Is the Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich actually a healthy fast food menu item?
And if it is, does it even taste any good?
Keep watching to learn more about this popular sandwich.
After introducing salad bars and baked potatoes in the late '70s and '80s, a continued push
for "lighter" options led Wendy's to add a grilled chicken sandwich to its menu in July
1990, per Wendy's website.
A commercial on YouTube lists its components as a chicken breast filet topped with lettuce,
tomato, and honey mustard, all piled on top of a toasted bun.
The ad claimed:
"This could be Dave's best-tasting chicken sandwich ever."
At the time, maybe it was, but that didn't stop the chain from doing a "complete overhaul"
of its chicken sandwich line in 2004.
Renamed the Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich, the new version of the non-fried poultry product
was almost identical to its predecessor but featured a bigger chicken breast filet coupled
with a sweet and savory sauce.
Similar re-vamps followed suit over the years until the sandwich's most recent major transformation
in 2016.
"This is your new grilled chicken sandwich!"
Still topped with lettuce, tomato, and honey mustard, PR Newswire reports that the new-and-improved
Grilled Chicken Sandwich was made different from the rest thanks to an herb-marinated
chicken filet and a new multi-grain bun.
However, it seems there were still some changes to be made, as the dish is a little different
today.
The Wendy's website describes its current Grilled Chicken Sandwich as:
"[An] herb-marinated grilled chicken breast topped with smoky honey mustard, crisp lettuce,
and tomato, served on a warm toasted bun."
This might not sound too different from the version that was rolled out in 2016.
However, the dish has undergone a few changes since its most recent revamp that have improved
it even more.
The biggest difference you'll likely notice when getting ready to sink your teeth into
the eatery's current Grilled Chicken Sandwich is that it no longer comes on a multigrain
bun.
Despite being a major part of its makeover six years ago, the chain revealed in a tweet
to a fan that this element of the dish was discontinued in 2018.
The second big change to Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich is to the poultry itself, though
you won't recognize this one on sight.
Following complaints of "rubbery chicken," Insider reports that the fast-food restaurant
not only switched up its preparation methods but has also invested nearly $30 million to
upgrade the overall quality of its poultry.
Sourcing from smaller chickens and removing antibiotics are two improvements Wendy's has
made since launching the initiative in 2017.
Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich is a great alternative to the crispy chicken sandwiches
currently dominating the fast food world, but even this handheld meal can get a little
tiring after a while.
Luckily, the chain has several different versions of the entrée for you to choose from that
are sure to take your tastebuds on a ride.
In addition to the original sandwich, the restaurant's menu currently boasts three more
grilled chicken sandwiches, including the Grilled Asiago Ranch Club.
Somewhat similar to the original, this version also comes with an herb-marinated chicken
breast filet, lettuce, and tomato but replaces the honey mustard with ranch and adds asiago
cheese and Applewood-smoked bacon, per Wendy's.
Those with an affinity for all things spicy may prefer the Grilled Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
instead.
The eatery's website says it comes topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, dill chips
and a drizzle of habanero hot honey sauce.
Last but not least, the Grilled Big Bacon Cheddar Chicken.
Introduced in August 2021, this mouthwatering sammie features a slice of American cheese
as well as creamy cheddar, Applewood-smoked bacon, crispy onions, and bacon jam, all piled
in between a toasted cheddar bun.
We all know that fast food isn't the most nutritious meal in town.
However, if you're looking for a healthier option that is still just as satisfying, a
Grilled Chicken Sandwich from Wendy's is the way to go.
With only 350 calories and 8 grams of fat, the entrée is not only one of the healthiest
items on the restaurant's menu, but is also far superior to most of the food being served
up at the other popular chains, according to Wendy's.
Registered dietician nutritionist Keri Gans explained to Parade:
"Many fast food sandwiches contain over 1,000mg in sodium, however this sandwich is at 850
mg.
It also provides a whopping 33 grams of protein for those seeking a high protein option for
lunch or dinner.”
One downfall of the original Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich is its bun, which Eat This,
Not That!
points out is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.
Yet still, compared to the other grilled chicken sammies in the industry, the outlet found
that the nutritional value of Wendy's version outranks all but one: Chick-Fil-A's Grilled
Chicken Sandwich.
Many Wendy's customers pull up to the fast-food restaurant to chow down on something like
the monstrous Baconator or an iconic Frosty treat.
Still, the eatery has so much more to offer besides square-shaped burgers and one-of-a-kind
desserts.
Customers dining at the chain are also presented with a sizable selection of poultry products
like the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which is the menu's true gem for some.
Following the sandwich's revamp in 2016, GrubGrade described the poultry itself as:
"[P]lump, juicy and slightly sweet [with a] pleasant garlic and herb flavor."
The outlet ultimately awarded the sammie a rating of 7 out of 10.
A report published by Insider in 2017 found it to be the third-best grilled chicken sandwich
in the fast food industry entirely.
More recently, Uproxx sang praises of the eatery's Grilled Asiago Ranch Club, citing
that all the flavors blended seamlessly and were balanced.
As one Redditor wrote,
"[Wendy's has] some of the best-grilled chicken in the game."
So regardless of which version of the sandwich you order, we don't have any doubt that you'll
be enjoying your meal.
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