KANSAS CITY — Chicken and cheese unite in several new menu items, with restaurants pairing the protein with a range of cheeses from queso to cotija to parmesan.

Queso adds flavor to Wendy’s new Bacon Queso Chicken Sandwich, featuring a homestyle chicken breast topped with fire roasted salsa, red onions, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and poblano queso cheese sauce on a red jalapeño bun.

Cotija combines with chicken in Starbucks’ new Chicken & Quinoa Protein Bowl with Black Beans and Greens, which contains grilled white meat chicken raised without antibiotics, cotija cheese, lettuce, quinoa, tomatoes, roasted corn, black beans and jicama and with mild tomato chili vinaigrette served on the side.

Parmesan pairs with the poultry in Burger King’s new Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, made with crispy, seasoned 100% white meat chicken, melted mozzarella, shaved parmesan and marinara sauce.

Click to view a slideshow of new menu items.