Members mark southern style chicken sandwich cooking instructions

There's a new spicy chicken sandwich in town, and you won't need to worry about restaurant shortages or fast-food chains being closed on Sundays when you're craving one.

All you need is a Sam's Club membership to sink your teeth into the new Chick-fil-A style entree: The fourth southern-style item to join the big-box store's growing line of imitation fast food dishes found in the freezer section.

Members mark southern style chicken sandwich cooking instructions
Sam's Club's Chick-fil-A-style spicy chicken sandwiches are available in clubs now.Terri Peters

The spicy chicken sandwich comes in a box of 10 and costs $16. At less than $2 per sandwich, my family was eager to test the new addition out, especially since our nearest Chick-fil-A is over 20 minutes away and we always seem to be craving their delicious chicken on Sundays, when the chain isn't open.

We'd already tried the other items in the Sam's Club line — Southern-style chicken sandwiches, chicken bites and waffle fries — and were big fans. But when I told my kids we were trying a spicier version of their beloved chicken, they were nervous.

Members mark southern style chicken sandwich cooking instructions
The spicy chicken sandwich is the fourth item to join Sam's Club's southern-style line of frozen entrees.Terri Peters

Spicy or not, the box claimed the spice factor would be mild, rating the level of hotness one out of three flame icons. I told my 12 and 10-year-olds to give them a try and they reluctantly agreed.

The sandwiches come individually packaged can be heated in the microwave, a conventional oven or an air fryer. I chose the oven preparation method so I could easily toss some waffle fries in, too.

The instructions require heating the spicy chicken patties for about 20 minutes, removing the buns first and wrapping them in aluminum foil to throw in the oven for the last 10 minutes of cooking. After following all of the directions, we assembled our sandwiches, adding pickles and Walmart's knock-off Chick-fil-A sauce — a staple condiment in our house since it showed up in stores in 2018.

Members mark southern style chicken sandwich cooking instructions
To heat the sandwiches, remove the patties from the buns and heat them separately.Terri Peters

The Sam's Club versions seemed healthier than their Chick-fil-A counterparts. They're less greasy and a bit drier than the real thing, but the spice level and flavor are dead on.

My kids claimed they were too spicy, but they've never had a spicy chicken sandwich before. That said, I'd stick with the original version for smaller taste buds.

The bonus of the kids not being fans was that my husband and I went back for seconds, eating what was left on their plates even though we were full — they were that good.

Members mark southern style chicken sandwich cooking instructions
The finished product, with sides of knock-off Chick-fil-A sauce and waffle fries.Terri Peters

Overall, I'd keep a box of both the spicy and original Southern-style chicken sandwiches in my freezer because you never know which you'll be in the mood for.

Whichever you choose, you're getting Chick-fil-A-style chicken in the privacy of your home whenever you want it — even on Sundays.

Now, if only Sam's Club could refill our drinks on demand and bring a play area to our house for the kids.

Terri Peters is a writer and editor for TODAY.com. She lives in a small beach town on the Atlantic coast of Florida with her husband and two kids. When she isn't writing, she can be found at the beach or exploring Florida's theme parks with her family.

Watch Out, Chick-fil-A! Sam's Club Just Dropped a Southern Style Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Published on September 3, 2020

Photo: Sam's Club

You may already know that bulk shopping giant Sam's Club has serious fast food inspired chicken game. Last year, they launched Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Bites that swept the country by storm thanks to their resemblance to Chick-fil-A's much beloved chicken nuggets. But now, they're boosting their bird offerings yet again and we're seriously over the moon: Sam's Club has officially debuted the Member's Mark Southern Style Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

The new arrival—available in the frozen food department—is made with a juicy chicken breast fillet and rib meat and breaded with a Southern-inspired dill pickle flavored batter accented by a hit of cayenne to take the heat levels up a notch.

Each box of Member's Mark Spicy Chicken Sandwiches contains 10 fully-cooked sandwiches with the buns included that are ready to heat and enjoy. Buy your box now for $15.98—we also suggest throwing in some Member's Mark Southern Style Waffle Fries to round out your lunch or dinner. (And if you want to do some comparison chicken testing, definitely pick up Member's Mark Southern Style Bites, too.) We hear this meal pairs really well with sweet tea, y'all.

Sam's Club

While you can heat the sandwiches up in the microwave or oven, for best results, heat them up in the air fryer. If you're new to the air fryer arena, our vote is the PowerXL Vortex 7-Quart Air Fryer, available at Sam's Club for $99.98. With preset buttons for french fries, baking, dehydrating, roasting and more, it'll fast become a real workhorse in your kitchen—and you'll love being able to whip up extra-crispy fried foods with no added oil.

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We'd love to hear from you: Are you all about spicy chicken sandwiches? Or do you prefer yours without heat and with plenty of ketchup?

How do you cook a Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Sandwich?

Top Buy. I order these chicken sandwiches every time I at Sams, heat the chicken for 2 minutes 20 second's and the bun for 25 seconds and your good to go. I use Chic Filet sauce on mine and they are perfect. Member's Mark Southern-Style Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Frozen (10 ct.)

How do you heat a Member's Mark chicken sandwich?

It's best prepared from frozen and can be heated in the microwave, oven or air fryer for a delicious crispy sandwich (we like it best from the air fryer). Just make sure you adjust heat times - these are made from breast fillets, so they vary in size and heating times.

How do I bake a Sam's chicken sandwich?

Preparation Instructions: Appliances vary, adjust accordingly. Oven: 8-10 minutes at 400°F from frozen. 8-10 minutes at 400°F from thawed. Microwave: Heat on HIGH: 30 seconds.