The chicken tender sub may get most of the attention, but there is a lot more happening at the Publix deli than sandwiches.
Between hot-case favorites, ready-to-eat lunches, dips, soups and a few newer additions, some of the best finds are the ones shoppers walk right past. We dug through recent shopper recommendations, Publix’s newest deli releases and independent taste tests to find 12 worth knowing about.
1. Mardi Gras Rotisserie Chicken Has More Flavor Than the Usual Bird
Publix gives you several rotisserie options, but the Mardi Gras Rotisserie Chicken is the one we’d look for first.
Instead of the fairly neutral seasoning you get on many supermarket rotisserie chickens, this version goes much bolder. Think garlic, paprika, pepper and a little Cajun-style warmth.
A recent Tasting Table taste test put Mardi Gras at the top of 12 Publix prepared foods, particularly praising how much of the seasoning made its way beyond the skin and into the chicken itself.
That makes the leftovers much more useful too. Shred them into tacos, rice bowls, pasta or sandwiches the next day and you aren’t starting with bland chicken.
Try it when: You want the convenience of rotisserie chicken but you’re bored with plain rotisserie chicken.
2. The Fried Chicken Still Has a Loyal Following
If you’ve spent any time around Publix shoppers, you probably already know the fried chicken has fans.
Fresh from the fryer, the appeal is pretty straightforward: crunchy breading outside and juicy chicken underneath. A recent prepared-food taste test placed Publix fried chicken second only to the Mardi Gras rotisserie chicken.
Recent shopper discussions show a little more nuance, though. Some customers rave about a great fresh batch while others say quality can vary depending on the store and how long the chicken has been sitting.
Our move? Look for a fresh batch rather than grabbing the first box in the warmer.
And judging from a Publix deli employee discussion this weekend about orders for hundreds of pieces at a time, people are still buying plenty of it.
3. Buffalo-Style Chicken Breast Dip Is the Party Food People Keep Mentioning
This is exactly the type of Publix deli item that’s easy to overlook.
The Publix Deli Buffalo-Style Chicken Breast Dip combines chicken breast with Neufchâtel cheese, hot sauce, sour cream and other creamy ingredients. It’s sold refrigerated and can be heated in the microwave or oven.
More importantly, it keeps turning up when Publix shoppers talk about underrated store-brand foods. In one discussion asking which Publix products deserved more attention, Buffalo chicken dip was one of the most-upvoted deli suggestions.
Serve it with tortilla chips, celery or crackers and you have one less appetizer to make yourself.
Make it better: A little extra shredded cheese and chopped green onion on top before heating makes the container look considerably less store-bought.
And the deli case gets more interesting from here. Two of the next finds are easy to miss unless you already know what you’re looking for.
4. Cheddar Bacon Potato Bites Are the Hot-Case Sleeper
Ask for Tater Kegs and some Publix deli employees will know exactly what you mean.
Officially, shoppers commonly refer to them as Cheddar Bacon Potato Bites. They’re essentially oversized potato bites with the kind of cheese-and-bacon combination you’d expect from a loaded baked potato.
They’ve developed enough of a following that multiple shoppers immediately chimed in when they were mentioned in a recent Publix snack discussion. One deli employee even pointed out the in-store nickname.
They’re usually found around the hot food area rather than sitting beside the refrigerated sides, which may explain why people miss them.
Best move: Get them while they’re fresh and hot rather than trying to revive them several hours later.
5. Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Is One of the Better Quick Lunches
Publix’s hot soup station doesn’t get nearly the attention of the sub counter.
That might be a mistake.
The Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is thick, creamy and loaded enough with chicken, rice and vegetables that it eats more like lunch than a starter.
In a July taste test, it placed fifth among Publix prepared foods, with the reviewer specifically calling out the generous amount of chicken and rice and the balanced savory flavor. Publix locations also commonly rotate other soups such as chicken noodle, chicken tortilla and broccoli cheddar.
Pair a cup with half a sandwich or salad and you have an easy lunch without standing in the sub line.
6. Southern-Style Potato Salad Is Worth Grabbing With the Chicken
There are plenty of grocery-store potato salads that taste almost entirely like mayonnaise.
Publix’s Southern-Style Potato Salad has a little more going on.
