Store-Bought Chicken Sandwiches Ranked Worst To Best

woman eating chicken sandwich
woman eating chicken sandwich - Ozgurcankaya/Getty Images

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Are you a chicken sandwich fanatic? If so, then we've got the post for you. Store-bought chicken sandwiches can be a rare find, especially since many retailers opt to sell separate chicken patties rather than whole sandwiches themselves. Nevertheless, we've searched high and low and were able to find quite a few fully assembled products complete with bread, chicken, and maybe even a few toppings if we were lucky. So, how did everything fare?

It was interesting, to say the least. We found opinions ranging from scathing to glowing concerning these popular chicken sammies. We went through the trouble of compiling them all here to save you precious time, energy, and effort. Our hope is that you walk away better informed about which brands are actually worth your dime and which you'd be better off skipping the next time you hit up the market. Without further ado, let's get into it.

Read more: Frozen Pizzas, Ranked From Worst To Best

Lean Cuisine Protein Kick Frozen Chicken Club

lean cuisine chicken club sandwich
lean cuisine chicken club sandwich - Lean Cuisine

Lean Cuisine's Chicken Club, sold at Target and other retailers, caught our eye for being a bit outside of the norm when compared to other types of chicken sandwiches you typically see at retailers. This frozen store-bought chicken sandwich comes with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, bacon, and grilled chicken. It is then topped off with creamy ranch and nestled on toasted white bread for a (seemingly) uniquely flavorful experience we don't see much often in grocery stores.

So, how did this one actually perform? Let's just say we wouldn't recommend it. Reviews are scathing, with patrons declaring that the sandwiches have been changed since times past and no longer resemble the delectable little clubs they once were. They are now hardly tolerable with watery meat slathered in wet tomatoes, unappetizing pieces of bacon, and odd little gray pieces of chicken.

Though the sandwich is cheap, at a little less than $4 a box at the time of publication, it sounds like you ought to go ahead and save your money on this one. The ingredients used to make the sandwich sound promising, but in the end, you'll only end up with an off-putting disgraceful mess when all is said and done. Consider yourself warned.

Lean Cuisine Protein Kick Frozen BBQ Chicken Sandwich

lean cuisine bbq chicken sandwich
lean cuisine bbq chicken sandwich - Lean Cuisine

Lean Cuisine BBQ Chicken Sandwich would seem to be a yummy option for lunch or a quick snack. According to the package description, it comes with bread topped with chicken and covered in cheese before it is doused with BBQ sauce for an amazing bite before you head off to conclude the rest of your day.

Unfortunately, Lean Cuisesin's BBQ Chicken Sandwich has garnered split reviews, most of which are negative. Many people aren't digging this sandwich, claiming that it is overall lacking in flavor and tastes a little off, for lack of a better term. Still, others think this sandwich is delish, claiming it to be one of their favorite out of the Lean Cuisine lineup.

So, which is it? We're not sure. It appears to be a matter of personal preference, with the majority leaning towards the notion that these simply aren't good. You might have to take a chance with this sandwich if you want to try it. You may love it, but most likely, you'll hate it.

Tyson Spicy Chicken Sandwich

tyson spicy chicken sandwich
tyson spicy chicken sandwich - Tyson

Looking for spice? If so, then this one's for you. Tyson's Spicy Chicken Breast sandwich packs a punch in terms of heat, and allow us to warn you here -- it isn't for the faint of heart. The package comes with four breaded chicken patties atop an "artisan" bun and makes for a speedily satisfying meal that can be made in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.

As far as texture goes, people seem a bit split. Some have described the patties as pureed or spongy. Reviewers seem to suggest that making the sandwiches in the oven or air fryer helps with the overall taste of the sandwiches, and we agree that when it comes to heating frozen fried chicken, this method is usually best.

In terms of flavor, some people can't seem to get past how spicy they are. If you're a person who seriously can't get enough spice, these will likely knock your socks off. As for the rest of us, well, this might not be a great pick. One commenter even went as far as to say these chicken sandwiches are spicy to the point of being painful.

Marketside Buffalo-Style Chicken Sub Sandwich

walmart buffalo chicken sandwich
walmart buffalo chicken sandwich - Walmart

If you're in need of a quick bite that you can heat and eat, then Walmart's got you covered. Its Marketside Buffalo-Style Chicken Sub Sandwich is warm and ready in as little as a couple of minutes and only costs a few bucks to boot.

So, are they worth the bite? Eh, that depends on your expectations. They aren't insanely delicious, and the lack of flavor is further exaggerated by the failure to deliver much in the way of spice. And while we suppose you will get a bit of the "buffalo" zing, the sauce comes off as oddly tangy yet without as much kick as we would have hoped. In addition, preparing the sandwich in the microwave, as mentioned on the wrapper, will undoubtedly result in a soggy texture, leaving a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to the bread.

