'Hot Ones' spicy chicken strips now at stores nationwide; Hot Pockets collab coming soon
Consumers can choose from spicy garlic and smoky habanero wings that mimic what celebrities eat on the popular show. Up next, 'Hot Ones' Hot Pockets.
Gabe Hauari
Fans of the popular YouTube talk show "Hot Ones" now have a new way to experience all that heat at home.
The show has partnered with food companies John Soules Foods and FoodStory Brands to create spicy chicken strips with proprietary seasonings that "match the authentic 'Hot Ones' sauces made famous on the show," according to a news release.
The chicken strips come in two flavors: Spicy Garlic, which matches the Classic Garlic Fresno sauce from the show; and Smoky Habanero, which matches the Los Calientes Rojos sauce.
Both flavors can be found in the freezer aisle at Kroger stores across the country, the news release said. Click here to find a store near you.
Saucy fans
"First We Feast is heating up the freezer aisle with 'Hot Ones' spicy chicken strips — and we can't wait for fans to take a bite," said First We Feast creator and general manager Chris Schonberger in the news release.
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"Fans have loved saucing their chicken with our famous hot sauces, but now we're excited to deliver the 'Hot Ones' experience directly on the chicken strip in one convenient package," he said.
Complex Media is the parent company of First We Feast, which is a "food, drink and pop culture-focused online destination," according to their website.
It is home to popular shows including "Hot Ones," "The Burger Show," and "Feast Mansion."
"Hot Ones" premiered on YouTube in 2015. The premise of the show involves host Sean Evans interviewing celebrities from Melissa McCarthy to Jennifer Lawrence while eating increasingly spicier chicken wings.
As of August, the show has aired 296 episodes spanning 21 seasons. "Hot Ones" has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding entertainment talk show, and Evans has been nominated for his hosting.
The show inspired a spin-off TV game show, "Hot Ones: The Game Show," in 2020, in which contestants compete against one another for a chance to win $25,000.
'Hot Ones' Hot Pockets coming soon
The popular YouTube show is also teaming up with Hot Pockets to create the hottest Hot Pocket ever, according to a news release.
The release says the new item is in response "to the increasing demand for bold and spicy experiences."
The collaboration includes four new spicy Hot Pockets recipes with authentic "Hot Ones" hot sauces. The flavors are:
- Spicy Garlic Chicken & Bacon – features "Hot Ones" The Classic Garlic Fresno
- Smoky Green Chile Cheesesteak – features "Hot Ones" Los Calientes Verde
- Hot Habanero Pepperoni & Sausage – features "Hot Ones" Los Calientes Rojo
- Fiery Hot Pepperoni – features "Hot Ones" The Last Dab Apollo
To celebrate the collaboration, Hot Pockets will make an "unexpectedly hot appearance" on an episode of "Hot Ones" in October.
The Spicy Garlic Chicken & Bacon, Smoky Green Chile Cheesesteak and Hot Habanero Pepperoni & Sausage flavors will be available in retailers nationwide beginning in September.
The Fiery Hot Pepperoni flavor will be exclusively available via GoPuff.