The ingredients are probably in your kitchen right now!
This Is What’s Actually in Chick-fil-A’s Famous Sauce
Fast food restaurants are obsessed with their sauces. It’s probably a rite of passage in the service industry to debut a secret sauce, considering how many big-name chains have one: McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, Burger King’s Chicken Fry sauce, In-N-Out’s secret spread, the Krabby Patty secret formula—the list goes on and on.
Try These Chick-fil-A Copycats—Including the Sauce
Grilled Pepper Jack Chicken SandwichesBasic, yet packed with flavor, this sandwich gets a kick from zesty cheese and savory bacon. It's a great meal for summer days. —Linda Foreman, Locust Grove, Oklahoma
Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Cobb SaladThis skinny version of Cobb salad has all the taste and creaminess with half the fat and calories. You can skip the coleslaw mix and use all lettuce, but I like the crunch you get with cabbage. —Taylor Kiser, Brandon, Florida
Fun fact: Did you know Chick-fil-A salad dressings are coming to their menu in 2023?
Inspired By: Chicken NuggetsI developed this recipe specifically to copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. The first time I made them I knew I had a winner because the whole family fought over who got the last one! For a dipping sauce, combine equal parts barbecue sauce and Dijon mustard, then stir in honey to taste. —Jeni Pittard, Statham, Georgia
Inspired By: Chick-Fil-A SauceThis fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey mustard dressing I've ever tried. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas
Inspired By: Fresh Brewed Sweet TeaA pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste Recipes Community Member
Inspired By: Chick-Fil-A Butter BiscuitYou can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.
Inspired By: Chicken Noodle Soup SideWhen I was sick, my mom would make me this heartwarming chicken noodle soup. It was soothing when I had a cold, but this soup is a bowlful of comfort on any chilly day. —Anthony Graham, Ottawa, lllinois
Grilled Chicken WrapProteins marinated in a zesty citrus dressing shine when stuffed into these grilled chicken wraps. Garnish them with flavorful toppings to make them stand out even more.
Microwave Egg SandwichIf you're looking for a grab-and-go breakfast for busy days, this high-protein sandwich is low in fat and keeps me full all morning. Plus, it's only about 200 calories! —Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Inspired By: Garlic and Herb Ranch SauceRanch dressing got its start on a real dude ranch in California. Punch up the western original with green salsa, green chiles, jalapenos and cilantro for more color and spice. Serve the dip along with your favorite wings to feed a crowd. —Lindsay Duke, Goodrich, Texas
Chicken StripsHere's how to deep-fry or bake crispy, golden chicken strips, plus tons of ideas for how to serve them.
Inspired By: Fresh-Squeezed LemonadeA friend suggested I add a sprig of rosemary to lemonade. The herb makes the drink taste fresh and light, and it's a pretty garnish. —Dixie Graham, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Loaded Waffle FriesMake any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois
Star-Spangled ParfaitsThe best time for this dessert is midsummer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors. —Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Strawberry MilkshakeGrab your spoon: this strawberry milkshake is thick, bright with strawberry flavor and infinitely customizable.
Asian Chicken SaladOur Asian chicken salad transforms the classic American chicken salad into a vibrant, Asian-inspired dish in just 25 minutes, combining familiar flavors with exciting textures and tastes.
Inspired By: 4 Chick-n-MinisMy 11-year-old son invented these sliders at dinner one night when he set his chicken on a biscuit. The rest of us tried it his way, and now we enjoy these sandwiches all the time. —Jodie Kolsan, Palm Coast, Florida
Spiced Pumpkin Coffee ShakesThe winter holidays are my favorite time of year, and this spiced pumpkin drink is one reason I love the season so much. If you don't have a coffee maker, it's OK to use instant coffee—just make it stronger. —Kathie Perez, East Peoria, Illinois
Inspired By: Barbeque SauceI've never cared that much for store bought barbecue sauce. I just like to make things myself from scratch including this spicy, deep red-brown sauce. You'll find it clings well when you slather it on grilled meat. —Helena Georgette Mann, Sacramento, California
Sausage Breakfast BurritoBreakfast routine in a rut? Shake things up with these speedy, savory wraps. —Brenda Spann, Granger, Indiana
Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Grilled Market SaladSweet, tangy and bursting with the fresh flavors of summer, this easy strawberry poppy seed salad is a gorgeous, versatile side dish to serve the second warm weather arrives.
Inspired By: Hash BrownsMaking stuffed hash browns is just as easy as making regular ones, but you get the added textures and flavors from the onion, pepper, cheese and bacon.
But the thing about secret sauces is, they rarely stay secret. The ingredients for the Big Mac special sauce are all on the McDonald’s website. In-N-Out’s spread is said to be just Thousand Island dressing and many who’ve tried copycat recipes agree.
Enter Chick-fil-A, the cow-saving fast food chain known for its simple yet delicious chicken sandwiches. Its signature Chick-fil-A sauce is so coveted that people buy (and sell) tubs of it on eBay. Luckily, you don’t have to go online to get your fill of this tangy spread. In fact, you don’t even need to go to Chick-fil-A.
As the company tweeted out in 2012, the Chick-fil-A sauce is just a mixture of honey mustard, barbecue sauce, and ranch dressing. Yes, that’s it. You can mix those three ingredients in your own kitchen anytime you have a craving and get the same sauce you thought only Chick-fil-A restaurants could provide. Find out why Chick-fil-A employees always say, “My pleasure.”
With all the excitement over this recipe, it’s hard to believe the fast food chain once had no dipping sauces at all. It wasn’t until Chick-fil-A operator Hugh Fleming introduced his personal honey mustard recipe into the Virginia location he ran that customers could dip their food. One day, an employee accidentally mixed barbecue sauce into the honey mustard—and it became the special sauce we all know today.
But special sauces aren’t the only thing food lovers prize. Check out these 14 secret menu items from your favorite restaurants.
[Source: Business Insider]
