- McDonald’s previously released a chicken sandwich amid the “Chicken Sandwich Wars.”
- The sandwich immediately drew comparisons with Chick-fil-A’s iconic chicken sandwich.
- I tried McDonald’s McCrispy chicken sandwich and thought it was very similar to Chick-fil-A’s.
The chicken sandwich wars are still in full swing, but which chain has the best chicken sandwich at the best value?
In 2021, McDonald’s replaced its buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich with a new lineup of chicken sandwiches: the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and the Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
Immediately, fans and industry experts began to notice the new offerings seemed very similar to Chick-fil-A’s and Popeyes’ iconic chicken sandwiches. Business Insider’s Kate Taylor reported on a leaked menu that revealed McDonald’s plans to release a new chicken sandwich, saying the chain was planning to “take a page out of Chick-fil-A’s playbook.”
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Former McDonald’s chef Mike Haracz told Business Insider it was “very apparent” that McDonald’s was following Chick-fil-A’s lead with its sandwich. “It comes in a foil bag just like Chick-fil-A, from what I understand it has a very similar flavor profile,” he said before the sandwich’s release.
In 2024, the chicken sandwich wars are still underway, and not just at fast-food chains. Bloomberg noted that chicken sandwiches now appear on 47% of restaurant menus, citing data from research firm Technomic. The publication reported that not only do chefs want to showcase their take on chicken, but it’s cheaper and considered healthier than beef — and Gen Z loves it.
At McDonald’s, the crispy chicken sandwich has since been renamed the McCrispy. It is described as a “southern-style fried chicken sandwich” with crinkle-cut pickles and a toasted, buttered potato roll. Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich also comes on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips.
I wasn’t going to assume that the sandwiches were identical: I had to try them for myself.
Here’s how the McDonald’s McCrispy compares to Chick-fil-A’s original chicken sandwich.
