I compared chicken sandwiches from three casual dining chains: Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Chili's.
Buffalo Wild Wings and Chili's offered a Southern-inspired sandwich with pickles and mayonnaise, while Applebee's had a more classically American chicken sandwich topped with bacon and ranch.
Chains across the industry are leaning into chicken in an effort to capitalize on Gen Z's tastebuds.
"Fried chicken is one of the fastest-growing segments — especially with a younger consumer that prefers boneless fried chicken," Chili's chief marketing officer George Felix told Business Insider in January.
Taco Bell's chief marketing officer, Taylor Montgomery, said it best in a recent interview with BI: "Crispy chicken's hot."
All three sandwiches I tried were tasty, but only one chain delivered the best chicken sandwich in terms of taste and value. Here they are, ranked from worst to best.
My least favorite chicken sandwich came from Applebee's, but it wasn't bad by any means.
The chicken sandwich from Applebee's was available as part of the chain's lunchtime meal deal.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
At the Brooklyn, New York, location I visited, the bacon ranch chicken sandwich typically costs $16.99, excluding tax.
You can also order the sandwich as part of a lunchtime deal during the week. It costs $12.99 and includes a drink.
The chicken sandwich came topped with pickles, lettuce, two strips of bacon, and ranch dressing.
The chicken sandwich came topped with two strips of crispy bacon.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The bun was left plain, though a generous serving of ranch dressing was placed on top of the crispy chicken breast.
The chicken sandwich was juicy and pretty flavorful, but I didn't love the texture of the chicken breast.
I wished the breading on the chicken was crispier.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken's breading didn't have the crispiness I usually expect in a chicken sandwich, but the pickles and ranch dressing helped add moisture and flavor.
The chicken breast was thick and juicy, though it was the smallest of the sandwiches I tried. The bacon strips were also a bit overcooked for my taste. While some prefer extra-crispy bacon, I personally enjoy a slight chewiness.
The classic chicken sandwich from Buffalo Wild Wings landed in the middle of the pack.
Buffalo Wild Wing's classic chicken sandwich came with fries.
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The classic chicken sandwich cost $12.49, excluding tax, at the location I visited in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was an excellent value.
The sandwich came with mayonnaise and pickles.
The sandwich was fried to a perfect crisp.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken breast was well-fried and bigger than the bun — a promising sign for a chicken sandwich.
While the chicken breast was juicy, I wish there had been more mayonnaise on the sandwich.
The chicken sandwich was juicy and I liked the bun.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The fried chicken's breading was peppery and the pickles added a nice touch of brine to the flavor profile.
The bun held everything together, though I found that as I was eating, the breading started to become a touch soggy due to the moisture of the chicken breast.
However, for the price, I thought this was a great deal. I'd definitely order it again.
My favorite chicken sandwich came from Chili's.
The chicken sandwich came with seasoned fries.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The crispy chicken sandwich typically costs $14.49 at my local Chili's in Brooklyn, New York.
However, you can also order the chicken sandwich as part of the chain's 3-For-Me value meal. The meal deal starts at $10.99 and includes the choice of a beverage, a starter, and a variety of entrées.
The crispy chicken sandwich came topped with a generous spread of mayonnaise and pickles on a brioche bun.
There was a hearty serving of mayonnaise on the sandwich.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken breast was fried to crunchy perfection, with crispy bits spilling out of the sandwich. I could hardly wait to take a bite.
The chicken sandwich's breading was the most flavorful out of the sandwiches I tried, and I liked the hearty amount of mayonnaise on it.
The chicken sandwich was crunchy and flavorful.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
As I took a bite, a burst of salty, briny flavor hit my taste buds thanks to the pickles and flavor of the chicken breast.
The chicken sandwich had the perfect balance of crunch and crispiness while remaining moist, thanks to the juicy chicken breast that wasn't too thick, and the generous spread of mayonnaise on both buns, which added even more flavor.
