What are Jack in the Box Sauced & Loaded Tots?

They’re a follow-up to Jack’s Sauced & Loaded Curly Fries. They’re available in two varieties — Cheddar Bacon and Jalapeño Ranch. The former features cheese sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and bacon bits on top of tater tots. While the latter has cheese sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeño slices, and buttermilk ranch plopped on tots.

How are they?

In my experience, it’s rare that anything involving cheese-covered deep-fried potato thingies ends up being awful, so it’s not surprising I enjoyed these Sauced & Loaded Tots.

But having tried multiple varieties of Jack’s Sauced & Loaded Curly Fries, I think topped curly fries are a better experience than these. The curly fries’ seasoning stands out a little more among the cheeses and sauces, and the coating helps prevent the potato product from falling apart. With both tots varieties, by the time I got to the middle of their boxes, the viscous toppings softened most of the coated tater tots to the point where they fell apart when picked up with a fork.

Also, I don’t mean to be a Danny Double Downer, but Cheddar Bacon and Jalapeño Ranch are uninspiring flavors. If you’ve been eating Jack’s food for years, the flavor combinations will be familiar, so they’re not anything unique.

With that said, both are tasty, but if I had to pick a favorite between the two, it would be the Jalapeño Ranch. I prefer the ranch’s tang and jalapeño’s zing over the porky and cheesy flavors of the other one. Although, I do wish there were more pickled peppers in the container and with all the cheese and sauces, the jalapeños don’t have a strong kick.

Anything else you need to know?

I’m going by memory, but this might be the first time Jack has offered tater tots. Unfortunately, unsauced and unloaded tater tots aren’t its own thing on Jack in the Box’s menu. However, using the chain’s app, I could remove all the toppings to turn them into plain tots. But, of course, the price doesn’t change even after the deletions. I was able to try a few tots on their own and they taste like any ol’ tots you’ve had.

Conclusion:

If you enjoy anything involving cheese-covered deep-fried potato thingies, Jack in the Box’s Sauced & Loaded Tots will satisfy your cheese and carbohydrate cravings.

Purchased Price: $4.00 each*
Size: N/A
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Cheddar Bacon), 7 out of 10 (Jalapeño Ranch)
Nutrition Facts: Cheddar Bacon – 740 calories, 47 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 1670 milligrams of sodium, 65 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein. Jalapeño Ranch – 750 calories, 49 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 1770 milligrams of sodium, 66 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Update 9/8/21: We also tried the BBQ version! Click here to read our review.

I don’t hang out with a gang of teenagers and a dog in a van who rip fake monster masks off the heads of conniving folks. So I’m probably not going to solve what the Mystery Sauce is in Jack in the Box’s new Cluck Sandwich.

It features Jack’s new thicker and crispier 100% all-white meat fried chicken fillet, pickles, and the chain’s Mystery Sauce on a toasted brioche-style bun. There’s also a Deluxe version with cheddar cheese, guacamole, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo on a brioche-style bun.

As you can see, I decided to go with the regular version since the Deluxe doesn’t come with the Mystery Sauce. Why? That might be the real mystery here.

The first thing I noticed after pulling the Cluck Sandwich out of the pouch that all post-Popeyes Chicken Sandwich chicken sandwiches seem to come in now is that it’s less like a cluck and more like a cheep. The previously mentioned Popeyes offering is noticeably larger. But thank goodness Jack’s new fillet is thicker. Or is it?

I mean, is Jack counting the breading as part of the thickness like how I use the top of my spiky gelled hair to determine my height? To be honest, I really can’t say it’s noticeably thicker than Jack’s previous chicken. But thank goodness Jack’s new fillet is crispier. Or is it?

Just kidding. It is, but only at the edges of the fillet. It’s not a hearty crunch, but it’s better than what came before. Taking a closer look at the breading, there’s some seasoning in it, which gives the fillet a slightly peppery flavor when eaten separately. It’s not Popeyes-great, but it’s a step above Jack’s previous chicken.

Now I’ll attempt to solve the Mystery Sauce. I thought it was a combination of peppery barbecue sauce and Thousand Island dressing (minus the chopped bits) with my first taste. But after a few more bites and licks, I realized its flavor is like a less zesty Burger King Zesty Sauce, which is the only excellent dipping sauce at Burger King. And that sweet, tangy, and peppery condiment gets enhanced with the pickles’ tang and slight sweetness from the brioche bun.

With all of that said, Jack in the Box’s Cluck Sandwich is the best tasting chicken sandwich I’ve ever had from the chain and I’d be happy if it ended up being a permanent addition to the menu. Is it better than a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich? No, but while I think the current king of chicken sandwiches has better tasting chicken and a better bun, I prefer Jack’s Mystery Sauce over Popeyes’ mayo.

Purchased Price: $4.99*
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 490 calories, 22 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 1260 milligrams of sodium, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 23 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Click here for our previous fast food reviews.