The Zaxbys menu in 2026 centers on Chicken Fingerz, wings, Zalads, sandwiches and shareable packs. Most solo meals cost about $7 to $14, but each franchise sets its own prices, so treat every figure on this page as an estimate.
Zaxbys now runs more than 1,000 restaurants, and the menu has grown with it. Dry rubs became permanent in February 2026, and a Chicken Bacon Ranch lineup followed in June. A NERDS milkshake joined them in late August.
This guide walks through every category on the board, from everyday plates to catering platters. Each section explains what you get, what it tends to cost, and which ordering details most menu pages skip entirely.
| Item | Typical price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Big Zax Snak Meal | $7 to $9 | 3 Fingerz, fries, toast, sauce, small drink |
| Chicken Finger Plate | $11 to $14 | Fingerz, fries, toast, slaw, sauce, drink |
| Signature Sandwich | $6 to $7 | Fried filet, pickles, Zax Sauce |
| Cobb Zalad | $11 to $12 | Chicken, bacon, egg, cheese, toast |
| Kidz Meal | $5 to $6 | Fingerz or grilled cheese, fries, drink |
| Milkshake | $5 to $6 | Hand-spun, rotating flavors |
Price ranges come from national averages that third-party menu trackers reported during 2026. Southeast stores often run a little lower, while big-city locations run higher. Only the Zaxbys app shows the exact number for your store.
Why Zaxbys Prices Differ From Store to Store
Zaxbys is a franchise system, so the owner of each restaurant sets the menu price. Two stores in the same county can charge different amounts for the same Plate, and neither one is wrong or outdated.
Rent, local wages and delivery fees all push the number up or down. A restaurant near a college campus or a highway exit often prices higher than a quiet neighborhood store a few miles away.
That is why a screenshot of a price from another city is almost useless. Open the app, choose your store, and read the number there before you decide what to order for yourself or a group.
Zaxby’s Specials
Zaxby’s specials are the limited-time items and app deals that change several times a year. In 2026 that means dry rubs, Southern Fried Shrimp, Giant Quesadillas, a Chicken Bacon Ranch lineup and rotating milkshakes. Availability depends on the store.
2026 Limited-Time Timeline
| Date | Item | Status |
|---|---|---|
| January 19 | Southern Fried Shrimp, ZaxSeas Surf & Turf, Giant Quesadillas | Limited time |
| February 23 | Dry rubs: Garlic Parmesan, Nashville Hot, Lemon Pepper | Permanent |
| February 23 | Peaches & Cream Milkshake | Ended April 26 |
| June 22 | Chicken Bacon Ranch lineup, Banana Pudding Milkshake | Summer run |
| August 31 | NERDS Strawberry Milkshake | Nationwide, limited |
The Dry Rub Lineup
Dry rubs are the biggest permanent change this year. Zaxbys added Garlic Parmesan and Nashville Hot beside Lemon Pepper, which the company called its most successful limited-time offer in 35 years. Rubs go on Fingerz and wings, and on fries.
Rubs also apply to the Wings & Things Meal and the Chicken Finger Plate. Rewards members could add a rub to crinkle fries starting in late February, though that fry add-on began as a limited-time perk for a short window.
Here is the practical difference. A sauced wing is wet, so the breading softens within minutes. A dry-rubbed piece stays crisper for longer, which matters if your drive takes fifteen minutes or you order delivery.
The Seafood Return
Southern Fried Shrimp came back on January 19 in a few formats. The shrimp meal has eight butterflied shrimp, Zax Sauce, Texas Toast, crinkle fries and a small drink. The Surf & Turf pairs shrimp with three Fingerz.
When the shrimp first ran in 2025, the meal was reported at $10.29 and the Surf & Turf at $12.99. Expect a similar band now, though a returning item can launch at a slightly different price.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Lineup
On June 22, Zaxbys gathered three earlier limited-time offers into one Chicken Bacon Ranch lineup that runs through summer, alongside the Banana Pudding Milkshake. Pricing varies by store, so check the app for current costs.
Because the lineup is seasonal, check the app before you plan a meal around it. A seasonal item can sell out at one store while another still has it, so a quick look saves a wasted drive.
