Subway began in 1965 under the name Petes Super Submarines (for financier Peter Buck). It took Subway until 1972 before it became the sandwich shop we know and love — and until 1974 before it began working as a franchise operation. A big part of the chain’s image was that it was a healthy fast food chain with fresh food and a lighter menu overall. Customers could make their own sandwiches or choose from ones that the restaurant had already made. They could pick from a variety of meats, vegetables, cheeses, sauces, and breads. Advertisement.
Fast-forward to today, where Subway operates just under 37,000 locations worldwide, making it the fourth-largest fast-food restaurant chain globally. (The top three are Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, McDonalds, and Starbucks, respectively. ) To reach such behemoth status, Subway has had to keep their menu, well, fresh, after more than five decades in business. This means there has been a fairly significant amount of menu items that come and go from restaurant locations, even if those items have proven to be popular.
Subway is skillful at creating FOMO (fear of missing out) by releasing numerous limited-time deals and products. Occasionally, those products make repeat appearances but others are a one-time deal: If you miss out, its goodbye from Subway. For a delicious retrospective, Foodie has compiled 15 Subway products that have since disappeared from stores . and, yes, we may never see them again. Advertisement.
If you ever found yourself strolling into a Subway and thinking, “Man, I wish I could order a pizza and a sandwich in one place at the same time,” Subway had the answer to your prayers. The Flatizza was born in 2014 to appeal to customers who wanted a classic pizzeria taste at the sandwich shop. You could get it in four different flavors: Cheese, Pepperoni, Spicy Italian (Pepperoni with Genoa salami added), and Veggie (onions, tomatoes, green peppers, and olives on top). Served on a square-shaped crispy flatbread, these creations were cut into four slices and seemed poised to be a hit. Advertisement.
But it wasnt meant to be. Even though customers enjoyed the economical $5 price tag per Flatizza, it wasnt enough to keep the item in Subway stores. After less than a year on the menu, Subway discontinued the Flatizza in 2015, and it hasnt been seen since.
Speaking of economical offerings from Subway, the $5 footlong is one that resonates with anyone who remembers the catchy jingle. The deal was introduced in 2008 and led to a huge increase in profits for the company –– to the tune of $3.8 billion in 2008-2009. However, it wasnt such a delicious deal for individual franchise owners. Advertisement
While plenty of customers loaded up on $5 footlong sandwiches, Subway franchisees didnt see quite as much bread. The increased costs of food as well as labor began to eat away at their profit margins, and so the $5 footlong deal began to disappear from restaurants in 2012. By November 2014, the deal was gone everywhere and replaced with the Simple $6 promotion that saw customers receive a 6-inch sub, drink, and chips or cookies. The $5 footlong deal did return briefly for select subs in 2018, and once again in 2020 to boost flagging sales before being put to bed for good.
Subway tried its hand at creating another pizza item, this time with a sandwich: the Chicken Pizziola. Introduced in 2003, the Chicken Pizziola sandwich had chicken breast, pepperoni, tomatoes, cheese, and marinara sauce. It was a hot sandwich that saw the cheese melt for the characteristic cheese pull thats vital in so many pizzas. A mashup of pizza and chicken parmesan, it looked ready to fill an Italy-sized hole in Subway customers stomachs. Advertisement
One would think the sandwich would be a hit and staple on menus 20-plus years later, and yet it has disappeared from restaurants everywhere. (With the exception of Subway locations in Lebanon, which still offer the Chicken Pizziola.) Instead, the sandwich vanished and was last advertised in 2013 as part of the companys “Italian Collection.”
Subway really likes to stretch its culinary muscles and move beyond what it does best (or at least adequately), which is why it wanted to take a bite out of fast foods breakfast and begin offering their own. Starting in 2010, Subway restaurants began offering their customers something delicious to start their days as well as satisfy their lunchtime needs. The breakfast menu included wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads with the morning classics of bacon, eggs, sausage, and ham. Advertisement
The thing is, Subway didnt really push their marketing department to inform their customers that breakfast was now available at their local sandwich joint. Roughly 40% of customers admitted they didnt stop at Subway in the morning and 19% didnt even know breakfast was an option. And locations axed breakfast in 2018 across the country. (Although if youre still craving a Subway brekkie, take a trip north of the border to Canada, which saw four new breakfast items added to menus in 2024.)
