Have you ever found yourself craving those delicious, dippable Chicken Fries from Burger King, only to drive up to the menu board and feel your heart sink when you couldn’t find them? You’re definitely not alone! The question “Did Burger King get rid of Chicken Fries?” has sparked countless social media rants, online petitions, and even a few tears from devoted fans. Today, we’re diving deep into the rollercoaster history of this beloved menu item to give you the definitive answer.
The Birth of a Fast Food Legend
Back in 2005, Burger King unleashed what would become one of their most iconic menu innovations – Chicken Fries. These weren’t your ordinary chicken nuggets. Nope! BK Chicken Fries were strips of white meat chicken breast, coated in a crispy seasoned breading, and shaped like french fries.
What made them really stand out was their unique design and packaging. The fry-shaped chicken strips came in a container specifically designed to fit in your car’s cup holder (genius, right?). The box even had a built-in dipping sauce holder when opened. This wasn’t just food – it was a whole experience tailored for on-the-go eating.
Burger King was targeting a specific demographic with this product – those “super fans” between 18 and 34 years old who hit up fast food joints multiple times a week. The company wanted to appeal to a more adult audience with higher-quality ingredients than their standard menu items.
The Heartbreak: The First Discontinuation
After enjoying a solid run of popularity, disaster struck in January 2012. Burger King made the shocking decision to remove Chicken Fries from their permanent menu. The public reaction? Absolute chaos!
Fans took to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and Tumblr to voice their displeasure. Some dedicated fans even created:
- Online petitions demanding their return
- Dedicated social media accounts
- Hashtag campaigns
- Actual protests (yes, some people were THAT passionate)
Comedian Daniel Tosh even featured a skit on his show, Tosh.0, calling for the return of Chicken Fries. At its peak, the product was being mentioned online once every 40 seconds on average. That’s some serious fan dedication!
The Glorious Comeback(s)
2014: The Limited Return
After years of fan campaigns Burger King finally gave in. In August 2014 they reintroduced Chicken Fries as a limited-time offering. The announcement tweet was simple but effective “You asked. We answered. #ChickenFriesAreBack.”
This reintroduction was a massive success for BK. The resulting sales bump helped Burger King achieve a domestic same-store comparable sales rise of 31% in 2014 Meanwhile, McDonald’s reported a 4% decrease during the same period. Ouch!
What’s really interesting is how BK approached the marketing. Instead of creating new commercials, they reused the original ads from the mid-2000s, adding only the hashtag #TBT (Throwback Thursday). This digital-focused strategy saved them tons of money while generating massive buzz.
2015: Permanent Return
In March 2015, Burger King made the decision that fans had been begging for – they permanently re-added Chicken Fries to their menu in over 30 countries globally. The 2015 reintroduction was another financial win, helping drive second-quarter same-store comparable sales growth up by 7.9%.
Burger King admitted in their third-quarter 2014 earnings report that the massive social media attention was one of the primary reasons they brought the product back. The positive reaction included over one million mentions on Twitter alone!
Why Did Burger King Keep Playing With Our Hearts?
You might be wondering why BK would discontinue such a popular item in the first place. There were actually some strategic business reasons:
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Strategic scarcity: Making a product temporarily unavailable can intensify demand and create buzz when it returns.
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Beef prices: During the period leading up to the 2014 reintroduction, beef prices had hit all-time highs. Chicken Fries provided a cost-effective alternative.
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Operational simplicity: Limited-time offers allow chains to bring “new” excitement to the menu without permanently complicating their kitchen operations.
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Testing what works: BK changed their approach to focus on fewer products with broader appeal rather than many niche items.
Special Variations and Packaging
Throughout their history, Chicken Fries have seen a few interesting variations:
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Fiery Chicken Fries (Summer 2015): Featured a spicy breading with cayenne pepper, black pepper, and other spices. This was the first variant of the standard Chicken Fries.
