Popeyes is adding a Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich to the menu for a limited time.
Popeyes started the chicken sandwich wars in 2019 — and it’s adding a new entree to the battle.
The $4.99 Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich is available for a limited time starting Tuesday, and it features classic ingredients with a twist: hand-battered crispy chicken on a brioche bun with pickles, but topped with a new sauce that’s a mix of buttermilk ranch and spicy buffalo.
When Popeyes first launched its chicken sandwich three years ago, the product sold out within a couple of weeks. Customers again turned out in droves when the sandwich returned to menus a few months later, once Popeyes had secured more supply of the ingredients.
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Since then, the chicken sandwich has been a hugely important item for Popeyes. In 2020, the chain’s restaurants open at least 17 months jumped 13.8%, thanks in part to customer interest in the chain’s chicken sandwich.
But Popeyes’ runaway success with the chicken sandwich has significantly increased competition. McDonald’s, KFC, Wendy’s and others have launched their own new chicken offerings, and those efforts are paying off.
“Chicken sandwich volumes remain pressured by competitors which … started making their sandwich debuts in early 2021,” said Jose Cil, CEO of Popeyes’ parent company Restaurant Brands International, during a February analyst call.
In the first three months of this year, sales at stores open at least 17 months fell 3%, according to financial results posted Tuesday. In the United States, sales at those restaurants fell 4.6%.
As rivals’ efforts continue to weigh on sales, Popeyes is hoping the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich will entice customers.
Popeyes has also used its own original chicken sandwich as inspiration for other new products. In February 2021, the chain introduced a limited-time fish version made with flounder. The following summer, it added chicken nuggets to the menu.
And in October, Popeyes partnered with rapper Megan Thee Stallion on a hot sauce, designed to add spice to the brand’s chicken sandwiches and nuggets. Those new products are helping drum up new interest in the brand, Cil said in February.
A ranking of 25 fast food chicken sandwiches
26. McChicken at McDonald’s
This giant chicken McNugget has a spongy texture matched with an exterior that is painfully salty; $1.
25. Original chicken sandwich at Church’s
Church’s Chicken sandwich includes a sad, small patty with a few inconsequential pickles; 99 cents.
24. Spicy chicken at Checkers
The “spicy” chicken patty barely qualifies as mild; $1.50.
23. Crispy chicken sandwich at Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen uses an actual piece of chicken, not a chicken patty, but it’s tough and bone dry. None of the other components were much better. And what’s up with the waffle-looking bun? $3.89.
22. Big chicken at Checkers
What a misleading name for such a diminutive, boring offering; $2.
21. Original chicken sandwich at Burger King
The oblong bun gives you a clue that there’s a chicken patty underneath. It’s joined by a handful of lettuce and more mayonnaise than you’ll ever need; $4.49.
20. Chicken ring slider at White Castle
What are chicken rings? Are they some unheard of part of a bird? Nope. They are just chicken patties shaped into rings, and they taste slightly less good than White Castle’s other option; $1.79.
19. Buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich at McDonald’s
This certainly looks the best of the McDonald’s fried chickens, featuring a glistening bun and whole leaves of lettuce. But the chicken is shockingly salty, overwhelming every other flavor. $5.10.
18. Classic crispy chicken sandwich at Sonic Drive-In
Kudos for the mayo restraint. Sadly, a little black pepper is all I could detect on this dull offering; $4.49.
17. Nashville hot crispy colonel sandwich meal at KFC
Greasy, dry and defiantly mild, this confused offering sours the good name of Nashville hot chicken; $6.19.
16. Chicken breast slider at White Castle
This is the highest rated sandwich using a chicken patty, mostly because it’s so inoffensive. But I also liked the soft, warm bun, and the simple slice of cheese worked better than a deluge of mayonnaise; $1.49.
15. Classic chicken sandwich at McDonald’s
Though it looks like someone punched it in the nose, the classic chicken sandwich here is probably the best chicken offering at McDonald’s. That said, the crust is outrageously salty, and most of the components are thoughtlessly hurled on; $3.