Have you ever gone to Subway to get that delicious oven-roasted chicken sandwich only to find that it wasn’t on the menu anymore? You’re not the only one! Many Subway fans are wondering what happened to this once-popular protein option that dropped off without any warning.
As a food blogger who’s been following fast food trends for years I’ve dug deep into this mystery to find out exactly why Subway discontinued their oven roasted chicken breast. The answer involves menu refreshes operational efficiency, and maybe even a bit of controversy!
The Sudden Disappearance
Around 2021, Subway customers began to notice something odd: the oven-roasted chicken breast option was missing from menus in some places. Many people weren’t sure if the change was limited to their local franchise or if it was a decision made by the whole company.
On Reddit, people were asking, “Did Subway remove oven-roasted chicken breast?” as they tried to figure out if this was happening everywhere. Yes, it was! The popular protein option was no longer on Subway menus across the country, leaving many sandwich lovers confused and upset.
What’s weird is that Subway never made an official announcement about removing this item. They just… did it. Talk about ghosting your customers!
The Official Reasons: Streamlining and “Eat Fresh Refresh”
While Subway hasn’t made specific public statements about why they removed the oven roasted chicken breast, we can piece together several likely reasons based on their broader business strategy during that time:
1. The “Eat Fresh Refresh” Campaign
In 2021, Subway launched a major brand revitalization effort called the “Eat Fresh Refresh” which involved:
- Overhauling their menu with new items
- Improving ingredient quality
- Modernizing their restaurants
- Simplifying operations
This refresh was a strategic move to address criticism about processed ingredients and perceived lack of freshness that had been hurting Subway’s market share. The oven roasted chicken breast likely didn’t fit into this new vision for some reason.
2. Simplifying Kitchen Operations
One of the biggest motivations appears to be operational efficiency. According to industry analysis:
- The oven roasted chicken required more complex preparation compared to other proteins
- It potentially increased wait times for customers
- It added complexity to kitchen operations
- It created higher labor costs
By removing items that required special preparation methods, Subway could improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. As someone who’s worked in food service before, I can tell you that even small menu simplifications can make a HUGE difference in how smoothly a restaurant runs!
3. Focusing on More Popular Options
Business is business, and Subway likely found that the oven roasted chicken breast wasn’t performing as well as other protein options. While some customers loved it, the overall demand may not have justified keeping it on the menu.
Instead, they chose to focus on promoting other options like:
- Rotisserie-style chicken (which has a different flavor profile)
- Steak
- Turkey
- Various plant-based alternatives
The Controversial Theory: Was Quality an Issue?
Here’s where things get interesting! Some people believe there might be another reason behind the discontinuation: a controversial 2017 CBC News Marketplace study.
It was said in this study that Subway’s chicken was only about 50% real chicken. “Ouch!” Subway strongly denied these claims, saying, “Our chicken is 100% white meat with seasonings, marinated, and delivered to our stores as a finished, cooked product.” “.
Subway didn’t just deny the claims – they filed a $210 million defamation lawsuit against CBC News! The case was initially dismissed, but as of 2021, an Ontario Court of Appeal allowed the lawsuit to proceed.
While we can’t know for sure if this controversy played a role in the decision to discontinue the oven roasted chicken breast, it’s certainly an interesting coincidence that it disappeared a few years after this high-profile dispute.
What Replaced the Oven Roasted Chicken?
While the classic oven roasted chicken breast is gone, Subway didn’t leave chicken lovers completely hanging. They’ve introduced or continued to promote other chicken options as part of their menu refresh:
- Rotisserie-Style Chicken – This has a different flavor profile and preparation method
- Chicken Teriyaki – Still available on most menus
- The Subway Series – A new menu launched with dedicated chicken sandwich options
The Subway Series menu is divided into four categories (Cheesesteaks, Italianos, Chicken, and Clubs) with three sandwiches in each category. This new approach lets customers order “by name and number” rather than building their own sandwich from scratch every time.
According to Subway North America President Trevor Haynes, the company has been hitting “record sales” following these changes, suggesting that the overall strategy might be working despite disappointing some oven roasted chicken fans.
Will Oven Roasted Chicken Ever Come Back?