Zaxby’s Chicken Fingerz & Wings Meal
Fingerz are the core of the menu: hand-breaded boneless chicken strips served with Zax Sauce and Texas Toast. Wings come boneless or traditional, tossed in sauce or dusted with a dry rub, and combos add fries and a drink.
Chicken Fingerz Meals and Plates
The naming trips up first-time visitors. A Snak is the small entry meal, while a Plate is larger and adds slaw. Counts differ by size, so read each description before you compare prices between stores.
| Meal | Fingerz | Sides | Est. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Zax Snak | 3 | Fries, toast, sauce, small drink | $7 to $9 |
| Chicken Finger Plate, 4 pc | 4 | Fries, toast, slaw, sauce, drink | $11 |
| Chicken Finger Plate, 5 pc | 5 | Fries, toast, slaw, sauce, drink | $12 to $13 |
| Chicken Finger Plate, 6 pc | 6 | Fries, toast, slaw, sauce, drink | $14 |
Older guides list the Big Zax Snak near $6, and that number still circulates. It is out of date. A price under $7 now usually points to an app reward or a local promotion, not the standard board price.
Per-piece value tells a different story from the sticker. The 6-piece Plate costs the least per Finger, but the Snak costs the least overall, so your appetite decides which one is the better deal for you.
Boneless and Traditional Wings
Boneless wings are breaded chicken pieces tossed in sauce, while traditional wings are bone-in. While Boneless costs less per piece and eats more like a nugget. Traditional gives you skin, bone and a messier, more classic wing experience.
| Order | Est. price |
|---|---|
| Boneless Wings, 5 pc | $7 to $8 |
| Boneless Wings, 10 pc | $12 |
| Traditional Wings, 5 pc | $9 |
| Traditional Wings, 10 pc | $13 to $14 |
| Traditional Wings, 20 pc | $25 |
Larger wing orders often let you pick more than one sauce. A split order is the easiest way to find which flavor you actually like before you commit to a full ten pieces of one kind.
Wings & Things
Wings & Things mixes wings with two Fingerz, fries and toast, so it suits anyone who cannot pick just one. Estimated prices run about $12 for the boneless five-piece and about $15 for the boneless ten-piece.
Choose the larger count only if you plan to share. Cold boneless wings reheat poorly in a microwave, while an air fryer brings the crunch back far better and takes only a few minutes of time.
Zaxby’s Chicken Sandwiches
The sandwich lineup starts with the Signature Sandwich: a breaded chicken filet with thick pickle chips and Zax Sauce on a buttery toasted bun. Spicy, buffalo-tossed, bacon ranch and grilled versions sit above it in price.
| Sandwich | Key toppings | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Signature | Pickles, Zax Sauce | $6.49 |
| Spicy Signature | Spicy breading, pickles | $6.79 |
| Kickin’ Chicken | Tongue Torch, pickles, ranch | $7.49 |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch | Bacon, ranch, lettuce, tomato | $7.99 |
| Grilled Chicken | Lettuce, tomato, honey mustard | $7.49 |
Sandwich-only prices look low, but the meal adds fries and a drink and usually lands between $9 and $11. Ordering the sandwich alone is the cheapest way to try the chicken, since the filet matches the one in the combos.
Another smart move is pairing a sandwich with a side of Fingerz instead of buying a full meal. You taste two kinds of chicken and skip the large fry that often goes uneaten at the table.
Zaxby’s Zalads®
Zaxby’s spells salads with a Z, and these are meal-sized: chicken over greens with toppings, dressing and Texas Toast. You can usually choose fried or grilled chicken, and that choice changes the calories far more than the dressing does.
| Zalad | Highlights | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Cobb | Bacon, egg, cheese, tomatoes, croutons | $11.99 |
| House | Cheese, egg, tomatoes, croutons | $10.49 |
| Buffalo Chicken | Buffalo chicken, bleu cheese | $11.99 |
| Caesar | Romaine, parmesan, croutons | $10.99 |
| Garden | No chicken, vegetarian toppings | $8.49 |
The Asian Zensation Zalad became a permanent item in 2025. It uses a citrus vinaigrette and arrives with a vegetarian egg roll. A shrimp version ran at about $11.59 on average during the 2025 seafood promotion.
