McDonald's Chicken Sandwich Takes Flight Among New Offerings By National Chains

Many restaurant chains aren't wasting time in kicking off 2021 on a strong note. Here is a summary of some new initiatives that will become available to you in the coming weeks, if not sooner.

McDonald's Chicken Sandwich: Perhaps the most notable new menu launch in 2021 will be McDonald's Corporation's (NYSE: MCD) chicken sandwich. The global fast-food chain has struggled to remain competitive in the chicken category against rivals Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.

On Monday, McDonald's confirmed what is in store: On Feb. 24, the chain will launch three versions of its new chicken sandwich: crispy, spicy and "Deluxe," which is served with Roma tomatoes, shredded lettuce and mayonnaise.

Chipotle's Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice: Casual fast food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is launching a new plant-based Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice dish nationwide. The new product follows a successful test run in Denver and Wisconsin and is now available across the U.S. and Canada for a limited time.

Related Link: Papa John's CEO Hypes Up Stuffed Crust Pizza: 'Biggest Initiative' Ever

Pizza Hut's Stuffed Crust: Stuffed crust lovers will be excited to know that Pizza Hut is launching a "Nothing But Stuffed Crust" item. It is available at just two locations in Los Angeles and another two in Dallas/Fort Worth. Select customers can order the stuffed crust pizza minus the pizza as of Tuesday.

Applebee's Drive-Thru: An Applebee's location in Texas will be the first to offer a drive-thru pickup window in the U.S. Orders must be placed in advance through the mobile app or online and the customer is given an estimated pick-up time.

The new McDonald's chicken sandwich. Courtesy photo.