14. Crispy chicken sandwich at Burger King
Burger King’s regular sandwich beats the similar offering at McDonald’s by a hair, mostly due to the fact that the crust is very slightly less stupidly salty; $4.69.
13. Spicy crispy chicken sandwich at Burger King
If you have to get a fried chicken sandwich at Burger King, this offering’s slight touch of heat gives it the edge. Still, you have to deal with mayo overload; $4.39.
12. Double crunch at KFC
As you can tell by the photo, someone in the kitchen upended an entire jar of mayonnaise on this sandwich. That said, the chicken tenders were nicely seasoned with the Colonel’s distinctive blend of herbs and spices; $5.39.
11. Crispy chicken sandwich at Culver’s
The fried chicken is thin and exceptionally crispy, if also a tad dry. The well toasted bun is a great touch, and the toppings are fresh; $5.29.
10. Homestyle chicken sandwich at Wendy’s
Without the spice, Wendy’s chicken sandwich tastes rather uneventful. Nothing is particularly bad, mind you, and the chicken has a decent crust; $5.56.
9. Crispy colonel sandwich meal at KFC
KFC’s best sandwich option features an extra crisp piece of chicken on a toasted bun. It’s a petite offering, but one that mostly delivers the goods; $5.69.
8. Spicy chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A’s offering in the spicy category was the mildest one I tried, which knocks it down the list a bit. Still, the chicken is juicy and the bun is soft; $4.49.
7. Spicy chicken sandwich at Wendy’s
Of all the spicy fried chicken sandwiches I tried, none came anywhere near the spice level of Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich. I’d still call this more of a medium heat, but the warm glow helps add some actual excitement to each bite; $5.59.
6. The big chicken fillet sandwich at Hardee’s
This solid option also starts with a frozen chicken fillet. Fortunately, it’s moist and seasoned with lots of black pepper. Instead of a jumble of chopped lettuce, it’s placed on top of a crisp iceberg lettuce leaf; $5.29.
5. Buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich at Arby’s
Of all the chains that use frozen chicken fillets, Arby’s came out on top. That’s mostly due to the extra crispy crust of the chicken. All the other elements worked well, too. The soft bun houses the chicken without getting in the way. The lettuce and tomato also didn’t taste like they’d been left in the cooler for a couple weeks; $4.99.
4. Sandwich combo at Raising Cane’s
Raising Cane’s serves chicken tenders and not a lot else, so the chicken sandwich here is really just a bun with a few tenders tossed on. But guess what? Those tenders are breaded and fried in house, so they have a crackly crust that shatters as you dig in. Plus, instead of boring mayo, the sandwich gets a liberal drizzle of Cane’s sauce, the restaurant’s own tangy, spicy concoction; $6.79.
3. Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A knows what it’s doing. The white meat chicken is always tender and juicy, and the bun is always steamed until soft and pillowy. While the pickles are small, the sandwich is blessedly free of mayonnaise and iceberg lettuce. The only real criticism, and it’s a big one, is that the crust on the chicken is not very crisp; $4.15.
2. Fried Chicken Sandwich at Popeye’s
The chicken in Popeye’s sandwich crunches audibly when you bite in, with all those nooks and crannies on the surface shattering into a thousand delicious pieces. This makes for an exciting contrast to the soft bun. The chicken itself is also juicy and well-seasoned, without tasting wildly over-salted like the fried-chicken sandwiches at McDonald’s; $3.99
1. Chick’n Shack at Shake Shack
This was not even close. Shake Shack’s offering had the crackliest crust, the juiciest meat and the best toppings. I especially loved the Martin’s potato roll, which is certainly the softest bun around. Instead of a basic mayonnaise, this gets a spread of a buttermilk and herb mayonnaise, which lends a tangy freshness to each bite. Shake Shack also understands the importance of pickles, adding extra crunchy thick-cut versions. The catch? Shake Shack doesn’t have nearly as many locations as the rest of these chains; $6.79.
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