⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Breaded Chicken Sandwiches Are Having a Moment The chicken sandwich may not be the sexiest menu item, but about 2.4 billion of them were served in the last year.

By Kate Taylor

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Will chicken sandwiches ever outshine the mighty burger? Probably not – but that doesn't mean they aren't trying.

Servings of breaded chicken sandwiches have grown an average of 3 percent over the last four years, according to a report by research firm The NPD Group. The largest areas of growth: quick service restaurants, with a 3 percent increase in servings in the last year, midscale/family dining restaurants with a 4 percent increase and non-commercial foodservice (hospitals, schools, workplace cafeterias, etc.) with a 5 percent increase.

"Among the factors driving the increase in breaded chicken sandwich orders from a consumer standpoint is the perception of chicken, breaded or not, being a better-for-you option and the availability of new types of breading, like whole grain," Annie Roberts, vice president of NPD SupplyTrack, said in a statement.

Related: Long Seen as Boring, Chicken Is Becoming a Buzz Item for Restaurants

Various chicken menu items have also become more popular for restaurants as a money-saving tactic. While prices for beef and pork sky rocketed this year, chicken has remained a reliable, lower-cost meat that customers have embraced.

Does that mean that the chicken sandwich can take on the burger, the No. 1 sandwich in the restaurant biz? Not even close. In the year ending in July 2014, 2.4 billion breaded chicken sandwiches were ordered in U.S. restaurants. In the same period, 9 billion burgers were served, a 3 percent increase over last year.

Still, chicken is on the rise. In 2014, restaurants from Domino's and Pizza Hut to Burger King have beefed up their chicken game. It seems America is finally heeding the words of Chick-fil-A, one of this year's swiftly expanding and evolving fast-food standouts, and realized it is time to "eat mor chikin."

Related: Chick-fil-A Finally Enters the Fast-Food Coffee Battle

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.