Arby's rolled out three chicken versions of the cheesesteak on October 12, 2026, at participating restaurants nationwide. The lineup consists of the Chicken Cheesesteak, the Chicken Deluxe Cheesesteak and the Spicy Chicken Cheesesteak, all of them offered as limited-time items. Allrecipes, Southern Living, Sporked and QSRweb covered the launch the same day, and each report noted that Arby's has not said how long the sandwiches will stay on the menu.
The three sandwiches share a single chicken preparation and differ only in the extras. Every version starts with seasoned chicken, melted American Cooper cheese and caramelized onions on a toasted sesame roll. The Deluxe adds shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. The Spicy keeps the same base and finishes it with what the chain calls a spicy glaze. The Takeout reports that each sandwich contains 4 ounces of chicken and 2 ounces of Cooper Sharp white American cheese, a portion in line with a typical fast food sandwich.
In its news release, Arby's described the three sandwiches as an alternative to traditional burgers and as an extension of the brand's existing cheesesteak lineup. QSRweb, reporting on that release, called the move an expansion of Arby's premium cheesesteak platform. The positioning matters: this is being sold less as a new chicken sandwich than as the cheesesteak idea applied to a second protein.
Rather than simply swapping beef for chicken, Arby's gave the new protein its own process. The chicken is marinated in a spice blend that includes garlic, onion and paprika, then seared and sliced, and finally cooked sous vide. Southern Living notes that the low-temperature method helps the meat cook evenly while retaining moisture. The same chicken is used across all three sandwiches, so the differences are purely in the toppings.
Tasting Table reported suggested retail prices of $7.49 for the Chicken Cheesesteak, $7.99 for the Spicy version and $8.49 for the Deluxe, with prices varying by location. The same report gave calorie counts of 660 for the regular, 760 for the Spicy and 670 for the Deluxe. Sporked confirms ordering is open in-restaurant, at the drive-thru, online and through the Arby's app. For comparison, the permanent Angus Cheesesteak lists at about $9.29 and 690 calories.
The chicken trio arrives a few months after the Angus Cheesesteak became a permanent menu item, and Tasting Table counted that beef sandwich among 2026's best new fast food items. The reception was not uniform. Coverage compiled by SoyYummy cites a Sporked writer who found the Angus version soggy and said the cheese drowned out everything else, while another reviewer said the melted cheese made the sandwich fall apart. That mixed reception helps explain why Arby's is now stretching the cheesesteak platform with a different protein instead of adding another steak item.
The Takeout's taste test concluded that two of the three work and one does not. The regular sandwich leans on the Cooper Sharp cheese and the sweet grilled onions, which melt into something close to a sauce. The Spicy version wears a glaze on the low end of medium, reminiscent of Buffalo sauce without the heavy vinegar, though the reviewer warned it is messy enough that eating it in the car is out of the question. The Deluxe was the one to avoid, because the lettuce wilts against the hot meat and warm tomato is unappealing. The reviewer's one complaint about all three was the bread, which was almost too soft. Tasting Table, reviewing the same trio, judged the heat mild enough for entry-level spice eaters.
All three sandwiches are limited-time offerings, and Arby's has not announced how long they will remain on the menu, with availability varying by restaurant. Southern Living's advice to readers was to try them soon rather than wait. Tasting Table was blunter: even if Arby's brings them back, this will probably be the only chance to buy one in 2026. Whether any of the three follows the Angus Cheesesteak onto the permanent menu now depends on how the first few weeks sell.