I wish I had better news for you oven roasted chicken lovers, but the chances of seeing this exact item return to Subway’s menu seem slim. Here’s why:
- The operational efficiency gained by removing it is significant
- Subway hasn’t indicated any plans to bring it back
- The company seems focused on their new menu direction
However, fast food chains are known for bringing back popular items when there’s enough customer demand. Remember when Taco Bell brought back the Mexican Pizza after fans created petitions? Never say never!
If Subway did bring back oven roasted chicken, it would likely be with a revised recipe or preparation method that better aligns with their new operational model and ingredient standards.
How to Cope With the Loss of Your Favorite Sub
If you’re still mourning the loss of the oven roasted chicken breast sub, here are some suggestions to help you move on (or at least find a decent alternative):
Try These Subway Alternatives:
- Order the rotisserie-style chicken with similar toppings
- Customize a turkey sub with similar seasonings
- Experiment with different sauce combinations to recreate the flavor profile
Look Beyond Subway:
- Local sandwich shops often have fresh-roasted chicken options
- Try making your own at home (it’s easier than you think!)
- Check out other chains like Jersey Mike’s or Firehouse Subs for roasted chicken options
The Bigger Picture: Fast Food Menu Changes
The disappearance of Subway’s oven roasted chicken breast isn’t an isolated incident. Fast food chains regularly evaluate their menus and make tough decisions about what stays and what goes.
These decisions typically consider:
- Sales data
- Customer feedback
- Market trends
- Ingredient costs
- Operational efficiency
- Brand image alignment
Sometimes our favorite items become casualties of these business decisions. Remember McDonald’s Arch Deluxe? Taco Bell’s Enchirito? Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Nuggets (which did eventually return)? The fast food landscape is constantly evolving.
The Bottom Line
While Subway never made an official announcement about why they discontinued their oven roasted chicken breast, it appears to be part of a larger strategic shift toward operational efficiency, menu simplification, and brand revitalization.
The company is focusing on their Subway Series and other menu items that they believe better reflect their “Eat Fresh” philosophy while also being more efficient to prepare and serve.
Is it disappointing for oven roasted chicken fans? Absolutely! But in the competitive world of fast food, these kinds of changes are inevitable as companies try to stay relevant and profitable.
And hey, if enough of us make noise about it, maybe – just maybe – Subway will consider bringing it back someday. A chicken lover can dream, right?
Have you noticed other fast food items disappearing lately? I’m always on the lookout for the next fast food mystery to solve! Drop me a comment with your fast food disappearance stories.
Naturally Pit-Smoked Brisket Sandwich
Looking to muscle in on the space reserved for authentic BBQ and BBQ-style sandwiches, Subway ventured into brisket territory with a limited-time release of the Naturally Pit-Smoked Brisket Sandwich. The fast-food chain tried to impress upon discerning customers that this was the real deal, with the brisket smoked for 13 hours to achieve its complex flavor. (For the record, briskets can take anywhere from 15-24 hours to smoke properly. Even more, they said that real pit-masters had been hired to help them get the right taste, but the public was never told the names of these pit-masters. Finishing the sandwich were barbecue sauce and cheese. Advertisement.
Unfortunately, not all customers appreciated the effort, with NYC BBQ founder Sean Ludwig calling the sandwich “a disgrace to BBQ.” Ouch. The sandwich was only a limited release when it appeared in 2019 and has never made a return to restaurant menus.
Three versions of the Jalapeño Cheddar Bread were made before Subway decided it was ready to be added to the bread menu. It became semi-permanent in 2014 and has been there ever since. (It had previously appeared in 2003 and 2007. At first, it was only supposed to be available for six weeks before Subway pulled it again. Then, finally, in 2019, it reappeared, this time as the suggested vehicle for the Southwest Chipotle Chicken Club sandwich. Advertisement.
Unfortunately, the return of the Jalapeño Cheddar Bread was not meant to be: Stores began quietly removing the loaves from their locations. Despite petitions to bring the bread back, perhaps its rollercoaster history is one of the reasons it hasnt made a permanent return: In a Mashed poll, 37% of respondents said the Jalapeño Cheddar Bread was the one loaf they would never order at the sandwich chain. Spicy bread does still have some fans, though: In October 2024, Subway introduced its new Ghost Pepper Bread alongside two fiery sandwich flavors.