Because of these factors, we can't exactly give the Marketside Buffalo-Style Chicken Sub Sandwich our full endorsement. There isn't enough flavor, and the texture is off, making this potentially yummy sandwich fall flat. It'll also give you over 80% of your daily sodium intake for the day in a single sandwich.

Fast Bites Breaded Chicken Sandwich

fast bites breaded chicken sandwich
fast bites breaded chicken sandwich - Fast Bites

Meh, these are alright. For a dollar store buy, you can't expect a rockstar of a chicken sandwich, can you? The Fast Bites Breaded Chicken Sandwich comes one in a pack and sells for, presumably, around one dollar when purchased in the dollar store. They heat up quickly and feature a sesame seed studded bun (though some may come without sesame seeds), which we think is a nice touch.

As for the taste, well, it is about as expected. There's a lot of bread flavor, so don't expect the chicken patty itself to stand out. Overall, the experience is pretty dull, but again, it's what you might expect when paying for a sandwich that comes from a dollar store.

Another thing to note is that if you are particularly health conscious, this may not be the grab for you. A single one of these sandwiches will run you 15 grams of fat, 390 calories, and 48 grams of carbs. All in all, we think this one is an okay buy if you're in a bind and hungry. Just don't expect to be blown away by the flavor.

White Castle Chicken Breast Sliders

white castle chicken sliders
white castle chicken sliders - White Castle

We love White Castle and these seem like they'd be a wonderful switch-up from our average beef slider routine. These White Castle Chicken Breast Sliders come with four sammies in each box and can be microwaved for a quick bite when on the go. The sandwich features breaded chicken breast, referred to on the package as "fillet fritters with rib meat," served atop a fluffy slider bun.

The consensus on these seems to be that they're a pretty decent grocery store grab, according to consumer reviews. The sandwich works especially well when you're in a rush and want something quick and tasty. And though the majority of the reviewers seemed to enjoy this one, there were a few who found the chicken quite bland and the breading somewhat soggy. Using other cooking methods outside of the microwave has the potential to help with this (like using the oven or an air fryer), but since we haven't tried it ourselves, we can't really tell you whether or not switching up the cooking technique on this one would actually help.

If you do find these White Castle chicken sammies to be tasteless, try adding a slice of cheese. Some reviewers seem to have had some luck with this and claim it amplifies the flavor to create something much more appetizing.

Fast Bites Spicy Chicken Sandwich

fast bites spicy chicken sandwich
fast bites spicy chicken sandwich - Fast Bites

Another Fast Bites variety, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, also found in dollar stores, seems to be a winner in terms of flavor and affordability. Reviewers claim you should expect a mildly spicy taste with loads of flavor. Of course, you won't want to make this your daily meal as, like the original breaded variety, these come chock full of additives, fat, and sodium, which may spell trouble health-wise down the road. Still, in terms of pricing, convenience, and overall flavor, we think the Fast Bites Spicy Chicken Sandwich is a pretty decent pick.

We should also note that for some reviewers, this Fast Bites Spicy Chicken sandwich may taste more bready than one might hope. They claim you get more flavor presence from the bread than from the chicken patty itself (although the flavor of the chicken isn't completely nonexistent). With that said, if you like heat and convenience and need a quick grab to fill your stomach with, you might think about giving these chicken sandwiches a go.

Sandwich Bros. Frozen Chicken Melt

sandwich brothers chicken melts
sandwich brothers chicken melts - Sandwich Brothers

We tend to really dig Sandwich Bros. sandwiches because of their somewhat minimal ingredients when compared to other popular brands out there. With that said, some products can be hit or miss, so we were eager to see how the company's Frozen Chicken Melt fared in the opinion of the public.

From what we can tell, these sandwich melts are pretty okay. They hit differently for different people — some seem to love them and others seem to loathe them. One scathing review asserts that the chicken tastes so bad that even their dog wouldn't eat it. Others echo the idea that the sandwich is flavorless, while still others insist it's the best chicken sandwich out there. We searched for other reviews for additional input, but unfortunately, these were the reactions we were left with.

So, is the Sandwich Brots. Frozen Chicken Melt worth your time? Maybe. But just know that these chicken melts haven't been well received by everyone, so there's a possibility that you may not like them.

Alpha Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich Chik'n & Maple Waffle

alpha breakfast sandwich
alpha breakfast sandwich - Alpha

You didn't think we'd forget to add a vegan option, did you? We spotted the plant-based Alpha Chik'n & Maple Waffle Sandwich and were curious about the reviews. After all, plant-based products can be very hit or miss, especially for those who may be new to the lifestyle and are still accustomed to the flavor of regular chicken meat.

