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I've Eaten Almost Every Fast-Food Chicken Wrap And Sandwich Out There — Here's Where Popeyes' New Offerings Stand

It’s a honey BBQ summer, friends.

Few fast food crazes are as noteworthy as that of the chicken wrap. Sure, the chicken sandwich wars have been raging since 2019, but the wrap offers its own unique perks. It’s (theoretically) portable and less messy than towering sammies that leak condiments and toppings as you eat them. They’re smaller but still filling, so you can satisfy your craving without committing to a filet the size of your head. Plus, they’re nostalgic, especially for anyone who grew up on the O.G. McDonald’s Snack Wraps.

Luckily for fans of the handheld, Popeyes just brought back its fan-favorite chicken wraps — permanently! We previously reviewed the wraps when they first launched, but the current lineup is slightly different: the Honey Mustard wrap has been replaced by the all-new Blackened Ranch variety, an ode to one of the chain’s signature dipping sauces.

Announcement of Popeyes new chicken wraps
Popeyes / Via news.popeyes.com

Even better, Popeyes released them alongside two new honey BBQ sandwiches that’ll be here for a limited time ahead of summer. As a food writer who’s ranked and reviewed nearly every fast-food chicken wrap *and* chicken sandwich available, I was happy to investigate the new offerings. Read on for my honest reviews and rankings.

Popeyes honey BBQ sandwich with fries, ketchup and Sprite
Popeyes / Via popeyes.com

The Wraps & Sandwiches

The wraps cost $3.99 each. If you’re feeling extra hungry, consider upgrading to the Popeyes Chicken Wraps Bundle for $9.99, which includes two wraps and a lemonade. (IMO, the lemonade is incredible — rustic, pulpy, sweet-and-sour, carnival-caliber refreshment.) The default Honey BBQ Sandwich with fewer toppings costs $5.49, while the fully loaded version costs $6.99. Just note that prices may vary based on your location. Here are all the deets:

Taryn Pire

Classic Chicken Wrap: hand-breaded and battered Louisiana-style chicken tender, lettuce, shredded cheese, two barrel-cured pickles, and mayonnaise on a buttermilk tortilla

Spicy Chicken Wrap: hand-breaded and battered Louisiana-style chicken tender, lettuce, shredded cheese, two barrel-cured pickles, and spicy sauce on a buttermilk tortilla

Blackened Ranch Chicken Wrap: hand-breaded and battered Louisiana-style chicken tender, lettuce, shredded cheese, two barrel-cured pickles, and Blackened Ranch sauce on a buttermilk tortilla

Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich: chicken breast filet marinated in Louisiana herbs and spices, honey BBQ sauce, and barrel-cured pickles on a buttered, toasted brioche bun

Honey BBQ Bacon + Cheese Sandwich: chicken breast filet marinated in Louisiana herbs and spices, honey BBQ sauce, barrel-cured pickles, bacon, and Havarti cheese on a buttered, toasted brioche bun

The Test

Upon getting the items delivered, I photographed them whole and halved to show the cross-sections and overall size. Next, I tasted each item and took notes on texture, flavor, and portability. Finally, I considered each item’s value for its size and quality. I determined a rating, then ranked them from worst to best, with each average score being rounded to the nearest whole or half out of 10. I ranked the wraps and sandwiches separately, rather than ranking the wraps against the sandwiches.

The Results: The Wraps

3. Classic — Simplicity is scrumptious in this no-frills wrap that even picky eaters will enjoy.

Taryn Pire

This basic option was well-balanced and neatly assembled for the wrap's size. The mayo was tangy but rounded and slightly sweet, while the pickle chips were very thick and crunchy. (FYI, Popeyes has my favorite fast-food pickles by far.) The lettuce was crisp and plentiful without feeling like filler. The chicken was well seasoned and just salty enough, still crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. But the tender didn’t feel sufficient in such a large tortilla, and this was unfortunately the case with all three wraps.

The Ratings

Breading: 8/10

Juiciness: 7/10

Condiment: 7/10

Flavor: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Average: 7/10

2. Blackened Ranch — This zesty number felt most true to the Popeyes flavor profile and brand.

Taryn Pire

This wrap tasted more garlicky, black peppery, nuanced, and herby than the original, but not too different either. That said, you can taste the cheese most in this variety for some reason. However, if McDonald’s Snack Wraps were where your love for fast-food chicken wraps started, this one will taste nostalgic yet modernized to you, thanks to the ranch dressing. Don’t let “blackened” deter you if you’re scared of facing off with spicy, Cajun-inspired ingredients; the sauce is zesty, but not hot, and the rich, creamy base keeps the high notes in check.

