During his monologue, Chalamet joked about his awards season losing stream. But as Chalamet delivered striking covers of Bob Dylan’s deep cuts “Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” “Outlaw Blues,” and “Three Angels,” viewers at home have declared him a winner in their hearts.
“What I did for Bob [Dylan] started during COVID,” he said. “Learning all the songs. The Bob songs I know how to play, 20% of which are in the movie so that was the first education. For the movie I had to learn thirteen songs. But in total I can probably play thirty.”
Chalamet covers of “Like A Rolling Stone” and “Girl From The North Country” can be heard on the soundtrack. With his SNL performance of “Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” “Outlaw Blues,” and “Three Angels” now in the history books, supporters are curious about what other tunes Chalamet learned.
Watch Timothée Chalamet’s performance cover of Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” on Saturday Night Live above. Continue below to view Timothée Chalamet’s performance cover of Bob Dylan’s “Outlaw Blues” and “Three Angels.”
Timothée Chalamet won Bob Dylan over for his portrayal of him in A Complete Unknown. However, the actor hasn’t received the same recognition this awards season (just yet). Yesterday (January 25), Timothée Chalamet turned the “sting” of his losing streak into a light-hearted joke during his Saturday Night Live monologue.
For his seemingly A Complete Unknown final promotional appearance before the 2025 Oscars, Timothée Chalamet served as both SNL‘s host and music guest. Instead of trotting down humble road, Chalamet flatted out expressed his desire to take home a win for the biopic.
“I’m truly overjoyed,” he said. “I was literally crying in my dressing room when I found out because the entire creative team worked so incredibly hard bringing to life the brilliant artist Bob Dylan, the man whose music and career has become a guiding light to me.”
He continued: “And it’s an enormous honor going to these award shows. It’s such a great experience, but I just keep losing. Each time it gets harder to pretend it doesn’t sting.”
The show then cut to a montage of his various award show losses over the years. “But the most embarrassing part is, I’ve had this sad little speech in my pocket for about four years, that I’ve never gotten a chance to read,” he said.
A Complete Unknown has already lost out at several regional award ceremonies and the Golden Globes. Still, there are several major shows in the running to break the streak including the Academy Awards (Oscars), Screen Actors Guild Awards, and today’s (January 26) Critics’ Choice Awards.
Watch Timothée Chalamet’s monologue on Saturday Night Live above.
Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.
Rebecca Ferguson’s Juliette lives to head underground another day with Steve Zahn’s Solo ending this second season with a new family. The Graham Yost series will likewise survive for another two seasons to complete Hugh Howey’s saga, and if you were wondering who the hell those new characters were in this season’s closing moments, you are not alone. Sh*t is about to get strange with warring settings that will be truly bizarre to behold after Yost’s careful worldbuilding. Juliette, though, will remain a constant.
C’mon, Taylor Sheridan. There’s very little doubt that a second season will be announced for Billy Bob Thornton’s weary oil industry deputy who looks to now be an oil titan after the fate of Jon Hamm’s Monty. Also, we should see much more of Demi Moore if this show continues with Jacob Lofland’s Cooper and Michelle Randolph’s Ainsley keeping the younger generation appeal strong, too. Likewise, Lioness and Tulsa King viewer would not be mad if, say, Paramount+ made a mass renewal announcement, but for sure, 1923 will return in February for more Yellowstone Universe ranch-protecting scenes.
Noah Wyle is back in scrubs as an exhausted physician in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. This series not only throws out heavy ER vibes but borrows FOX’s 24 gimmick by telling a “real-time” story in which each episode takes place over an hour with the 15-episode season adding up to this crew needing a nap. This series isn’t exactly a primetime soap opera like ER was, but from the looks of this show’s early appeal, audiences will never tire of medical dramas.
These spy BFFs will not drop off the charts, so if you haven’t caught this cozy little six-episode first season yet, the invitation still beckons. Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw are adorable together even when soaked in blood and out for vengeance, and this show probably also proves that there are not enough lady/gay best friend dynamics outside of the “mimosas at brunch” crowd. Hollywood, consider yourself on notice because these Brits are cornering that market while also happening to pull off spy-assassin action scenes and a second season renewal before their debut. Win, win, and win.
