Your favorite chicken sandwich spot might depend on where you live.
In the South and West, it’s Chick-fil-A or Raising Cane’s. In the Midwest, it could be Harold’s Chicken Shack, and on the East Coast, Popeye’s is everywhere.
Over the past decade, chicken has been, ahem, ruling the roost when it comes to fast food. Chains like Chick‑fil‑A and Raising Cane’s have led the charge, turning simple, hand-breaded chicken sandwiches and fingers into iconic cultural phenomena. Chick‑fil‑A, with its renowned service and catchy “EAT MOR CHIKIN” campaign, has grown from its Southern roots to become one of the fastest‑growing fast-food brands in the country.
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Meanwhile, lots of people are obsessed with Raising Cane’s signature chicken finger combo — crispy chicken fingers, signature Cane’s Sauce, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and coleslaw.
In my town one Raising Cane’s location shares a parking lot with a Whole Foods and I often wonder how much overlap there is. Judging by the drive-thru line plenty of people shop for their organic produce and then hit up Raising Cane’s for dinner.
This frenzy isn’t just anecdotal. Chicken overtook beef as America’s most consumed meat back in 2010, and per‑capita chicken consumption hit a record high of 101 pounds in 2024, according to The Financial Times. Forecasts say that number could jump to 104 pounds in 2025.
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Fast‑food titans have taken notice: Taco Bell, Best Burgers, McDonald’s, and even Subway are rolling out chicken-focused menu items in droves.
The trend is driven by a mix of cost concerns (chicken is cheaper than beef), public health trends leaning toward high-protein diets, and consumer demographics: Millennials and Gen Z are especially enamored with chicken’s affordability and perceived “healthiness.” Never mind that most of this chicken is deep-fried, so not exactly healthy.
The so-called “chicken sandwich wars” that erupted in 2019 when Popeyes and Chick‑fil‑A began their battle for dominance.
The competition has only increased as more chains hop aboard the crispy‑chicken bandwagon.
Lots of rivals are trying to take down Chick-fil-A’s dominance in the chicken sandwich space.
Image source: Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
White Castle launches new crispy chicken slider
In late June 2025, White Castle made a significant move: the launch of its Crispy Chicken Slider a new permanent menu item. It is the brand’s first sizable menu addition since 2022.
Debuting on June 30, the slider features tender, all‑white meat chicken fried in buttermilk breading and topped with a house-made honeycomb mustard sauce—all on White Castle’s signature soft buns, according to a company announcement. White Castle also offers a Deluxe version, which layers on American cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
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Notably, the slider is larger and crispier than its predecessor. It’s just $2.39 for the basic version and $2.59 for the Deluxe. The brand is also offering a $5 combo (two sliders, fries, and a drink) exclusively through its Craver Nation Rewards app which its value-focused customers will appreciate this summer.
White Castle’s move is likely a response to broader market trends. White Castle’s core appeal has long been low-cost, sliders; the new chicken offering lets the chain flex in the booming chicken category without abandoning its value‑centric brand identity.
What are the next fast‑food trends?
The permanent menu addition puts White Castle in strong company, alongside other major chains like McDonald’s, Popeyes, and Taco Bell, which have also been expanding chicken lineups, according to a report in Restaurant Dive.
The surge in chicken-focused fast food doesn’t seem like a fad. It aligns with increased consumer interest in protein-rich, lower-cost foods alongside macroeconomic pressures (like budget tightening and post-pandemic inflation). Chains are responding by diversifying within chicken offerings—fried, grilled, sandwiches, sliders, nuggets, and combos.
From Chick‑fil‑A’s stealth empire to Cane’s laser focus, and now White Castle’s pivot with a value-priced, craveable chicken slider, the American fast‑food landscape is firmly in chicken’s corner. As long as consumers crave flavor, protein, and value, expect chicken to continue to dominate.
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