Hot! Hot! Hot! Americans Just Love Spicy Food

Following trends in the food industry can be like watching fashion trends come and go, as consumer preferences change rapidly. One thing that seems to be sticking around, however, is that Americans love their food spicy. In fact, this is a trend that’s continuing to increase. According to Datassential, 80 percent of diners love to feel the heat in their foods. Apparently, this spicy infatuation goes back quite a bit in American history. In Eight Flavors , a book about culinary history, author Sarah Lohman writes, “Two hundred years ago, black pepper was considered hot; now, a jalape?o hot sauce is universally loved.”

Suffice it to say, hot food is our heritage, and chile powder and sriracha have become hallmarks of American cuisine. Restaurants of every sort are finding creative ways to add spice to their menus , from spicy chicken to spicy shrimp, and every imaginable sauce and condiment to top them. One particularly hot condiment—in flavor and popularity—is chile crisp . Chile Crisp is oil infused with crunchy bits of peppers, onions, garlic and other flavorful spices. Snack foods are even getting in on the hot trend as Frito-Lay is launching a new Flamin’ Hot Cheddar and Sour Cream-flavored Ruffles in partnership with Lebron James.?

What might cause this growing need for heat? One possible explanation is that spicy foods provide many health benefits. Studies have shown they aid in longevity, speed up metabolism, combat inflammation in the body and may even help fight cancer cells and kill bacteria. So it’s no surprise that restaurants are adding some heat to keep up with diners’ demands.

Wendy’s

Spice lovers are sure to enjoy Wendy’s latest fiery new sandwiches to start the day off with a “hot” breakfast. Nearly two years ago, the chain launched its breakfast menu, and now the new Hot Honey Chicken sandwich and the Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit will be offered at breakfast and on all-day menus. This is a move that makes Wendy’s a solid contender in the ongoing fast-food chicken wars. According to Chief Marketing Officer Carl Loredo, “We actually craft chicken sandwiches with flavor… we're constantly looking for new ways to upgrade our already famous spicy chicken sandwich, and our talented culinary team knew we could bring the Hot Honey trend to the table in a way no one else could."

Arby’s

?Arby’s describes their limited-time-only Diablo Dare Sandwich as not being for the “faint of heart”. And no wonder—with five layers of spices, you just may need to sip on the vanilla shake they pair with it to give your mouth a break from the heat. The Diablo Dare features Diablo barbeque sauce, fiery seasonings, ghost pepper, jack cheese, fire-roasted jalape?os and a Diablo bun that’s red with chipotle pepper flakes.

The Diablo Dare Sandwich comes in either crispy chicken or brisket.

Taco Bell

The fast-food Mexican chain is taking a beloved menu item—the Doritos Locos Taco—and giving it a spicy twist. To celebrate the chain’s 60th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the first Doritos Locos Tacos, they’ve launched the new Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos . This new item features seasoned beef, sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and a crunchy taco shell made from the new Doritos flavor.?

Layne’s

When Layne’s Chicken Fingers launched its spicy chicken in January , it was their first new menu item since 1994. Layne’s just launched its franchise last year and has definitely made a name for itself in its home state of Texas. The new spicy chicken comes as a response to the current trend toward bold flavors, and it’s helping the brand to expand its reach. Samir Wattar, COO of Laynes, says the new addition has more than proven to be a success. Just since its launch, spicy chicken accounts for 20% of all meal-deals sold across Layne’s stores.?

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has been making iconic pizzas for decades. Inspired by Americans’ love for spicy dishes and their own desire to fill the spicy void in pizza, they created Spicy Lover's Pizza . This new item joins their fan-favorite Lover's? line of specialty recipes. Spicy Lover’s is purposely crafted for diners who crave adventurous flavors and comes in three versions: Spicy Double Pepperoni, Spicy Hawaiian Chicken and Spicy Veggie.

In whatever way you’re serving up the heat to your customers, Huhtamaki makes it easy with a full line of packaging products for the foodservice industry. Follow Huhtamaki to keep up with all the trends in 2022, including customers’ continuing love for spicy food and all the products offered to fit your business needs. Huhtamaki is your true partner in innovation for customer success.