Surprisingly, people found these chicken and waffle vegan sandwiches to be quite tasty. One reviewer did mention that the waffle got a bit soggy after microwaving but also admits that it's overall a really great pick. Another review claims the sandwiches include the right amount of sweetness and crunch to make the sandwich an enjoyable meal at the beginning of the day.

All in all, this seems like a great in-store "chicken" and waffle for those of you out there who'd rather skip real meat. Though it has its flaws, it's still worth the grab, especially since really tasty waffle and chicken sandwiches for vegans may be particularly hard to find.

Sukhi's Frozen Chicken Tikka Masala Naanwich

sukhi's naanwich chicken masala
sukhi's naanwich chicken masala - Sukhi's

Sukhi's Frozen Chicken Tikka Masala Naanwich appears to have really wowed fans. Almost everyone who has tried this non-traditional store-bought sandwich has raved about it, citing its perfect balance of spices along with its delicately flavored naan as only a few reasons this Indian-inspired sandwich shines.

With that said, there are a few who complain about the sandwich, but in most cases, these complaints don't have to do with taste or performance. Rather, some people balk at the size, claiming the two naanwiches you get are tiny compared to the price you pay. At $8 a pop at the time of publication, we agree that two tiny chicken tikka sandwiches seems a bit unfair. Still, we couldn't help but take a glance at the components that make up the sandwich, and, as we suspected, the company seems to use mostly fresh unadulterated ingredients to achieve this marvelously flavored grab.

Thus, though the pricing is certainly not what we would have hoped, everything else from the ingredients to the taste of the sandwiches checks out. If you tend to like Indian cuisine we recommend you check these out; it'll be a pricey venture, but your taste buds just might thank you.

Sandwich Bros. Frozen Spicy Chicken Melt

sandwich brothers frozen spicy chicken
sandwich brothers frozen spicy chicken - Sandwich Brothers of Wisconsin

Who wouldn't be down for a spicy melt? Unlike the other Sandwich Bros. chicken grab, this Spicy Chicken Melt tends to please the majority of the crowd. People seem to really dig the heat level on this one, as the chicken contains just enough spice along with a little pepper jack cheese to cap things off and make it taste just right.

Most reviewers believe the Sandwich Bros. got this one correct and claim it's especially good when cooked using the right method. One commenter suggests you start by cooking it in the microwave before finishing it off in the air fryer for extra crispy results. Some that have tried the microwave-only method recommend you nuke these for about 1 minute and 15 seconds, but of course, the exact amount of time to yield the perfect melt will depend on your microwave. One reviewer claimed the melt got hard after microwaving, so you should still be very careful to follow the package directions to ensure your melt produces the best results.

Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Sandwich

members mark chicken sandwich
members mark chicken sandwich - Sam's Club

This one's an interesting one for several reasons. In case you've never heard of these, Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches are sold at Sam's Club and run about $20 (give or take) at the time of publication. You get ten individually wrapped sandwiches made with no steroids or hormones. People have taken a liking to these sandwiches as word on the street is that they taste exactly like Chick-fil-A. So, do they?

According to reviewers, they definitely do. Believe it or not, these sandwiches are a strikingly close recreation of a deliciously hot Chik-fil-A chicken sandwich, only at a lower price point per sandwich. You can even remove the bun and heat your chicken breast in the air fryer for crazy-good, irresistibly crispy chicken breast to top your bun with. Just be sure to heat your bun separately — a quick blast in the microwave should do the trick.

Still, there are downsides with these. The first is that the chicken sandwiches, though tasty, have a pickle-like flavor that may throw some taste testers off. This is especially true for those of you who despise pickles. The other lackluster finding is that these sandwiches contain many additives we'd rather not see in a sandwich, as they sport a very long list of sometimes-questionable ingredients. Hey, if it's fine with you, it's fine with us — but we at least wanted to let you know.

Tyson Original Chicken Breast Sliders

Tyson chicken sliders
Tyson chicken sliders - Tyson

Tyson Original Chicken Breast Sliders may not be the healthiest choice out there, but if you want something light, tasty, and quick, they'll do the job. They're packed with all-white chicken meat and are placed atop a slider bun. These miniature sammies come eight in a pack and run around $9 in our area at the time of publication. The box states that the sandwiches are minimally processed, although there are a few additives you can expect to be thrown in there despite this claim.

After a detailed assessment of the reviews concerning Tyson Frozen Chicken Sliders, the consensus seems to be that they taste really good. They seem to be well-received amongst both children and adults, making them a convenient grab when everyone's looking to stuff their face with something quick and yummy for lunch. The best way to enjoy these is to cook them in the air fryer since several fans of the sandwiches have vouched that this yields superb results. Add some cheese and mayo (or whatever other toppings you desire) and this is easily one of the best-tasting store-bought chicken sandwiches on the market.

Read the original article on Mashed.