McDonald’s has been playing on the sidelines for years while KFC, Popeye’s and Chick-fil-A waged their deep-fried chicken war. But this week, the fast-food giant entered the fray with three new premium chicken sandwiches featuring a larger fillet and its artisan potato bun. Will it win America over?
The Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich consists of a southern-style hunk of fried chicken on a toasted potato bun, along with crinkle-cut pickles. It’s a simple offering that caters to fried chicken purists without going overboard with toppings or extra sauces. That simplicity may also help the sandwich hold up against the ever-growing popularity of juicier, crispier and more flavorful fast-food chicken offerings from other chains.
For comparison, KFC’s Classic Chicken Sandwich racks up 650 calories (via CalorieKing) and the Spicy Deluxe version of McDonald’s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich has 530 calories. That’s not a lot of calories in the grand scheme of things, but it’s definitely more than what you’ll find on a value-based McDonald’s hamburger.
One thing McDonald’s got right with its fried chicken is the breading, which uses a mix of corn flour, wheat flour and other ingredients to create a crispy, thick coating that doesn’t fall off. That’s a huge improvement from the soggy, clumpy McBites of 2012, and the crispiness holds up well after taking a full blown bite. The artisan bun is another big winner, as it’s a toasty treat that’s eons better than the paper mache buns that typically come with McDonald’s value-based meals.