Most people accept ranch by default, but dressing is where a Zalad quietly gains calories. Ask for it on the side and use only half of it. You still taste it, and you control the total.
Sides, Fingerz™, Wings & Extras
Sides at Zaxbys are simple. Crinkle fries come with nearly every meal, Texas Toast is the signature starch, and slaw rides along with the Plates. Cheddar bites and fried pickles fill the snack slots, with egg rolls nearby.
| Side or extra | Est. price |
|---|---|
| Crinkle Fries, regular | $3.49 |
| Crinkle Fries, large | $4.49 |
| Loaded Fries | $5.49 |
| Cole Slaw | $2.99 |
| Cheddar Bites | $4.99 |
| Fried White Cheddar Bites | $4.99 |
| Fried Pickles | $4.49 |
| Egg Roll | $2.49 |
One tracker says Fried White Cheddar Bites moved onto the permanent menu after a limited run. Because only a single source reported it, confirm the item in your app before you drive over for it.
Extra Fingerz and wings can be bought without a meal, which is the best way to feed a group on a budget. Buy one large fry for the table, then add Fingerz by the piece.
Kids Meals
The Kidz Meal comes with two Fingerz or a grilled cheese, fries, a kids drink and a small treat, at roughly $5.99. It is sized for children, though many adults with a small appetite find it enough.
Grilled cheese is the main vegetarian option for children. It rides on Texas Toast, which gives it a more diner-style feel than a standard sandwich and keeps picky eaters happy at the table without any fuss.
Ordering one Kidz Meal for yourself can cost less than a Plate, if the store allows it. You lose the slaw and the larger count of Fingerz, but you also avoid the heavy calorie load.
Zaxby’s Treats
Dessert is short and sweet. Warm chocolate chip cookies and fudge brownies run near $2.49, while hand-spun milkshakes cost about $5.49 and rotate through limited-time flavors every season, so the shake menu rarely looks the same twice.
| Treat | Est. price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | $2.49 | Warm |
| Fudge Brownie | $2.49 | Single piece |
| Classic Milkshake | $5.49 | Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry |
| NERDS Strawberry Milkshake | $5 to $6 | Limited, nationwide from Aug 31 |
| Banana Pudding Milkshake | $5 to $6 | Summer run |
The NERDS shake blends Original NERDS candy into a strawberry base, then adds whipped cream, gummy clusters, rainbow NERDS and a cherry. It started in select markets in 2025 and went nationwide on August 31, 2026.
Seasonal shakes tend to leave without much warning, and the end date is not a guarantee. If one catches your eye, order it early in the promotion, since a limited-time item can disappear at stores that sell through their supply.
Sauces & Dressings
Sauce is the brand’s identity. Zax Sauce comes with Fingerz meals, and wings take a sauce from a heat ladder running from mild to very hot. Most sauces are free with a meal, and extra cups cost a small fee.
The Heat Ladder
| Sauce | Heat | Best on |
|---|---|---|
| Zax Sauce | None | Fingerz, fries, toast |
| Honey Mustard | None | Fingerz, sandwiches |
| Teriyaki | None | Wings |
| Wimpy | Mild | Boneless wings |
| Hot Honey Mustard | Mild to medium | Fingerz, wings |
| Tongue Torch | Medium to hot | Wings, sandwiches |
| Insane | Extra hot | Traditional wings |
| Nuclear | Very hot | Limited windows |
Zax Sauce is a smoky, peppery dip that many describe as a cross between ranch and a sweet dressing. At many stores it is the one sauce sold in retail bottles, so you can take the flavor home.
Ranch and bleu cheese sit on the cooler side of the board, next to the other Zalad dressings. Citrus vinaigrette appears with the Asian Zensation Zalad, and ranch is the default on most other salads at the restaurant.
Mixing sauces is a simple trick worth trying. Ask for one sauce on the wings and a second on the side, so you can dip between heat and sweetness without committing the whole order to one flavor.
Zax Packz
Zax Packz are bundled meals for two or more people. The Zax Pack for Two launched with eight Fingerz, two fries, two Texas Toast slices, two Zax Sauces and two large drinks, starting at $14.99 at launch.
Family Packs have been reported to start around $24.99, and they scale up with extra Fingerz, sides and drinks. Those figures come from earlier listings, so assume a modest increase at most stores in 2026.
