There are at least 16 Panera Bread menu hacks you need to know, and one of them is this free ingredient swap you might not realize you're allowed to make at the chain. When you order any sandwich or salad, you can swap the chicken out with avocado free of charge. You can try this hack with any protein, as long as you're ordering a sandwich or salad that doesn't already come with avocado. 

To confirm, we customized a Fuji Apple Chicken Salad and removed the chicken, then added avocado. The price of the salad did not change, even though adding avocado usually tacks on a $1.49 surcharge. We also tested this hack on the Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad, which already includes avocado. After removing the chicken, we weren't able to add extra avocado online. If you're ordering in person, try asking the staff at the counter if they can remove the chicken and substitute in extra avocado at no extra cost. If the original already comes with avocado, you're more likely to succeed when ordering directly from a person rather than online or at a kiosk.

In 2024, Panera Bread reimagined a whole new menu (and we tried and ranked each item, by the way). There are many additional dishes you can order and try out this free ingredient swap, and you don't even have to be a vegan or vegetarian to enjoy this avocado ordering hack. For example, you can try Panera's sourdough melts, which won us over with flavor-packed ingredients. Swap out the protein with avocado, free of charge, and you'll have an extra rich and creamy, melty sandwich. 

This hack is worth it because while we feel Panera's new sandwiches are worth the cost, we're skeptical about the cost of its avocado toast. For example, Panera's Garden Avo, or avocado toast with slices of tomato, falls a little flat, according to our taste testers. You're probably better off ordering a Panera sandwich like the flavorful Spicy Fiesta Chicken Sandwich and swapping out the chicken with avocado. But let's say you enjoy the protein in your favorite Panera sandwiches or salads, and don't want to make the swap or wish to pay the $1.49 surcharge for added avocado. You can always take the dish to go and add in ripe avocados from your pantry once you're home.   

You've probably seen the tagline for many restaurants that says, "Fresh, never frozen." Many people love to see that, as it can signify that a spot is a bit more trustworthy — especially when it comes to fast food, which is a true gamble when it comes to quality. 

Most restaurants are referring to meat when sharing that something is fresh, not frozen. Usually, fresh meat tastes yards better than meat that's been frozen — and that's because, when meat gets frozen, its cell walls go through a change due to the ice crystals that generally form during the freezing process. This causes the natural juices and texture of the meat to become altered, and it simply just doesn't taste as good. This could also go for many other types of food, like vegetables, bread dough, french fries, and more.

We did a deep dive to find out which popular fast food chains offer fresh, never frozen food. We found that there are some restaurants that share certain products (say, hamburger meat, for example) are never frozen — but don't make it clear about the other food on the menu. Others, however, proudly share that they don't even have a freezer on-site, so we know that all of the food is fresh. For each fast food chain, we will be very clear to let you know which menu items are fresh.

Wendy's is famous for its delicious french fries, iconic Frostys, and signature square-cut hamburgers, and it's often ranked among the top fast food restaurants in the United States. One thing that Wendy's has always done is never freeze its beef. The founder of Wendy's, David Thomas, wanted to provide quality, fresh hamburgers to his customers — so he decided that the burgers should never be frozen and should be made from 100% real beef. From the opening in 1969 to present day, this chain has been able to keep that standard going strong.

The chain's beef is sourced from Beef Quality Assurance certified farmers, who use sustainable efforts to produce the beef and ensure that the cattle are treated humanely. Plus, Wendy's goal is to phase out the use of antibiotics in its beef supply by 2030. The beef is then transported in refrigerated trucks to all of Wendy's locations throughout the week. The meat is kept refrigerated, and then it's fired up on the grill for each customer. The juicy, square meat patties are then placed on the diner's desired burger — and satisfaction is guaranteed. 

One thing to note about Wendy's is that other items on the menu do start out frozen — like the french fries. However, if you specifically just want a fresh burger, Wendy's can provide that for you.

Chipotle has been a place for Tex-Mex lovers to soar since 1993 — with its customizable tacos, bowls, burritos, and other delicious meals. The folks behind this fast food restaurant appear to hold strong values when it comes to the quality of its food — which is clearly displayed on Chipotle's website. 

