A grilled chicken sandwich is the not-so-elusive but always tasty option when deciding what to eat. Think about it: you got your protein, lettuce, tomato, and some healthy fats thrown in with carbohydrates for an energy-filled day, and you’re set. Of course, finding the time to cook within a busy workweek can be exhausting, and sometimes you wish you could just grab something quick, easy, and delicious. Being a fan of good eats ourselves, we made it our duty to research the best fast food grilled chicken sandwiches available for a swift and tasty meal. These options not only provide a convenient and speedy meal, but they also prioritize flavor and quality. So, next time you’re in a hurry, indulge in one of these delectable sandwiches to satisfy your cravings without compromising your budget!
Before we dive into our rankings, though, why not discuss what exactly makes a perfect sandwich? Nestled between two golden slices of freshly baked artisanal bread, the enchanting sandwich has a grip on those who take a delicious bite. In fact, two in three Americans claim they could live on sandwiches alone for a full week, according to new research. What is considered the perfect sandwich, though? No, it’s not chicken. The perfect sandwich, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans, consists of tomato, cheddar cheese, and Black Forest ham. For favorite ingredients, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and honey mustard topped the list, all at 58 percent, with the least favorite, shockingly, being ranch. However, regular ham, honey turkey, honey ham, and Black Forest ham ranked equally as favored meat options. Swiss and American cheeses followed cheddar in the cheese category, with onions and cucumbers topping the list of vegetables. Is anyone else’s mouth drooling? And we haven’t gotten into the good stuff yet!
While enjoying a nice homemade cold-cut sandwich is ideal, it’s not always the go-to for most Americans. With drive-thru options becoming so populated, it seems more people are turning to fast food when it comes to eating, if only for convenience, with nearly half of Americans in a new poll avoiding going to a store that didn’t have a drive-thru option. The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that twice as many people prefer the drive-thru than to enter a store on foot. A third of those who prefer drive-thrus claim they will “always” choose that option when it’s available. Results showed that people use the drive-thru for many reasons, most commonly for coffee or fast food, at least three times a week. The survey also looked at the personality differences between those who prefer drive-thrus versus going in-store and found that 77 percent of people who prefer drive-thrus consider themselves patient.
Believe us when we say, though, when you combine the convenience with the tastiness of the menu items below, you’re gonna be driving to your next drive-thru soon as well! Speaking of those tasty sandwiches, as always, we at StudyFinds take our best of the best rankings very seriously and have researched across multiple expert sources to bring you today’s list of the top five best fast food grilled chicken sandwiches you can buy now! Don’t agree with our picks? No worries, we would love to hear from you in the comments down below!
The List: Best Fast Food Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Per Experts
1. Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Club
The first pick on our list goes to a Chick-fil-A classic: the Grilled Chicken Club. “No surprise, the entirely chicken-centric chain Chick-fil-A serves a couple of fine grilled chicken sandwiches. They are appropriately named Grilled Chicken Sandwich and the slightly more exciting Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich. The former features a lemon-herb marinated boneless breast of chicken and is served with lettuce and tomato, while the latter adds Colby Jack cheese and applewood smoked bacon,” says Eat This, Not That!
“If you prefer the downhome flavors of a simple chicken sandwich over an artisan creation, this sandwich is for you. The chicken was moist and perfectly grilled. You could really taste the char that only a flame would produce. Of course, the crispy bacon was a major plus because bacon makes everything better. The veggie toppings were generous, as was the melty Colby cheese. The multigrain bun was soft even though it was nicely toasted. This is a basic sandwich that really shines,” raves Cleveland.
“Like all Chick-fil-A sandwiches, this thing comes sauceless, which is fine. It’s delicious even without the sauce, but Chick-fil-A suggests you eat this with some Honey Roasted BBQ, and we agree — it strengthens the smokey notes of the bacon and pairs excellently with the citrus-marinated flavor of the meat,” explains Uproxx.
2. The Habit Grilled Chicken Club
To enjoy the second spot on our list, you will have to find your nearest Habit Burger Grill. Our next pick is their version of the Grilled Chicken Club. “The Habit absolutely nails its chicken sandwich. There is an attention to craft here that the other sandwiches on this list just can’t match. The chicken is hand-filleted, offering something that isn’t quite as thick as the other fileted breasts on this list, meaning the chicken is juicer and more tender. It’s well-marinated and perfectly seasoned, offering hints of bright lemon and earthy black pepper with each bite,” describes Foodie.
Did you know The Habit has more than burgers? Have you tasted our Chicken Club w/ char-grilled chicken breast? Yum!! pic.twitter.com/3tSFDgFMJX
— The Habit Burger Grill 🍔 (@habitburger) September 3, 2013
“This is a pretty substantial chicken sandwich; you could easily split it in half and save the rest for later or share it with another person; it’s that filling. This chicken is juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, sitting atop the best green leaf lettuce of any of the chains on this list, juicy thick-cut tomato slices, and served on grilled sourdough bread,” writes GoneTrending.
