Review: Chili's Chicken Parm Big Crispy Is A Win For Its Cheese Pull Alone

If you're anything like me, when you think of Chili's, you think of chips and salsa, a triple dipper, and a tasty margarita. Perhaps it was my love of dippable appetizers, like mozzarella sticks, that led the way, but when Chili's brought its fried mozzerella to its giant chicken sandwich, I was more than a little intrigued. Plus, I've been excited to try the "super premium" chicken sandwiches introduced as part of the changes that have landed in Chili's in 2026.

Treated to lunch at Chili's with Skyler, Senior PR Manager for Chili's, I got to try this sandwich the very first day it hit menus. We dined over Chili's chips and salsa, the chain's festive margarita of the month (the Witches Brew Marg), and, of course, the star of the show: Chicken Parm Big Crispy. This hearty sandwich was an ambitious meal with marinara sauce and fried mozzarella piled on top of a Big Crispy chicken patty. So, how was the cheese pull? I was about to find out.

My review on Chili's Chicken Parm Big Crispy was based on the texture and flavor of the sandwich. I hoped for a sandwich that had an impressive cheese pull, balanced flavors of mozzarella and marinara, and a crunchy chicken texture that still maintained a moist chicken patty. Ideally, the chicken sandwich, though large, should be soft, but not too soft with plenty of balanced texture with each bite.

Recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

The Chicken Parm Big Crispy is a play on Chili's Big Crispy chicken sandwich that landed in stores in April of 2026. Skyler told me that after the launch of the Big Crispy in April, the number of sandwiches Chili's was selling went up 175%. The chain knew it had a hit. With this success, it was only natural for Chili's to begin looking for opportunities to create some unique takes on this hefty chicken sandwich.

The chicken sandwich comes on a soft bun with a hefty breaded and crispy chicken patty. On top, you get fried mozzarella planks and marinara sauce. For sides, I opted for the chain's french fries and macaroni and cheese, but these could easily be swapped for any of Chili's other sides.

Biting into the sandwich, the very first thing I noticed was how impressively messy and large it is. This isn't a small bite, and it's definitely one you'll want extra napkins for. The fried mozzarella and marinara sauce definitely played the starring role for flavor, and the chicken provided a nice balance with texture. With such an impressive amount of cheese, it would have been easy for the sandwich to become too mushy, but the crispy chicken helped to balance the bite.

I was absolutely in love with this sandwich. As a huge fan of Chili's triple dipper and an obsessed mozzarella stick fan, it was like all of my favorite parts of an appetizer in a full meal.

Perhaps the only downfall of the sandwich is that it is just so messy. I found myself needing to wipe my hands after nearly every bite and definitely used up my fair share of napkins throughout the meal. Even still, the mess is worth the bite.

The texture balance was notably enjoyable, even impressive considering the ingredients. Even though mozzarella sticks are very soft and gooey, the crispy chicken held its own to create a bite that was soft and enjoyable without feeling like it was pure mush.

If you're a fan of mozzarella sticks and enjoy chicken sandwiches, I would say this is an absolute must. As someone who particularly enjoys a saucy sandwich, I especially loved that it comes with a side of ranch and marinara, and you can always ask for more if you need it. Though Chili's popularity was in something of a freefall, its resurrection is absolutely delicious, and well worth your time.

Chili's Chicken Parm Big Crispy released nationwide on October 20, 2026. It is joining the other crispy chicken sandwiches Chili's currently has on the menu. Mozzarella fans rejoice, because there are no plans to make this a limited-time run but rather a permanent menu addition. 

Skylar told me that Chili's takes great care in making sure the assembly of products like this chicken sandwich is reasonable and efficient within the kitchen. That's why Chili's uses its same fried mozzarella you get in the triple dipper right in the sandwich. Chili's uses a truly staggering amount of mozzarella every year catering to its much-loved fried mozzarella appetizer. Since it always has fried mozzarella on hand, this is an easy sandwich to put together and equally as easy to keep on the menu.

In terms of pricing, the Chili's Chicken Parm Big Crispy will ring up the same as a Deluxe Big Crispy chicken sandwich. At my location in Central Florida, this was $17.79 and included all the sides and dips. If you're intrigued to find out why Chili's shakes up such a vast number of margaritas each year, add on a $6 margarita of the month, and you'll still be able to add a tip for less than a $30 meal.