If you regularly shop at Publix, you probably have a strong roster of products you’re always going to toss in your cart. BOGO wines. Bread from the bakery (don’t sleep on the Tutto Loaves, people). Their signature cajun crab dip, if you’re feeling a little fancy. Still, whether you’re loyal to your go-to picks or ready to shake things up, we implore you to check out the best food at Publix we’ve found in our taste tests over the years.
How we, a team on the West Coast, tried a bunch of Publix products:
We don’t recommend anything we haven’t personally tried. So naturally, a few times a year we send one sad little Sporked writer (me) home to her family in Florida with a singular directive: Go to Publix (and Wawa, if you have time) and eat all the food your young, spry body is capable of. I dutifully report back.
What we look for in the best Publix products:
Publix has its own signature style as a grocery store. It has the product variety of any national chain but with a more Southern-inspired deli and bakery section. For the most part, the best food at Publix we’ve found has been from the prepared food sections—but we’re the first to admit that we don’t have the means to regularly try every Publix product. If you have a favorite food or beverage from Publix, please feel free to share in the comments so we can try it next time! Meanwhile, here are our Sporked-approved picks for the best food at Publix.
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- Publix White Mountain Bread
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If you think white bread is boring, you haven’t had the White Mountain Bread from the Publix bakery. And that’s okay. We can’t all be blessed. I lived in Florida for most of my life, and I never bought this glorious loaf for myself until I was tasked with performing an official Publix bread taste test. A tragedy, really. I never knew white bread could have so much tang and flavor. Every slice is incredibly thin and soft, but still somehow sturdy. Don’t make the mistake I made for so many years—true love was right there all along, and I ignored it in favor of more shelf stable options from the bread aisle. Shop at the bakery. I beg you. (Unless you really need your bread to last weeks, in which case, buy the stuff with preservatives.)
Read our full ranking of the best Publix bread
Credit: Merc / Publix
- Publix New York Style Potato Salad
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Fun fact: Every potato salad from the Publix deli is good. But the New York Style potato salad is especially incredible. I want to say something dramatic, like it all comes down to the soft, perfectly cooked potatoes (which have the consistency of breakfast potatoes), but the fact is that every aspect of this side dish is pretty perfect. The dressing is creamy and so fresh tasting, with a very light tang and delicate sweetness. It’s a stark change from other store-bought potato salads that really go hard on the corn syrup—but I promise you, the flavor is anything but boring. This is our #1 reigning champ of all grocery store potato salads across the country. If you have the chance to try it, you must.
Read our full ranking of the best grocery store potato salad
Credit: Liv Averett / Publix
- Mojo Oven Roasted Chicken
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Look, you’ll be fine picking up any rotisserie chicken from the Publix deli. But if you see Mojo, grab it. The meat has this melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that isn’t matched by the other rotisseries on display. The meat is very flavorful and moist without being too salty. I don’t know if you’ve seen the trend going around where gym-goers admit that post-workout, they go to the grocery store, buy an entire rotisserie chicken, and eat it alone in their car because it’s delicious and also meets their protein goals, but this is the perfect way to do that. You don’t have to change a thing about it.
Read our full ranking of the best rotisserie chicken
Credit: Liv Averett / Publix
- Publix Fried Chicken
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You’ve heard her name. You’ve seen all the boys look her way when she’s in the room. Publix fried chicken is that girl. I’m not a food scientist or Publix cook, but if I had to make an educated guess, I’d say this fried chicken’s iconic flavor comes from the two oils—corn and cottonseed—used in the frying process. It has a thick, peppery, extra fried and extra crispy double breading that’s also pretty legendary. The breading is literally so addictive, you can’t open the fridge without picking at it. The meat is incredibly juicy and tender (though I’ve heard some people complain that Publix fried chicken can be dry, so maybe it depends on your location; that was definitely not my experience). Publix deli chicken, in all forms, is really some of the best food at Publix you can buy. End of story.
Read our full ranking of the best fried chicken
Credit: Liv Averett / Publix
- Publix Deli Sweet Coleslaw
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To the shock of absolutely no one, anywhere, southern BBQ sides at Publix just hit different. I’ve already waxed poetic about their potato salad, but their Deli Sweet Coleslaw should also be a requirement for your next BBQ. It’s super creamy and sweeter than most coleslaws we tried from the grocery store, but in a way that tastes fresh and unique, not heavy, gloopy, or overpowering.
Read our full ranking of the best grocery store coleslaw
Credit: Liv Averett / Publix
- Publix Classic Chicken Breast Salad and Publix Hot Honey Chicken Salad
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You may have noticed I’ve recommended two chicken salads here. That’s because Publix’s Hot Honey Chicken Salad, which combines tender hot honey chicken with dill pickle and onions to make a spicy-sweet side dish that’s in a league of its own, is one of the best chicken salads I’ve ever had in my life…but it’s a limited-time deli offering. I’m not sure if they still sell it, or if they ever plan to sell it again. So, because I care about you and your ability to find the best food Publix that’s actually available, believe me: Their Classic Chicken Breast Salad is also delicious. It’s simple, but fresh, creamy, and balanced. You get a crunch of crisp celery or relish with every bite (and I mean every bite). And hey, who says you can’t add in some hot honey if you want to?
Read our full ranking of the best grocery store chicken salad
Credit: Liv Averett / Publix
- Publix Deli Ultimate Sub
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Is the Publix Ultimate Sub the ultimate best sub to order at Publix? Was that a fun sentence to read? Well, the answer is no. To both questions. The Publix Ultimate Sub may be ranked #1 best Pub Sub, because it’s frankly unbelievable and a testament to the power of two simple ingredients—high quality deli meat and fresh bakery bread—but the truth is, there are so many good subs on the menu. Your personal preferences play a huge role here. The tuna Pub Sub is fresh and bright. The French Onion London Broil Sub is heaven in a hoagie. But if you’ve been skipping the Publix Ultimate Sub because you’ve always thought, hey, that’s too much meat—I promise it’s not. The smoky tavern ham and lightly sweet maple turkey breast create such a great depth of flavor. All you have to do is pick the right sauce to go with it. (Carolina Gold, if you need a recommendation.)
Read our full ranking of the best Publix subs
Credit: Merc / Publix
This is missing the hot & spicy wings! And I personally prefer the like homestyle red potato salad but that’s just preference, all of them are good. The coleslaw and macaroni salad are too. I forgot about how much I loved that bread as a kid (my grandmother was a fan so I had it at her house) and now I need to get some!