“The Habit is one of the best-grilled chicken sandwiches we have ever tasted. We noticed hints of earthy pepper and bright lemon on their chicken, and the layers of bacon added texture to the sandwich. We like that it has seasoned avocado and crisp lettuce because it adds texture and flavor to the sandwich,” adds Eat Pallet.
3. Panera Signature Take Chicken Sandwich
Coming in at number three is a fairly new Panera pick, The Signature Take Chicken Sandwich. “Last year, Panera unveiled two new chicken sandwiches, and they instantly shot up our favorites list. This sandwich is simple; it features a seared chicken breast filet (not technically grilled, but we’re counting it) atop a layer of slightly bitter and earthy greens, parmesan crisps, and a garlic aioli sauce-smeared brioche bun. It’s simple, direct, and delicious,” notes Uproxx.
Cutty Eats: @PaneraBread's Signature Take Chicken Sandwich pic.twitter.com/BICzCvz6nl
— Cutty Eats (@CuttyEats) September 10, 2022
“Panera is one of those places that sometimes gets overlooked when you’re trying to decide where to eat with friends. Many times, the big names immediately come to mind — McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s — but Panera serves up some solid stuff that does just as good of a job at leaving a big grin on your face after a meal. When you’re trying to snag yourself a sandwich with grilled chicken, Panera offers its signature take on chicken sandwiches, and this thing is sure to hit all the right spots on your tongue and in your stomach,” reports Mashed.
“The soft, fresh brioche bun really enhances the blend of spices and seasonings on this chicken sandwich. Even though the chicken was seared, it was moist, light, and tender, and the crisp artisan lettuce added a refreshing touch. The real star of the sandwich is the crunchy, flavorful parmesan crisps. They added a really pleasing texture to the sandwich and a brightness that really kicked up the overall flavor,” comments Cleveland.
4. Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s Charbroiled Chicken Club
Luckily, both coasts can enjoy the next pick on our ranking from either your local Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s. Coming in with another take on the classic sandwich, “Carl’s Jr Charbroiled Chicken Club is a fan favorite, thanks to its flavorful and juicy chicken. We noticed that their seared chicken has smokey notes and a nice infusion of buttery brioche bun and melted Swiss cheese,” explains Eat Pallet.
“There’s something about ‘charbroiled’ that sounds a heck of a lot better than grilled. And while Hardee’s may not be the first place you think of to get a delicious piece of chicken, this sandwich exceeds our expectations in flavor, juiciness, and toppings. First off, the blackened chicken breast is perfectly seasoned and super juicy. Then you’ve got an unexpected combination of toppings, including two strips of bacon, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. The bacon and cheese give this one a leg up, that’s for sure,” describes Fast Food Menu Prices.
“If you’re looking for a place that knows how to do grilled chicken, it’s Carl’s Jr. The chicken is juicy while still sporting a chargrilled outer, and I’ve yet to have a grilled chicken sandwich from Carl’s Jr. that suffers from that rubbery reheated chicken quality that plagues too many of the sandwiches on this ranking, leading me to believe this is one of the more consistent and reliable choices out there,” says GoneTrending.
5. Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich
The last spot was narrowly grabbed by Wendy’s. Coming in fifth with their rendition of the faithful sammie, “Wendy’s offers a grilled chicken sandwich that strikes a perfect balance between taste and value. With its tender and juicy chicken breast, it’s a delightful treat for the budget-conscious,” notes EatPDQ.
Our renovated Grilled Chicken Sandwich has a splash of color & more than a splash of flavor. Small combo is only $5. pic.twitter.com/U0W4h3NWvu
— Wendy’s (@Wendys) October 3, 2016
“By comparison, Wendy’s grilled chicken is an adventurous departure. The recently recalibrated recipe involves honey mustard and tart spring greens beneath a nutty bun. I’m not normally a fan of multigrain buns, but this one is fairly unobtrusive. The chicken is dense and marinated with a clean, herbal flavor that is complemented well by the sharp spring greens — chard, arugula, spinach, and romaine,” raves Insider.
“Mustard fans will unite around this chicken sandwich. While the breast was thick, meaty, and well-seasoned, it was so drenched in mustard sauce it was hard to determine if the moistness came from the chicken itself or the sauce, but it was tasty regardless. There were generous crisp garden fresh toppings to be had, and the bun was soft. Again — not a bad offering from a burger joint,” concludes Cleveland.
You might be also interested in:
- Best Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches
- Best Fast Food Chicken Nuggets
- Best Fast Food Fried Chicken
- Best Chicken Fingers
Sources:
- Eat This, Not That
- Uproxx
- Cleveland
- Insider
- EatPDQ
- Fast Food Menu Prices
- Eat Pallet
- GoneTrending
- Mashed
- Foodie
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.