Market Data 
- I compared spicy chicken sandwiches from Burger King, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, and Wendy’s.
- I thought Burger King’s sandwich had a nice kick but not the crispiest chicken patty.
- Chick-fil-A’s sandwich took the top spot because it was crispy yet juicy and full of flavor.
While classic chicken sandwiches have long dominated fast-food menus, their spicier counterparts are stealing the spotlight.
For the last couple of years, Gen Z’s appetite for spicy foods has been fueling competition in the food market.
In 2025, this trend is expected to intensify, with “complex heat” emerging as the generation’s flavor of choice, according to a November 2024 report by Rubix Foods, a food science company. About 48% of 15,000 respondents said they would opt for a spicier version of an item over the original.
Gen Z are also ready to back their preferences with their wallets. The report found that two-thirds of its Gen Z respondents said they were more likely to buy an item if it was advertised as spicy, and 44% would even pay extra for it.
I don’t have a high tolerance for spicy food, but still, like other Gen Zers, I prefer a chicken sandwich with a little kick.
To see how popular fast-food chains turned up the heat on their menu, I put their spicy chicken sandwiches to the test, trying and comparing offerings from five major brands.
Here’s how they ranked, from my least to most favorite.
