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Home » Meal of the Week » My Chicken Parmesan Sandwich On United Airlines Was A Pleasant Surprise
Meal of the WeekUnited Airlines

My Chicken Parmesan Sandwich On United Airlines Was A Pleasant Surprise

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 2, 2025August 2, 2025 17 Comments

a sandwich on a napkin

I tried the chicken parmesan sandwich on a recent United Airlines flight and found it to be surprisingly delicious… another win for United’s Bistro On Board menu in economy class.

Taste Test: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich On United Airlines

I was traveling from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (ORD) and upgrades simply do not clear any more on these hub-to-hub routes, even if you have top-tier status. If I’m traveling alone, I just book directly into first class, but since I was traveling with my kids we opted to stay in economy class. They are simply happy if a flight has a screen, and our flight was operated by an A321neo featuring United’s latest IFE system.

After leveling off, flight attendants began service and I looked over the menu before settling on the chicken parmesan sandwich.

Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
Italian breaded chicken cutlet with marinara sauce, provolone and fontina cheese and garlic aioli in a crispy ciabatta roll.

The cost was $11 or 1,300 miles. However, as a Premier 1K traveling in economy class, it was comped for (along with a cold brew coffee from illy…one of my favorite drinks in the United onboard line-up).

a brown bag with a white label on it next to a brown bag

As always, the ingredient list on anything United serves onboard is a mile long…but at least for this sandwich, I don’t see any particular ingredients that raise a big red flag.

a close up of a bag of food
Long ingredient list on United’s chicken parmesan sandwich…

I quite enjoyed the sandwich, though it was very messy. But knowing it would be messy, I took a couple of wipes from the flight attendant (offered during boarding) such that I could clean my hands after eating. I’d usually eat a sandwich like using a fork and knife, but that’s rather difficult when there is no plate…I wasn’t about to use the tray table as one.

a sandwich on a napkin next to a bag of food

a sandwich on a napkin

While I prefer the Tuscan caprese burger (the other hot menu option on the flight), this was pleasant and a substantial meal all by itself.

I am grateful that United offers hot options on flights over 1,190 miles in economy class…it makes the flight much more bearable and does not force me to eat something before the flight.

Have you tried United’s chicken sandwich? What did you think?


Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Southworst Airlines Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 1:14 pm

    “I’d usually eat a sandwich like using a fork and knife”. I do this too! I also eat my pizza and stuff like this! We’re not animals, we’re humans, so I make use of the tools on hand. Unless it’s an Animal-style fires or burger from IN-N-OUT.

  2. Remote Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 1:54 pm

    I had the chorizo breakfast tacos on a recent flight from Denver to Belize. I was surprised and quite impressed with quality. I don’t know if they can do that good with the free meals on long haul economy.

  3. Aaron Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 2:01 pm

    “does not force me to eat something before the flight”

    Yes…force you 😉

    Would say it would be the worth the price for someone who isn’t 1k and had to pay for it?

  4. bossa Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 7:19 pm

    I’m not a chemist or medical professional but I refuse to believe that there isn’t a least one of those {infinite} ingredients that isn’t harmful in some form to the human body.
    Just one look at the pic gives me all the sodium & saturated fat content [for a lifetime] I need to know !
    … lol

    • David Reply
      August 3, 2025 at 3:23 am

      Exactly my thought too. Probably tastes good but man the junk we’re putting in our bodies.

    • Aaron Reply
      August 3, 2025 at 11:26 am

      +1!!!
      Multiple seed oils, “enriched flour” with folic acid, and “modified food starch”!!!

  5. Emil Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 7:52 pm

    I like this one… so glad United decided to get rid of it this month for a pepperoni sub which I was NOT a fan of at all

  6. Maryland Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 8:22 pm

    A paper plate and compostable cutlery would go a long way to make this sandwich better. It seems the cost would be offset by the extra wipes and napkins required to enjoy it.

    • Aaron Reply
      August 3, 2025 at 11:42 am

      Yeah but let’s be honest, most buy-on-board food being served on airlines is going to feature ingredients like that…plus it isn’t like Matthew is eating this stuff on a daily basis.

      • Aaron Reply
        August 3, 2025 at 11:44 am

        Sorry, that comment was meant for Aaron+1!!!

  7. emercycrite Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 10:32 pm

    The great American obesity pandemic continues.

  8. Yiannis93117 Reply
    August 2, 2025 at 11:33 pm

    Oink oink ……. how about a nice chefs salad or something.

    • Dave Edwards Reply
      August 3, 2025 at 6:39 am

      How about allowing people to make their own life choices ass clown?

      You are fine with them cutting their junk off and claiming to be a “female”, but have a problem with eating a sandwich.

  9. PM Reply
    August 3, 2025 at 5:13 am

    1190 miles is a fair old distance, almost like a European transcon. It’s hard to believe that they’re unable to sell pre-ordered food [if not for a huge profit at least on a basically cost-neutral basis as an additional facility for Y pax] for flights that are longer than an hour or so. Having a connection between two such flights may easily mean going half a day without access to a half-decent meal.

  10. Dave Edwards Reply
    August 3, 2025 at 6:38 am

    Who the F puts Mayo on a Chicken Parm?

    It’s the most basic sandwich in the world, chicken, tomato sauce and mozz cheese, nothing more. Totally would ruin it.

    Why United, why???

    • Dave Edwards: The Ultimate Douchebag Reply
      August 3, 2025 at 7:08 am

      How about allowing people to make their own life choices ass clown?

      You are fine with them eating that sandwich, but have a problem with them eating it with Mayo.

      • This comes to mind Reply
        August 3, 2025 at 2:45 pm

        They could include a packet of mayo so those who want it could have it and those of us who find it disgusting could opt out.

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