Chicken dominates fast food menus at top chains
Fast food chains are revamping menus with more chicken options to meet current customer demand.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fast food giants are flipping the script — and chicken is taking center stage.
Major chains are reworking menus to match what customers want right now. Chicken is taking over fast-food menus — even at burger chains.
McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell are all rolling out new chicken items. The companies say customers want more poultry, and less beef.
Chicken is cheaper than beef and pork right now, and it’s easier for restaurants to get creative with dipping sauces and flavor.
Visits to chicken chains are also up, while other fast-food traffic is down. That’s putting pressure on burger joints to keep up. McDonald’s just had its worst U.S. sales quarter since 2020, but chicken helped hold the line at Taco Bell and Chipotle.
You can expect to see even more chicken on menus soon, including the return of McDonald’s Snack Wrap. Restaurants say leaning into this strategy is one of their best bets to bring back budget-conscious customers.