New Wendy’s Chicken Sandwich

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In the on-going Chicken Sandwich War, Wendy’s has put another weapon on the battlefield, introducing its Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich on February 2.

The new sandwich is available in three menu options, grilled, classic, or spicy. All three feature a habanero hot honey sauce to kick things up a notch and is served on a brioche bun.

Here’s the description of the classic version from the Wendy’s website: A juicy, lightly breaded crispy chicken breast topped with pepper jack cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, crunchy dill chips, and a drizzle of habanero hot honey sauce all on a toasted bun. Sweet, sweet burn.

This sandwich has received a lot of hype, so for dinner on another recent road trip, I decided to see what all the hype was about.

I ordered the classic version and I enjoyed this sandwich. The chicken was prepared nicely, I got a nice crunch in the seasoned breading, the meat was juicy and tender. Providing a little heat was the pepper jack cheese, I got the slight smoke from the bacon and that habanero hot honey sauce was well balanced, excellent sweet heat. But what put this sandwich into the YUM category for me was the crunchy dill chips. This is a great add to this sandwich and I want it on others. You get the twang from the pickle flavor and a bit of crunch as well, a bonus texture element you wouldn’t get from just a traditional pickle.

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How To Store Leftover Spicy Chicken Sandwiches

If you have any leftover sandwiches, let them cool to room temperature, and then place them in an airtight container.

Place the container into the refrigerator it should last between 2 and 3 days. If you want to reheat it, place it back into the air fryer. My suggestion would be to coat the chicken again with cooking spray, which will help it crisp up again.

You Could Argue The Spicy Chicken Sandwich Wars Started With Wendy’s

These days, spicy chicken sandwiches are basically a dime a dozen at fast food chains. From Popeye’s to McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A to Burger King, it seems that everyone has taken up arms in the spicy chicken sandwich wars. Even Taco Bell has its own iteration of a spicy chicken sandwich . And the fierce opinions over which sandwich reigns supreme are just as vast as the range of options one has to choose from.

Some would say the tidal wave of competing spicy chicken sandwiches all started with Popeyes. And while it may be true that Popeyes’ sandwich set the internet on fire, so to speak, it’s worth noting that we might not even be having the debate at all if it weren’t for Wendy’s. Decades ago, well before chicken sandwiches were ubiquitous among quick service restaurants and national were a thing, Wendy’s was starting a new trend without even realizing it. The chain claims it was actually the first major fast food restaurant to introduce a spicy chicken sandwich on its menu, and customers fell in love fast. In fact, Wendy’s boldly declares that it’s spicy chicken sandwich has made it “one of the undisputed leaders in spicy chicken.”

Sadly for Wendy’s, the chain has arguably been outdone by some of its competitors on the spicy chicken sandwich front. But it seems only fair to give credit where credit is due.

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Wendys Jumps On The Hot Honey Trend With Its New Chicken Sandwich

Wendy’s today introduced a new hot honey chicken sandwich, with an all-white meat chicken breast, … Pepper Jack cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, crispy pickle chips and Wendy’s proprietary hot honey.

Wendy’s

At this point, its safe to say most brands have a signature chicken sandwich to compete in the intensely competitive category ignited by Chick-fil-A and bolstered by Popeyes.

Those sandwiches have generated sustained success throughout the past couple of years, illustrating a consumer set thats not even close to getting tired of such options. Fortunately for those consumers, the innovation wheel in the quick-service segment never stops and so it only makes sense that were starting to see some chicken sandwich iterations.

Enter Wendys new hot honey chicken sandwich. The sandwich includes an all-white meat chicken breast, melted Pepper Jack cheese, three strips of Applewood smoked bacon and crispy pickle chips. Its topped with hot honey and served on a premium bun.

During a recent trip to Wendys headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, Vice President of Culinary Innovation John Li called the sandwich approachable.

Its got the right balance of heat with sweet without being overpowering. The pickle chips add some textured fun, he said.

Li also said the hot honey platform launch provides good evidence of a food-first approach for the brand.

Hot honey is good on pizza, but its a heckuva lot better on chicken, he said during a media presentation Wednesday.

How To Make Air Fryer Wendys Spicy Chicken Sandwich

In a small bowl, mix Franks Red Hot Sauce and water. Combine the flour, cayenne, salt, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder in a medium-sized bowl.

Coat the chicken breast in the flour mixture, then into the hot sauce mixture, and back into the flour mixture. Use your hands to make sure that that flour mixture covers the entire chicken breast. Repeat until all of the chicken is coated.

Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray, and then preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F, air fryer setting for 5 minutes.

Add your chicken breast. Use cooking spray GENEROUSLY coat the top of the chicken, so the entire flour coating is coated. This will help your chicken crisp up. Set the timer for 7 minutes, then use a pair of tongs, flip the chicken, spray again, coating the flour mixture, and set the timer for another 7-10 minutes.

Check the internal temperature of the chicken before removing it. The internal temperature needs to be 165 degrees F.

To Serve: Spread the mayonnaise on the bottom bun, and then place the cooked chicken breast onto a hamburger bun, top with pickles, lettuce, and tomato.