The company sources and prepares the food in a way that's good for both the environment and its customers by never adding any artificial ingredients, preservatives, or hormones. Every single item on the menu at Chipotle never touches a freezer, as there aren't even any freezers on-site. Chipotle is able to keep all of its food fresh and healthy because it only has 53 ingredients in total on the menu. This allows the employees to be able to easily manage the temperatures of each type of food, monitor the food safety, and make each batch of chicken, beef, or pork fresh throughout the day. 

"[The chicken is] literally melt-in-your-mouth tender," an employee shares in a video on Chipotle's YouTube channel, while cooking up a fresh batch of chicken, ready for the next burrito. "We don't have a freezer, you know? It's almost like a farmers market. When you walk into the restaurant, you should hear the sizzle that you're hearing right now."

What started as a hot dog cart in 2001, Shake Shack has now become a popular spot to grab a good burger. It's a bit pricier compared to other fast food burger chains — but in our eyes, this spot can be totally worth it. Shake Shack offers a large variety of burgers and chicken options, from a black truffle burger or avocado bacon burger to the mouthwateringly crispy chicken stack sandwich and chicken bites.

One thing that Shake Shack is immediately transparent about on its menu is the status of the beef and chicken meat. When browsing the burgers section, the menu states, "Our custom 100% Angus beef blend, never frozen, no hormones or antibiotics ever, humanely raised and grazed in the USA." As for the chicken section, it's fairly similar, with the menu noting, "Whole white meat, never frozen, no antibiotics, hand breaded and crisp-fried to order in cholesterol-free vegetable oil." This makes Shake Shack stand out a bit from the fast food crowd, because it's one of the few burger chains that offers both fresh, never frozen hamburger and chicken meat. 

Domino's is one of the most popular fast food pizza chains in the world. It opened in 1960, and since then, there are now over 20,000 locations. So, it must be doing something right in order to bring in enough customers for that many locations. Domino's itself even claims that is has "the most delicious food" — so we were very curious to learn more about the quality of that food.

While we can all agree that there's something extra to love about fast food pizza, one thing that many diners enjoy about Domino's, in particular, is the crust. Maybe it's because of the crispy yet fluffy texture, or the garlic oil that's slathered on (in the case of its hand-tossed pizza crust), or the fact that this dough has never been frozen. Yup, you heard us right. Domino's makes its pizza dough completely fresh every single day. The reason for this is because, when the dough gets frozen, it doesn't rise properly.

The dough is made off-site and rolled into specially measured balls. Then, it's shipped to each Domino's location. The company has large, state of the art facilities that help make huge amounts of dough — one location in Indiana makes enough dough for 88,000 pizzas per day. The facilities have giant chilling machines that keep the dough at the right refrigeration temperature. The dough stays there for a maximum of two days but is usually shipped out immediately.

One fast food burger chain with the biggest cult following is In-N-Out Burger. Perhaps it's because it's mainly located on the West coast, and the West always strives to be the best (those notorious East vs. West Coast competitions never end, do they?), or it could be because the food really is that good. When we went to find out for ourselves, we were pleased to see that In-N-Out is very transparent about its food quality.

There's an entire tab on In-N-Out's website dedicated to providing its customers with clear information about where its food comes from. With a commitment to stick to its 1940s roots, the chain boasts, "We make things the old-fashioned way." Not a single food item from In-N-Out is ever frozen — it doesn't even have a freezer (or microwave, for that matter) on any of the premises, whereas most other fast food places today have freezers to at least hold french fries or frozen toppings.

In-N-Out's burgers are made from premium cattle, individually inspected, and ground on-site. There are no fillers, preservatives, or additives. As for the other ingredients — they are just as fresh. The cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and buns are all delivered daily, completely fresh and never frozen. The french fries are actually cut and fried in each individual location. It appears that this large burger chain has indeed been able to honor its original intention by upholding the standards of serving real, fresh food to its loyal customers.

