It’s hard to believe over three years have passed since Popeyes first released their chicken sandwich — one of the most buzzed about new fast food menu item ever, and a trendsetter that inspired everyone from KFC to Starbucks, trying to to capitalize on the phenomenon.
But while the competition tried to play catchup, perhaps the biggest challenge has been for Popeyes to replicate its own success. According to Food & Wine, in the ensuing years, Popeyes gave their chicken sandwich a buffalo sauce makeover and a Megan Thee Stallion spin. They’ve tried new products like a fish sandwich and chicken nuggets. But nothing has been as explosively popular as that sandwich. So perhaps another chicken sandwich is up to the task?
Now the Louisiana-founded chain proclaimed that they were “reigniting the Chicken Wars” with the official nationwide launch of “its next great menu innovation,” the Blackened Chicken Sandwich. The new sandwich features a breading-free, whole chicken breast that has been marinated for 12 hours, seasoned in Cajun and Creole spices, and then served between Popeyes toasted buttery brioche bun along with pickles and either the brand’s house classic or spicy mayo.
Popeyes points out that the blackening cooking technique traces its roots back to Louisiana, just like the fried chicken chain. Perhaps that’s why the brand says they’ve been developing this sandwich for four years — meaning it predates the release of that other Popeyes chicken sandwich. According to multiple news outlets, the Blackened Chicken Sandwich received a somewhat secretive test run in select U.S. markets back in 2021.
“We certainly took some key learnings from the original Chicken Sandwich launch and applied them to the Blackened Chicken Sandwich,” said Amy Alarcon, Popeyes’ VP of culinary innovation, adding, “like incorporating the same toasted buttery brioche bun, our house classic or spicy mayo, and crunchy barrel-cured pickles and combining those fan-favorite elements with the classic Blackening cooking technique.”
But the question now becomes whether Blackened can live up to Popeyes post-2019 expectations. “Our Chicken Sandwich changed the QSR industry back in 2019,” Sami Siddiqui, president of Popeyes North America, stated. He added that now the chain “wanted to reinvent the category of traditional grilled chicken sandwiches.”
The Blacked Chicken Sandwich is now available at participating locations nationwide for a limited time. Just how limited of a time will likely depend on whether it can live up to the hype of its chicken sandwich predecessor.
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