Claire Thompson
The chicken sandwich versus burger debate has been a long-standing one, with the history of both dishes being widely contested. The chicken sandwich, in its most basic form, is a piece of chicken between sliced bread, whereas a chicken burger is a chicken patty between buns, mimicking the traditional beef burger. The chicken sandwich is believed to have originated in the United States, with its roots in Scottish and West African cuisines. On the other hand, the hamburger has a disputed history, with multiple claimants to its invention, dating as far back as the 1800s.
Chicken Sandwich vs Burger
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chicken Sandwich: United States; Burger: Disputed, possibly United States |
| Date of Origin | Chicken Sandwich: 1964; Burger: Disputed, possibly 1880s |
| Inventor | Chicken Sandwich: Truett Cathy (debated); Burger: Disputed, possibly Fletcher Davis |
| Ingredients | Chicken Sandwich: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh, served between slices of bread; Burger: Ground beef patties or other meats/meat substitutes |
| Bread | Chicken Sandwich: Bread or bun; Burger: Bun |
| Preparation | Chicken Sandwich: Chicken can be deep-fried, grilled, roasted, or boiled; Burger: Fried or grilled |
| Popularity | Chicken Sandwich: Gaining popularity, featured on 47% of restaurant menus in the US; Burger: More popular than chicken sandwiches, featured on 41% of restaurant menus in the US |
| Variations | Chicken Sandwich: Hot chicken sandwich, shredded chicken sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, etc.; Burger: Veggie burger, salmon burger, ramen burger, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The origins of fried chicken
European Roots
Fried chicken, specifically the practice of deep frying chicken in fat, can be traced back to medieval Europe. The Scottish are particularly associated with this method of preparation, as evidenced by a 1747 cookbook by Hannah Glasse and a 1773 diary entry from the Isle of Skye. Scottish immigrants brought this culinary tradition with them when they settled in the American South before the height of the slave trade in the 18th century, particularly in Virginia and South Carolina.
West African Influence
The arrival of enslaved West Africans in the American South during the slave trade introduced new dimensions to fried chicken. Enslaved Africans were often only allowed to keep chickens as livestock, and they combined their unique seasoning techniques with the breaded coating of the Scottish to create spiced fried chicken. This fusion of cultures laid the foundation for what would become a beloved Southern delicacy.
Southern Delicacy
African American cooks perfected the art of frying chicken, honing their recipes and techniques over time. Fried chicken became a staple in the African American community, especially during periods of segregation when most restaurants were closed off to the black population. It was also a means of economic empowerment for enslaved and segregated African American women, who became noted sellers of poultry as early as the 1730s. After the abolition of slavery, American-style fried chicken gradually became a general Southern dish, gaining popularity across the region.
A National Dish
Fried chicken has become deeply ingrained in American culture, with chains like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Popeyes expanding across the nation and the globe. In the African American community, fried chicken is affectionately known as the "Gospel bird" due to its connection to Sunday church culture. It has even earned its own "national day" on July 6. Fried chicken's influence has also spread worldwide, with countries like Japan adopting American-style fried chicken as a Christmas tradition.
Chicken Sandwich and Burger
The chicken sandwich and burger have become popular vehicles for enjoying fried chicken. The chicken sandwich, typically consisting of a chicken fillet or patty with toppings and bread, has sparked competition in the fast-food industry, with menus across the United States featuring fried chicken sandwiches. The term "burger" has also expanded to include various meat sandwiches, including chicken burgers. While the origins of these specific dishes are debated, they have undoubtedly contributed to the versatility and popularity of fried chicken.
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Fried chicken sandwiches in the US
Fried chicken sandwiches have become a beloved part of American diets, with their roots dating back to the 18th century. The sandwich typically features a breaded and fried chicken cutlet, a bun or roll, various toppings like pickles and slaw, and often a sauce.
The fried chicken sandwich is believed to have originated in the Southern United States, influenced by the culinary traditions of Scottish immigrants and West African slaves. Scottish immigrants introduced the technique of deep-frying chicken in fat, while West African slaves added their spice routes to the breaded chicken coating. This combination of cultures created the unique flavour of spiced fried chicken.
