Best fast-food grilled chicken sandwich: We tried 8 varieties and ranked them worst to best

CLEVELAND, Oh – We’ve all had moments within the fast-food drive-thru line after we debated sacrificing that fried scrumptious favourite for one thing a bit more healthy.

Must you gamble spending cash on a grilled hen sandwich that might find yourself being dry and tasteless?

Let’s face it, grilled hen has lengthy suffered from the popularity of being the hum-drum sibling of fried hen — lacking out on the glamorous, and infrequently greasy, crispy coating. Nonetheless, it has gained reputation through the years as a staple for these in search of a more healthy different.

Since seared hen isn’t masked by the seasoned and fried breading, it must be good to maintain prospects returning to the drive-thru time after time, proper?

To search out out, cleveland.com’s Better of Cleveland crew did the leg-work for you and visited six totally different fast-food chains throughout Northeast Ohio and located eight seared and grilled hen sandwiches on their menus. We tasted all of them — then ranked them worst to finest — to level you within the path of the very best quick meals grilled hen sandwich in Northeast Ohio.

Hardee’s: Charbroiled Rooster Membership Sandwich

Energy: 650

Value: $6.69

Menu Description: A charbroiled hen breast, two strips of bacon, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, served on a potato bun.

Our Ideas: If there may be one factor that might hold you from ordering this grilled hen sandwich once more, it’s grizzle. The hen would have positively benefited from a well being trim. Whereas it was moist, the hen breast had clearly been warmed in a microwave, making it rubbery. The veggie toppings had been additionally a disappointment: pink and skinny tasteless tomato slices and wilted lettuce added to the unhappiness of this sandwich. Not a lot mayo or cheese and the bacon was pre-cooked and arduous. No freshness is to be discovered right here. This sandwich additionally had the very best energy of all of the hen sandwiches we tried. Get your energy from certainly one of their burgers subsequent time.

Swenson’s: Grilled Rooster Sandwich

Energy: N/A

Value: $5.20

Menu Description: Grilled Rooster Sandwich served on a toasted wheat bun.

Our Ideas: The perfect a part of this sandwich was the toppings. The lettuce was crisp and the slice of tomato was thick and contemporary. Sadly, the veggies weren’t sufficient to masks the pale, barely salty and bland hen breast. Whereas there have been grill marks on the meat, the smokiness had a barely synthetic taste and it tasted extra frozen than contemporary.

Chick-Fil-A: Grilled Rooster Sandwich

Energy: 520

Value: $7.89

Menu Description: A lemon-herb marinated boneless breast of hen, grilled for a young and juicy backyard-smoky style, served on a toasted multigrain bun with inexperienced leaf lettuce and tomato. The grilled hen sandwich pairs effectively with Honey Roasted BBQ sauce.

Our Ideas: Since Chick-fil-A focuses on hen, we anticipated a bit extra from them. The breast, itself, was thick and meaty and tasted as if it had simply come off the grill, however was on the dry facet and the lettuce and tomato toppings weren’t the very best. The grilled wheat bun — with its barely candy taste — was the star of the sandwich. This sandwich would positively profit from one of many sauces which are obtainable.

Culver’s: Grilled Rooster Sandwich

Energy: 390

Value: $6.39

Menu Description: The thickest… juiciest… tastiest hen sandwich you’ll discover anyplace. That includes a complete chicken hen breast, hand seasoned with salt and black pepper proper on the grill. Served with crispy lettuce, ripe tomato and pickles on a toasted hoagie roll.

Our Ideas: This hen sandwich was a pleasant different if you happen to aren’t within the temper for beef. The hen breast was sizable, moist and effectively cooked. The toppings didn’t do loads to reinforce the hen although — the shredded lettuce was lower than crisp and the tomato was tasteless and didn’t stand as much as the 2 lonely pickle chips. The toasted bun was the Culver’s staple: comfortable and buttery.

Wendy’s: Grilled Rooster Sandwich

Energy: 350

Value: $5.79

Menu Description: Herb-marinated grilled hen breast topped with smoky honey mustard, crisp lettuce, and tomato, served on a heat toasted bun. See if it isn’t the very best hen sandwich you’ve ever had.

Our Ideas: Mustard followers will unite round this hen sandwich. Whereas the breast was thick, meaty and well-seasoned, it was so drenched within the lukewarm mustard sauce it was arduous to find out if the moistness got here from the hen, itself, or the sauce but it surely was tasty regardless. There have been beneficiant crisp backyard contemporary toppings available and the bun was comfortable. Once more — not a nasty providing from a burger joint.

Panera: The Spicy Take Rooster Sandwich

Energy: 580

Value: $10.89

Menu Description: Seasoned and seared hen breast, spicy Buffalo sauce, crispy pickle chips, and garlic aioli on a brioche roll.

Our Ideas: Whereas all of us might have thought the hen sandwich wars had been over, Panera launched a salvo this summer time bringing two new entries into the fray. The Spicy Take Rooster Sandwich is simply that — spicy. The seared hen breast is giant and moist and is roofed in a pink, peppery sauce that packs a punch, enhanced by the crispy fried bitter pickle chips. The promised garlic aioli was arduous to detect, most likely as a result of there have been so many different flavors at play. The brioche bun was a pleasant departure from the opposite customary burger buns we discovered alongside the way in which.

Chick-Fil-A: Grilled Rooster Membership

Energy: 520

Value: $7.89

Menu Description: A lemon-herb marinated boneless breast of hen, grilled for a young and juicy backyard-smokey style, served on a toasted multigrain brioche bun with Colby Jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon, inexperienced leaf lettuce and tomato. Pairs effectively with Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce.

Our Ideas: Should you favor the downhome flavors of a easy hen sandwich over an artisan creation, this sandwich is for you. The hen was moist and completely grilled. You may actually style the char that solely a flame would produce. After all, the crispy bacon was a serious plus, as a result of bacon makes the whole lot higher. The veggie toppings had been beneficiant, as was the melty Colby cheese. The multigrain bun was comfortable regardless that it was properly toasted. This can be a primary sandwich that actually shines.

Panera: The Signature Take Rooster Sandwich

Energy: 570

Value: $10.89

Menu Description: Seasoned and seared hen breast, parmesan crisps, emerald greens and garlic aioli on a brioche roll.

Our Ideas: The comfortable contemporary brioche bun actually enhances the mix of spices and seasonings on this hen sandwich. Despite the fact that the hen was seared, it was moist, mild and tender and the crisp artisan lettuce provides a refreshing contact. The garlic aioli might have used a bit extra garlic for our style, however regardless that it was a delicate style, it provides slightly one thing to the general taste. The actual star of the sandwich is the crunchy, flavorful parmesan crisps. They added a very pleasing texture to the sandwich and a brightness that actually kicked up the general taste.

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