Sketchy The White Lotus nephew Leo Woodall stars in this streaming permutation about a postgrad math student who could harness the world’s computers via a complicated prime-number scheme. Naturally, this raises eyebrows from a lady NSA agent, and will they hook up? C’mon, y’all. Ridley Scott produced this series, too, in case you need to be talked into checking out the 79th conspiracy-centered streaming series to land in the past year or so.
A team of creative minds behind Narcos, The Revenant, and Friday Night Lights have come together for this Neo-Western limited series in which Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin go through hell on earth. The year is 1857, and they’re fighting through frigid elements amid the Mountain Meadows Massacre, during which Mormon soldiers killed hundreds of pioneers at the behest of Brigham Young (Kim Coates of Sons Of Anarchy). This clash involves Indigenous nationals also rising up to fight for their own survival within the same contested territory, and this ain’t Yellowstone, baby.
It was virtually guaranteed that Netflix viewers would gobble up Cameron Diaz’s return to movies like candy, and co-star Jamie Foxx only added to the appeal. Likewise Diaz portrays an elite CIA spy who has been retired for 15 years with her spy-husband (Foxx), but somehow, their cover disintegrates, and they’re back in the espionage saddle again. This microwave popcorn flick isn’t cerebral, and it doesn’t want to be, so there.
The return to office is complete, and man, Milchick is pissed off. Last week, one of the core four did not accurately describe their Innie-as-Outie experience, and that doesn’t even begin to cover the eerie vibes flowing when Mark returned to office. Creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller scored a massive hit, and even three years away didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for this corporate culture and work-life balance satire. This season will also run ten episodes, so that adds up to months of weekly updates before the wait will begin for more. As we’ve said on several occasions, Apple TV+ knows how to crush the sci-fi game, and their adventurous embrace of the genre will bring much more superiority in the future.
Peter Sutherland’s Night Action adventures will take him to Istanbul for a third season, but first, he heads from D.C. to Bangkok and back to Manhattan while keeping the Reacher-lite fires burning before the Big Guy returns next month on Amazon. This series tends to complicate its own story as seasons progress, but the emotional resonance of the characters is also on point. Likewise, there is chemistry out the tush for Peter and Rose, who didn’t necessarily need to appear in this season, but the show is better for her involvement. As it turns out, The Night Agent considers the effects of high-stress espionage operations on the human mind. It’s an angle that is seldom explored within stories where the adrenaline flies at any given moment, and you know what, The Night Agent might not be as frivolous as it seems.
1. Twin Peaks – Twin Peaks Productions/Spelling Television series streaming on Paramount+
Following David Lynch’s death at age 78, the binging of his phantasmagorical crime series has gone down hard with people climbing back onboard Agent Cooper’s investigation into who killed Laura Palmer. Likewise, Twin Peaks: The Return is receiving an otherworldly amount of visitors to revisit the scene of the crime 25 years later with the help of the thrillingly dulcet tones of “The Nine Inch Nails.” Sure, Mulholland Drive is trending like wildfire, too, but there’s “nothing like a great cup of coffee” to relive this Great’s past.
According to recent reports, Lily Allen is currently a single woman. Sadly, after five years together the “Smile” singer and David Harbour have supposedly split. However, offers to swoop Allen up off the dating streets have already come flooding in.
During a sit down with Grazia UK‘s Lily Allen claimed that one of her romantic suitors was a fellow musician–rapper Central Cee. As Allen and podcast co-host Miquita Oliver played Who’s Most Likely To, the topic of private message became a point of chatter.
When the ladies spoke about direct messages (DMs) they received on social media, Allen said Central Cee supposedly made a move attempting to look in some sexual healing.
“It happens all the time,” said Allen.
While detailing the exchange, Allen said the brief conversation was void of any romance. Still, Central Cee’s intentions (although subtle) were quite clear. Central Cee alleged asked Allen about her whereabouts, writing: “Where you at?”
