Oreo's New Flavor Trio: One Winner, Two Misses, and a Public Vote

The August Drop and the 2027 Vote

Oreo is releasing three limited-edition flavors on August 24: Banana Pudding, Chicken & Waffles, and Deep Fried. Each package carries a suggested retail price of $5.49. Presale begins on the Oreo website on August 17. Alongside the launch, a consumer voting campaign will determine which of the three flavors gets added to the permanent wholesale rotation starting in 2027. The Banana Pudding cookie consists of the classic chocolate wafer with a double filling: one layer of vanilla creme and a thin yellow 'pudding' tier. Chicken & Waffles features a waffle-patterned cookie with a maple-flavored cream, while Deep Fried inverts the classic: a vanilla outer cookie with a chocolate cream center. The trio represents Oreo's latest foray into savory-adjacent territory, following prior limited runs like Thanksgiving Feast and dill pickle flavors. With the vote now open, Oreo is betting on fan feedback to decide the next permanent addition.

Deep Fried: A Fairground Favorite, Repackaged

The Deep Fried Oreo is the clear standout of the trio. It delivers the familiar chocolate flavor first, but from an unexpected source — the cream filling is chocolate, while the outer cookie is vanilla. The real surprise is the mouthfeel: a greasy coating that mimics the oil from an actual deep-fried fair snack. That intentional residue may put off some eaters, but for fans of carnival food it captures the experience accurately. Nutritionally, two cookies come to 180 calories, 115 milligrams of sodium, and 3.5 grams of saturated fat. That's the highest calorie count among the three new flavors, but it aligns with the indulgent premise. The cream alone, when tasted by itself, is creamy and bold, striking a balance between sweetness and the savory grease note. This is the flavor that feels like a full concept rather than a gimmick, and its success lies in executing a simple idea with enough specificity to transport the eater back to a Ferris wheel and a mid-August midway.

Chicken & Waffles: Maple Prominence, No Poultry

The Chicken & Waffles Oreo opens with a warm maple aroma that leans more autumn than summer. The waffle design on the wafer is a nice touch, and the overall sweetness is restrained compared to other Oreo offerings. But the advertised chicken flavor never materializes. There is no savory component, no hint of poultry or herbs. The name promises a hybrid that the cookie fails to deliver. For the two-cookie serving, expect 150 calories, 140 milligrams of sodium, and 2.5 grams of saturated fat. The sodium is the highest among the trio, but it doesn't translate to a salty taste. Eating the cream filling on its own is pleasant due to the maple, but the wafer provides a necessary textural contrast. Without any chicken essence, the flavor is simply maple-forward sweet, and the label reads as a missed opportunity. A truly integrated version might have included a tiny pinch of smoked paprika or a touch of chicken-broth powder in the creme.

Banana Pudding: A Two-Layer Sweetness That Overdoes It

Banana Pudding Oreos pack two cream layers: a standard vanilla filling and a thin yellow tier meant to evoke pudding. The initial bite is dominated by vanilla, with the banana flavor arriving only after a few chews. When it does come, it's an intensely sweet, imitation banana note that borders on cloying, and the sweetness ramps up so much that it leaves a tingle in the back of the throat. The lack of nuance is the core problem: adding layers of sugar to an already sweet dessert like banana pudding removes any potential balance. The texture is fine, but the flavor profile feels like it was designed by an algorithm rather than a baker. A real banana pudding gets its charm from the interplay of vanilla wafers and banana slices; here, both elements are reduced to an over-sweet creme that overstays its welcome.

Meg Stalter's Chicken Sandwich: A Sweet-Salty Blueprint

In a separate interview, comedian Meg Stalter described her ideal chicken sandwich, one she'd want a restaurant to name after her. It would combine sweet and salty elements, featuring a date dressing with arugula, a blue cheese or similarly 'bizarre, rare' cheese, and a roasted or fried chicken breast that's been well-seasoned. Stalter specifically recommends Knorr Granulated Chicken Bouillon or Roasted Chicken Premium Flavor Base to ensure the chicken is flavorful. For the date dressing, a homemade vinaigrette with chopped pitted dates, apple cider vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, and Dijon mustard would work. Finish with a rustic ciabatta roll. Stalter is hosting the Knorr Chicken Roast on August 10, an event where poorly made chicken dishes are called out; tickets go on sale via Eventbrite on August 6 at 5 p.m. This sandwich concept shares the sweet-savory tension that Oreo's Chicken & Waffles flavor attempted to hit but missed. The key difference is balance: the dates provide sweetness, the arugula a peppery bite, and the cheese a funky counterpoint.

The Verdict: One Flavor Earns Its Keep

Among the three Oreo flavors, only Deep Fried successfully translates its concept into a satisfying experience. The other two — Chicken & Waffles and Banana Pudding — feel like novelty acts. While they may generate social media buzz, they don't have the repeat-purchase appeal. The voting campaign will decide which flavor returns in 2027, and based on taste alone, Deep Fried is the likely winner. But even that flavor is a niche offering, more suitable as an occasional treat than a pantry staple. For those who don't mind the greasy aftertaste, it's a reminder of summer fairs and carnival indulgence. The sweet-savory trend continues to push boundaries, but as Oreo and Stalter show, balance is everything: a hint of salt or acid, like in Stalter's date dressing, can elevate a dish, while a missing component leaves the consumer with only the name.