Five Guys is similar to Shake Shack in its more gourmet-style burgers. It's been making handcrafted burgers since the year 1986 and remains incredibly popular today. There are about 1,800 current locations internationally, and almost 1,500 are planned to be added to that number, as of this writing. 

The main and most popular menu items at Five Guys are the burgers and fries. There are eight different variations of burgers, and they are all very classic. Five Guys doesn't offer a super large variety, because it wants to keep its focus on the quality of the food. The company even received recognition for its excellence in food safety in 2023. Five Guys has a retro vibe to its decor, and it keeps its retro feel in the kitchen, too. Most menu items are made in-house. For the burgers, only fresh ground beef is used, and it's never frozen — presumably, because of the aforementioned effect that freezing can have on the taste and texture of the meat. 

Five Guys boasts on its website that there are no freezers on-site at any of its locations, only refrigerators. This means that none of the hot dogs, fries, or toppings have been frozen, either. Ultimately, your entire meal — not just the meat patty — will be fresh, not frozen at Five Guys.

We all know those moments when you're craving crispy and juicy fried chicken, and need it immediately. For a fairly affordable and quick option, KFC could be the cure for that craving. What started in 1930 is now a global success, with more than 24,000 locations worldwide. Customers tend to go back again and again to KFC, keeping the doors open on the large number of locations.

One thing you'll be glad to know about the famous chicken at KFC is that it is indeed fresh, never frozen — and it comes from local poultry farms, which ensure the well-being of the animals. KFC has even shared exactly how it prepares the chicken each day: Each individual piece is inspected by the cooks. From there, the chicken gets rolled in the restaurant's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. Lastly, the chicken is cooked at a low temperature in a pressure cooker at a low temperature.

From burritos to quesadillas to its deliciously mouthwatering queso, Moe's Southwest Grill's customized Mexican-inspired food offers options for pretty much whatever your taste buds are in the mood for. As you may have guessed, Moe's shares that its food is fresh, never frozen. Indeed, the restaurant states that every single ingredient that you can get at Moe's is prepared fresh every day. There aren't even any freezers or microwaves on-site.

Not only is the food never frozen, but it comes from great sources, as well. The chicken is cage- and steroid-free. In 2017, the restaurant even committed to implement practices that look out for the welfare of the chickens, treating them more humanely. The pork is grain-fed, and the beef is grass-fed. All of these aspects help bring the quality of the meat up, and it remains that way by being shipped to the restaurants daily and then prepared fresh. Moe's even has YouTube ads that advertise its fresh, high-quality ingredients — everything from the guac, queso, and vegetables to, of course, the meat.

Bringing in another fried chicken chain, we have Chester's Chicken. The very first Chester's location opened in 1952, and it now has 1,300 locations throughout the United States and Canada. On the menu, you can find various versions of super crispy boneless and bone-in chicken, chicken sandwiches, and mouthwatering sides.

The fast food chain aims to provide its customers with the best quality chicken around, and it's even shared the cooking process. First and foremost, Chester's sets the record straight that the chicken is made fresh throughout the day — and it's also never frozen. In each location, the chicken is marinated before it gets breaded. The marinade ensures tenderness and boosts the flavors of the chicken. Then, the chicken gets double-breaded in Chester's family recipe. Lastly, it's fried to create the signature crunchy chicken that the customers know and love. 

Now, it's not quite clear on the website if the sides and other menu items at Chester's are fresh and never frozen, as well, so we aren't able to speak on that. However, if you have a deep hankering for crispy fried chicken, you can be confident in knowing that the chicken at Chester's is made fresh.

Papa John's, another incredibly popular pizza chain, has been at the forefront of many people's Friday night pizza for about 40 years. You may know the restaurant from its slogan, "Better ingredients. Better pizza. Papa John's." Now, any restaurant can claim that is has "better" ingredients, but what does it actually mean?

For Papa John's, it means a few things. First and foremost, the dough is an original recipe that is never frozen. To make the signature crust, the machinery in Papa John's regional facilities pops out tons of dough per hour. Once the dough goes through the entire process, it's kept on a giant cooling tray. The dough, which is only kept slightly chilled, is then delivered to each Papa John's location, and it's cooked right on-site, per order. The pizza is also topped with real mozzarella cheese and a vine-ripened tomato pizza sauce.  

