# Cookie-Coated Chicken Dishes These Popeyes Chicken Tenders are Coated with Shortbread Cookies By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2017-06-03 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popeyes-chicken-tenders References: [brandeating](http://www.brandeating.com/2017/06/popeyes-debuts-new-cookie-coated-chicken-tenders.html) & [popeyes](http://popeyes.com/) The newest [Popeyes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popeyes-strawberry-biscuit) chicken tenders are identified as sweet and crunchy for a reason—they are coated with shortbread cookies. The Sweet & Crunchy Chicken Tenders are now being sold for a limited time as a $5 menu item that comes with a side, a biscuit and a Smokin' Pepper Jam sauce. Across the food and beverage industry, consumers are looking to find sweet, salty, spicy and savory flavor notes in unexpected places, offering a new way to enjoy a favorite treat. In the case of the Sweet & Crunchy Tenders, there are plenty of textures to be enjoyed, as well as both [sweet and spicy flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-honey-spicy-chicken-strips). Previously, Popeyes has experimented with enhancing its chicken dishes with sweet flavors, such as it did with its [Magnolia](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hearth-and-hand) Blossom Chicken, which included the bold, vibrant taste of a citrus orange. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, 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 ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Sweet and Savory Food Pairings:** Food and beverage companies can experiment with combining sweet and savory flavors to create new taste experiences and capture consumer interest. - **Texture-driven Food Innovation:** Creating unexpected textures in foods can offer a unique experience to consumers and differentiate products in a crowded market. - **Incorporating Snack Foods Into Mealtime:** More companies can look at ways to incorporate snack foods into traditional meals to offer a new take on familiar dishes. ### Where This Applies - **Fast Food:** Fast food companies can experiment with new ways to enhance their traditional menu items by incorporating unexpected flavor combinations and textures. - **Snack Food:** Snack food companies can explore potential partnerships with fast food chains to highlight the versatility and usage of their products in mealtime settings. - **Consumer Packaged Goods:** Consumer packaged goods companies can develop new products that offer different textures and flavor profiles to stand out in a competitive marketplace. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sweet Summery QSR Biscuits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popeyes-strawberry-biscuit.md) - [Extra-Cunchy Chicken Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/signature-hot-crispy-sandwich.md) - [Dipping-Friendly Chicken Strips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-dippers.md) - [Extra-Saucy Fried Chicken Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popeyes-saucin.md) - [Extra-Crunchy QSR Value Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popeyes-shatter-crunch-savers-menu.md) - [Frozen Chicken Tender-Inspired Treats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-scream-tender.md) - [Upgraded QSR Recipes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/signature-tender-sauce.md) - [QSR-Branded Signature Dipping Sauces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/signature-dipping-sauce.md) - [Spiced Cheddar Butter Biscuits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheddapeo-biscuits.md)