# Chimichurri-Seasoned Chicken Salads Starbird's New Chimi Chop Salad is Here for Spring 2026 By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2026-03-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chimi-chop-salad References: [qsrmagazine](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/starbird-introduces-new-chimichurri-lineup/) & [order.thanx](https://order.thanx.com/starbird)  The premium chicken chain [Starbird](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elote-chop-salad) recently introduced a new Chimichurri menu featuring cravable new dishes like the Chimi Chop Salad and the Chimichurri Star. If you're unfamiliar with Chimichurri, the sauce is a staple of Argentinian cooking, made from a blend of fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar. Starbird's new Chimichurri menu puts this sauce front and center by using fresh herbs to craft four delicious new dishes. First up is the Chimi Chop Salad, which features crispy chicken, fresh greens, chimichurri-marinated white beans, marinated charred red peppers, and other tasty ingredients, all tossed with a roasted garlic aioli drizzle and chimichurri dressing. Other dishes on the new menu include the Chimichurri Star, the [Chimichurri Wings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grilled-chimichurri-chicken-thigh-skewers), and the Chimi Fries. As Starbird Founder Aaron Noveshen says of the new menu, "Chimichurri delivers brightness, freshness and just the right kick — and it transforms everything from salads to sandwiches into something unexpected." Image Credit: Starbird ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 8% | Freshness: 70% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Herb-forward Fast-casual:** A shift toward menus that center fresh herb-based sauces like chimichurri as the primary flavor driver in quick-service and fast-casual formats. - **Global Sauce Revival:** Elevated traditional sauces from specific cuisines becoming mainstream condiments that redefine sandwich, salad, and snack categories. - **Protein-centric Salad Reinvention:** The reframing of salads as protein-forward, craveable meals combining crispy proteins with bold dressings and prepared sides such as marinated beans and charred peppers. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fast-casual Restaurants:** Menu innovation that leverages signature sauces and herb blends to create distinctive, franchise-scalable offerings that drive repeat visits. - **Food Manufacturing & Ingredients:** Demand for shelf-stable yet fresh-tasting herb blends and refrigerated sauce systems that preserve brightness and texture at scale. - **Foodservice Packaging & Delivery:** Packaging solutions that maintain the integrity and separation of vibrant dressings and crispy components during off-premise transport. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Umami Fried Chicken Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbird-chicken-japanese-bbq.md) - [Savory Satisfying Summertime Salads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/habit-burger-grill-salads.md) - [Warming Hatch Chile Salads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chopt-creative-salad-co.md) - [Spiced Indian Chickpea Salads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chaat-chicken-salad.md) - [Limited-Edition Summer Salad Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/national-salad-months.md) - [Indian Cuisine-Inspired Chicken Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indian-hotbird-menu.md) - [Spiced Street Corn Salads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elote-chop-salad.md) - [Spicy Chopped Chicken Salads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spicy-chicken-chopped-salad.md) - [Energizing New Years Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-year-new-you-new-chop-stop.md)