Food

Sweetgreen debuts its own take on crispy chicken

The health-focused fast casual is adding a Crispy Chicken Salad featuring blackened chicken and crispy rice.
Photo courtesy of Sweetgreen

Fast-casual chain Sweetgreen is jumping on the crispy chicken bandwagon in its own, health-focused way.

The Los Angeles-based chain is adding a Crispy Chicken Salad, available until March 22, which includes a double portion of crispy rice for crunch alongside blackened (not fried) chicken. The salad also includes romaine, spinach, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, pickles and a remoulade dressing, which Sweetgreen is dubbing a “special sauce.”

Sweetgreen said the new salad features “all the flavors of the trending sandwich, while allowing guests to maintain a balanced lifestyle.”

“We introduced our new sustainable crispy rice to our menu last year, and it quickly became a favorite as the perfect way to add a healthy crunch to any dish,” said Nicolas Jammet, co-founder and chief concept officer of Sweetgreen. “We’re excited to launch our newest salad that spotlights the versatility of this ingredient, and delivers craveable, indulgent flavors to our guests in a dish they can still feel good eating.”

Sweetgreen has partnered with several influencers on various social media platforms to promote the LTO, including YouTuber Valkyrae and Peloton instructor Ally Love.

“Let’s be honest, the gamer lifestyle is unhealthy,” Valkyrae said in a statement. “I’ve been sitting at a desk streaming for over seven years now and have felt the repercussions of it. Balancing health with gaming has become a priority in my life, and it's a dream come true to work with Sweetgreen to encourage others to prioritize their health. Not only will you feel better, you will game better."

The item is also being promoted via TikTok, in a contest in which customers are invited to show off how they mix their Crispy Chicken Salads. The entry dubbed most creative will win a free year of Sweetgreen.

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