OREO and I have a pretty good working relationship: OREO releases a cookie, I write about how much I like it, repeat. Well, we might break that streak today. I’m about to tackle the first-ever sweet-and-savory OREO cookies; stay tuned for a follow-up review of both the Banana Pudding and Deep Fried OREO cookies as soon as I recover from this one. Let’s find out whether chicken & waffles belong in sandwich cookie form.
Do these chicken-flavored cookies qualify as vegetarian?
Yes. I reached out to OREO directly to verify that the “natural flavors” listed on the nutrition facts don’t conceal any undisclosed real meat ingredients. (For context, that’s legal and surprisingly common—McDonald’s French fries are a well-known example.) OREO confirmed that the cookies are 100% vegetarian, even if the packaging doesn’t spell it out. This is the first time the point mattered, and I expect future meat-flavored OREO variants to carry a note—though perhaps we can just skip that scenario entirely for now.
- OREO Chicken & Waffles Cookies Review
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From what I can tell without dismantling a cookie, this sandwich-style treat appears to be built in three layers. Waffle-flavored wafers create the outer shells, enclosing a pair of crème fillings—one maple syrup and one fried-chicken-flavored. But does the flavor hold up? Thanks to an early shipment from OREO, I’m about to find out.
Pros: There’s a lot to unpack here. To start with, the aroma when you tear open the package is telling: the scent is overwhelmingly waffles and maple, with only a touch of savory underneath all that morning-sweetness. It’s easy to imagine this being mistaken for a straightforward maple waffle sandwich cookie. I’m not advocating deception, but if you film someone fooled by it, I’d love to see the video.
As for the taste, it nails the concept. The bite reproduces fried chicken with waffles and syrup in a single cookie. OREO seems to have crafted the edible equivalent of Willy Wonka’s Thanksgiving dinner gum. I’ve never eaten a cookie that reminded me of a specific meal so vividly, but this one transported me back to a fantastic plate of chicken, waffles, and grilled watermelon I enjoyed at Not Watson’s in Knoxville in 2023…
Cons: That isn’t to say it edges out the best chicken & waffles I’ve had, but it does aim for that neighborhood. This cookie is bound to spark strong opinions. I personally enjoy the layered, somewhat discordant savory-and-sweet elements, while my partner called it the worst thing I’ve ever had her sample (a big statement) and it reinforced her vegetarian stance. Since sharing early bites with a select circle of family and friends, I’ve learned I’m in the minority in liking it.
