A cowboy chicken griller is a tasty grilled chicken sandwich sold at Jack in the Box restaurants. It contains a variety of ingredients that come together to create a mouthwatering combination of flavors and textures. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at exactly what goes into making this popular menu item.
Grilled Chicken Patty
The star of the cowboy chicken griller is the grilled chicken patty. This is a seasoned, all-white meat chicken breast fillet. The chicken is marinated to impart flavor before being grilled to perfection. This gives the patty a smoky, charbroiled taste.
The chicken breast fillet provides a generous portion of protein. A single patty contains 33g of protein, accounting for approximately half the daily recommended intake. Protein helps keep you feeling fuller for longer while also providing nutritional benefits.
Smoky BBQ Sauce
No cowboy chicken sandwich would be complete without a generous slathering of smoky barbecue sauce. The sauce Jack in the Box uses for the cowboy chicken grillers is sweet, tangy, and hickory smoked.
The smoky barbecue flavor pairs beautifully with the chargrilled chicken patty. It also adds texture and moisture to each bite. The sauce contains tomato puree, corn syrup, vinegar, molasses, food starch, soybean oil, liquid smoke flavoring, and spices.
Cheddar Cheese
To add another layer of flavor, the chicken patty is topped with melted cheddar cheese. The cheese helps the smoky barbecue sauce adhere to the chicken patty. When melted, it creates a gooey blanket of cheese over the top.
Cheddar cheese has a rich, nutty taste that complements the other ingredients. The milk fat in the cheese also gives each bite a creamy mouthfeel.
Lettuce
Crisp lettuce adds freshness and texture to balance the richer flavors in the sandwich. The lettuce provides a cool, juicy crunch with each bite. It also adds Visual appeal when layered onto the bottom bun.
The lettuce is typically a variety like iceberg or romaine. These varieties have crispy leaves and a mild, watery taste.
Tomato
Sliced tomato is another fresh ingredient in the cowboy chicken griller. The tomato has a sweet, tangy taste that mixes nicely with the smoky barbecue chicken and cheese.
The tomatoes are usually sliced thickly so they hold their shape and don’t become watery. This keeps the integrity of the sandwich held together.
Pickles
For an extra flavor punch, dill pickle chips are included on the cowboy chicken griller. Dill pickles have a tangy, sour taste that pairs well with the rich chicken and smoky barbecue sauce.
The crunch of the pickle chips adds another pleasing texture. Pickles also act as a palate cleanser between bites of the chicken, cheese, and sauce.
Onions
Thinly sliced onions add even more crunch and a sharp, pungent flavor. Onions contain sulfury compounds that give them their distinctive taste. When eaten raw, they have more bite.
Onions complement the other ingredients nicely, adding a new flavor dimension to the sandwich. Their crisp texture also livens up the chicken patty and soft bun.
Jalapeños (on request)
For those who want an extra kick, sliced jalapeño peppers are available on request. Jalapeños have a spicy, slightly grassy taste that makes an exciting addition to the sandwich.
The spiciness of the jalapeños contrasts with the rich, sweet barbecue sauce. If you like things hot, the jalapeños turn up the heat on this grilled chicken sandwich.
Bun
To bring all the ingredients together, the cowboy chicken griller sandwich is served on a soft bun. The bun encloses the fillings to make it easy to eat.
Jack in the Box uses a bun specifically made for their sandwiches. It has a buttered, toasted surface on the top and bottom for added flavor and crunch.
The soft, absorbent interior soaks up the barbecue sauce for added moisture in every bite. The bun keeps all the fillings secure so you can enjoy the cowboy chicken griller on the go.
Nutrition Facts
The cowboy chicken griller is a reasonably healthy option as far as fast food sandwiches go. Here are the nutrition facts for a standard cowboy chicken griller:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 420 |
| Total Fat | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 3.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 80mg |
| Sodium | 1280mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 34g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 9g |
| Protein | 33g |
As you can see, the cowboy chicken griller provides 33g of protein per serving. It also contains a fairly low amount of saturated fat at 3.5g.
On the downside, it is high in sodium at 1280mg. The sandwich contains 34g of carbohydrates, but only 2g come from fiber.
Overall, the cowboy chicken griller makes a tasty higher protein choice when eating on the go. Those watching their salt intake may want to limit their portions or get it without the smoky barbecue sauce to reduce the sodium level.
How to Order
Ordering the cowboy chicken griller at Jack in the Box is simple. Here are some tips for customizing your order:
- Request it as a combo meal to get fries and a drink.
- Ask for extra barbecue sauce on the side if you want more smoky flavor.
- Add jalapeño peppers for spiciness.
- Order it with no tomato or onions if you don’t want vegetables.
- Request extra cheese for an ooey, gooey cheese layer.
- Get it as part of a Munchie Meal for late night cravings.
You can order the cowboy chicken griller in-store, via the Jack in the Box app for mobile order ahead, or through delivery. It’s available all day long.
Price
The cowboy chicken griller is one of the pricier sandwiches on the Jack in the Box menu. Here are the current prices:
- A la carte: $6.99
- Small combo: $8.99
- Large combo: $10.99
Expect to pay between $7-11 depending on if you order it as a combo or a la carte. Prices may vary by location.
Similar Menu Items
If you’re looking for something like the cowboy chicken griller, consider these other options from Jack in the Box:
- Buttery Jack: Features a chicken patty, cheese, and creamy buttery sauce.
- Spicy Sriracha Burger: Comes with Sriracha seasoning and sauce.
- Bacon & Swiss Buttery Jack: Includes bacon and Swiss cheese.
- Jumbo Jack: A bigger version with two beef patties.
Popularity
The cowboy chicken griller has a devoted fanbase. Many customers crave its signature smoky barbecue flavor and generous portion of protein.
On Reddit and other social media sites, you’ll find plenty of love for this grilled chicken sandwich. Fans say it has the perfect sauce to chicken ratio and is very filling.
The sandwich is also commonly recommended in lists of the best Jack in the Box menu items. It’s an order fans suggest trying at least once, especially for high-protein, lower-carb options.
History
The cowboy chicken griller has been on the Jack in the Box menu for over a decade. It was originally introduced as the Cowboy Ranch Chicken Sandwich in 2009.
The name was tweaked to “Cowboy Chicken Griller” in late 2010. Other than the minor name change, the sandwich has stayed the same over the years.
It joined the menu as part of a push to add grilled chicken offerings at the fast food chain. Other chicken grillers subsequently added include the club griller and ranch chicken griller.
Conclusion
With its charbroiled chicken breast, sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, gooey cheese, and fresh toppings, the cowboy chicken griller makes for a delicious and indulgent sandwich. This iconic menu item from Jack in the Box satisfies cravings by pairing tender grilled chicken with authentic Tex-Mex flavors.
Reasonably high in protein and low in fat, it can serve as a healthier fast food option for those looking for a filling meal on the go. Just be mindful of the high sodium content. Overall, the cowboy chicken griller’s perfectly balanced taste and texture explain why it remains a customer favorite after more than 10 years.