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Wendys Hot Honey Chicken Menu Additions Set Fire To The Chicken Wars

With the two new Wendys Hot Honey Chicken menu items, Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich and the Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich, the restaurant brand has found a way to capture that sweet and savory food trend but in its own way. While many people might have drizzled hot honey on almost any food, this particular flavor does not shy away from the spice yet doesnt scorch the palate.

During a recent media call, John Li, Vice President of Culinary Innovation of Wendys, shared how this hot honey took a long time to perfect. The key to its irresistible flavor is the balance. Instead of blowing out your palate, the nuance of the habanero peppers with the honey makes this sauce the perfect drizzle for the Wendys chicken.

Similar to all the Made To Crave menu items, these two new offerings provide a sense of flavor adventure. Even though the name conveys the heat, Li puts these menu items on a spice level of 7/10, which is below the Ghost Pepper Ranch on the Wendys heat scale. The balance of the sweet and heat is key to making this offering about the flavor, not just the fire.

Looking at the breakfast option, the Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich builds on the fan favorite chicken biscuit served with the honey butter. The combination of that flaky biscuit with the crispy chicken always satisfies.

Classic Big Bacon Cheddar Chicken

Were going to take a quick detour to talk about Wendys other new sandwich, the Classic Big Bacon Cheddar Chicken before we talk about the much more exciting Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich. This is essentially a chicken sandwich version of the Wendys Classic Big Bacon Cheddar Burger that is currently on the permanent menu. In a sense, it was already a menu hack, and now Wendys is making it easier to order.

Personally, this sandwich isnt really for me. But if you love big cheesy salty chicken sandwiches, this is your jam.

The sandwich features a chicken filet topped with bacon, onions rings, American Cheese, and a cheddar cheese-based bacon jam on a toasted cheddar bun. Its probably the saltiest sandwich Ive ever eaten. The sauce is salty and smokey, the bacon is salty and smokey, the cheese is salty, the onion rings, saltY every goddamn thing about this sandwich is so salty that its hard to taste anything else. I cant say it doesnt taste good, but I can say that eating it made me feel terrible.

Not morally, I mean physically terrible. Its the sort of sandwich you eat when you dont give a single fuck.

The Bottom Line:

Eat it after you smoke a fat bowl. Otherwise, its a slightly worst version of Wendys Big Bacon Cheddar Burger.

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The Chicken Sandwich Wars Are Heating Up Again

We thought the fast food chicken sandwich wars were settled. But the competition has only ramped up with KFC, McDonald’s, and Burger King unleashing their own new chicken sandwiches. Now, Wendy’s is joining the race with the debut of its all-new fried chicken sandwich.

On Thursday, the pig-tailed fast food chain announced the nationwide rollout of its Classic Chicken Sandwich. Now, of course, Wendy’s has already got a few other poultry options in its lineupincluding the Bacon Jalapeño Sandwich, Asiago Ranch Chicken Club, and Pretzel Pub Chicken Sandwich, all of which will now feature the same new crispy fillet. Don’t worry, though. You can still score that OG grilled style or the chain’s spicy chicken, too.

“We can’t wait for our fans to get their hands on the New Classic Chicken Sandwich which has the perfect crunch from breading and pickles paired with the juiciness and flavor of the fillet,” Chief Marketing Officer Carl Loredo said in a statement. “The Classic joins what customers have already come to know and love in spice and taste from Wendy’s via our Spicy Chicken and Pretzel Bacon Pub Chicken Sandwiches.”

Wendys Releases Hot Honey Items

DUBLIN, OHIO Culinary team members at The Wendys Co. Inc. needed a distinct element to set the restaurant chains hot honey chicken biscuit and hot honey chicken sandwich apart from competitors products.

They found it in habanero peppers. Both hot honey items made their debuts on Feb. 2.

We know were not the first ones to come out with a hot honey chicken sandwich, said Eryn Bennett, manager, culinary and product innovation, in a Feb. 2 webinar.

Research and development work lasted for more than a year before the company settled on a formula that included habaneros.

They definitely are on the higher end of the Scoville scale, but they also have a ton of flavor, Bennett said. What I really love about them is theyre fruity, theyre citrusy, and theyre just so nice to work with, and they blend really well with the honey were using.

Wendys wanted to do more than just blasting somebodys palate, said John Li, vice president of culinary innovation.

The reality is, its all about balance, he said. Thats why it took a year and a half to get something like habanero, which brings all of those complex elements that a lot of other peppers actually dont have.

Bennett said the hot honey is added at various parts of the sandwich build and the biscuit build.

The chicken biscuit contains an all-white meat breakfast chicken fillet drizzled with honey sauce and served on a buttermilk biscuit. It sells for $3.19.

Have we found the right product? No, Li said.

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Making The Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich At Home

The quest to defeat this spicy chicken sandwich might have created our best homemade chicken sandwich so far. Amylase INGREDIENTS: Buns: ½…

The quest to defeat this spicy chicken sandwich might have created our best homemade chicken sandwich so far.