At the time, Allen was traveling out of London so a meetup was not possible. “I was like, ‘I’m in the departure lounge at Heathrow [Airport],” she said. “Sorry, next time.”
This prompted Oliver to ask: “What do you think he was looking for?”
Despite the steady increase of physical music purchases (thanks to vinyl’s growing popularity), streaming is here to stay. Several recording artists, songwriters, and producers have aired out their grievances with digital streaming platforms. For Björk, her beef is mainly directed at Spotify.
During an interview with Dagens Nyheter, the “Sorrowful Soil” musician slammed the platform. “Spotify is probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians,” she said.
Björk went on to express her frustration with streaming in general, saying: “The streaming culture has changed an entire society and an entire generation of artists.”
Following Björk’s remarks, users online chimed in with conflicting opinions across X (formerly Twitter).
“There’s a lot of music I would have never come across if it hadn’t been for streaming sites,” argued one user.
Later in the chat, Björk pointed out that the publicly visible metrics on platforms like Spotify have fueled chart obsession. As a result, musicians sacrifice artistic integrity for instant success.
“I agree streaming is kinda ruining music sadly it’s causing artists to make short songs just for fame,” chimed another user.
Others accused of being a hypocrite after she sat down for a conversation with Zane Lowe for Apple Music.
“But she’s doing an interview for a streaming service? ,” penned one user.
Björk has not addressed the backlash regarding her bold statement.
Right now, music biopics are all the rage. Two of the most anticipated projects include features films about the late Michael Jackson and Britney Spears. While, the chronicling of Britney Spears’ life has begun just, yet fans have already begun verbalizing their dream cast.
The insider says Spears is completely onboard with the idea. “Britney adores Natalie Portman and thinks she’s such an incredible actress,” said the source. “She’d love to see her cast and thinks with the right make-up artist she could easily be transformed. The same goes for Selena Gomez.”
Spears supposedly cited Gomez’s early start in the industry as an added selling point. “She’s someone Britney loves as a person and as an artist,” said the insider. “She thinks she’s mighty talented and knows she’d also have her own history as a child star to draw on, which would make things easier.”
This news comes on the heels of Chu telling ET that he would be combing through viral suggestions online that at the time included Sydney Sweeney and Sabrina Carpenter.
Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes its rising talent. Dallas representor BigXthaPlug is undeniably one of state’s hottest commodities. The “Life Of A Boss” rapper dominated 2024 with several notable co-signs and best of lists domination due to his impressive sophomore album, Take Care.
But BigXthaPlug isn’t washing his hand of the acclaimed body of work just yet. Yesterday (January 24), BigXthaPlug treated his fans to Take Care Deluxe ahead of his Coachella 2025 set. On the expansive project, BigXthaPlug adds his beloved track “Life Of A Boss” into the mix. But, that wasn’t the only noteworthy update. On the body of work’s first installment, BigXthaPlug went about the sonic journey along. But this go around, on two of the new releases (“Holy Ground” and “Come And Goes”), he secured interesting collaborations. Jessie Murph is the guest feature on “Holy Ground.” While, Tommy Newport appears on “Comes and Goes.”
Continue below to view the full tracklist of BigXthaPlug’s album Take Care Deluxe and its official artwork.
Tracklist
1. “Take Care”
2. “Lost The Love”
3. “Change Me”
4. “Leave Me Alone”
5. “Therapy Session”
6. “Planting Seeds”
7. “2AM”
8. “Comes & Goes”
9. “Back On My BS”
10. “Law & Order”
11. “Story of X”
12. “The Largest”
13. “Mmhmm”
14. “Rich Off Rap”
15. “They Don’t Know”
16. “Holy Ground” featuring Jessie Murph
17. “Life of a Boss”
18. “Comes and Goes” featuring Tommy Newport
Artwork
United Masters Group
Take Care Deluxe is out now via United Masters Group. Find more information here.
The dawning of Jennie’s new era is officially upon us. Last week, the “Mantra” singer announced her long-awaited debut album, Ruby. In the project’s haunting teaser video, Jennie provide multiple hints about what she has up her sleeve. However, one major items was missing–details about a potential tour to support the body of work.
