Are you looking for some quality fast food that will fill you up? Then Chick-fil-A is the place for you. The fast food favorite has a variety of items on its menu from salads and wraps on the healthy side to the popular nuggets and chicken sandwiches. With so many options to choose from, it can be daunting. However, StudyFinds is here to help! We put together a list of the top five best Chick-fil-A menu items for you to choose from.
When people are craving fast food, they obviously want speedy service. However, a recent study reveals that fast food is not fast enough for many Americans. Nearly half would avoid going to a store that didn’t have a drive-thru option (47%).
The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that twice as many people prefer the drive-thru to actually entering a store on foot (28% vs. 14%). Luckily, at Chick-fil-A, the drive-thru staff seems to have it down pat for quick service. And that always comes with a smile and the classic “my pleasure” after every order.
How Chick-fil-A cooks their chicken:
What makes Chick-fil-A chicken so good? The restaurant takes pride in how it prepares its chicken so that it stands out from the competition. For a deep dive into what happens behind the scenes, here is how Chick-fil-A cooks their legendary chicken.
Sourcing:
- They use 100% real, whole, boneless, skinless chicken breasts raised in barns, not cages, on farms in the United States.
- Their chickens are raised without antibiotics or added hormones.
Preparation:
- The chicken breasts are hand-breaded in the restaurant each day with their secret spice blend, which adds flavor and crispy texture.
- Some reports suggest the coating process involves dipping the chicken in a marinade, then applying a seasoned flour mixture and pressing it firmly into the meat for better adhesion.
- The seasoned chicken is then dipped in egg and milk mixture to further help the breading stick.
Cooking:
- Chick-fil-A uses pressure cookers, which cook the chicken quickly and evenly while retaining its moisture. This gives the chicken its juicy interior and crispy exterior.
- Cooking time and temperature are likely trade secrets, but the chicken must reach a safe internal temperature (165°F) for food safety.
Final Touches:
- Once cooked, the chicken is hand-placed on toasted buttered buns for their signature sandwiches.
- They offer grilled chicken options prepared on flat-top grills.
Even though it was tough to narrow down the many delicious and crispy options at this chicken giant, we’ve got you covered! StudyFinds is revealing the top five best Chick-fil-A menu items that our expert sources recommended most. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best Chick-fil-A Menu Items, According to Experts
1. Nuggets
To no one’s surprise, the Chick-fil-A nuggets are everyone’s go-to and tops the list. Other fast food nuggets don’t even come close to comparing. “Some markets offer a 30-count nugget, which sounds like the greatest thing ever. A standard order will get you eight or 12 nuggets, plus the sauce of your choosing. We’re not going to debate which sauce is best, only that they all work. Or you can go sans sauce, and that’s perfectly fine,” writes Mashed. “The key to the nuggets is the size — they’re perfectly bite-sized and the coating is just the right amount of crunch. The Chick-fil-A nuggets are outstanding and the easiest can’t-miss item on the menu. It’s the safety school of Chick-fil-A menu items; if you’re introducing someone to the restaurant for the first time, the nuggets should knock their socks off.”
“Keep it simple with Chick-fil-A’s Nuggets. Great for kids and adults alike, each Nugget is a bite-sized piece of boneless chicken breast with just the right amount of seasoning,” notes Parade.
Restaurant Clicks is a fan of dunking the nuggets in Polynesian sauce. “Now, for their actual nuggets, they do an outstanding job. That crispy coating their grilled chicken lacks is executed to perfection on their fried nugget meal. The best part about Chick-Fil-A nuggets is that they are bite-size, so you can pop in your mouth and devour them in one bite.”
2. Original Chicken Sandwich
The original chicken sandwich is what put Chick-fil-A on the map. With or without pickles, it’s the best chicken sandwich in the game today. “It just doesn’t get any better than the Original Chicken Sandwich, so I’m claiming it the No. 1 Chick-fil-A menu item, hands down,” writes PopSugar. “With its buttery bun, perfectly placed pickles, and crunchy fried chicken breast (which is brined in pickle juice, no less), it delivers on flavor every single time.”
“Sometimes, classic just works. For when you want no bells and whistles, but just a simple, down-to-Earth chicken sandwich that is reliable at any time of day,” notes Far and Wide. “Chick-fil-A’s good ‘ol chicken sandwich only has dill pickles and a boneless breast chicken breast. But the beauty of it is that it doesn’t need much else.”