Papa John's believes in the quality of its pizza so much that it actually offers to deliver a second pizza free of charge if you're not satisfied with the first. Most of the vegetables and meat are kept frozen, so keep that in mind. However, in our opinion, the crust is the most important part of the pizza, so we like knowing that Papa John's dough is made fresh every day.

Culver's is a Wisconsin-born fast food restaurant that's famous for its ButterBurger. With over 900 locations now scattered throughout the United States since launching in 1984, it's a popular place to stop for a burger and frozen custard combo. After seeing that owner Craig Culver himself has been quoted as saying, "We never compromise on quality," we really wanted to see how far this company takes that sentiment.

This fast food chain states it only sources the best ingredients — including making its frozen custard daily with fresh dairy from family-owned farms — and specifically never freezes the beef used for its ButterBurgers. The burgers are then made to order, fresh for each person. According to its website, Culver's believes that that's what makes its burgers stand out from the rest, and even urges the customers to customize their meals exactly how they want. There's also a specific role in the kitchen titled the grill master, who is responsible for cooking each and every ButterBurger to a set standard. With special searing and pressing techniques, the grill masters are highly trained on how to make the burgers consistently juicy and delicious.

Back in 1972, the very first Popeyes opened in New Orleans, Louisiana. It quickly grew to become an incredibly large chain, and with over 3,000 locations around the world today, it's often visited by customers who are craving some classic Southern food. One of the biggest menu highlights is, of course, Popeyes' chicken, which is characteristically crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The great news is that Popeyes' chicken is fresh and never frozen. It isn't delivered to each restaurant breaded and cooked, either, as each location receives the raw chicken, which is then marinated, battered, and fried right on-site. The chicken actually gets marinated for about 12 hours, which gives the meat a bold, spicy flavor — that way, the flavor isn't just in the breading. After that, the chicken is battered and breaded with Popeyes' special breading and then fried. Sometimes, the chicken even gets double fried — giving you that extra crunch in each bite.

Burgers may get all the press, but that doesn't mean they deserve sandwich superiority, particularly when you consider the merits of the chicken sandwich. The fried, breaded versions have a distinct crisp you won't find with other sandwiches, while the grilled type is often far juicier than its beefy cousins. Consider that chicken sandwiches tend to be on the lighter side, and you'll realize it's a shame to write them off as anything inferior to a run-of-the-mill burger.

With a chicken sandwich, however, it's the toppings that matter just as much as the chicken itself. Below is a list of the best toppings to add to any chicken sandwich. Use it as a guide to help determine where to start when building a chicken sandwich's flavor profile, but don't feel limited to what is listed here. Honestly, anything can be a chicken sandwich topping if you're creative (and hungry) enough.

Lettuce, of course, is at the top of any list. In fact, most sandwiches aren't complete without a layer of crunchy green leaves. This is especially important when it comes to fried chicken sandwiches, as you need something light and fresh to balance out the fried breading.

Make sure to think about what kind of lettuce you want on a burger before you head to the produce aisle. Iceberg lettuce is crisper, but it can be watery. Romaine has a bit more flavor, but if it's not fresh enough, it can easily wilt. Pile it on for a crisp serving of veggies.

Tomatoes can also add some much-needed freshness to a chicken sandwich, and they're one of the most common sandwich toppings out there. However, there are a few things to think about before topping a sandwich with tomatoes. First of all, are the tomatoes properly ripe? Underripe tomatoes can be hard, chewy, and even grainy, which is something to avoid.

Secondly, it's important to only put tomatoes on a sandwich right before it's time to eat. If tomatoes are left sitting too long next to the bun or breading on a chicken sandwich, things can start to get soggy quickly.

Onions are an essential topping for any sandwich, as they add a distinctive bite that simply can't be derived from any other ingredient. While many opt for red onions (especially when eaten fresh) on sandwiches, it's important to keep an open mind. Depending on what type of chicken sandwich is being made, consider going for sweet onions or even sautéed shallots instead.