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Crispy Pretzel Chicken Fries (2018): Featured pretzel breading for a crispy, salty remix. These were popular but only intended as a limited-time item.
The packaging has also evolved over time, with special editions featuring:
- NFL tie-ins with football-textured packaging
- SpongeBob SquarePants themed boxes
- Lucha libre-style angry chicken mask graphics (for the Fiery version)
So, Did Burger King REALLY Get Rid of Chicken Fries?
Here’s the straight answer: No, Burger King did not permanently get rid of Chicken Fries.
After their 2015 reintroduction, Chicken Fries have remained a permanent fixture on BK’s menu in most locations. However, availability can still fluctuate by location and region. Some restaurants might temporarily run out or not carry them based on local demand.
If you’re craving some Chicken Fries right now, here are some tips to ensure you don’t leave disappointed:
- Check the Burger King app or website for the latest menu details
- Call your local restaurant to confirm availability
- Follow BK’s social media accounts for announcements about any changes
Why Are People So Obsessed With Chicken Fries?
What makes these simple chicken strips so beloved? Several factors contribute to their cult status:
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Unique format: The fry shape differentiates them from standard nuggets and makes them perfect for dipping.
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Convenience: The car-friendly packaging was genuinely innovative.
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Nostalgia: Many fans associate them with specific memories or time periods in their lives.
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Taste: The seasoned breading has a distinctive flavor that fans swear is better than regular nuggets.
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Scarcity effect: The on-again, off-again availability created a “get it while you can” mentality.
Other Discontinued BK Items We May Never See Again
While Chicken Fries made a triumphant return, many other Burger King menu items weren’t so lucky. Here are some discontinued items that will probably stay in fast food heaven:
- Whopperito: A Whopper in burrito form with queso sauce instead of American cheese (2016)
- Cini-Minis: Miniature cinnamon buns with icing dipping sauce (1998-2016)
- BK Fire-Grilled Ribs: Short ribs that were surprisingly popular but had supply issues (2010)
- Mac ‘N Cheetos: Deep-fried macaroni and cheese sticks in Cheetos breading (2016)
- Crown-shaped nuggets: Regular chicken nuggets shaped like a king’s crown (2006-2011)
- Satisfries: Healthier french fries with 30% less fat (2013)
- Bacon Sundae: Vanilla soft serve with strips of bacon (2012)
Wrapping It Up
The saga of BK Chicken Fries represents one of the most fascinating stories in fast food history. It’s a tale of innovation, customer loyalty, smart marketing, and the power of social media to influence corporate decisions.
So next time you’re enjoying those perfectly dippable Chicken Fries, remember that you’re not just eating fast food – you’re consuming a piece of pop culture that was literally brought back from the dead by its dedicated fans.
Have you tried the Chicken Fries since their return? Do you think they taste the same as the original version? Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts!
FAQ About BK Chicken Fries
Are Chicken Fries still on Burger King’s menu in 2025?
Yes! After being permanently reintroduced in 2015, Chicken Fries have remained a staple on BK’s menu.
What dipping sauces go best with Chicken Fries?
In 2015, Burger King released a special “Chicken Fry Sauce” described as a combination of BBQ sauce and honey mustard. Other popular options include ranch, BBQ, and buffalo sauce.
How many Chicken Fries come in an order?
Currently, the standard order comes with 9 pieces, though 6-piece and 12-piece options have been available in the past.
Are there any nutritional concerns with Chicken Fries?
A 9-piece order contains about 280 calories, 17g of fat, and 13g of protein. They contain less fat than a Whopper but are still a fried food.
Why were Chicken Fries discontinued in the first place?
Burger King has never given an official reason, but it was likely part of a menu simplification strategy or possibly due to changing food costs.
Remember, if you’re ever unsure about whether your local BK has Chicken Fries, just ask! And if they don’t… well, there’s always another Burger King down the road!
Shake ‘Em Up Fries
Whereas some of the items here have petitions of people calling for their return, you’ll see no such thing for Shake ‘Em Up Fries. There is one, but only 41 people have signed it.