The first written mention of fried chicken in the US was in Mary Randolph's 1825 cookbook, "The Virginia Housewife, Or Methodical Cook". However, a similar recipe appeared earlier in Britain in Hannah Glasse's "The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy", published in 1747.
Over time, fried chicken sandwiches have become a staple in American cuisine, with different regions developing their own unique variations. For example, the Hot Chicken sandwich in Nashville is known for its fiery spice blend, while Memphis offers a BBQ-inspired twist with similar spices to their famous BBQ dishes.
In recent years, fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A have further popularized the fried chicken sandwich, claiming to have invented it in the 1960s. The competition among fast-casual and quick-service restaurants in the US has led to a significant rise in the prevalence of fried chicken sandwiches on menus nationwide. As of 2024, 47% of restaurant menus feature fried chicken sandwiches, a 10% increase from 2020 to 2021.
The rise in popularity of fried chicken sandwiches can also be attributed to shifting consumer preferences. During the second half of the 20th century, per capita chicken consumption in the United States quadrupled, as health-conscious Americans moved away from beef and pork due to emerging concerns about fat and cholesterol. Additionally, new breeding techniques and the rise of diet culture made chicken a more affordable and appealing option.
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The history of the hamburger
The first printed American menu listing hamburgers is an 1834 menu from Delmonico's in New York, which was one of the first premier restaurants in the United States. However, the origin of the hamburger is disputed, with some arguing that it originated in Hamburg, Germany, while others claim German-American immigrants were the first to serve fried ground beef in a sandwich. Hannah Glasse's 1758 edition of "The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy", published in England, includes a recipe for "Hamburgh sausage", which was served with toasted bread.
In the mid-19th century, preparations of raw beef that had been chopped, chipped, ground, or scraped were a common prescription for digestive issues in the United States. After a New York doctor, James H. Salisbury, suggested in 1867 that cooked beef patties might be healthier, cooks and physicians quickly adopted the "Salisbury Steak". This set the stage for an explosion of readily available ground beef, which made its way into a bun in the last decades of the 19th century.
Fletcher Davis of Athens, Texas, claimed to have invented the hamburger in the 1880s. Oral histories describe how he served a 'burger' of fried ground beef patties with mustard and Bermuda onion between two slices of bread, with a pickle on the side. However, Charlie Nagreen also claimed to have invented the hamburger by serving a hamburger steak at the Outagamie County Fair in Wisconsin in 1884. To make the dish easier to walk around with, he served the steak thinner and between two slices of bread. Another cook at a county fair in Ohio in 1891 also claimed to have invented the hamburger.
The hamburger gained widespread popularity at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where millions of Americans were introduced to new foods such as waffle ice cream cones, cotton candy, peanut butter, and iced tea. However, in 1920, Upton Sinclair's journalistic novel "The Jungle" detailed the unsavory side of the American meatpacking industry, leading to concerns about the safety of meat processing. This prompted the creation of the Pure Food and Drug Act, sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration.
Despite these concerns, the hamburger persisted, and in 1921, Edgar "Billy" Ingram and Walter Anderson opened the first White Castle restaurant in Kansas, with Ingram even commissioning a medical school study to show the health benefits of hamburgers. This inspired other national hamburger chains, including McDonald's and In-N-Out Burger (founded in 1948), Burger King (founded in 1954), and Wendy's (founded in 1969). Led by McDonald's, the hamburger and American-style franchised fast food soon spread globally, becoming a symbol of globalization and Western culture.
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The difference between a sandwich and a burger
The question of what came first, the chicken sandwich or the burger, is a complex one. While the chicken sandwich has been advertised in American newspapers as early as 1936, the history of the fried chicken sandwich is murky. It is widely accepted that the hamburger was invented in the United States, but the exact date and inventor are debated. Some sources claim that the hamburger was first mentioned in a printed American menu from Delmonico's in New York in 1834, while others argue that it was invented by Fletcher Davis of Athens, Texas in the 1880s.
