Bold, spicy flavor profiles are expected to be an area of opportunity for fast-food chains in 2025, especially those with an international or Asian-inspired influence.

Wingstop recently launched its new, limited-time-only Sweet Chili Glaze sauce, which the chain described as a "sweet and spicy fusion" of sweet chili, rich hoisin, and red chili sauce.

Wingstop's senior director of culinary, Larry Bellah, told Business Insider that the new sauce was developed in Thailand and Singapore before being launched nationwide in the US.

The menu item reflects a larger trend of Gen Z customers being more open to experimenting with fusion and more diverse flavor profiles.

The Rubix report found that 87% of Gen Z consumers wanted to see more global flavors at chain restaurants, with a special interest in flavors inspired by Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisines.

Gen Z is bringing the heat, but with a sweet touch.

Wingstop said its hot honey rub is one of its most popular flavors, but it isn't the only chain offering sweet and spicy flavors on menus.

Wendy's told BI that its Spicy Chicken Nuggets are especially popular among Gen Z customers, and Popeyes also launched sweet and spicy boneless wings last year.

It doesn't stop there. Taco Bell announced at its Live Más Live event this month that it is planning to collaborate with Mike's Hot Honey on a new version of its Diablo sauce in the coming year.

KFC also recently partnered with Mike's Hot Honey for a new chicken sandwich, proving that chains are really leaning into all things sweet and spicy in 2025.

Taco Bell's chief marketing officer, Taylor Montgomery, said it best in a recent interview with BI: "Crispy chicken's hot."

After the chain released chicken nuggets in December, they sold out before some fans were able to try them. However, the chain said nuggets will be returning to menus twice in the coming year.

"Tenders are still really relevant. Nuggets are really relevant," Montgomery said. "But, I think the brands that are winning have a unique point of view and are doing it their way."

He said Taco Bell's offerings will include crispy chicken nuggets and a crispy chicken taco burrito, both of which will be hitting menus this year.

Multiple fast-food chains are leaning into chicken to capture Gen Z's attention.

Raising Cane's — a chain that notably only sells chicken tenders and a few sides like coleslaw and Texas toast — is now one of the fastest-growing fast-food brands in the country.

McDonald's is also poised to bring back its popular chicken strips and chicken "snack wraps" in 2025 after fans have been begging for them for years.

From signature sauces like Cane's Sauce and Chick-fil-A sauce to spicy ranch, barbecue, and other varieties, chains are offering dippable, dunkable menu items to complement Gen Z's passion for sauce.

Montgomery described the sauce trend among Gen Z consumers as "permissible exploration."

"You don't have to fully commit to a flavor profile that's different, but you can dunk something into it, or dip something in it," he said. "America's getting more diverse, and our consumers' tastes are changing. I think sauces are enabling that."

Taco Bell's chief food innovation officer, Liz Matthews, added, "Consumers are really looking for adventure on their food, but they want to have kind of a safe adventure. People are really gravitating toward sauces and different flavors from around the world."

At Taco Bell's Live Más Live, the chain identified its beverage menu as an area of focus and opportunity this year.

It highlighted new launches like the new Mountain Dew Baja Midnight, a twist on its Baja Blast soda, and its new Live Más Café concept, which currently operates one location in Chula Vista, California.

Beverages are an area for other chains to experiment with limited-time offerings and niche trends, such as the "dirty soda" trend that popped up over the summer and was subsequently added to Del Taco and Sonic menus.

Innovation may be a huge trend for 2025, but so is nostalgia.

In November, Taco Bell leaned into the trend with its "Decades" menu, which featured five previously discontinued items.

The menu included the Tostada from the original 1960s menu, the Green Sauce Burrito from the '70s, the Meximelt from the '80s, the '90s-era Gordita Supreme, and the Caramel Apple Empanada of the 2000s.

"I just love the throwbacks because people have such an emotional connection with it," Matthews told BI. "Our brand is always going to do innovation. And I think we're always going to honor our past. Whether it's bringing something back, or do we make a tweak on something that hasn't been on the menu in a while? I think we're always going to do both."

Taco Bell isn't the only brand that has leaned into nostalgia.

Last year, Wendy's launched a collaboration with Paramount, which owns Nickelodeon, and "SpongeBob SquarePants," to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary with a limited-edition burger inspired by the Krabby Patty and a pineapple-flavored milkshake.

McDonald's also launched limited-edition cups inspired by iconic Happy Meal toys and its viral Grimace-themed shake, which paid homage to the character first introduced in the 1970s.

Wingstop's head chef, Larry Bellah, identified the nostalgia trend as one of his favorites in the industry in a recent conversation with BI, though the chain has yet to lean into it as a brand.

While nostalgia was a major trend in 2024, it's clear that it's not going anywhere.

Above all, as we enter 2025, every fast-food chain is focused on delivering value to customers.

"Consumers have become more discerning," Moody's Ratings analyst Michael Zuccaro told BI in November. "Value perception is a key driver. This is not just price but also experience-related factors such as convenience, speed, consistency, and accuracy."

Taco Bell's chief financial officer, Neil Manhas, said during the chain's consumer day, held during its Live Más Live event, that value is "critical" for the brand.

The so-called "value wars" are in full swing, as chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and Dunkin' all lean into meal deals and promotions to keep prices low for customers amid growing inflation and food prices.

"Value wars come and go. We believe that showing up for consumers every single day on value is something we've always done and we always will," Montgomery said. "But, I think, for us, it's about giving consumers more when a lot of the [other chains] sometimes are giving consumers less."

As people tighten their pocketbooks, chains are under more pressure than ever to keep prices low without sacrificing quality.