Yesterday (January 24), Jennie answered that lingering question loud and clear. Over on X (formerly Twitter), Jennie confirmed The Ruby Experience, a limited series of pop-up performances. “Intense and intimate as I like it,” she wrote.
Come March, fans of the Blackpink member have the chance to see Jennie live in a deeply personal show. With just three dates on the calendar, supporters will duke it out to ensure they are in attendance at either the Los Angeles, New York City, or Seoul show. Fans are encouraged to register for the show’s presale to increase their odds of snagging a ticket.
The Weverse registration will run until January 27, at 5 pm KST. Los Angeles and New York City’s Weverse presale will launch on January 29 at 10 am local time. There is a Spotify and Venue Presales for both cities, which is scheduled for January 30 at 10 am local. The following day, January 31 at 10 am local time, the public sale for Los Angeles and New York City will start. At this time, presale on public sale information for the Seoul show has not yet been released. Find more information here. Continue below to view Jennie’s full The Ruby Experience show schedule and poster.
Jennie’s 2025 Tour Dates: The Ruby Experience
03/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Peacock Theater
03/10 – New York City, NY
03/15 – Seoul, KR @ Inspire Arena
Jennie’s The Ruby Experience Poster
ODDATELIER/Columbia Records
Ruby is out on 3/7 via ODDATELIER/Columbia Records. Find more information here.
Pa Salieu is the model artist when it comes to craftmanship and infusing intention and true meaning into their work. The perfect example of this comes on his second project Afrikan Alien. Through 11 tracks, the Gambian-born and UK-bred rapper blends afrobeats, UK rap, and R&B in what amounts to a masterclass in artistry as Salieu reveals the deep vulnerability and elevated emotional intelligence that exists for as both an everyday human and an artist.
“I refuse to be broken down. Prison taught me that bitterness won’t solve anything,” Salieu said in a press release, speaking about a two-and-a-half-year imprisonment that concluded in the fall of 2024. “Acceptance of my situation led to my personal growth. I was gone two years, so what? There’s going to be plenty of bad times in our lives. We just need to stay prepared and know that there’ll be better times ahead.”
The better times are certainly here for Salieu as his Afrikan Alien was met with critical acclaim in the weeks after its release. Following the arrival of Afrikan Alien, Salieu spent time with Uproxx in a truly honest, raw, and vulnerable conversation about himself to share his influences, inspirations, and aspirations. Scroll down to find highlights from Afrikan Alien.
I’m always gonna say my auntie, she’s a folk singer, Auntie Chuche. She goes around telling people about their past — their grandfathers, their great-grandfathers. That’s the meaning of music that I come from, that’s my first interaction with music. Masquerades in Gambia as well. Their drum, the sabar, was my first ear to music — the djembe drum. Masquerades dancing, drummers playing in the street, and kids running away from the masquerades. They’d have two machetes in some performances and chase the kids [with it]. Those were my first interactions with music, just fun, meaning, and dedication.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
I got introduced to the studio by a friend of mine. My cousin that died, RIP his soul, he used to make good music. I got introduced by him, Kardo Packs, [and] a couple of my friends. I fell in love with it, I just fell in love with recording. I used to write notes, I used to think a lot, but not speak. I just used to write on my phone, [and] it relieved my stress. When I first went to the studio, I used to get through these thoughts and turn them into bars naturally. From there, I just loved how I could just… I don’t know, it’s just a different feeling! Me and music, I think it’s love at first sight [and] it gradually developed in God’s timing.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I learned how to play the drum — the sabar, the djembe drum. I learned how to play years ago when I was a child in Gambia. I envision me on stage, 50 drums and me leading the drum between performances with hella African instruments — our own orchestra. Me and the drum, this is my first love.
What was your first job?
Kreamz, it’s a desert place. I only lasted there for seven weeks. I didn’t really understand the discounts for your people. This is my guy, I’ll give him a discount, [then] another discount. It all accumulated and that was bad, [so] I got fired. After that, I worked at Nando’s.
What is your most prized possession?
