Jack in the Box’s Nashville Hot Popcorn Chicken features crispy-fried, white-meat chicken bites covered in a sweet and spicy Nashville Hot seasoning.
A small size cost me $6.49.
Sadly, my box of Popcorn Chicken was only half full. The amount didn’t seem worth the money. The box contained a mix of sizeable pieces and batter bits.
The Nashville Hot seasoning was a combo of oil and spices. It delivered an enjoyable combination of a moderate spicy kick, a bit of sweetness, and a decent savory depth. However, there was a lot of oil pooling at the bottom of the small box, which gave the whole experience a growing heaviness as I got closer to the end.
The chicken pieces were tender and juicy. They were just big enough for a meaty bite. Each piece was covered in a thick but fairly light, crispy shell. The little batter bits offered a similar texture but, given the surface area, felt very oily from the Nashville Hot seasoning.
At the end of the day, Jack in the Box’s Nashville Hot Popcorn Chicken was a mixed bag. The flavor and textures of the Popcorn Chicken and the Nashville Hot Popcorn Chicken were very good, but the oilyness was off-putting. It could be mitigated by serving them in a wide bowl lined with napkins. If you end up getting the same amount as I got, it’s pretty pricey.
