Photo: Panera

01of 12Chipotle’s Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower RiceChipotle califlower rice.Courtesy ChipotleIn January, Chipotle added a lower-carb rice alternative to its menu: cauliflower rice! Similar to the chain’s original white rice, cauliflower rice — which costs an additional $2 — is seasoned with freshly chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt. And with 4 grams of carbs per serving, the new option is perfect for diners onketo,Whole30,paleo, vegan, and vegetarian diets.
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Chipotle’s Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice
Chipotle califlower rice.Courtesy Chipotle

In January, Chipotle added a lower-carb rice alternative to its menu: cauliflower rice! Similar to the chain’s original white rice, cauliflower rice — which costs an additional $2 — is seasoned with freshly chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt. And with 4 grams of carbs per serving, the new option is perfect for diners onketo,Whole30,paleo, vegan, and vegetarian diets.
02of 12McDonald’s Crispy Chicken SandwichesMCdonaldsMcDonald’s revamped their chicken sandwich in February, offering it to customers in three different ways. In its original form, the sandwich is topped with pickles and served on a potato roll. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich takes it up a notch with a spicy pepper sauce, and the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich comes with lettuce, tomatoes and mayo.
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McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
MCdonalds

McDonald’s revamped their chicken sandwich in February, offering it to customers in three different ways. In its original form, the sandwich is topped with pickles and served on a potato roll. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich takes it up a notch with a spicy pepper sauce, and the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich comes with lettuce, tomatoes and mayo.
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Subway’s Eat Fresh Refresh Menu
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Among the changes were new artisan Italian and hearty multigrain bread options, hickory-smoked bacon, smashed avocado, and a parmesan vinaigrette dressing. In total, “11 new and improved ingredients, six all-new or returning sandwiches, and four revamped signature sandwiches” made it to the final menu, Subway said in a press release.
04of 12Popeyes' Chicken NuggetsPopeyesAlso in July, Popeyes announced the addition ofchicken nuggetsto their menus nationwide. Theall-white meat chicken breast nuggetsare marinated for 12 hours and battered and breaded with buttermilk and fried with their famous chicken sandwich seasoning thatstarted a frenzyback in 2019. And because Popeyes knew fans would go crazy for the offer, they sell them in quantities ranging from 4-piece to 36-piece orders.
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Popeyes' Chicken Nuggets
Popeyes

Also in July, Popeyes announced the addition ofchicken nuggetsto their menus nationwide. Theall-white meat chicken breast nuggetsare marinated for 12 hours and battered and breaded with buttermilk and fried with their famous chicken sandwich seasoning thatstarted a frenzyback in 2019. And because Popeyes knew fans would go crazy for the offer, they sell them in quantities ranging from 4-piece to 36-piece orders.
05of 12Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich TacoTaco BellTaco Bell rolled out theirCrispy Chicken Sandwich Tacothroughout the year, first teasing the new menu item at select locations in Nashville, Tenn., and Charlotte, N.C. in March before launching it nationwide in September.The new menu item is exactly what it sounds like — partchicken sandwich, part taco. The hybrid features all-white-meat chicken which is marinated in jalapeño buttermilk, seasoned with a special Mexican spice blend and then rolled in a crunchy tortilla chip coating. The finished product is served in taco-shaped “puffy bread” and topped with the Bell’s signature chipotle sauce.For those of you who like a little extra heat, the sandwich-taco also comes in aspicy versionthat includes crunchy jalapeño slices.
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Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco
Taco Bell

Taco Bell rolled out theirCrispy Chicken Sandwich Tacothroughout the year, first teasing the new menu item at select locations in Nashville, Tenn., and Charlotte, N.C. in March before launching it nationwide in September.
The new menu item is exactly what it sounds like — partchicken sandwich, part taco. The hybrid features all-white-meat chicken which is marinated in jalapeño buttermilk, seasoned with a special Mexican spice blend and then rolled in a crunchy tortilla chip coating. The finished product is served in taco-shaped “puffy bread” and topped with the Bell’s signature chipotle sauce.
For those of you who like a little extra heat, the sandwich-taco also comes in aspicy versionthat includes crunchy jalapeño slices.
06of 12Wendy’s Hot and Crispy FriesWendy’sThe fast food giant debuted their reinventedhot and crispy friesin mid-September, marking only the second time the company has made changes to their recipe since the restaurant debuted in 1969. Made with “real potatoes for improved heat protection and crispiness,” the fries are battered and fried in a formula that Wendy’s says guaranteed them to be “hot and crispy” every time. In fact, the brand is so confident,they’ve promised to replace customers' fries if they aren’t hot and crispy as promised, “no questions asked.”
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Wendy’s Hot and Crispy Fries
Wendy’s