My mother. The older I get, the more of reality I’m seeing. Parents get older, I know it’s a common feeling. When I got out of jail, two years? A lot changed, even my parents, I can see it. People are growing, my brother had a child. [It was like] I stepped out of a time traveling machine. I’ve realized how precious, how valuable family is. I’ve always felt that, but recently it’s like yo… time is our only enemy. Time is our most valuable possession.
What is your biggest fear?
Losing my mother. Man, she’s such a good woman. I’ll be anywhere and [she’ll say] “don’t forget your prayers, don’t forget your prayers.” When I was in jail, she suffered bro, she suffered. She suffered more than me. I am what I am — my whole mannerisms, everything — is because of her. Foundations [and] charities, I’ve seen her give away everything for us for people and powers. I’m from something very special.
Who is on your music Mt. Rushmore?
Vybz Kartel [and] Youssou N’Dour. I used to listen to Akon mad back in school. I think I was the biggest Soulja Boy fan. I also like Aya Nakamura, I really like Cheb Khaled, an Algerian singer, Cheikh Lô, he’s a Senegalese artist. There’s too many, Burna Boy, Popcaan, Getts, NSG.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I lived that 24 hours for two years. For the last two years, I had anything, it may not have seemed like I had everything. I didn’t have a cooker, but I had a kettle to cook mackerel and curry. I didn’t have a speaker, but I had a radio, I was tapped in. I had a book, that’s unlimited amount of resources. There’s something with books, When I was reading Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk To Freedom, I felt like I heard his own voice. I was in my cell, but I wasn’t dead. I was in books.
What is the best song you’ve made?
“YGF.” I remember that day, man. It was after my trial. It’s one of my favorites, even to perform.
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
I’d like to be a judge on X-Factor. Me? I’ll change the game [laughs].
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Idris Elba for sure. Kodak Black too. Life’s about being you, it’s about not giving a f*ck. Give a f*ck, but it’s like don’t be too serious with it. Just play with it, just be yourself. If you want to be this, you can be that. Life’s about freedom, I really like that about Kodak. I like anyone like that, to be honest. Life is too serious man, there’s death every day. There’s this and that, bro have fun. Life is your own show on your own stage. There’s freedom in sound and freedom in everything. I know there’s controversy, even with Sexyy Red, but freedom. I’d rather see a person for who they are. Nothing has brought goodness when it comes to concealing who you are.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
On anything itself, how can you change my mind? I’m on my own planet. As long as I can explain my point of view, I could be educated on it, but if I’m talking my sh*t? I’m gonna talk everything, [I’m] stubborn as hell. You just have to be able to me what’s going on, if anything, g-check it, but I’m adamant with what I believe in.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
Michael Jackson’s “Heal The World,” Warren G’s “Regulate,” Boyz II Men’s “A Song For Mama,” and Secka’s “Fiire.”
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
We have to keep Gambia out of the way because I’ve got to be biased. It won’t be fair, we’ll keep that out of the way for a second. I’d say my Glastonbury performance, I really loved it. I won’t forget it, that was 2022 summer. I don’t know, every performance has been my favorite, [but] Glastonbury, that was a nice highlight.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
As a Gambian, I’m gonna make it a very memorable and intentional festival. So, I think it’s gonna have to be in Senegal because Gambia and Senegal was one, and due to colonial greed, Senegambia is now Senegal and Gambia. So because of colonial greed, I’d like to put it in Senegal — everything is symbolism. I’d like to have it near the sea because people are coming from across the pond. The first day of the festival would be a drums festival, the sabar, that’s all you’ll hear until the next day. These are our ancestors speaking, and since everyone listens, the whole ground will be shaking.