Tasting Table loves the simplicity of the Original Chicken Sandwich. Why? “There isn’t anything complex about Chick-fil-A’s original chicken sandwich. It’s just a bun, a few bits of pickle, and a chicken filet. However, the quality of ingredients used sets the classic sandwich apart. Although the sandwich may seem basic, the lack of accompaniments allows the filet itself to come to the foreground. There’s a good argument that, if you want to experience Chick-fil-A in its purest form, you have to start at the beginning. This is that beginning.”
3. Spicy Chicken Sandwich
If you want to give your chicken sandwich a little kick, get the very popular Spicy Chicken Sandwich. “All of my coworkers rave about how amazing it is, and after trying it, I agree too,” writes The Plume. “It’s not as plain as the normal CFA sandwich because of the spicy flavor. It’s amazing also with ranch.”
“Love the standard Chicken? Take it up a notch with Spicy Chicken,” states Parade. “So long as you can handle the heat, you’ll love how the chicken is seasoned with a spicy blend of peppers with a heck of a kick. It’s served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. Simple, yet spicy.”
Restaurant Clicks says the Spicy Chicken Sandwich is their favorite on the menu. “This spicy twist on CFA’s original fried chicken sandwich takes their most popular menu item and kicks it up a notch. I love a little heat, so I order the spicy sandwich over the original, and Chick-Fil-A delivers an equally crispy, crunchy piece of chicken with some added spice. This meal is hands-down my favorite Chick-fil-A item.”
4. Grilled Nuggets
Now, if you want Chick-fil-A’s delectable nuggets but don’t want them fried, get the healthier grilled version. “The end result is pretty good and constitutes one of the chain’s many gluten-free options. The sear adds a great grilled flavor to the chicken, and many of the qualities of the original nuggets carry over. These are great to dip, and easily shared,” writes Tasting Table.
“‘Chik-fil-A’s grilled nuggets can be a good entrée option, especially for people with diabetes, since they are lowest in carb with only 1 gram, 25 grams of protein, are low in fat (3 grams), and only half a gram of saturated fat,’ says Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, CDE, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist, founder of Diabetes EveryDay and author of Diabetes Meal Planning and Nutrition for Dummies. For a balanced meal, there’s room for a fruit cup and a side of waffle fries, too, adds Smithson,” according to Eat This, Not That!
Wide Open Country says the grilled nuggets make for a “protein-packed snack.” “So the grilled nuggets are mostly just chunks of boneless breast, and being what they are, they taste pretty good. Plus no other fast food place offers them.”
5. Cool Wrap
Another desired option on the Chick-fil-A menu is the Cool Wrap. “Easily the most overlooked item on the menu, the grilled chicken cool wrap is an afterthought on most days,” writes Mashed. “The ad wizards picked a fitting name, because the cool wrap definitely cools you down. Served cold, the wrap — loaded with diced chicken, lettuce, and a healthy mix of shredded red cabbage and carrots — really hits the spot on a hot day. Of your dressing choices, the avocado lime ranch is the single most unexpected sauce available in any quick-serve restaurant.”
“Chick-fil-A’s cool wrap is another alternative to sandwiches. It’s not necessarily healthier, but it does have fewer calories. It’s also a good alternative if you need a little variety in your life,” says Far and Wide. “The wrap has chicken, of course, rolled into a mix of Monterey Jack, cheddar and lettuce. You can also order the avocado lime ranch dressing to add even more flavor.”
Parade calls the Cool Wrap a “delicious choice.” “It’s sliced grilled chicken breast, green leaf lettuce and shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese, tightly rolled in a flaxseed flour flatbread. With a little bit of flair added to it in the way of cheese and tomato, it’s a step up from other grilled chick options. Pair it with the Avocado Lime Ranch dressing for even more of an upgrade.”
You might also be interested in:
- Best Fast Food Chicken Sandwich
- Best Fast Food Fried Chicken
- Best Fast Food Mac and Cheese
- Best Fast Food Chicken Nuggets
Sources:
- Parade
- Mashed
- Restaurant Clicks
- Far and Wide
- Tasting Table
- Wide Open Country
- Eat This, Not That!
- The Plume
- The Krazy Coupon Lady
- PopSugar
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
The Mac ‘n’ cheese should be in this list! I’m not the type to order Mac ‘n’ cheese out but for Chik fil a, I make the exception!! 😋