Now, let's delve into the differences between a sandwich and a burger:
Bread Type and Shape:
Sandwiches typically use two flat slices of bread, whereas burgers use a sliced bun, often with a horizontal incision. The bun is round and has a horizontal slit to hold the filling. In some cases, burgers may use other types of bread like English muffins, ramen, or macaroni patties.
Filling and Patties:
Sandwiches usually have meat slices, while burgers feature a formed patty made from ground or chopped meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables. For a sandwich to be considered a burger, the chicken or meat is often required to be ground or in patty form, rather than a whole filet or slice. The filling in a burger is typically in a slab form, whether it's a patty or a breaded slab of meat or a folded item like an egg.
Cultural Variations:
The distinction between a sandwich and a burger can vary depending on the geographical region. In the United States, a sandwich can refer to fillings between any type of bread, while in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, the term "sandwich" is generally reserved for two slices of bread from a loaf. In these countries, a burger is typically considered a "sandwich" on a bun or roll, and a piece of chicken breast in a bun is specifically called a "chicken burger." Americans would refer to the same item as a "chicken sandwich" because the meat is not ground.
Serving Locations:
Sandwiches and burgers are often sold in specialized locations. Burgers are usually sold in places that specifically offer burgers, while sandwiches are often found in locations that specialize in that particular type of sandwich.
Popularity:
While burgers have traditionally been more popular, the rise of fried chicken sandwiches on menus suggests a growing consumer demand for alternatives. As of 2024, 47% of restaurant menus featured fried chicken sandwiches, compared to 41% for burgers.
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Chicken sandwiches and burgers in other countries
In the United States, a chicken sandwich typically consists of a chicken fillet or patty, toppings, and bread. The chicken meat can be deep-fried, grilled, roasted, or boiled, and both white and dark meat chicken can be used. In contrast, a chicken burger in the US mirrors the traditional beef burger, with a large round patty formed from ground chicken stuffed between two buns with toppings.
Outside of the US, the term "chicken burger" is more commonly used to refer to any hot sandwich on a brioche bun, regardless of how the meat is cooked or prepared. For example, in Australia, KFC sells a chicken crispy burger, and in the UK, a chicken sandwich on sliced bread would be called a sandwich, while the same sandwich on a bun would be called a burger. In Ireland, the popular chicken fillet roll is a baguette filled with a spicy or plain Southern-fried breaded chicken fillet and a mayonnaise and/or butter spread.
In Quebec, the hot chicken sandwich, or "hot chicken," is considered a staple dish. It consists of chicken covered in gravy and is sometimes served with green peas. This dish is also found in small diners in the Canadian Maritimes and throughout the Southeastern United States.
In Japan, the chicken katsu sandwich consists of crispy chicken with milk bread, while in Korea, the chicken sandwich employs their famous take on crispy fried poultry with starch in the breading. In Jamaica, a chicken patty can refer to a baked pastry similar to an empanada, filled with ground chicken meat or pulled chicken breast and seasoned with a curry blend.
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Frequently asked questions
A chicken sandwich is any piece of chicken between sliced bread. The chicken can be shredded, grilled, roasted, boiled, or deep-fried.
A burger is a sandwich that usually contains a patty made from ground beef between two slices of bread, often a bun. However, the term "burger" can be used to refer to sandwiches with different meats, such as chicken, turkey, or salmon, or even meatless options like veggie burgers.
It's hard to say for sure, but it seems that the burger, specifically the hamburger, came first. The first written record of fried chicken, which is commonly used in chicken sandwiches, was in 1825 in the United States. However, there are also claims that a recipe for fried chicken appeared in a British cookbook in 1747. On the other hand, the hamburger is said to have originated in the 1880s in Texas, and the first printed American menu listing hamburgers is from 1834.
Popular variations of chicken sandwiches include the hot chicken sandwich, the shredded chicken sandwich, and the chicken salad sandwich. Regional specialties include the chicken katsu sandwich in Japan and the Korean chicken sandwich. Chicken burgers often mimic the classic beef burger, but with a chicken patty. Some unique burger variations include the Juicy Lucy, which has cheese inside the meat patty, and the Luther Burger, which uses glazed doughnuts instead of buns.
