KANSAS CITY – Poultry is the primary protein appearing in new menu items, with restaurants using the familiar fowl as a base to showcase new flavor profiles.
Johnny Rockets’ new Bruschetta Chicken Sandwich features a 100% all-natural grilled chicken breast topped with melted provolone, flame-roasted red peppers, lettuce, sliced tomatoes and basil pesto mayonnaise on a toasted brioche bun.
"We're excited to venture into new flavor territory this spring," said James Walker, president of operations and development for Johnny Rockets. "For a limited time, we're expanding our menu with a range of innovative new flavor offerings – from roasted red peppers to fresh basil. We're building on the Johnny Rockets brand promise to offer a unique dining experience you won't find anywhere else."
Chili’s has chosen chicken strips to feature new flavors. The chain is offering Crispy Buffalo Bleu Crispers, featuring spicy buffalo sauce, ranch, bleu cheese crumbles and chopped green onions; Honey-Chipotle Crispers & Waffles, featuring honey-chipotle chicken, Applewood smoked bacon, jalapenos and ancho-chile ranch skewered on top of Belgian waffles; and Crispy Fiery Pepper Crispers, featuring a fiery pepper sauce.
Piquant poultry is also the star of KFC’s new menu item. The fried chicken chain is spicing up its menu with The Zinger, a new-to-the-US spicy chicken sandwich. Featuring a 100 percent chicken breast filet that is double hand-breaded with a spicy Zinger flavoring then fried, the sandwich also contains lettuce and Colonel’s mayonnaise all on a toasted sesame seed bun.
Wendy’s is marrying mozzarella and chicken in its new Fresh Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich and Fresh Mozzarella Chicken Salad. The sandwich features a grilled chicken filet topped with mozzarella cheese, balsamic diced tomatoes, a spring mix and basil pesto served on a toasted garlic brioche bun, while the salad consists of a bed of salad blend topped with mozzarella cheese, grape tomatoes, garlic croutons, basil pesto and sliced grilled chicken.
Guacamole and bacon add flavor to Jack in the Box’s new chicken sandwich, the Guacamole and Bacon Chicken Sandwich. It features guacamole, a homestyle crispy 100 percent white meat chicken filet, pepper jack cheese, hickory-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a toasted bakery bun.
At bd’s Mongolian Grill, curry combines with grilled chicken. The chain is launching a new Chicken Curry Wrap, featuring grilled chicken tossed in curry marinade.
Click to view a slideshow of new menu items.
