The Ultimate Guide to the Hottest Chicken Dishes in American Foodservice Right Now
Over 10 million menu items in the US include chicken, accounting for nearly 13% of all restaurant dishes nationwide. In this article, we explore the top chicken dishes in US restaurants right now, based on delivery and on-premise menus and consumer conversations on social media.
Today’s Top 5 Trending Chicken Dishes in Foodservice
Chicken Pot Pie (+31% YoY)
Comfort food that warms the soul, with tender chunks of chicken and vegetables baked in a creamy sauce and topped with a flaky pastry crust. Perfect for a cozy night in or a family dinner, chicken pot pie is seeing a 31% increase in interest in consumer discussion nationwide in restaurant contexts.
Chicken Wrap (+26% YoY)
A popular choice for a quick and satisfying meal. With a flour tortilla wrapped around grilled or fried chicken, fresh veggies, and a flavorful sauce, this dish is a hit with health-conscious diners who want something easy to eat on-the-go. Despite consumer interest growing +26% YoY in chicken wraps in restaurants,only 7.3% of restaurants offer it on their delivery menus in the United States, missing an opportunity to cater to wider audience demands.
Chicken Parmesan (+19% YoY)
An Italian-American dish that never goes out of style. Tender chicken breast is breaded and fried, then topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Served with a side of pasta or garlic bread, this meal is a generational favorite, and is growing +19% YoY in consumer interest in restaurants.
Orange Chicken (+16% YoY)
This popular Chinese-American dish that features crispy fried chicken coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce, bringing a little bit of sweetness to savory meals. Interest in orange chicken in restaurants is increasing +16% YoY
Chicken Tikka Masala (+16% YoY)
Loved by spice enthusiasts, tender chicken is marinated in a blend of spices, then grilled and served in a creamy tomato-based sauce. Served with rice and naan bread, this hearty and flavorful dish is an Indian classic. Chicken tikka masala is growing +16% YoY in consumer interest in restaurant contexts.
The above reflect the best selling chicken dishes on delivery menus
Today’s Top 5 Most Popular Chicken Dishes in US Foodservice
With so much talk about chicken, it’s worthwhile knowing what share of the market is focused on these juicy favorites. As an established product in the restaurant industry, the following options reflect the current popularity of chicken, measured by share (not growth!) of social conversation. You’ll note that these established “rulers” of the chicken scene are declining in popularity, indicating a consumer need for fresh innovation.
What About Delivery Platforms and Cuisines?
According to our data, the delivery platform offering the most chicken dishes in the US is DoorDash, with 83% of restaurants on the platform offering chicken dishes; Grubhub and UberEats follow closely behind.
Grubhub, however, is the most popular platform for ordering chicken wraps and chicken parmesan, trending chicken dishes in foodservice. 8.4% of Grubhub’s restaurants offer chicken wraps for delivery, followed closely by chicken parmesan. In contrast, UberEats offers chicken pot pie at 1.7%, while DoorDash has 4.8% of restaurants offering orange chicken. Chicken tikka masala, another trending chicken dish, is also popular on Grubhub with 2.5% of restaurants featuring it on their menu. Have one of these trending dishes on your foodservice menu? Make sure to list it on your delivery menu to capture consumer interest in an under-saturated space.
As for the cuisine with the most chicken dishes on delivery in the US, it’s no surprise that American cuisine takes the top spot. With classic dishes like fried chicken and chicken tenders, American cuisine offers a wide range of chicken options for diners. Mexican and Italian cuisines also offer a variety of chicken dishes, from chicken fajitas to chicken parmesan.
What is The Average Price of Chicken Dishes on Delivery?
The average price of chicken dishes on delivery in the US varies depending on the cuisine and the specific dish. On average, chicken dishes on delivery cost around $10-$15, with some higher-end dishes costing upwards of $20.
By collecting and analyzing the data behind millions of moments of consumption, we provide real-time insights on food and beverage trends and consumer behavior across the landscape of food and beverage innovation. We analyze data from 830K+ restaurants, 10M dishes, 9M consumers, and 71M social media posts to bring the freshest data on the pulse of foodservice, home cooking, and more.