Then for the artists, we’ll have to have one from Haiti, [so] Wyclef Jean. I’ll have to have Vybz Kartel. You’re gonna have to have an old-school Brazilian artist [like] João Gilberto. We’d have to get Youssou N’Dour [too]. All these artists, they’re gonna have to bring five performers [from their country]. I want these artists to bring their own performers, who they feel is going to shut [it] down or bring meaningful content to the festival. The festival will last for three days. It’s an experience, it’s bringing people to the planet — my planet.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d be a heavyweight champion. I’m not capping [laughs], I loved MMA back in the day. I always wanted to be an architect [too], with the design technology part. I think I would’ve went into that as well.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Nah [the future]? That’s scary because I’ll witness a loved one that won’t be there and I’ll know they won’t be there. Then, I’ll have to come back to the present and know they won’t be there. So I’ll be upset. Then going to the past, sometimes you want to change things, but what can you do? You better live with it. There’s no business in going back to the past, cause you’ll just open a can of worms. Life’s been easy because I had a good mother, but it’s been hard because life is not easy. Once you conquer things, you don’t go back to war. I’ve conquered sh*t, so I’ll stay. The future, yeah, it’s scary. Don’t want it. I’m not scared of it, I’m ready for it, [but] I don’t want to go there and see things I don’t want to see.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
When mommy said, “Watch out for this guy” or “Don’t chill there” or “After this time, don’t hang around there.” [If I listened], certain sh*t would not have caught up to certain parts of my life. [I’d say] to listen more. I’d tell myself to take it easy, I used to stress myself too much. I used to feel like there was so much on my plate, which there was. I’m a product of an immigrant, that’s a big responsibility. I’m the first generation that could end poverty and certain things, you know. So, there’s a responsibility and pressure [with that].
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Nina Simone, certain things she spoke about on stage, she didn’t have to. It’s showing our sovereignty. I want to be remembered as a product of meaning. There’s a meaning we’re pushing. Everyone’s pushing a future, that’s by force. You’re influencing whether you like it or not, what you can say can dictate, can push someone’s life. It’s a responsibility, you can make any kind of music that you want — hip-hop, drill, everything — but within your music, you have to say certain things for the happiness of all of us. Everyone’s doing their bit [and] I want to be remembered as I’ve done my bit. Music is an outlet and it’s all about how I use it.
Afrikan Alien is out now via Warner Music UK Limited. Find out more information here.
January is a prime time for making big changes in your life, and one of the most common changes with the biggest impact on your day-to-day is making healthier eating decisions. If you don’t have the time or skills to whip up something delicious and nutritious at home, fast food is probably your only option for a quick and convenient meal. And while yes, fast food is generally unhealthy, there are some menu options out there that are healthier, and some of them taste just as good as the fried stuff.
A few weeks back we broke down all the best-tasting salads in fast food, but let’s face it, salads are boring. But you know what isn’t boring? A chicken sandwich. So we’re here to make a case for subbing out that fried sandwich for a grilled one. Many of the grilled chicken sandwiches out there are healthier and, in some cases, just as delicious alternatives to the mighty fried chicken sando. Unfortunately, the grilled chicken sandwich is a dying breed in fast food. Last year we published a list of our 14 favorite, and nearly half of that list has been discontinued, including our number one pick.
So a refresh is in order! To help separate the good from the bad, we rounded up all the fast food grilled chicken sandwiches we could find right now and ranked them from least to most delicious. Let’s eat!
10. Smashburger — Chicken Smashburger
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Remember when I said that our pick last year for the best grilled chicken sandwich isn’t available anymore? You should, I said it just a few sentences ago!
The sandwich in question was Smashburger’s Colorado Grilled Chicken sandwich, which featured a perfectly grilled chicken filet topped with pepper jack cheese and grilled chili peppers. In addition to that, Smashburger also used to have a Truffle Mushroom Chicken Sandwich, which featured a topping of toasted crimini mushrooms — both of those sandwiches were reasons alone to go to Smashburger.
But the brand ditched those two delicious and inventive sandwiches and replaced them with this… thing. It’s got to be one of the most boneheaded moves that any fast food brand has ever done. Smashburger’s Chicken Smashburger is the worst chicken sandwich I’ve ever tasted.
Instead of the thin well-marinated and well-seasoned chicken breast filet that the brand used to have, is this thick patty of ground chicken. And even though this patty is doused in garlic oil, it still doesn’t change the fact that nobody likes ground chicken!
