At the end of a long day, nothing hits like a sandwich. If you’re looking for the best fast food sandwiches to try this year, look no further. We’ve got you covered.
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
First up is Chik-fil-A’s notorious chicken sandwich. It’s pretty simple, all things considered: fried chicken and two pickle slices, served on a bun.
This doesn’t sound all that thrilling, but there’s no doubt that it works. They’ve been using that same recipe for decades, and it hasn’t failed them yet.
It’s all in the chicken. Chick-fil-A employees fry it in-house using peanut oil, and bread it in a blend of spices that the company keeps a secret.
Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
We can’t mention Chick-fil-A without talking about Popeye’s. Who could forget the Chicken Sandwich Wars? Arguably, it doesn’t matter whose sandwich came first. Which one is best?
Like Chick-fil-A, the Popeye’s classic chicken sandwich features fried chicken with pickle slices on a bun. However, the Popeye’s chicken has thicker, crunchier breading.
General consensus (and by “general consensus,” I mean a Reddit thread) seems to prefer this sandwich. They did admit that Chick-fil-A’s service is superior, though.
McDonald’s Big Mac
Alright, enough with the chicken. When you’re talking about the best fast food sandwiches, you can’t just leave out the burgers. They’re sandwiches, too!
Among all the fast food burgers, nothing is as iconic as the Big Mac. Okay, maybe the Whopper, but we’ll get into that later.
A Big Mac is basically two burgers in one, topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, and onions. The cheese could be better, but it’s a solid burger.
Wendy’s Baconator
If you’ve ever wished that Big Macs had more meat, then the Wendy’s Baconator is like a godsend. Like the Big Mac, it comes with two beef patties.
Unlike the Big Mac, it includes one extra ingredient: crispy bacon. Oh, and it leaves out the veggies, swapping them for mayo and ketchup instead.
Don’t worry, though: the Baconator still comes with melted cheese. Take one bite, and you’ll feel like you’re in carnivore heaven. This burger deserves more attention.
Shake Shack ShackBurger
Out of all the fast food sandwiches we’ve covered so far, the ShackBurger is as close to classic as it gets. Picture a cheeseburger. That’s it.
There’s nothing wrong with this at all. So many fast food chains are trying to be different, that Shake Shack’s back-to-basics approach makes it refreshing.
The ShackBurger consists of beef, cheese, lettuce, and tomato, on a potato bun. There’s a twist, though: Shake Shack’s secret sauce. It’s got mayo, and that’s all we know.
Arby’s Classic Roast Beef
Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich, true to their slogan, has one ingredient: meat. Well, there’s also the sesame seed bun, but that doesn’t count.
The meat on this one is stacked super high. At first, you’ll probably be worried about fitting it in your mouth, but you’ll devour it anyway.
For toppings, you can add some Arby’s sauce. You can also add up to half a pound of more meat, because of course you can.
Subway Italian B.M.T.
It’s hard to pick the best sandwich from a store that prides itself on infinite customizations. So, we’re only looking at their pre-made offerings.
Forget fast food sandwiches for a sec. Out of all the sandwiches in the world, the Italian combo reigns supreme. That’s technically a personal opinion, but I’m right.
In true Subway fashion, you can choose your own veggies and condiments. It’s everything you love about Subway and classic Italian combos, wrapped up in one.
KFC Original Recipe Chicken Sandwich
Another chicken sandwich enters the ring. Like the others, it’s got fried chicken and pickle slices. It’s a delicious combo, so we’re not mad about the repetition.
KFC differentiates itself by including a layer of mayo on each bun. The chicken is also a lot crispier than Chick-fil-A’s, kind of like Popeye’s.
What really makes it stand out is KFC’s double breading technique. They max out the sandwich’s textures, ideal for those who like a crunch.
Burger King Whopper
The Whopper is Burger King’s claim to fame. It’s the Big Mac’s only rival. As a McDonald’s fan, it hurts me to say this, but…it might be better.
That’s because the Whopper’s got all the fixings. Beef, pickles, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, ketchup, and mayo, served in a sesame seed bun. Sorry, but that’s hard to beat.
I hate admitting it. I really do. But a burger without tomatoes barely counts as a burger. As iconic as the Big Mac is, it loses this fight.
Five Guys Cheeseburger
This burger stands out because of its versatility. On the outside, it’s just a regular cheeseburger: beef patty, American cheese, a bun, and nothing else.
However, you can customize it however you want. Whatever toppings or condiments you think would go perfectly with a cheeseburger are at your fingertips.
If you want to add bacon, though, you’ll have to pay a little extra. Five Guys’ Bacon Cheeseburger is its own standalone menu item.
