Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner (To-Go!): Brittny Tried It Edition

🍗Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner (To-Go!)🐔

 Nuggets, Nibblerz & No Regrets: The Chicken Showdown

 
 

When life gets busy and your stomach’s growling louder than your to-do list, nothing hits quite like a quick meal. Chicken has always been my preference over beef or pork ever since I was a little girl. This summer, I taste-tested four popular to go chicken options that are beloved across the South (and beyond): Zaxby’s Nibblerz Meal, Chick-fil-A’s Nugget Meal, Publix’s Chicken Finger Sub, and Raising Cane’s 3-Piece Box.

Whether you're team sauce, team crunch, or team “whatever’s nearest,” here’s the breakdown of where each shines and where you can find them.

🍗 1. Zaxby’s — Nibblerz Meal

  • Where You Can Find It: 900+ locations, mostly in the Southeast and Midwest

  • What I Ordered: The Nibblerz Meal (includes 3 mini chicken finger sandwiches, crinkle fries, and a drink)--Shout out to my husband for trying the chicken strip meal so a girl could have options! He reluctantly shared with me since I never stray from the Nibblerz.

     


  • What Makes It Special: These aren’t just sliders—they’re buttery toasted buns hugging crispy chicken and slathered in Zax Sauce, their signature tangy-spicy condiment that fans are obsessed with (and if the sauce isn't for you, they let you swap it out!)

  • Sauce Situation: Zax Sauce is the MVP here, but they also offer options like Ranch, Tongue Torch, BBQ (my favorite!) and Sweet & Spicy.

  • Brittny’s Take: These are great for on-the-go eating, and the portion is perfect for a midday pick-me-up. The sandwich-to-sauce ratio is spot-on and I've never had a dry piece of chicken from Zaxby's. When I lived in Florida, this meal was one of my guilty pleasures....and call it nostalgia, or maybe because I don't get to have Zaxby's all that much (since they aren't in the state I live in at the moment), I would pick Zaxby's over Chick-Fil-A any day.

⭐ Tried-It Tip: Toasted buns and the signature sauce combo feel more “dressed up” than your average chicken meal. Love love love the 3 nibblerz portion! Enough for a whole meal, but totally can split it up too! Definitely a drive-thru favorite.

🐥 2. Chick-Fil-A — 8-Count Nugget Meal

  • Where You Can Find It: 3,000+ locations nationwide (heavy presence in suburban areas across the U.S.)

  • What I Ordered: 8-count nugget meal with waffle fries and a lemonade

  • What Makes It Special: Consistency! You always know what you’re getting here. The chicken is pressure-cooked in 100% peanut oil for that classic flavor and crisp.

  • Sauce Situation: Chick-fil-A Sauce (a honey mustard + BBQ combo) is the fan fave, but their Polynesian, Garden Herb Ranch, BBQ, and Sriracha sauces are also cult hits.

  • Brittny’s Take: These little nuggets pack BIG flavor, and the waffle fries are always a treat. Their drive-thru is lightning fast, even during rush hour. I live about an hour away from the closest one, and it feels like such a treat when I get to have it! I really like their avocado lime ranch on their southwest salad too! I've even attempted to make their nuggets at home...and while they turned out tasty, no one does nugs quiet like Chick-Fil-A!

⭐ Tried-It Tip: Ask for multiple sauces—they never judge, and it’s the best way to find your fave dip. You also can pick up your favorite sauce in store, online, or even in your grocery stores so you can create new meals with your fave sauce!

🥖 3. Publix — Chicken Finger Sub (Pubsub)

  • Where You Can Find It: 1,300+ locations across the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, Carolinas and beyond)

  • What I Ordered: Half chicken tender sub on soft bread tossed in buffalo sauce, drizzled with ranch, and some pickles on it! (You'll never find a photo of this sub on my phone because I always need both hands, and can't let another second get between me and my sub 🤣)

  • What Makes It Special: It’s fresh, fully customizable, and made to order at the deli counter. Plus, it’s a cult classic in Florida. The tenders are hot and crispy, and you can load it up however you wan--with all the fixings at the sub counter!

  • Sauce Situation: Totally up to you! Ranch and buffalo are the most popular, but they’ll sauce it any way you like.

  • Brittny’s Take: This is the most “sandwich-y” of the bunch and feels more like a hearty meal. It’s the least portable, but 100% worth sitting down for.

⭐ Tried-It Tip: Get it on sale!! Publix runs Sub of the Week deals and when this one hits, the lines are out the door. They now do online ordering too, so you can save time in the store and grab it quickly. You can even schedule your order, so if you know you have a tight window because you're on the go, you can make this option work great for you!

🐓 4. Raising Cane’s — 3 Finger Combo

  • Where You Can Find It: 750+ locations across the U.S., growing rapidly especially in college towns and cities

  • What I Ordered: 3 chicken fingers, crinkle fries, Texas toast, Cane’s sauce, and a drink

  • What Makes It Special: They do ONE thing and do it really well chicken fingers. Everything on the menu complements them. Their Cane’s sauce is top-tier and has a savory, peppery, addictive flavor. And that piece of toast?? Yes please!

  • Sauce Situation: Cane’s Sauce is the only one and for good reason. It’s creamy, zesty, and unforgettable.

  • Brittny’s Take: This is your comfort-food-in-a-box. The toast is underrated, the chicken is juicy, and the whole thing feels like a hug in meal form. Of the options I've listed here, Cane's is the closest option to home for me, so I can have that good ice any time! 

⭐ Tried-It Tip: Ask for extra toast and thank me later. (You can sub it for coleslaw too if that’s not your vibe.)

🎯 Final Cluckin’ Thoughts

Each of these chicken meals hits a different craving:

  • Need quick handheld bites? Go with Zaxby’s Nibblerz.

  • Want something familiar and always good? Chick-fil-A is your ride-or-die.

  • Craving something fresh and customizable? You’ll love a Publix Sub.

  • Looking for comfort in a box? Cane’s is the gold standard.

I’d totally get any of these again, but depending on the day (and how fast I’m moving), I definitely know where I'm going to get a great bite. Zaxby's and Publix tie in my book for my #1 spot, and it may be because they take me back to my childhood, or because I can only get them when I travel, but they beat the rest in my book!

Happy Feasting!

🍗Brittny 

 

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