The Ratings

Breading: 8/10

Juiciness: 7/10

Condiment: 8/10

Flavor: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Average: 7.5/10

1. Spicy — The chain’s spicy chicken sandwich went viral for a reason, and that reason is the sauce.

Taryn Pire

This one remains my favorite, as it was the last time I ranked Popeyes chicken wraps. I really adored the spicy spread; I’ve had countless Popeyes crispy chicken sandwiches doused in the stuff. It's unapologetically hot and nuanced without being spicy just for the sake of it. Again, the proportions felt off with the oversized wrap, but each component still did its thing. I also think the spicy sauce went best with the dilly, toothsome pickle chips versus the other condiments; their acidity offered tasty reprieve from the heat, too.

The Ratings

Breading: 8/10

Juiciness: 7/10

Condiment: 10/10

Flavor: 9/10

Value: 8/10

Average: 8.5/10

Final Thoughts

In general, the tortillas were too big for the chicken strips. While I loved its pliability and mild flavor, it made the chicken portion look meager. (The chicken strips varied in size, although not as starkly as the last time I tried the wraps when they first launched.) While the tortilla may technically make the wraps more filling than those of Popeyes' competitors, it may disappoint visually. TLDR? All the components are solid, but for $4 a pop, you may be left wanting more chicken.

The Results: The Sandwiches

2. Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich — The chicken was delicious…but I’m positive there was no honey BBQ sauce on it. And they forgot my pickles!

Taryn Pire

Since the sandwich was incorrectly prepared, it was hard to rank it against its loaded counterpart. That said, it reminded me that Popeyes chicken doesn’t need much help to be delicious. The bun was fluffy and soft but still toasted on the inside and hardy. The chicken was ridiculously moist inside with a crunchy, craggy exterior that boasted serious seasoning, despite the absence of BBQ sauce. As for the toppings (read: mayo), it was a bit sweet for my taste. This sammy was desperately in need of crunchy, acidic pickles for balance, but if it's made correctly, you'll have the full package.

The Ratings

Breading: 9/10

Juiciness: 10/10

Toppings: 6/10

Flavor: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Average: 8/10

1. Honey BBQ Bacon + Cheese Sandwich — This one was made correctly and tasted very fresh. Even though BBQ sauce is never my go-to, I appreciated its balanced flavor.

Taryn Pire

Again, the chicken was the true star (not to mention those sour pickles!). Thankfully, this sandwich did come with the appropriate sauce. The honey BBQ is balanced with a nice dose of acidity, so it doesn’t bonk you over the head with sugary-sweet flourishes. It’s ketchupy, warming, and slightly smoky, flawlessly playing off the seasoned breading. That said, it also dampened the breading, resulting in less crunch.

Although I’m a skeptic when it comes to fast food bacon, I didn’t hate it on this sammy. The bacon had a savory, salty, smoky flavor that complemented the sweet, smoky notes of the sauce. The texture was its downfall, as it was more chewy and tough than crisp. Similarly, I don’t often want cheese on my chicken sandwiches, and this one was so neutral that it barely impacted the handheld. That said, it didn’t melt into an oozy, creamy mess, but stayed intact, offering a soft textural element as a foil for the crunchy breading.

The Ratings

Breading: 8/10

Juiciness: 10/10

Toppings: 7/10

Flavor: 7/10

Value: 8/10

Average: 8/10

Final Thoughts

Truthfully? I enjoyed the plain sandwich (yes, the incorrectly made one that was labeled honey BBQ) more than the honey BBQ with bacon and cheese, but that’s mainly because I’m not a BBQ fan. It was tough to rank two honey BBQ sandwiches against each other when one of them was missing the key ingredient: barbecue sauce. That said, the sauce itself was quite pleasant with sweet, smoky, and acidic notes. I just wouldn’t realistically opt for the toppings (other than the pickles) outside of this review. That said, both sandwiches felt substantial for the price, since the chicken piece was large and fresh, even though only one came as ordered.

Have you tried Popeyes' new menu? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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