Rounding out the sandwich is fairly standard stuff: mayo, lettuce, and tomato. To add insult to injury, Smashburger gives you the option to add sauteed crimini mushrooms and grilled jalapenos to the sandwich, so they still have all the ingredients on hand to make the far superior sandwiches of the past. All that’s missing is the grilled filet.
We’ve never had a brand that has gone from the top spot all the way to the bottom, so we have to hand it to Smashburger for that at least.
The Bottom Line:
The worst fast food grilled chicken sandwich you’ll ever eat made by a brand that used to make the best one. RIP to that old sandwich.
Ever since Jack in the Box swapped the mayo out of this sandwich for the brand’s Good Good Sauce, it’s been a massive improvement. The Good Good sauce combines sweet and savory flavors with a nice tangy finish, which does a lot to add some life to this previously boring sandwich.
Here si what we love about the sandwich: the sauce (obviously), the airy and chewy sourdough-style bread, the bacon (hard to mess that one up), and… well, that’s it.
No, you aren’t crazy, we didn’t mention the chicken. The filet is fine, it’s a bit dry, but has a decent peppery flavor, it’s just not a highlight. Rounding out the build is some pretty flavorless produce. So how can you elevate this sandwich?
Easy, drench it in Frank’s Red Hot, and instantly some of the blandness will be replaced with a strong hit of heat and a tangy finish.
The Bottom Line:
It’s good, not great. Do yourself a favor and ask for a side of Frank’s Red Hot if you feel this is too lacking in flavor.
If you’re a Chick-fil-A fan than you’re probably wondering why this sandwich is ranked so low. Fair, but spoiler alert: there are other Chick-fil-A sandwiches on this ranking, so we only included this sandwich so we could dissuade people from ordering this simple, but inferior build.
Here is what you get with Chick-fil-A’s stock grilled chicken sando: a grilled filet, tomatoes, lettuce, and a toasting multigrain bun. That’s it.
Don’t get us wrong, the chicken is delicious and offers a nice balance between charred flavors, lemon brightness, and a floral-herbal finish. But it’s dry as a desert. With the lack of ingredients, this one just tastes a bit too empty to rank any higher.
We don’t have anything to complain about with this one. It’s a great grilled chicken sandwich unless for some reason you don’t like BBQ sauce.
If you do, you should know that Carl’s Jr. has some of the best BBQ sauce in all of fast food. It’s smokey, sweet, tangy, and obliterates the dry texture you’re going to get with a charbroiled chicken breast filet.
Outside of the sauce, the filet has a great flavor. It features a heavy mix of salt and black pepper, with a nice charred flavor, but because its charred, it is a bit drier than we’d like it to be. But again, the BBQ sauce fixes that.
To finish the build you’ve got tomato and lettuce. The lettuce is forgettable, but the tomato adds an element of umami to the sandwich and some brightness to counteract the dark smokey flavors.
The Bottom Line:
A chicken sandwich for lovers of smokey, indulgent flavors.
Carl’s Jr and Chick-fil-A are dominating the grilled chicken game. So shout out to those two brands for keeping grilled fans fed.
With the Charbroiled Chicken Club, you’re getting the same chicken filet that’s in the Charbroiled BBQ. So if you skipped that entry, just know the filet is very flavorful with prominent charred elements, but the build offers a bit more here.
You get some smokey notes from the bacon, salty and creamy elements via the Swiss cheese, and a smear of mayo that wraps the flavors together and offers a savory finish.
Call me crazy but, I think this sandwich would taste even better with BBQ instead of mayo. So why am I ranking this one higher? It’s the bacon. It’s less healthy than a pure grilled chicken sandwich, but when it comes to what tastes better, I can’t pretend the bacon doesn’t help.
Panera’s Spicy Fiest Chicken frustrates me because overall, it’s a great-tasting sandwich that combines grilled chicken topped with a creamy mild salsa verde spread, coupled with sharp and dusty white cheddar, sweet red peppers, some roasted corn, and fresh, peppery cilantro on the best tasting bread in all of fast food.
But the chicken itself leaves a lot to be desired. It’s virtually flavorless. Literally every single other ingredient in this sandwich is significantly better than this dry over-cooked, obviously pre-made and reheated chicken. The chicken isn’t so bad that it ruins the sandwich, but when the weakest element of your chicken sandwich is the chicken itself. You’ve got a problem.