The fast food giant debuted their reinventedhot and crispy friesin mid-September, marking only the second time the company has made changes to their recipe since the restaurant debuted in 1969. Made with “real potatoes for improved heat protection and crispiness,” the fries are battered and fried in a formula that Wendy’s says guaranteed them to be “hot and crispy” every time. In fact, the brand is so confident,they’ve promised to replace customers' fries if they aren’t hot and crispy as promised, “no questions asked.”
07of 12Panera’s Grilled Mac & Cheese SandwichPaneraLove grilled cheese? Love mac and cheese? Well Panera gave hungry customers the best of both worlds in September, adding a grilled mac and cheese sandwich to its menu. Served on thick-slices of the brand’s classic white miche bread, the sandwich is stuffed with Panera’s signature, creamy mac and cheese (made of fontina and mozzarella cheeses with parmesan crisps on top). How could you go wrong?
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Panera’s Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwich
Panera

Love grilled cheese? Love mac and cheese? Well Panera gave hungry customers the best of both worlds in September, adding a grilled mac and cheese sandwich to its menu. Served on thick-slices of the brand’s classic white miche bread, the sandwich is stuffed with Panera’s signature, creamy mac and cheese (made of fontina and mozzarella cheeses with parmesan crisps on top). How could you go wrong?
08of 12Chili’s Big Mouth Burger LineupChili’sIn October, Chili’s added four new burgers to their Big Mouth Burger lineup, each as mouth-watering as the next:Bacon Rancher:Two beef patties, six slices of bacon, house made ranch, American cheese, sautéed onions and picklesBig Bacon BBQ:Two beef patties, six slices of bacon, house BBQ sauce, cheddar, red onion and picklesBBQ Brisket Burger:Brisket, house BBQ sauce, cheddar, pickles and coleslawChili’s Secret Sauce Burger:Secret sauce, American cheese, lettuce and sautéed onions
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Chili’s Big Mouth Burger Lineup
Chili’s

In October, Chili’s added four new burgers to their Big Mouth Burger lineup, each as mouth-watering as the next:
Bacon Rancher:Two beef patties, six slices of bacon, house made ranch, American cheese, sautéed onions and pickles
Big Bacon BBQ:Two beef patties, six slices of bacon, house BBQ sauce, cheddar, red onion and pickles
BBQ Brisket Burger:Brisket, house BBQ sauce, cheddar, pickles and coleslaw
Chili’s Secret Sauce Burger:Secret sauce, American cheese, lettuce and sautéed onions
09of 12Popeyes Hottie SauceCourtesy PopeyesAlso in October, Popeyes and rapper Megan Thee Stallion announced an epic collaboration that included a new “Hottie Sauce” — a sweet and bold sauce made up of honey, cider vinegar, and Aleppo pepper. The chain is selling the sauce as a dipper, or on its beloved chicken sandwich (as the “Hottie” Chicken Sandwich, the first time Popeyes has released a new version of its signature menu item ever).
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Popeyes Hottie Sauce
Courtesy Popeyes

Also in October, Popeyes and rapper Megan Thee Stallion announced an epic collaboration that included a new “Hottie Sauce” — a sweet and bold sauce made up of honey, cider vinegar, and Aleppo pepper. The chain is selling the sauce as a dipper, or on its beloved chicken sandwich (as the “Hottie” Chicken Sandwich, the first time Popeyes has released a new version of its signature menu item ever).
10of 12Panda Express' Beyond the Original Orange ChickenFast food restaurants across the country have been incorporating alternative meat options like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods into their menus. Panda Express was one of them. In October, the Asian food restaurant chain added “Beyond the Original Orange Chicken” to its menu, after testing it over the summer in New York City and Southern California. The plant-based take on Panda Express' iconic dish is now available across 70 locations nationwide, including California, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
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Panda Express' Beyond the Original Orange Chicken

Fast food restaurants across the country have been incorporating alternative meat options like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods into their menus. Panda Express was one of them. In October, the Asian food restaurant chain added “Beyond the Original Orange Chicken” to its menu, after testing it over the summer in New York City and Southern California. The plant-based take on Panda Express' iconic dish is now available across 70 locations nationwide, including California, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
11of 12Tim Hortons' Timbiebs TimbitsCourtesy Tim HortonsJustin Bieberhas made no secret of his fanatical love for Tim Hortons. But in November, the two took their relationship to the next level. The Canadian-born superstar joined forces with the Canadian fast food chain to collaborate on a series of new menu items, starting with Timbiebs Timbits — a limited-edition selection of the brand’s beloved donut holes. Three flavors were part of the launch: chocolate white fudge, sour cream chocolate chip, and birthday cake waffle. Expect more coming from this partnership down the line.
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Tim Hortons' Timbiebs Timbits
Courtesy Tim Hortons

Justin Bieberhas made no secret of his fanatical love for Tim Hortons. But in November, the two took their relationship to the next level. The Canadian-born superstar joined forces with the Canadian fast food chain to collaborate on a series of new menu items, starting with Timbiebs Timbits — a limited-edition selection of the brand’s beloved donut holes. Three flavors were part of the launch: chocolate white fudge, sour cream chocolate chip, and birthday cake waffle. Expect more coming from this partnership down the line.
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Cracker Barrel’s Cinnamon Roll Pie
Cracker Barrel

source: people.com