Dave's Hot Chicken Slushers: Every Flavor & Which to Order
There is a specific moment, somewhere around bite four of a Hot-level tender, when your body starts negotiating for a cold drink like its life depends on it. Dave's Slushers are built for exactly that moment — frozen, fruity, and ice-cold. The catch is that not all of them are the same, and the one everybody actually buys isn't a fruit syrup at all. Let me walk you through the whole frozen lineup.
That's the overview. Below is every flavor with prices and calories, why the Powerade one wins, what Bursties actually are, and the honest truth about whether a Slusher can really put out a Reaper fire (spoiler: sort of). Let's get cold.
Every Slusher flavor and price
Slushers split into two camps: the frozen fruit ones (icy, fat-free, tangy) and the creme ones (smoother, milkier finish). Availability varies by location, so not every store stocks every flavor — but here's the full lineup.
| Slusher | Type | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerade Mountain Berry Blast | Fruit | ~$3.99 | 180 |
| Hi-C Orange LavaBurst | Fruit | ~$3.99 | 230 |
| Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch | Fruit | ~$3.99 | 290 |
| Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade | Fruit | ~$3.99 | 320 |
| Strawberries & Creme | Creme | ~$4.49 | 180–200 |
| Rocket Creme | Creme | ~$4.49 | 280 |
| Orange Creme | Creme | ~$4.49 | 290 |
Two takeaways. The Powerade Mountain Berry Blast is both the best-seller and the lowest in calories among the fruit options — a rare case of the popular pick also being the lighter one. And the creme Slushers are the move if you want something closer to dessert without committing to a full milkshake.
Why the Powerade Mountain Berry Blast wins
People search for this one by name more than any other Slusher, and there's a reason. The Powerade Mountain Berry Blast uses a Powerade base instead of a straight fruit syrup, which makes it a little less sweet and a bit more complex — that faintly salty, sports-drink edge that keeps it from tasting like liquid candy. After a spicy order, "less sweet and genuinely refreshing" is exactly what your mouth is begging for.
It's also the lightest fruit Slusher at about 180 calories. So the crowd favorite is popular on merit, not just marketing — it's the best-balanced option on the frozen menu. If you're ordering your first Slusher and can't decide, this is the safe, correct pick.
What are Bursties?
New to the lineup: Bursties — popping flavor pearls you can add to any Slusher or shake for about $2 extra. They're boba-style spheres that burst with fruit flavor when you bite them, in flavors like Strawberry and Mango. Think of them as texture and little flavor pops layered onto your frozen drink.
Are they necessary? No. Are they fun, and will your kid demand them the moment they see the sign? Absolutely. Add them if you want the novelty; skip them if you just want the cold drink to do its one job.
Slusher calories at a glance
For a frozen treat, Slushers are lighter than most people expect. The fruit Slushers run 180 to 320 calories and are fat-free, while the creme Slushers land around 180 to 290 with a bit of dairy for the milky finish. Compare that to a top-loaded shake, which can run 700–800+ calories, and the Slusher starts looking like the sensible way to cool down. If you're tracking, the whole picture is in the calories guide.
Do Slushers actually cool the heat?
Half-truth time, because I promised honesty. The compound doing the damage in your mouth is capsaicin, and capsaicin is fat-soluble — which means the fastest way to kill the burn is dairy, not ice. So a fruit Slusher gives you cold, refreshing, temporary relief, but it doesn't neutralize the heat the way a milkshake or a creme Slusher does.
The rule: for Medium and below, a fruit Slusher is plenty. For Hot, Extra Hot, or a Reaper situation, reach for a creme Slusher or a shake — the milky ones actually put the fire out instead of just distracting you from it. Water, for the record, does nothing but spread the misery around.
My honest take
After using Slushers as a fire extinguisher more times than I'd like to admit, here's the verdict: the Powerade Mountain Berry Blast is the everyday winner, and a creme Slusher is the one you order when you've overcommitted on heat. Get the Powerade with a Medium order and you've built a genuinely great, refreshing meal for under five bucks on the drink.
Skip the Bursties unless you want the novelty, match the drink to your spice level, and remember that the frozen fruit ones are for refreshment while the creme ones are for rescue. Then go enjoy the whole menu knowing you've got the burn covered — the Slusher is the cheapest insurance policy Dave's sells.
Frequently asked questions
What flavors do Dave's Hot Chicken Slushers come in?
The frozen fruit Slushers are Powerade Mountain Berry Blast, Hi-C Orange LavaBurst, Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch, and Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade. There are also creamier creme Slushers — Rocket Creme, Orange Creme, and Strawberries & Creme. Availability varies by location, so not every store carries every flavor.
How many calories are in the Powerade Mountain Berry Blast Slusher?
The Frozen Powerade Mountain Berry Blast is about 180 calories, making it one of the lighter Slushers. It's also the best-seller — the Powerade base makes it a little less sweet and more complex than the pure fruit-syrup options. Calories vary by size and location.
How much do Dave's Slushers cost?
The frozen fruit Slushers are around $3.99, and the creme Slushers (Rocket Creme, Orange Creme, Strawberries & Creme) run about $4.49. You can add Bursties — popping flavor pearls — to any Slusher for roughly $2 extra. Prices are estimates and vary by location and size.
What are Bursties at Dave's Hot Chicken?
Bursties are popping flavor pearls (boba-style spheres that burst with fruit flavor) you can add to any Slusher or shake for about $2 extra. They come in flavors like Strawberry and Mango, adding little bursts of flavor and a fun texture to the frozen drink.
Do Dave's Slushers cool down the spice?
The fruit Slushers help temporarily — they're cold and refreshing — but they don't kill capsaicin the way dairy does, because the burn is fat-soluble. If you're fighting a real Reaper-level fire, a creme Slusher or a milkshake works far better than a fruit Slusher, soda, or water.
What's the difference between a Slusher and a shake at Dave's?
A Slusher is a frozen, icy drink — fruit Slushers are fat-free and lighter (around 180–320 calories), while creme Slushers add a milky finish. A shake is a thick, blended ice-cream dairy drink that's much richer and higher-calorie. For cooling serious heat, the dairy in a shake or creme Slusher works best.