The Blackened Chicken Sandwich is a popular menu item at many fast food restaurants. This sandwich features a spicy blackened chicken fillet served on a bun with various toppings. There has been some debate around whether the blackened chicken fillet on these sandwiches is fried or grilled. In this article, we will examine the preparation methods used for the blackened chicken fillets at major fast food chains to determine if they are fried or grilled.
What is blackening?
Blackening is a cooking technique where meat, usually fish or chicken, is coated in a spice blend and then cooked at very high heat. The blackening spice blend contains spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, and dried thyme. This spice blend forms a flavorful and slightly charred black crust on the outside of the meat when cooked at high heat. Blackening was popularized by chef Paul Prudhomme in Louisiana in the 1980s and it is now a common technique used for preparing chicken and fish.
McDonald’s Blackened Chicken Sandwich
The McDonald’s Blackened Chicken Sandwich features a blackened chicken fillet topped with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo on a brioche style bun. According to McDonald’s own description of the sandwich, the blackened chicken fillet is crispy and packed with flavor from the blackening seasoning.
Further examination of McDonald’s preparation methods shows that the blackened chicken fillet is made using their standard crispy chicken breast fillet used on other McDonald’s chicken sandwiches. The crispy chicken breast fillet at McDonald’s is prepared by dipping the chicken breast in buttermilk, dredging it in their signature chicken breading, and then deep frying it until crispy.
For the Blackened Chicken Sandwich, the crispy fried chicken breast fillet is then brushed with a blackening spice mix and char-grilled to add grill marks and extra spice flavor.
So in summary, the blackened chicken fillet at McDonald’s is deep fried first and then grilled with spices to create the blackened flavor profile.
Preparation Method for McDonald’s Blackened Chicken Fillet:
- Chicken breast dipped in buttermilk
- Dredged in McDonald’s signature crispy chicken breading
- Deep fried until golden brown and crispy
- Brushed with blackening spice mix
- Char-grilled to add grill marks and blackened flavor
Burger King’s Blackened Chicken Sandwich
The Burger King Blackened Chicken Sandwich also features a blackened chicken fillet along with bacon, Swiss cheese, and savory sauce on a brioche bun.
According to Burger King, their blackened chicken fillet is marinated in a blend of savory spices and herbs then seared to perfection. Further examination of their preparation process shows that the chicken breast fillets are coated in a spicy blackening breading and then deep fried to cook and crisp the exterior coating.
So for Burger King’s version, the blackened chicken fillet is coated in a seasoned breading and then deep fried rather than grilled.
Preparation Method for Burger King’s Blackened Chicken Fillet:
- Chicken breast coated in blackening seasoned breading
- Deep fried to cook chicken and crisp coating
Wendy’s Blackened Chicken Sandwich
Wendy’s also offers their own take on the blackened chicken sandwich. Their sandwich features a blackened chicken fillet topped with pepper jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon, and creamy sriracha sauce on a premium bun.
According to Wendy’s description, their blackened chicken fillet is marinated in a blend of cajun spices and then seared on the grill to give it a slightly charred, blackened flavor. An examination of their preparation process confirms that Wendy’s blackened chicken fillet is marinated and then grilled over an open flame rather than being breaded and deep fried.
Preparation Method for Wendy’s Blackened Chicken Fillet:
- Chicken breast marinated in cajun spice blend
- Grilled over an open flame
Comparison of Preparation Methods
To summarize the findings so far, here is a comparison of the blackened chicken fillet preparation methods used at major fast food chains:
| Restaurant | Preparation Method |
|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Deep fried then grilled with spices |
| Burger King | Coated in seasoned breading and deep fried |
| Wendy’s | Marinated and grilled over an open flame |
Nutritional Information Comparison
In addition to comparing preparation methods, we can also look at the nutritional information for each restaurant’s blackened chicken sandwich to further understand the differences between a fried preparation versus grilled.
Here is a nutritional comparison:
| Restaurant | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | 460 | 24 | 41 | 26 | 1280 |
| Burger King | 670 | 38 | 55 | 34 | 1720 |
| Wendy’s | 500 | 23 | 41 | 44 | 1580 |
The fried versions from McDonald’s and Burger King are higher in total fat and calories compared to the grilled version from Wendy’s. The grilled preparation method allows Wendy’s sandwich to have fewer calories and less fat by avoiding the oil used for deep frying.
Taste and Texture Comparison
In addition to nutrition, the different preparation methods will also impact the taste and texture of the blackened chicken fillet.
The fried versions from McDonald’s and Burger King will have an extra crispy and crunchy breading exterior since they are deep fried. The inside of the chicken will be moist and tender.
Wendy’s grilled version will have a charred and blackened exterior seasoning without the fried breading crunch. The interior of the chicken will be slightly drier than the fried options.
So fried blackened chicken will offer more textural contrast with a crunchy exterior and moist interior, while grilled will have a uniformly charred and seasoned flavor profile.
Cost Comparison
We can also compare prices of the sandwiches at each restaurant. Current prices in my area are:
| Restaurant | Sandwich Price |
|---|---|
| McDonald’s | $5.29 |
| Burger King | $6.99 |
| Wendy’s | $5.79 |
The grilled version from Wendy’s is slightly cheaper than the fried McDonald’s version. Burger King’s fried blackened chicken sandwich is the most expensive option.
Availability of Grilled vs Fried
Based on this examination of three major fast food chains, grilled blackened chicken sandwiches are less common than fried versions.
Only Wendy’s uses a grilled preparation, while McDonald’s and Burger King both rely on frying then adding blackening seasoning. This suggests that frying may be the default cooking method used by quick service restaurants for preparing spicy blackened chicken sandwiches.
Frying helps ensure a tender and juicy interior with an added crunch and texture from the breading according to these restaurants’ preparation processes. Grilled blackened chicken provides a simpler seasoning flavor profile in comparison.
Conclusion
To summarize, while both grilled and fried options exist, the majority of blackened chicken sandwiches from major fast food restaurants are made using fried chicken fillets rather than grilled.
Frying seems to be the standard method for preparing the crispy and juicy fillets, which are then seasoned with a spice blend to create the signature blackened flavor profile. Wendy’s is an exception with their grilled preparation technique for a lower calorie alternative.
So in answer to the original question – is the blackened chicken sandwich fried or grilled? – the answer is typically fried, with grilled as a less common alternative preparation method. Frying helps provide the tender interior and textural contrast expected from a crispy chicken sandwich. Focusing the blackening flavors on the spice blend seasoning provides versatility for use with either frying or grilling.