The per-person math is where packs can win. A Pack for Two often costs less per head than two separate Snak meals, and the bundle includes larger drinks. The catch is fewer sauce and side choices.
If you want a different sauce for each person, order the Pack and add single sauce cups. That keeps most of the savings and still lets everyone dip the way they like best, even when tastes differ.
Zaxby’s Drinks
Drinks are standard fast-food fare: fountain soda, sweet tea, unsweetened tea, lemonade and bottled water. Regular sizes cost about $2.49, large sizes about $2.99, and bottled water about $1.99 at most stores, based on tracker averages.
Sweet tea is the Southern staple, and some locations offer refills in the dining room. Ask your store, because refill policy depends on the owner and can differ even between neighboring restaurants in the same town.
Water is the cheapest upgrade of all. Skipping the drink in a combo may not lower the price, so take the full meal and ask for water if you would rather not have soda with it.
Zaxby’s Platters
Platters are catering trays of Fingerz and wings built for office lunches and family events. They are ordered ahead through the Zaxbys website or app, and pricing depends on tray size and the store that fills it.
Catering menus differ by location, so confirm contents and servings when you order. A simple planning rule of thumb is about four to five Fingerz per adult when the table has few other sides to share.
Order at least a day ahead for large trays and pick a pickup time about fifteen minutes before your event. Fried chicken holds heat in a tray for a limited time, so do not collect it early.
Ask the store to separate sauces by type when you place a catering order. Zax Sauce is the signature dip, so request extra cups of it and fewer of the hotter options for adventurous eaters.
Zalad® Platters
Zalad Platters scale up the salad idea for groups: greens, chicken and toppings in a shareable tray, usually with dressings on the side. They suit office meetings where some guests want a lighter plate than fried chicken.
Ask for grilled and fried chicken in separate portions when the store allows it. That one choice lets half the room eat lighter while the other half takes the classic fried option at the same event.
Keep dressings separate until serving time. Greens dressed in advance wilt within the hour, and a tray left out for a long event turns soggy fast, which leaves late arrivals with a sad plate of lettuce.
Zaxby’s Boxed Lunches
Boxed lunches package one meal per person, which makes them handy for training sessions and school events. Each box may pair an entree with a side and a treat, though contents vary by store and season.
The big advantage is that nobody needs serving tools or waits in a line at the tray. Each guest takes a box, and matching dietary needs is easy when you label every order by name.
For mixed groups, ask whether Garden Zalad boxes are available for vegetarians. A single missing option at a team lunch can leave a guest with only sides to eat, and that is easy to avoid.
Sides, Desserts, Sauces & Drinks
Catering add-ons usually mirror the regular menu: large sides, cookies and brownies, extra sauce cups and drinks. These extras are the cheapest way to round out a tray after the chicken is chosen and counted by headcount.
| Add-on | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Extra Zax Sauce cups | Fingerz run out of sauce first |
| Texas Toast | Fills out a tray cheaply |
| Cookies and brownies | Simple dessert, easy to portion |
| Bottled water | Quick drink for large groups |
Count sauce cups at about two per person for a Fingerz crowd. A guest without enough sauce often leaves chicken uneaten, which wastes part of the order you paid for and disappoints the whole group.
Zaxbys Menu with Prices PDF, Salads, Drinks, Allergen, Gluten-Free & More Options
Zaxbys does not publish one permanent price PDF, because prices differ by store. Official nutrition and allergen details live on the Zaxbys website, and the ordering app shows your local price. Third-party PDFs are often outdated.
If you want a printable menu, open the app, select your store and screenshot the category you need. That gives you correct local prices and avoids the stale numbers common in downloadable files floating around online.
Allergen and Gluten Notes
Breaded chicken contains wheat, and the breading, Texas Toast and croutons are gluten sources. Cross-contact is possible in any kitchen that fries and assembles many items. Zaxbys publishes allergen information online, and that chart is the source to trust.
Third-party sites sometimes claim a specific frying oil or a safe fryer arrangement. Treat those statements as unverified. For a serious allergy, read the official chart and speak with the manager at your own location.
Vegetarian Options
Vegetarian choices are limited but real. The Garden Zalad has no chicken, and fries, slaw, cheddar bites, fried pickles and Texas Toast are meat-free ingredients. Fried items may share fryers with chicken, so strict vegetarians should ask the store.