Fritos Chicken Enchilada Melt Sandwich
Sure, you could have chips on the side of your sandwich, but adding this crunchy snack food directly into your sandwich is a great way to bring texture and flavor. Subway saw the genius behind this move when they created their Fritos Chicken Enchilada Melt. The sandwich featured pulled chicken, enchilada sauce, and Fritos corn chips, plus whatever other toppings the customer might want to add. Introduced to menus in 2014, it faced stiff competition from other fast-food heavyweights. That same year, Taco Bell revealed its own Frito-Lay creation: The Doritos Locos Taco, which became the restaurant chains most popular product ever. Advertisement
It seemed that Subway — which had started the sandwich with a bang — ended it with a whimper. After its limited-edition release, it has never returned to Subway menus, despite major pushes from passionate fans. Theres even an account on X dedicated to calling for the return of the Fritos Chicken Enchilada Melt to Subway stores.
Once upon a time, Subway customers could visit one of the restaurants locations and order a sandwich with oven-roasted chicken breast. It was a perfectly shaped fillet with grill marks that let customers know what they were eating was wholesome, natural, and real. Or so they thought. Advertisement
In a 2017 study conducted by CBC Marketplace, DNA researchers allegedly discovered that the oven-roasted chicken breast actually only contained about 53.6% chicken DNA. The rest of the “chicken” was said to be soy protein. Naturally, Subway cried “fowl” at this so-called discovery and sued for defamation, to the tune of $210 million. The suit was thrown out (though in 2021 the Ontario Court of Appeal gave the lawsuit a green light), but Subway wasnt satisfied. Instead, they sent their chicken to two independent labs to verify its contents, which revealed that the chicken was almost entirely chicken, with less than 1% accounting for soy protein, spices, etc. Nonetheless, the damage was done and Subway quietly removed the oven-roasted chicken breast from store menus in 2022. Advertisement
Subway is suing the CBC for claiming its oven-roasted chicken is only 53.6% chicken
FAQ
Did subway remove oven roasted chicken?
Nonetheless, the damage was done and Subway quietly removed the oven-roasted chicken breast from store menus in 2022. A former seasonal menu item, the Orchard Chicken Salad Sandwich from Subway featured apples, dried cranberries, and raisins mixed in with your standard creamy chicken salad for a bite that was sweet, tangy, crunchy, and juicy.
Is subway still selling oven roasted chicken breast?
Is Subway No longer selling Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Anymore ? No. To the best of my knowledge it is no longer a thing. Yes and no, it’s no longer a required item, so it’s up to the owner of the subway if they will be selling it or not.
Does subventory still have oven roasted chicken?
According to my knowledge, per SubVentory’s notifaction, in my location Oven Roasted Chicken has been discontinued. no. it’s weird. I still have it in Littleton, CO. Great job, Subway Trenton, Ohio! You no longer have a whole chicken breast in your chicken breast sandwich. Was and will be a deal breaker for my wife and I.
Will subway replace oven roasted chicken with a more popular protein option?
People are looking for different kinds of protein as dietary trends change. Subway may have decided to replace the oven-roasted chicken with a more popular or trendy protein option.
Why is oven roasted chicken no longer available?
The popular sandwich chain had been offering the oven-roasted chicken as a healthier protein option for their subs, but now it is no longer available. There are a few reasons behind this move, including menu simplification, changing consumer preferences, and supplier issues.
Why did subway stop serving chicken breast in September 2022?
Throughout the month of September 2022, Subway had been dealing with a handful of supply chain issues, leading it to temporarily stop serving its popular Italian herb and cheese bread. However, that couldn’t be said for its chicken breast. In fact, some Redditors noticed that it was missing in 2021.
Did Subway do away with oven roasted chicken?
The sandwich chain no longer offers oven roasted chicken breast, and people are only finding out now, months later.
Does Subway have the oven roasted chicken breast?
The Oven Roasted Chicken you love is piled high atop freshly baked bread with your favorite toppings from spicy jalapenos to crisp green peppers.
What happened to Subway’s chicken breast?
Subway has officially discontinued roasted chicken.
What is the chicken lawsuit with Subway?
The Nov. 8 lawsuit relies on testing by a marine biologist of 20 tuna samples taken from 20 Subway restaurants in southern California. It said 19 samples had “no detectable tuna DNA sequences,” while all 20 contained detectable chicken DNA, 11 contained pork DNA and 7 contained cattle DNA.