toast instead of a bun.

If you didn't know that Shake Shack has a chicken sandwich, you're likely not alone. Shake Shack is known for many things, from its classic Shack Burger to its cheesy crinkle-cut fries to its milkshakes. This option might not be as popular, but if there's one sandwich on this list that we might consider underrated, it would definitely be this one. 

Picture one of the crispiest chicken patties imaginable, a hearty potato bun, lettuce, pickles, and a decked-out herby mayonnaise sauce, and you've pictured Shake Shack's impeccable Chicken Shack. The chicken itself is delicious, but what takes this to different heights is the buttermilk herb mayo, which tastes like the classic condiment but with a ranch dressing-like twist. It pairs oh-so-well with the chicken and pickles and provides a good example of a place being unique with its take on a chicken sandwich.