How to Order From Zaxbys
You can order in the restaurant, at the drive-thru, through the Zaxbys app, on the website or through delivery apps. The app is usually the best choice because it shows real local prices and rewards.
- Download the Zaxbys app and create a Zax Rewardz account.
- Pick your store and choose pickup or delivery.
- Select your meal, sauce and drink.
- Apply any reward or offer before you pay.
- Confirm the pickup time and check the bag when you collect it.
Rewards members earn points on purchases and receive offers such as buy-one-get-one meal deals. Past promotions required a Zax Rewardz account and an app order or a QR code scan at checkout, so read each offer’s terms.
Delivery apps can list higher menu prices than the store itself, and they add fees. If the restaurant is close, a pickup order in the Zaxbys app often costs less than the same food on a delivery app.
Zaxbys Terms Worth Knowing
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fingerz | Hand-breaded boneless chicken strips |
| Zalad | Meal-sized salad topped with chicken |
| Snak | Small entry-level combo meal |
| Plate | Larger meal that adds slaw |
| Dry rub | Seasoning dusted on chicken or fries instead of a wet sauce |
| Zax Rewardz | The free loyalty program in the app |
Before you leave the lot, check the bag for sauces. A Fingerz or wing order feels incomplete without them, and fixing it at the counter is far easier than driving back to the restaurant later.
Healthy Options At Zaxbys Menu
Zaxbys is built on fried chicken, so no menu item is truly diet food. Still, the better choices are clear: grilled chicken, Zalads with dressing on the side and a smaller Snak meal instead of a large Plate.
| Choice | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Grilled chicken Zalad | Cuts fried breading |
| Garden Zalad | No chicken, lowest calories |
| Big Zax Snak instead of a Plate | Smaller portion |
| Dressing on the side | Controls added fat |
| Water instead of soda | Removes sugar from the meal |
Menu trackers estimate the Garden Zalad near 350 calories and a Cobb with grilled chicken near 480. They put a fried Cobb near 770 and a large Plate near 1,700. Treat these as rough, and check the official nutrition calculator.
Sodium is the hidden problem in fried chicken meals. An older nutrition listing for the Big Zax Snak showed more than 2,000 mg of sodium, which is close to a full day’s limit for many adults.
Swapping fries for slaw may trim calories a little. The larger savings come from skipping extra sauce cups, since Zax Sauce and ranch are rich, and from choosing grilled chicken over fried whenever the item allows it.
Zaxby’s Hours in the USA
Most Zaxbys restaurants open around 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM and close between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Weekend nights often run an hour later. Hours are set by each franchise, so they vary by town.
| Day | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Friday and Saturday | 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM to 10:00 or 11:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
On holidays, many stores shorten their hours, and Christmas Eve closings often come around 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. No company-wide rule exists, so open the store locator on zaxbys.com for live hours before you go.
Drive-thru and lobby times can differ by a short margin at some stores. Kitchens may also begin to wind down late in the evening, so order well before closing if you want the full menu.
Conclusion
Zaxbys rewards a little planning. Learn the difference between a Snak and a Plate, then use the app for real local prices. Try the dry rubs and seasonal items before they rotate off the board.
Prices in this guide are estimates from 2026 trackers, and local stores set their own numbers. Check the Zaxbys app for the final price, allergen details and current offers before you place any order online or in person.
FAQs
What is Zaxbys new menu item?
The newest items are the NERDS Strawberry Milkshake (nationwide from August 31, 2026), the Chicken Bacon Ranch lineup (from June 22) and the dry rubs added permanently in February 2026.
Does Zaxbys have a $6 meal?
Not at standard board prices today. The Big Zax Snak once sold near $6 but now typically costs $7 to $9, so a $6 meal usually means an app reward or local deal.
What’s the best thing on Zaxbys menu?
The Chicken Finger Plate with Zax Sauce is the classic order, and the Lemon Pepper dry rub is the standout add-on since its 2025 debut.
What is the healthiest item on the Zaxbys menu?
A Zalad with grilled chicken and dressing on the side, or the Garden Zalad with no chicken, is the lightest choice based on third-party calorie estimates.