How could we ever rank this one higher? Part of me feels like even putting it in the top five is wrong.
The Bottom Line:
A great chicken sandwich build that suffers duo to its subpar chicken.
4. Carl’s Jr — Charbroiled Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich
Carl
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Our pick for Carl’s Jr’s best chicken sandwich is the Charbroiled Santa Fe. What makes this one rise above the other Carl’s Jr sandwiches is the Santa Fe Sauce, a mix of mayo, smoked paprika, earthy curry powder, and a hit of cayenne on the backend that gives the sandwich a spicy lift. Couple that with a giant mild green chili, and you’ve got an absolute flavor bomb of a sandwich.
Let us be clear about something though. Despite the inclusion of a chili, I wouldn’t call this sandwich spicy by any means. Instead its earthy and vegetal with a smokey top note that makes each bite a true pleasure to experience.
The Bottom Line:
A delicious medley of shifting flavors. If you’re looking for big, earthy, vegetal flavors, few sandwiches do it better than this one.
3. Chick-fil-A — Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich With Pepper Jack Cheese
Chick-fil-A
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Atop a tender lemon and herb-marinated chicken breast sits a few stripes of smokey bacon and a layer of spicy yet creamy pepper jack cheese over a bed of juicy tomatoes and slightly bitter yet sweet green leaf lettuce.
Like all Chick-fil-A sandwiches, it’s sauceless, which is fine. But to kick it up a notch we suggest Honey Roasted BBQ, which strengthens the smokey notes of the bacon and pairs wonderfully with the citrus-marinated flavor of the meat. Not feeling BBQ? Go with the Polynesian which adds a touch of sweet and sour.
The Bottom Line:
In the running for the best chicken sandwich in fast food, until the brand introduced our number one pick.
For too long we’ve had to deal with the fact that Chick-fil-A doesn’t make a spicy grilled chicken sandwich, even though they have all the ingredients on site to make it happen. Well, for a limited time only, we have access to the Grilled Spicy Deluxe, so order it while you can!
We thought about giving this sandwich the top spot, but since it’s only available for a limited time, and not quite as meticulously constructed as our top pick, it’ll have to sit here in second place. Still, though, this is essential eating!
The sandwich features a juicy chicken breast filet tossed in a blend of cayenne, smokey paprika, chili powder, and black pepper, topped with a slice of sweet and creamy Colby-Jack cheese, a leaf of green lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and a toasted multigrain bun.
An initial bite will bring in a touch of spice, but the heat doesn’t truly hit until you’re about halfway through the sandwich. But if you’re spice-averse, don’t worry, those juicy tomato slices do a lot to ease the heat and bring in a nice bright burst of umami flavor.
The Bottom Line:
Hands down Chick-fil-A’s best grilled chicken sandwich and one of the best sandwiches on the whole menu.
The Habit’s Grilled Chicken Club is a masterclass on how to make a grilled chicken sandwich that rivals something fried. There is an attention to craft here that most of the chicken sandwiches on this list just don’t provide. The breast is hand-fileted, offering the perfect cut. This is essential in ensuring that the chicken is juicier and more tender than all of the competition.
It’s well-marinated and perfectly seasoned, offering hints of bright lemon and earthy black pepper with each bite. If the idea of a thin piece of chicken sounds less appealing to you than the big filets offered at places like Chick-fil-A and Carl’s Jr, we get that, and Habit anticipated the “thin chicken” letdown and added a layer of crispy bacon to the sandwich. On top of all of that, sits a layer of freshly cut seasoned avocado, adding a creamy butteriness to every bite in both texture and flavor. The sandwich is served on two chewy, perfectly grilled slices of sourdough.
By all metrics, this is a perfect chicken sandwich. If the idea of a bacon chicken sandwich sounds a bit too decadent, feel free to cut some calories by ditching the mayo, the sandwich doesn’t need it.
The Bottom Line:
The best tasting grilled chicken sandwich you can order in 2025.
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