The classic combination includes potatoes, mayo, hard-boiled egg, celery and pickle relish, giving you creamy, tangy and slightly sweet flavors in the same bite.
It was one of the better sides in a recent Publix prepared-food taste test, which singled out the balance between relish, mustard and mayonnaise.
Would we pretend it’s somebody’s secret family recipe? No.
But next to a box of fried chicken when you don’t feel like making sides, it makes plenty of sense.
7. Smoked Pulled Pork Is One of the Most Useful Foods in the Deli
This might be the item with the most dinner possibilities on the entire list.
Publix sells Smoked Pulled Pork from the deli without burying it under a heavy barbecue sauce. That means you can take it in whatever direction dinner needs to go.
Tasting Table’s recent Publix taste test placed it third overall, praising the noticeable smoke flavor and pointing out how easy it is to repurpose into other meals.
Use it for:
- Pulled pork sandwiches
- Tacos
- Loaded baked potatoes
- Mac and cheese
- Nachos
- Rice bowls
This is the deli find we’d grab when the question is less “What do I want for lunch?” and more “How can I avoid cooking tonight?”
The next few are especially useful when you need lunch, an appetizer or dinner without turning on the stove.
8. Baked Chicken Tenders Give the Famous Tenders a Different Spin
Publix chicken tenders are hardly a secret.
Baked Publix chicken tenders are another story.
Publix recently added Baked Chicken Tenders as an alternative to its classic fried version. The company says they’re available as a baked tender sub, in a Grab & Go chicken Caesar salad and as part of a baked tender meal for four.
That’s what makes this one interesting. It’s not a completely different product dreamed up for the sake of being new. Publix took one of its most recognizable deli foods and gave shoppers another way to order it.
If you like Publix tenders but don’t always want the heavy breading of the fried version, this is worth checking for.
9. Spicy Sausage Dip Is One of the Newer Deli Finds
The refrigerated dip case is becoming one of the more interesting corners of the Publix deli.
One newer addition is Publix Deli Spicy Sausage Dip, which Publix describes as combining spice, habanero Jack cheese and roasted red peppers.
This is the kind of thing we’d pick up for game day, movie night or any situation where opening a container sounds better than making an appetizer from scratch.
And if Buffalo chicken dip is already your automatic Publix purchase, this gives you something different to try.
Serve it with: Thick tortilla chips, toasted baguette slices or pretzel bites.
10. Chicken Caesar Salad Is More Filling Than It Looks
There are grab-and-go salads, and then there are salads that can actually get you through the afternoon.
Publix’s Chicken Caesar Salad falls closer to the second category.
A recent taste test called out the amount and quality of chicken along with generous Parmesan and croutons.
Publix also currently lets shoppers customize chicken tender salads with different cheeses, vegetables and condiments, including Buffalo sauce, ranch and hot honey.
So if you’re already standing at the deli deciding between a sandwich and salad, don’t assume the salad is the boring choice.
11. Hot Honey Chicken Tender Salad Turns a Pub Sub Favorite Into Lunch
This is one of the foods that helped convince us not to make this article entirely about old Publix staples.
The Hot Honey Chicken Tender Salad has been getting attention because it takes the chicken-tender formula people already associate with Pub Subs and moves it onto a loaded salad.
Recent Publix deli coverage specifically called out the Hot Honey Chicken Tender Salad as one of the deli’s trend-driven items.
Publix’s current ordering options also show hot honey available as a condiment on its chicken tender salads.
You still get the sweet-spicy chicken tender payoff, but with lettuce, vegetables and whatever toppings you want underneath.
Who should try it: Anyone whose usual order is a chicken tender sub but wants something different without abandoning the tenders entirely.
12. Cransational Chicken Salad Is an Easy Grab-and-Go Lunch
Chicken salad can get boring very quickly, which is why this variation earns the last spot.
Publix Cransational Chicken Salad mixes the savory chicken-salad base with dried cranberries, golden raisins and scallions, giving it a little sweetness and texture instead of making every bite taste identical.
It’s one of the deli products highlighted by a longtime Publix shopper in a 2026 roundup of the store’s best foods.
You can eat it straight from the container with crackers, stuff it into a croissant or put a scoop over greens.
It’s also exactly the kind of Publix item that doesn’t look particularly exciting sitting in the deli case — until it becomes something you start picking up every visit.
