
Popeyes launches surprise new menu item to compete with McDonald's
It's a wrap battle.
Fans who can't wait for McDonald's beloved Snack Wrap to return now have another option: Popeyes is introducing Chicken Wraps to its menu.
On Monday, June 2, the fried chicken chain announced that the new item will be available at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time.
Starting June 2, Popeyes is bringing Chicken Wraps to its menu.
Popeyes
According to a press release, the Chicken Wraps are 'generously sized' and available in three bold variations for $3.99 each.
Popeyes' Chicken Wraps feature a hand-breaded and battered chicken tender, lettuce, shredded cheese and crunchy pickles.
The wrap can be topped with your choice of a Classic, Spicy or Honey Mustard spread, all wrapped into a tortilla inspired by the chain's famous biscuits.
'With our new Chicken Wraps, we've taken our iconic chicken tenders and wrapped them in something completely new, bringing all that craveable crunch in a fresh, portable way,' Chef Amy Alarcon, VP of Culinary Innovation at Popeyes, said in a statement.
'We wanted to create a Chicken Wrap that was undeniably Popeyes. Infusing the flavors from our famous biscuit into our wraps was the perfect way to ensure our signature flavors shined through.'
The Chicken Wraps are 'generously sized' and available in three bold variations for $3.99 each.
Popeyes
On top of the new chicken item, Popeyes is launching a new beverage lineup of Blueberry Lemonade and teas, building on the hype of the viral Pickle Lemonade the chain dropped in April. The new lineup includes Blueberry Lemonade (Chilled or Frozen), Blueberry Cane Sweet Tea and Blueberry Unsweet Tea.
Popeyes' Chicken Wrap comes as fans are anxiously awaiting the return of the Snack Wrap at McDonald's.
While the Golden Arches has been keeping the exact return date under wraps, the company's official X account posted in April, 'snack wraps 0x.14.2025,' implying that it will be on menus before the end of the year, likely before October when the months go into double digits.
McDonald's launched their new McCrispy Strips in April, which McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger previously said would 'allow us to eventually have a McCrispy Snack Wrap.'
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Popeyes just added three new chicken wraps to their menu for a "limited time only." As a massive fast-food fan (and former worker), I decided to try them all and give you my honest opinion. Let's get started! This news came just days before McDonald's announced the return of their famous Snack Wraps, which will be released later in June. I genuinely can't wait to order from both restaurants and compare which ones are also unveiled a new Blueberry Lemonade drink, which can be served chilled or frozen, so you know I had to try that too. The wraps are stuffed with a chicken tender, lettuce, shredded cheese, and pickles. There are three different signature spreads to choose from: Classic, Spicy, or Honey Mustard. Each wrap is sold for $3.99, but they currently have a "bundle" deal going where you can order two wraps and a premium lemonade for $9.99 total. At some Popeyes you can also order your wrap with their Blackened Chicken (which basically just means the chicken tender is marinated in Cajun seasonings and isn't battered or breaded). This is only available via online ordering at some locations, so unfortunately I didn't have this option when I went in person in NYC. First up was their Honey Mustard Wrap, which was my least favorite of the bunch (but was still enjoyable!). Popeyes is obviously famous for its chicken, and that part didn't disappoint. It was crispy and crunchy and just really freaking good. But with only one chicken tender per wrap, the ratio felt off, and at times other items severely overshadowed the chicken. I also had a few bites with zero chicken in it. But if you're a big fan of honey mustard then you'll probably enjoy this wrap because it adds a tangy sweetness to it. However, in my opinion, Popeyes has other spreads that better pair with these specific wrap ingredients. I ordered each wrap with the same exact ingredients because I wanted to give them all a fair comparison. If you're a pickle lover like me then you'll probably be a little disappointed because I only received two pickle slices on each wrap. But if you love cheese then you'll be happy because, damn, they really loaded those suckers up (to the point where I literally had to scrape off about half of the shredded cheese because it was SO overpowering and pretty much the only ingredient I could taste). I'm glad these wraps came with lettuce though – that really helped to balance things out, and it also added an extra crunch that was different from the chicken. They accidentally gave me an extra wrap, so I decided to open that up and take a photo so you can see exactly what it looks like on the inside. Each wrap had a ton of sauce at its base, but the top half was kind of dry. I wish it was spread more evenly. Next up was the Spicy Wrap, which was my second favorite of the three. I'm a huge fan of spice, but if you're expecting any actual heat then you should probably look elsewhere because this sauce was tame (it was basically just mayo with a little hot sauce and a few spices mixed in). I do think I would have liked this wrap even more with their Blackened Chicken, but I also think Popeyes is doing themselves a disservice by not coating their tenders in the same sauces they use for their wings (like their Signature Hot Wings, Sweet 'N Spicy Wings, and Ghost Pepper Wings). Still, though, this wrap was great, and I'd order it again. Finally, we have their Classic Wrap, which was easily my favorite. The mayo spread paired so well with the crispy chicken, and when I actually got a bite with pickles it was perfect. I do think this particular wrap would have been even better without any shredded cheese. Also, I should note that Popeyes's wraps are made with tortillas that are "inspired by" their famous biscuits, but, if I'm being honest, they just tasted like regular tortillas to me. Still, this was easily the best wrap of the bunch. Popeyes also released a new Blueberry Lemonade, which you can get as a frozen drink (kinda like a slushie) or just as a chilled one with ice. I opted for the frozen version but also ordered a regular Strawberry Lemonade (which they started serving back in 2021) so I could compare the two and see how the new drink holds up. It was HOT outside, so the first few sips of each drink absolutely hit the spot. The blueberry one was sweet and tart but extremely sugary (as was expected, obviously). It somehow tasted even more sugary as it melted and turned from a slushie into a pure liquid, and I couldn't finish more than half of it without feeling gross. The Strawberry Lemonade, though, was incredible (and dangerous! Like, I could drink these all day). This one was still sweet but not as sugary. It was perfectly refreshing. If you want to try something new and can only pick one Blueberry Lemonade then I'd order the chilled version over the frozen one. However, if you're stuck between which flavor to order then my vote absolutely goes to the Strawberry Lemonade. I wish I had one in my hand right now. So, do I think all of these new menu items are worth it? Well, that depends! First of all, my mind is perpetually stuck in 1996 where the price for almost every fast-food item was, like, $1. So, to me, $3.99 for a single wrap is kind of wild (but this is the same exact price that McDonald's will be selling their Snack Wraps for later this month, so I guess it's the new standard for 2025). If you're looking for something quick that you can eat on the go then I definitely think the Classic Wrap is worth it. I'd personally order their bundle deal with two Classic Wraps and a chilled Strawberry Lemonade for under $10, and I'd also get them without shredded cheese. I think a real game-changer would be to order these Chicken Wraps without a spread so you can top them with Popeyes's Blackened Ranch or Bayou Buffalo sauces instead. If you ask me, those are the new flavors Popeyes should try experimenting with when they (hopefully) re-release their Chicken Wraps. If they do that, I'll be first in line. Wanna eat more budget-friendly meals in the comfort of your own home? Download the free Tasty app, where you can cook 7,500+ recipes without a subscription.