If you like onions but don't enjoy how strong they tend to be, soak your onions in some water before using them in a chicken sandwich. This process will ensure the flavor is a bit more muted.

Of course, there are plenty of different types of cheeses that can be added to a chicken sandwich, but it's hard to deny that American cheese is a classic. 

Is American cheese the best cheese out there when eaten on its own? Of course not. But it really gets its chance to shine when sitting atop a chicken patty. Importantly, the patty should be hot when stacking the cheese on top of it, as the intention is to melt it just slightly. Otherwise, the sandwich is left with a cold hunk of dairy that will distract from the actual chicken itself.

For some people out there, a sandwich isn't a sandwich without ketchup. If that's how you tend to think, you'll want to put some of the red stuff on your chicken sandwich. 

Although some don't like ketchup's sticky sweetness, it works quite well in a chicken sandwich because it complements all the other salty flavors the sandwich has going on. That touch of sweetness brightens the whole flavor profile and makes every bite that much more delicious.

Want some ketchup with an extra kick? Try mixing it with hot sauce before adding it to the chicken sandwich. Tabasco makes a particularly solid choice.

Every sandwich needs a sauce, but not everyone is a ketchup person. For those who abhor the red, sweet sauce, they might be looking for an alternative, and it's hard to beat mayo. Mayonnaise makes the perfect addition to a chicken sandwich because it offers the sandwich some much-needed creaminess. Good mayo also has a bright tang to it that can break up some of the heaviness of a fried chicken filet.

There are plenty of different mayonnaise brands to choose from, so experiment with a few different brands to find the right fit. In a pinch, mayo can even be made at home.

All too often, chicken sandwiches follow the burger formula: lettuce, onions, tomato. What if someone wants to switch things up and try a different way? That's when it's time to pull out the pesto. This fragrant, basil-heavy sauce can give a chicken sandwich a lovely floral quality that works especially well when working alongside ingredients like mozzarella and even bacon.

Find jarred pesto at any local grocery store in the sauce aisle; it's also pretty easy to make at home in a food processor. If going this route, it will likely result in a fresher basil flavor in the finished sandwich.

Guacamole is not just for tortilla chips — it turns out it can make an exceptionally delicious chicken sandwich topper as well. It may not be the first sauce people think about adding to a sandwich, but because it contains so many different burger-adjacent ingredients as it is, it's a no-brainer to plop it onto the sandwich if it's in the fridge.

As always, fresh guacamole will work best, but for those who don't want to go through the process of making guacamole from scratch, store-bought will do. Make sure to spread it thick on the bun before digging in. This is one of the few sandwich toppings that can stand on its own, without the help of other ingredients.

All chicken sandwiches are good, but buffalo chicken sandwiches might just be the best of the bunch. There's nothing like the tangy, spicy, and deliciously fatty sauce that gives chicken an orange-y tint. 

There are a few different ways to use buffalo sauce on a chicken sandwich. Of course, coating the chicken patty in the sauce is a good idea; it transforms the whole flavor profile of the chicken sandwich. But if that's too strong a flavor,  just spread a thin layer on top of the chicken patty — it all depends on what kind of flavor intensity is desired.

Sweet and savory fans have another chicken sandwich topping option to choose from. Honey mustard has a lot of the complexity and acidity of yellow or Dijon mustard, but the inclusion of honey also gives it a sweetness that sets it apart from other types of mustard. Different brands of mustard have different sweetness levels, ranging from subtle, nuanced sweetness to ketchup-level sugar contents.

Ideal for those who like their chicken sandwiches super sweet, others might want to limit honey mustard usage if employing other sweet ingredients like ketchup or hot honey. Otherwise, those fresher, brighter flavors might have a hard time shining through.

For those who love sweet and savory combos with spicy food, there's nothing like a fried chicken sandwich dripping with hot honey. It's a dynamic ingredient that can transform an average chicken sandwich into something special. It gives off chicken and waffles vibes, while the heat adds an element that isn't typically found in a lot of dishes.

