White Castle Unveils Crispy Chicken Slider to Rival Chick-fil-A

White Castle has launched its first significant menu addition since 2022: the Crispy Chicken Slider. The slider features tender, all-white meat chicken fried in buttermilk breading and topped with honeycomb mustard sauce on White Castle's signature soft buns. A Deluxe version is also available with American cheese, lettuce, and tomato. The move comes as the chicken sandwich wars heat up, with fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A and Popeyes competing for dominance.

White Castle, a longstanding fast-food chain, has introduced its first major menu addition since 2022 with the launch of the Crispy Chicken Slider. This new item features tender, all-white meat chicken fried in buttermilk breading and topped with honeycomb mustard sauce on White Castle's signature soft buns. A Deluxe version is also available, which includes American cheese, lettuce, and tomato. The introduction of this new slider comes amidst a heated competition among fast-food chains for dominance in the chicken sandwich market [1].

The Crispy Chicken Slider is priced at 10¢ less than its predecessor, demonstrating White Castle's commitment to value and taste. This new menu item is part of a broader trend in the fast-food industry, where chicken-focused restaurants have seen significant growth. According to Technomic, the chicken category saw sales increase by 9% last year, compared to a 1% increase in burger sales [2].

The chicken wars are escalating, with major players like Chick-fil-A and Popeyes leading the charge. Chick-fil-A remains the leader in the category, while Popeyes' chicken sandwich, launched in 2019, sparked a social media frenzy and sold out quickly. The success of these chicken sandwiches has attracted significant investor interest, with Dave’s Hot Chicken recently selling for $1 billion and Bojangles potentially selling itself for $1.5 billion [2].

White Castle's new Crispy Chicken Slider is a strategic move to capitalize on the growing demand for chicken sandwiches. The company is also offering a $5 Crispy Chicken Combo for Craver Nation Rewards members, highlighting its commitment to customer loyalty and value. Additionally, limited-edition "Crispy Chicken Summer" merchandise is available, further emphasizing White Castle's focus on maintaining customer engagement and excitement [1].

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-crave-gets-crispy-white-castle-debuts-new-chicken-slider-302493564.html
[2] https://fortune.com/2025/06/27/raising-canes-locations-expansion-plans-2025/