Fried chicken is one of Americans’ favorite foods, and the dish is celebrated on National Fried Chicken Day on Monday, July 6.
According to the National Day Calendar site, like many made-up holidays, there is no original reason for designating July 6 as a day dedicated to fried chicken.
But the fact is that fried chicken is one of the best-loved foods in the United States, overtaken by cheeseburgers, hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches as the nation’s favorite entry in YouGov’s regularly updated ranking of the most popular American dishes. For the record, another fried food, French fries, tops the list.
According to the National Chicken Council, Americans’ chicken consumption has increased 39% since 2000, to an average of 107.6 pounds per person. During that time, total red meat consumption (including beef, pork, mutton and lamb) declined about 7% to 110.8 pounds.
If you’re a fan of fried chicken, many fast-food places and restaurants have National Fried Chicken Day deals and special offers on and around Monday, July 6. Don’t forget to check the social media accounts of your local favorite eating spots for more deals.
Where to get the best deals
Buffalo Wild Wings’ $19.96 Pick 6 Meal
You can celebrate National Fried Chicken Day and watch World Cup action, including the Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium, at Buffalo Wild Wings.
The chain has a Pick 6 meal for two, which starts at $19.99 and includes a choice of Crispy Chicken Dippers, 10 boneless wings or an All-American Cheeseburger with two sides and two drinks. Food is available for dine-in, takeout or delivery.
Jollibee’s National Fried Chicken Day Freebie
For National Fried Chicken Day, all new and existing members of the Jollibee Rewards Loyalty Program will receive two free pieces of fried chicken upon purchase of a 10-piece Chickenjoy bucket.
The company, which calls itself the world’s largest and fastest-growing Asian restaurant company, also added chicken nuggets to its menu on Thursday, July 2. Available in 5-piece, 8-piece, 15-piece and 30-piece order sizes, the nuggets come in mini-buckets with Jollibee’s signature gravy or one of five dipping sauces.
More National Fried Chicken Day deals
- Bonchon: From July 3-6, guests can get $5 off orders of $15 or more with code GET5OFF when ordering through the Bonchon app or website.
- Birdcall: On National Fried Chicken Day you can get the Original Chicken Sandwich for just $1 (use code CHICKENDAY at checkout; offer good in stores.)
- Church’s Texas Chicken: On National Fried Chicken Day, members of the Real Rewards loyalty program can receive a free two-piece leg and thigh order with any purchase of $10 or more.
- Golden Chick: The chain, founded in San Marcos, Texas, has two National Fried Chicken Day deals on July 6 — you can get four tenders for $5, or one pound of tenders (10 tenders) for $14.99 (comes with three dipping sauces and three fresh-baked rolls).
- The Green Turtle: On National Fried Chicken Day, there is a Wing Fest promotion with all-you-can-eat bone-in or boneless wings for $19.99. This offer is good for a limited time Monday-Wednesday at participating locations.
- Crispy Crunchy Chicken: The Cajun-style chicken chain is having a contest for a $1,000 DoorDash gift card along with ten $100 gift cards on July 6. Enter the giveaway on Crispy Crunchy Chicken’s official Facebook or Instagram by following the brand, liking a post, commenting and tagging a friend. Sharing your favorite order in the comments gets you an extra entry.
- Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken: Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken loyalty program members get a 4X points booster on orders from July 3-6. You can also get a $19.66 Anniversary Box with 10 pieces of chicken.
- Maple Street Biscuit Company: On Monday, July 6, when you buy one Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich, you get another free (offer good in stores at participating locations; no coupon needed).
- Sonic: The fast-food chain recently added a new Garlic Parmesan Ranch Crispy Tender Wrap to its new $1.99 menu.
- Tender Greens: On Monday, July 6, Rewards members get a free drink with the purchase of a fried chicken plate, sandwich or bowl with katsu chicken.
- Whataburger: For National Fried Chicken Day, Rewards members can get the signature WhataChicken Sandwich for just $2. Get the deal at participating restaurants, in the Whataburger app or online. New app users also get a free Whataburger.
Mike Snyder is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X, and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & (email protected).