Of course, those who don't like sweet ingredients with meat or have an aversion to spicy food are probably not going to like hot honey on a chicken sandwich. But for those looking for a less-typical topping — and love the juxtaposition of sweet and heat — it's the perfect ingredient.

Some may think of tartar sauce as a condiment entirely reserved for fried seafood, but it has far greater potential. Tartar sauce can make an unconventional, intriguing addition to a chicken sandwich. For those who like mayonnaise but wish it had more flavor, tartar sauce is an ideal alternative. It's made with mayo, pickle relish, and sometimes capers and various herbs. The result is a sauce both creamy and fresh, subtle but flavorful.

Luckily, tartar sauce is easy to make at home. It's also something often hanging around in the fridge, just waiting for an excuse to pop the lid and unleash its unique taste.

For many, pickles are the one absolute essential among chicken sandwich toppings. Consider the chicken sandwiches at Chick-fil-A, Popeyes or countless other hot chicken joints, often little more than a few pickles atop a thick chicken patty. 

Few toppings could hold their own on a chicken sandwich with nothing else to support them, but pickles can. Perhaps it's because their flavor, their texture, their whole essence is the exact opposite of fried chicken, creating a perfect harmony of contrasting ingredients. Crispy, fatty fried chicken is begging for a juicy, briny vegetable to give it more brightness and acidity. It's enough to perhaps warrant a petition, making pickles and chicken the new peanut butter and jelly.

When desiring something fresh, crunchy, and colorful to add to a simple chicken sandwich recipe, it's best to not overthink things. Sometimes, something as simple as a pickled vegetable slaw can transform an average weeknight dish into something that tastes like it came from a restaurant and not a home kitchen.

Make a pickled vegetable slaw at home with whatever veggies are in the fridge; ingredients like cabbage, carrot, chile, and onion work best. It only takes a few minutes to quickly pickle vegetables, so this is a quick trick for making chicken sandwiches feel just a bit fancier.

Bacon is the ultimate sandwich enhancer, the perfect remedy for making a sandwich heartier and more filling. It's all over burgers all the time, of course, but the bacon phenomenon carries over to chicken sandwiches as well. 

When used sparingly, bacon can be a crunchy addition to a chicken sandwich, particularly when paired with fresher ingredients like lettuce, tomato, and onion. It automatically turns an average chicken sandwich into something that tastes and feels enjoyably indulgent. However, it's important to avoid soggy bacon at all costs — it can make a sandwich chewy and greasy if not cooked to perfection.

Love the bite of onions but can't stand how strong they are? Wish you could enjoy that onion flavor, but without continuing to taste them for hours after finishing the meal? If so, scallions may be the answer. 

Scallions are more mild than most other types of onions, so their freshness and flavor is delivered without any of the mind-bending intensity of raw onions. They can bring a unique, pleasurable flavor to a chicken sandwich. When looking for the mildest scallion experience possible, use the tops (aka the green part) of the scallions, which have a greener, less intense flavor than their white counterparts at the bottom.

Most of the classic chicken sandwich toppings are as dependable as they are iconic, but sometimes it pays to get creative. 

Stack potato chips on roast beef sandwiches, put them on subs — on "The Bear," they were even added to an omelette. So, why shouldn't a chicken sandwich be fair game? They're the perfect way to add more crunch and texture to a sandwich, and they help give the dish a saltier flavor profile.

Potato chips, particularly the thinly cut variety, can get soggy quickly when exposed to sauces and other moist ingredients. So, make sure to add them to the sandwich immediately before consumption.

Sometimes, adding a bit of heat to a chicken sandwich keeps things interesting. This is why it's important to keep jalapeños on hand. They're not the spiciest peppers out there, but they pack enough heat to make them suitable for serious spice lovers.

There are a few different ways to use jalapeños in a chicken sandwich. If the plan is to avoid that super intense heat, use pickled jalapeños, which tend to be milder than their fresher counterparts. If using the fresh variety, either cut the jalapeños into rings to use on sandwiches, or roughly mince them to create more of a pepper salsa situation.

