When you think of Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich, you think of Pringles,
right? No? Well then keep watching, because we're about to explain the connection,
along with other reasons why this sandwich is so delicious.
When you order Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich,
you can expect a symphony of seasonings that will send you to space and back.
According to John Li, Vice President of Culinary Innovation at The Wendy's Company,
you'll undoubtedly fall under a hot and spicy spell with Wendy's spice blend. Li told Mashed:
"Spices go a long way when trying to crank up the heat on menu items.
We use an irresistible blend of eight spices and peppers to coat
the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, [...] and it truly delivers that perfect amount of spice through
every bite. I like to call it the 'perfect heat,' spicy enough to provide that kick spice-lovers
enjoy without overwhelming the taste buds, which is why fans keep coming back for more."
Li even gave Mashed an exclusive pro-tip when it comes to enhancing the heat, saying:
"If you're looking to kick the heat up a few notches on your next Spicy Chicken Sandwich order,
put some of our Ghost Pepper Ranch Sauce on top to really set your tastebuds ablaze."
Take it from Li himself, this fiery blend is iconic and a major reason
why Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich ranks high on the craveability scale,
satisfying any lunch, dinner or late-night craving.
Most sandwich connoisseurs will gladly tell you that too many condiments can quickly kill
something potentially delicious. Outside of just the breaded chicken fillet and pillowy buns,
there are only three ingredients to this sandwich,
all lending themselves to Wendy's founding belief that, quote, "Quality is our Recipe."
According to Li, this sandwich isn't too complex, but wins over customers every time. He added:
"We combine tried and true ingredients like cool, crisp lettuce,
fresh tomatoes and mayo with our specially breaded spicy chicken breast that only
Wendy's can perfect. It's a classic no one can mess with because it's just that good."
It's safe to say here that simplicity rules and minimal, fresh ingredients actually amplify
this glorious sandwich's protagonist, which is the spicy breaded chicken fillet, of course.
When biting into any ordinary quick service chicken sandwich,
you might be thinking — "Wait, is this chicken or just a chewy piece of repulsive rubber?"
Wendy's can put these dreaded nightmares to rest.
"We can continue down a bland avenue, or we can turn this day around
with a Spicy Chicken Sandwich from--"
"Wendy's!"
Wendy's upgraded their premium chicken fillets in every sandwich,
with all-white meat chicken breast that's tender, juicy,
and another level of premium. They've also reduced the average chicken size by 20%.
According to Wendy's Senior Director of Protein Procurement Gail Venrick, the meat from smaller
chickens inherently tastes better. So inevitably, you know spicy chicken meat is a quality product.
Now, when it comes to actually making the spicy chicken fillet,
Wendy's special process is also unparalleled. Li had this to say about it to Mashed:
"We apply a dual flavor approach to making sure every bite delivers on the spice profile;
we marinade the chicken in our secret spice blend, then we apply two separate spice and
breading steps to deliver more of that unique and well-balanced heat profile [...] This combination
of steps is an important part in delivering the spicy chicken flavor our fans love."
It's an unsaid secret that Wendy's crispy fries unveil their best qualities when dipped
in a thick, cold Frosty. But did you know that an even better, tried and true combo exists?
According to Li, Wendy's new Hot & Crispy Fries and chocolate Frosty
pair almost too perfectly with the Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Li told Mashed:
"There's just something about dipping a perfectly salted, hot and crunchy
fry into our cool Chocolate Frosty after a fiery bite of Spicy Chicken Sandwich
to ignite the senses and balance out the heat. Some may call it a trio made in heaven."
So if you thought there was a cap on the Spicy Chicken Sandwich's level of deliciousness, there
isn't one, so long as you pair the sandwich with the right Wendy's side to balance out the heat.
It's a known fact that buns hold the power to make or break a great sandwich — after all,
they serve as foundational pillars to keep the integrity of a sandwich intact.
Wendy's premium, pillowy buns aren't lacking in this department.
When it comes back to Wendy's mantra of "Quality is our Recipe,"
the buns certainly fit this description.
Wendy's always provides customers with fresh, never frozen burgers
and only serves bakery-style buns. Business Insider described the new buns
with adjectives that include "glossy," "spongy" and a "slight sweetness".
In terms of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, the artisan buns are gently coated inside with
the perfect amount of mayonnaise to keep the spicy chicken fillet,
crisp lettuce, and tomato securely encased. It's safe to say that the
high-quality buns lend themselves well to this sandwich's mega deliciousness.
Wendy's caught wind that the Spicy Chicken Sandwich sensation would never
cease and fans wanted more of the fiery magic.
In May 2021, Wendy's joyously announced its partnership with one of the world's
finest chip brands, Pringles, to deliver Wendy's Spicy Chicken crisps.
Pringles Senior Director of Marketing, Gareth Maguire, said this about the partnership:
"Our partnership with Wendy's is a match made in flavor-heaven,
so we're thrilled to have another collab with an equally talked about, fan-favorite menu item."
Wendy's Company Chief Marketing Officer Carl Loredo further added:
"Pringles Wendy's Spicy Chicken crisps perfectly encapsulate everything fans have come to know,
love and expect from Wendy's iconic chicken sandwich.
Wendy's fans can now enjoy our insanely flavorful Spicy Chicken Sandwich in
their crisps to satisfy taste-buds until their next restaurant visit."
Even though you can now enjoy this magic snack quickly between your fingers,
Wendy's obviously wants to encourage fans to grab the signature sandwich as well.
You need both in your life. So in this case, each can of the new Pringles chip includes
a special code that unlocks a free spicy sandwich available with purchase via mobile.
You can enjoy double the deliciousness and bask in Wendy's fiery heat wave any time you want.
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