Top flavours in chicken entrees

Garlic is the leading flavour spotlighted in chicken entrees on Canadian menus, according to Technomic’s MenuMonitor database. Garlic is a diverse flavour, appearing in everything from Mediterranean to Asian chicken dishes. This pungent ingredient is flavouring chicken in rubs, marinades and sauces. We are also seeing minced or roasted garlic as a topping.

Next on the list is Asian, which is currently a trending flavour profile in many meat dishes. We are seeing Asian-inspired chicken dishes not only at Chinese and Japanese restaurants, but also in non-Asian concepts as well. Operators are infusing chicken dishes with traditional Asian ingredients and flavours such as curry, lemon grass, ginger and Thai chili.

Spicy also continues to trend across the menu. Operators are imparting ethnic spicy flavours such as Sriracha or piri piri in chicken dishes, as well as adding regional American specialties like Nashville hot chicken.