• ½ cup milk, heated to 100*F

• ½ cup plus 45 ml water, heated to 100*F

• 11g bread machine yeast

• 3 ½ cups unbleached bread flour

• 60g granulated sugar

• 1 ½ fine sea salt

• 55g unsalted butter, softened

• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Dijon

• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

• salt to taste

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• 2 cups buttermilk

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Dredge:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons paprika

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 1.5 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

Spicy Chicken Dip:

• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1.5 cups hot oil from fried chicken

Assembly:

• 2 large tomatoes, sliced and salted

• butter lettuce leaves

INSTRUCTIONS:

Buns:

Toum Mayo:

Chicken:

Dredge:

The Truth About Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Wendy’s brings different things to mind for people, depending on who you ask. For some, Wendy’s burgers, with their signature square patties, define the chain. For others, it’s the frosty, arguably made for dipping salty fries into. Maybe the baked potato and chili, things you don’t really find at any other fast food chain, are what stands out the most. And for many, it’s Wendy’s chicken that immediately comes to mind, be it the classic nuggets, or the ever popular spicy chicken sandwich. Of course, if you’re one for keeping up with trends, you’re probably leaning towards the latter.

Now, you may think Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich is just another attempt by a fast food chain to capture the public’s short attention and dominate a passing fad. But there’s actually a lot more to the sandwich than that, and the facts may just surprise you. Mashed did all the digging on this spicy crowd pleaser. Here’s the truth about Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich.

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Wendys Classic Big Bacon Cheddar Chicken

This sandwich contains 810 calories, 42 grams protein, and 60 g carbohydrates .

The Classic Big Bacon Cheddar Chicken Sandwich has a fried chicken patty on a cheddar bun, with cheddar cheese dip, fried onions, bacon jam, bacon slices, and an American cheese slice. On the upside, 42 grams of protein is a pretty big flex for a fast food chicken sandwich. While not the most wholesome source of protein, this monstrosity could help you hit your daily protein quota when youre on the go, says Yawitz. But then there’s the overload of calories and not a single vegetable in sight that isn’t fried.

Pro Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer Chicken Sandwiches

• Try to use chicken breasts that are the same size. This way, they all cook at almost the same time.
• The best way to make sure that the flour coating stays on the chicken is to use your hands and pat it down.
• The chicken breasts exact time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breast and what air fryer you own. The best way to make sure your chicken breasts are perfectly cooked is to use a meat thermometer.
• I like a regular hamburger bun for this recipe, but a potato bun will work as well.
• If you want to add more spice to your sandwich, you can always mix in some hot sauce or cayenne pepper into the mayonnaise.

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Wendy’s Is Launching These Two New Spicy Chicken Items Tomorrow

Wendy’s upgraded its Classic Chicken Sandwich with a juicier, crispier chicken filet in October, but the chain’s chicken innovations aren’t over yet. Starting today, you can head to your nearest location and try two new spicy chicken items that pack a flavor punch reminiscent of jalapeño poppersliterally.

The chain is adding a Jalapeño Popper Chicken Sandwich and Salad to the menu, both of which will be available at locations nationwide. The sandwich builds on the Spicy Chicken Sandwich base with creamy jalapeño cream cheese, jalapeño slices, Applewood smoked bacon, and a warm gooey combo of cheddar and shredded pepper jack cheeses. The salad layers the same ingredients over a bed of lettuce and tomatoes and is topped with a creamy jalapeño ranch dressing.

While your head might be spinning from all the new chicken sandwich releases taking place this year, Wendy’s considers itself ahead of the pack in the arena. Taking a direct dig at McDonald’s, whose three rather basic new chicken sandwiches are launching next week, Wendy’s predicts bold flavors are the future of the category.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

To try Wendy’s new sandwich for free, head to Grubhub and place an order worth at least $15 between Feb. 18 and 21 or until supplies last. Otherwise, the sandwich will be sold for $5.99 and the salad for $6.79 .

The Wendys Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit

This sandwich contains 460 calories, 14 grams protein, and 51 g carbohydrates .

From a nutritional standpoint, this menu addition doesnt exactly butter Yawitzs biscuit. For starters, this bad boy has a lot of sugar. The breading on the chicken patty has sugar. The biscuit has sugar. The hot honey sauce has honey, obviously, but also two different kinds of sugar , says Yawitz.

Moreover, Yawitz isnt a fan of this sandwichs measly protein content, clocking in at only 14 grams. breakfast certainly wont help you pack on the muscle and probably wont hold you over until lunch either.

As Yawitz says, protein helps keep you off the blood sugar roller coaster by slowing down the absorption of glucose into the blood. In the long term, better blood sugar control typically equates to a lower risk of diabetes. But in the short term, it may help fend off food cravings.

To that point, Yawitz highlights one small study, in which men who ate a high-carb, high-protein breakfast had better post-meal blood sugar control and insulin levels than men who didnt have as much protein.

Interestingly, the breakfast in this study included 50 grams of carbohydrate from white bread and sugar, she says, pointing out the similarities between that and the chicken sandwich at hand. Assuming the same calorie content, Wendys would need more than double the protein to achieve the same blood sugar-stabilizing effects.

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