Culver’s ButterBurger
Right off the bat, the Culver’s ButterBurger differentiates itself from other fast food sandwiches. Every chain’s got a cheeseburger, but not a “ButterBurger.” What even is that?
Well, it’s not much different from a regular burger, to be honest. It’s got beef, pickles, onions, cheese (if you want it), ketchup, the whole shebang.
While other restaurants aim to make their burgers special with condiments, this one goes for the bun. The bun is buttered, making for a unique flavor.
Sonic Bacon Double Cheeseburger
The roller skates aren’t the only thing that makes Sonic’s food good (though it’s a plus). The Bacon Double Cheeseburger is exactly what it sounds like — awesome.
It comes with two beef patties glued together by melted slices of American cheese. As for toppings, you’ve got tomato, lettuce, mayo, and bacon.
There’s a couple of downsides, though. Like, why can’t fast food places have lettuce, tomato, and onions? And what’s so wrong with cheddar?
In-N-Out Double Double
If any fast food restaurant knows burgers, it’s In-n-Out. It’s their whole thing. It’s hard to choose just one, but we’re going with the Double Double.
Want to know why? Well, there’s the sauce, for one. According to their website, it’s been unchanged since 1948. It’s actually a version of thousand island.
Aside from that, there’s the toppings — cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onions. Guess I spoke too soon. In-n-Out’s clearly got the burger thing down pat.
Jersey Mike’s Original Italian Sub
This New Jersey-based sandwich company isn’t quite giving Subway a run for its money. Still, its Italian combo can go toe-to-toe with the BMT.
Unlike the bulk of Subway’s offerings, Jersey Mike’s Original Italian isn’t customizable. It comes with sliced tomatoes and shredded lettuce, alongside a bunch of different meats.
Specifically, this sub offers ham, cappacuolo, pepperoni, salami, and prosciuttini, served with provolone cheese. They were not kidding when they called this sandwich Italian.
Panera Bread Toasted Frontega Chicken
Ah, Panera Bread. No other chain restaurant makes me feel as classy as you do. We had to include their Toasted Frontega Chicken in this lineup.
The Toasted Frontega Chicken includes mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, and basil. As if that didn’t make it fancy enough, it’s topped off with chipotle aioli.
When it comes to fast food, Panera really changed the game. Seriously, who would’ve thought a panini would make its way onto a list of fast food sandwiches?
White Castle Sliders
These sliders are White Castle’s bread and butter. Regular burgers hadn’t even been around in America for a hundred years when they entered the scene (per NPR).
It might not seem like much nowadays, but these sliders completely changed the game in the early 20th century. Their convenience (not to mention their deliciousness) was unbeatable.
They offer lots of sliders now, but their 1921 Slider is a classic. It features lettuce, tomato, pickles, and cheddar cheese, instantly making it better in my book.
Chipotle Chicken Burrito
Yes, we’re including a burrito on a list of fast food sandwiches. No, we don’t care what you think. It’s close enough. Argue with the wall.
Aside from chicken, you get rice, beans, salsa, cheese, and sour cream. You know what? We’re wrong. It’s not just a sandwich. It’s a supreme sandwich.
Yes, I’m going to die on this hill. A burrito can technically be classified as a type of sandwich, and I revel in technicalities.
Jimmy John’s Vito Sub
We’ve got a third Italian combo in our competition. The Vito Sub from Jimmy John’s comes with all the meaty trappings of Italian sandwiches.
Well, okay, maybe not all the meaty trappings. We’re specifically talking about salami and cappacuolo. Like Jersey Mike’s, this one also comes with provolone.
Unlike Jersey Mike’s, they spell cappacuolo like “capocollo” on their website. This makes them seem less Italian to me, an American, so I’m docking them a point.
Jack in the Box Jumbo Jack
Are you ever in the mood for a huge burger? Like, a burger so big that it’s the size of a small child’s head?
Well, the Jumbo Jack burger should satisfy those cravings. It comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo, and ketchup. You can opt for American cheese, too.
Its size is really the thing that makes (or, rather, made) it special. They used to have a commercial featuring a kid that could barely eat it.
Firehouse Subs Hook & Ladder Sub
Unlike the other subs on this list, the Hook and Ladder isn’t an Italian combo spinoff. It’s a pretty classic sandwich, with meats, cheese, lettuce, etc.
The Hook and Ladder has two different meats: turkey and ham. It comes with Monterey Jack cheese, a welcome diversion from the other fast food sandwiches.
The rest of the toppings are pretty standard. It does come with mustard, and is served with a pickle on the side, which is new.