To those who are fans of barbecued chicken, it's a no-brainer to consider adding BBQ sauce to a chicken sandwich. If desiring just a hint of that smokey, sometimes sweet flavor, drizzle a bit of the sauce onto the bun before digging in. If looking for a more intense flavor, glaze that chicken in the sauce before or after cooking it.

Although BBQ sauce can work on any type of chicken sandwich, it's best when used on a grilled chicken sandwich. The sauce can sometimes make the breading soft and soggy, and it could otherwise compete with the crispier texture of fried chicken.

Looking for a way to add some mild heat to a burger? Consider the delights of pepper jack cheese, which is much more dynamic and multi-faceted than many of its counterparts. 

While pepper jack has that creaminess expected from cheese, especially when in the form of a slice, it also contains hot peppers that produce a slight burn. Some pepper jack cheeses are milder than others, but they're generally appropriate for people who can take a small amount of spice.

A single slice of pepper jack cheese can elevate any chicken sandwich into something with increased flavor and complexity.

Some people really love fruit, and are among those who would consider putting a slice of pineapple on a chicken sandwich. The combination works great, because it taps into that salty/sweet dynamic that makes for a memorable sandwich. Pineapple also offers some marked acidity, which can counteract the fattiness that comes from the chicken patty. It's a classic combo that almost always turns out delicious.

Pineapple works perfectly on a grilled chicken sandwich because the lack of breading makes for a fresher bite that pairs well with fruit. However, even a fried chicken sandwich can benefit from a thin slice of this tropical treat.

If desirous of a chicken parmesan feel in a chicken sandwich, it's hard to go wrong with mozzarella cheese. It may not be the first kind of cheese that comes to mind when thinking about what works best with chicken, but it's a match made in heaven. 

Put mozzarella on a grilled chicken sandwich (although it also works on fried sandwiches), alongside some tomato sauce and maybe even a bit of basil. The flavor combo is incredible, and it feels fancy despite how easy it is to put together. Make sure the cheese melts a little bit before serving the sandwich.

If the hope is to make a chicken sandwich that tastes like something a celebrity chef would make, inspiration can be had from David Chang's chicken sandwich at Fuku. 

Chang's sandwich contains chicken thighs, pickles, and sweet Georgia peach sauce. While the latter might raise some eyebrows, it's a unique, sweet and utterly out-of-the-box addition to any dish that typically come across as salty; in short, it works really well with the typical flavor profile of a chicken sandwich. Peach sauce can add a light, refreshing, deeply flavorful punch to any standard sandwich, taking it into the realm of the extraordinary.

Of course, there are many types of chicken sandwiches all over the world — cultures from around the globe enjoy poultry stuffed between two pieces of bread. One of the world's most delicious chicken sandwiches, however, might just be the cemita milanesa de pollo, which hails from Mexico. 

This sandwich is piled high with a variety of ingredients, but one of the most interesting is papalo, also referred to as summer cilantro. It's a green herb that has a similar flavor profile to arugula, cilantro, and mint, and adds a bright freshness to fried chicken. If some can be found in the local supermarket produce section, give it a try.

Whether making a chicken biscuit for breakfast or simply looking for a way to add sweetness to a chicken sandwich, consider using maple butter. 

The fattiness of this butter, combined with the sweetness of the maple syrup, are a match made in heaven. It tastes good on its own, of course, but might be even better spread over a simple slice of bread — or ideally, the two of them that surround a chicken sandwich. Starbucks figured this out, capitalizing on the flavor with a chicken breakfast sandwich. Maple butter is ideal for those who think hot honey sounds appealing but don't like spice.

Want to add some crunch to the sandwich? Try Emping chips, a Southeast Asian snack that is highly addictive. 

Harold Dieterle's Kin Shop in NYC's West Village designed a fried chicken sandwich topped with Emping chips, and although it'll be hard to beat that version, you can at least give it a try at home. Find them at a local Asian grocer, or possibly online. If attempting to recreate the Kin Shop sandwich, you'll also need dark meat chicken, hot pickles, brioche buns, and a veggie slaw. The homemade sauces may be hard to recreate, but give it a try if you're feeling adventurous.