It was basically a bag of their regular signature French fries with a side of the cheese seasoning of your choice. You poured the seasoning in (as much as you wanted) and shook them all up in the bag.
After 2002, they faded into total obscurity. We can’t really imagine what was going through the Burger King execs’ minds at the time, but we hope it never happens again.
Seriously. It was ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles wrapped in a tortilla instead of put on a bun, like a normal burger.
This sounds a lot like something Taco Bell tried out back in the day. While burger tacos might be a cool recipe to try your hand at in your own kitchen, fast food joints just can’t seem to get it right.
It was topped with queso sauce instead of ketchup or mustard. Why? We may never know. It was created in 2016 and didn’t last long, and honestly… maybe we don’t miss this one.
Yes, Burger King still has Chicken Nuggets. One Reddit user wrote that they missed, “Burger King’s original chicken tenders (the toasty, lightly-peppered variety, not this bland crap they serve now).”
We think this was a terrible idea, maybe even worse than McDonald’s ditching their Chicken Selects. Sometimes chicken nuggets just don’t cut it, you know?
In order to compete with the McDonald’s chicken nugget, they swapped out their tenders for something more similar. They made a huge mistake by getting rid of them, though.
Burger Shots were available back in 2008, when they were sold in six-packs and two-packs. Each pack contained mini Burger King burgers, which basically looked exactly like White Castle burgers.
To make them different from White Castle, they removed the onions, and, apparently, all the reasonable cooking methods that went along with grilling sliders.
In the end, that’s what did them in. Even though the Burger Shots weren’t terrible, people seemed to have preferred White Castle’s tried and true sliders.
Oatmeal is starting to be seen more and more as the days gone. However to believe it was once at BK is pretty wild.
Oatmeal comes and goes, but from Burger King not so much. Even with the fixings they included, it just was not very popular.
Burger King has some other staples that are way more worth considering. Also, just wait till lunch and get a Whopper.
The meatloaf sandwich…another no-go. People love meatloaf and some love it in sandwich form too, but to think that Burger King actually came out with this…
It did not last, and we don’t need to explain much about why. The best meatloaf is made at home, not in the back of a fast food restaurant.
When somebody is at Burger King, they want a juicy whopper. Not a slice of meatloaf between to slices of bread!
Frozen lemonade is a super refreshing beverage served at plenty of different fast food locations. It’s somewhat surprising that BK didn’t get this right.
It’s no more than crushed ice with lemon juice that’s heavily condensed with sugar. It is also heavily tasty. Especially if you’re already a fan of lemonade.
Burger King is not necessarily known for its drinks. It will be a different story if they can get one of these right.
Extra Long Pulled Pork Sandwich
Here is a sad one, because what is better than a pulled pork sandwich? Stacked with sauce and coleslaw, it’s unbeatable!
Burger King couldn’t get this one right either. They unfortunately failed to make it as good as some BBQ joints people frequent.
Pulled pork is a tough one. You first off have to make the meat perfectly. Then you have to find everything! It’s not easy!
A few years ago, Burger King offered donut holes, which were really popular as a breakfast option. The Donut Holes were basically what you would think: small round donuts similar to Dunkin’ Munchkins.
Well, unfortunately, the Donut Holes didn’t come in any other flavors or with any other toppings, and maybe that’s why they ultimately didn’t stick around.
However, there were some other issues with the Donut Holes (though we think they could easily be fixed). Apparently, they didn’t stay warm for long enough, and the glaze was really thin.
They started selling the Turkey Burger for a limited time only as a way to offer a “healthier” option to customers who were more health-conscious.
Honestly, we don’t understand why this had to be a limited edition thing. It was $3.99 — pretty cheap if you ask us — and made a great alternative for those who don’t eat red meat.
We don’t think that Burger King should give up on turkey burgers! It’s a totally untapped market, if you ask us. With a little more flavoring and experimentation, it could totally be the next big thing.